Xavier gets tough early-season test against Mississippi State

For Xavier men's basketball fans, the past month has been a time of triumph. The Musketeers started their season with three exhibition wins, followed by a dominant 100-55 victory over Detroit Mercy. They now hold a perfect 3-0 record heading into a crucial matchup against SEC opponent Mississippi State at Colonial Hall in West Virginia.

Head coach Richard Pitino is confident that this game will provide valuable insights into the team's abilities. One key aspect of Xavier's defense will be effectively containing Mississippi State's primary scorer, Josh Hubbard. The 6'0" senior has already scored over 2,000 points and is just 142 points shy of becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.

Hubbard is currently shooting an impressive 56.3% from beyond the arc, and he's contributing 18 points and five assists per contest. Xavier's size advantage could prove beneficial in the post as they try to force Mississippi State's complementary players to commit perimeter shots. The Musketeers have also shown strong defensive play, holding opponents to under 30% field goal attempts in their last three games.

With Jovan Milicevic leading the charge at 10.3 points per game, Xavier's rebounding efforts will be essential against Mississippi State's fourth-ranked offensive rebounding team.