Xavier's 4-0 Brazil trip fast-tracked camaraderie

In past years, Xavier's men's basketball team's annual meeting on the eve of fall classes might have been another way for players to familiarize themselves with one another.

Ten days of summer practice and a four-game sojourn to Brazil have fast-tracked that camaraderie for the new-look Musketeers.

Veterans and the six members of Xavier's nationally ranked freshmen class were introduced to each other's playing styles during the practices in late July as coach Chris Mack and his staff implemented some of the program's offensive and defensive tenets.

Then the Musketeers went 4-0 in exhibition games during the Aug. 3-12 trip.

"It was fun connecting with our guys, seeing them interact. Seeing them grow closer as friends, as teammates, as a team. That was a really cool benefit of doing a trip like this," Mack said. "Just the experience of being with your team every single day where it's not tense, not pressure packed, not 'Hey we've got to win at Butler or in the conference tournament.'"

Players competed by international rules, which included a 24-second shot clock and an extended 3-point line. There was no perimeter policing, or anything reminiscent of the NCAA's ramped-up hand-checking rules; in fact, perimeter play was immensely physical.

"You could hold. You could push dribblers, so consequently you really had to take care of the ball while you were getting harassed," Mack said. "It was eye-opening for some of our players."

The Musketeers adjusted to the physicality and gained contributions from nearly every player. Matt Stainbrook was temporarily hampered by a rolled ankle and Dee Davis sat out all four games with a hamstring injury.

"Dee could have played towards the end of the trip but not having practices under his belt, we really had nothing to gain by throwing him out there. We'll start basketball activities – workouts, shooting – next week and I anticipate Dee being full-go by then," Mack said.

If there was one player who really shined, Mack said it was sophomore Jalen Reynolds. Throughout the four games, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 13.3 points and 10.8 rebounds in 18.8 minutes.

"I thought Jalen was our most consistent player. He rebounded the ball extremely well," Mack said. "I thought he was a lot more comfortable on both ends of the floor, and we're going to need that a lot this year."

Freshman Sean O'Mara also made an impression. The 6-9 forward/center may have been the least heralded recruit in this year's class but O'Mara, who has the benefit of competing in practices with big-bodied veterans like Stainbrook and James Farr, drew attention through his relentless pursuit of the ball on offense and defense.

When they weren't playing games, players posed before the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, completed a three-credit hour program combining culture and business, and held a two-hour basketball clinic for 75-plus kids from favelas, or slums. XU coaches and players conveyed instructions through gestures and body language because the children did not speak English.

From a pure basketball standpoint, Mack was pleased with what he saw. This may be one of his least experienced teams at Xavier, but it's also talent-packed with players who are "very, very eager."

"I thought it was a great trip," Mack said. "Playing time for our players, which is up for grabs, is going to be incredibly competitive. There are going to be fierce battles for playing time. That's what you want. Our team's going to be the beneficiary."