Best Xavier NCAA Tournament Performance

[Blue Blooded-05]

I did this a few years ago and thought I'd start it up again with updated entries... What is the best NCAA Tournament performance by a player in a Xavier University uniform?

Before voting, take note of a few disclaimers:
- Creating the ballot was subjective on my end. If you believe a strong performance was missed, feel free to reply with your thoughts.
- I was only a casual follower of XU before unpacking my bags in Brockman Hall in the late summer of 2001. Thus, all entries before this year were based off their stat lines only.
- With a few notable exceptions, most of the entries were from games X won in the tournament.


Without further ado, I present the ballot for greatest Xavier NCAA Tournament performance of all time.

- 1987: Byron Larkin - 29 points, 10 rebounds(!), 4 assists in 70-69 Round 1 win over #4 Missouri (1st Xavier Tourney win)
- 1990: Tyrone Hill - 29 points, 14 rebounds in 87-79 Round 1 win over #11 Kansas St.
- 1990: Derek Strong - 19 points, 12 rebounds in 74-71 Round 2 win over #3 Georgetown (1st Xavier Sweet 16)
- 1990: Derek Strong - 27 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists in 89-102 Sweet 16 loss to #10 Texas
- 1991: Brian Grant - 15 points, 10 rebounds in 89-84 Round 1 win over #3 Nebraska
- 1991: Jamie Gladden - 20 points in 89-84 Round 1 win over #3 Nebraska
- 1993: Aaron Williams - 20 points in 73-55 Round 1 win over #8 New Orleans
- 1993: Brian Grant - 20 points in 73-55 Round 1 win over #8 New Orleans
- 1997: James Posey - 22 points, 8 rebounds in 80-68 Round 1 win over #10 Vanderbilt
- 2002: Romain Sato - 18 points, 10 rebounds in 70-58 Round 1 win over #10 Hawaii
- 2003: Lionel Chalmers - 20 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists in 71-59 Round 1 win over #14 Troy
- 2004: Lionel Chalmers - 25 points (on 8/13 shooting), 6 assists in 80-70 Round 1 win over #10 Louisville
- 2004: Romain Sato - 24 points (9/10 FT, 5/8 3s), 8 rebounds, 2 assists in 80-70 Round 1 win over #10 Louisville
- 2004: Lionel Chalmers - 31 points (11/13 FG, 4/4 3's) in 89-74 Round 2 win over #2 Mississippi St.
- 2004: Romain Sato - 27 points in 79-71 Sweet 16 win over #3 Texas (First Xavier Elite 8)
- 2004: Anthony Myles - 17 points, 10 rebounds in only 23 minutes in 63-66 Elite 8 loss to #1 Duke
- 2007: Justin Doellman - 23 points, 5 rebounds in 79-77 Round 1 win over #8 BYU
- 2007: Justin Cage - 25 points, 6 rebounds in 71-78 OT Round 2 loss to #1 Ohio State
- 2008: Derrick Brown - 19 points, 11 rebounds in 73-61 Round 1 win over #14 Georgia
- 2008: Drew Lavender - 18 points, 9 assists in 85-78 Round 2 win over #6 Purdue
- 2008: Josh Duncan - 26 points, 5 rebounds in 79-75 OT Sweet 16 win over #7 West Virginia
- 2009: CJ Anderson - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists in 77-59 Round 1 win over #13 Portland St.
- 2009: BJ Raymond - 15 points, 4 rebounds in 60-49 Round 2 win over #12 Wisconsin
- 2010: Jordan Crawford - 28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals 1 block in 65-54 Round 1 win over #11 Minnesota
- 2010: Jordan Crawford - 27 points, 6 rebounds in 71-68 Round 2 win over #3 Pittsburgh
- 2010: Tu Holloway - 26 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals (3 huge FTs) in 96-101 2 OT Sweet 16 loss to #2 Kansas St.
- 2010: Jordan Crawford - 32 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists in 96-101 2OT Sweet 16 loss to #2 Kansas St.
- 2012: Tu Holloway - 25 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists in 67-63 Round 1 win over #7 Notre Dame
- 2012: Kenny Frease - 25 points, 12 rebounds in 70-58 Round 2 win over #15 Lehigh
- 2015: Matt Stainbrook - 20 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists in 76-57 Round 1 win over #11 Mississippi
- 2015: Jalen Reynolds - 21 points, 6 rebounds in 75-67 Round 2 win over #14 Georgia St.
- 2015: Matt Stainbrook - 17 points, 10 rebounds in 60-68 Sweet 16 loss to #2 Arizona
- 2016: James Farr - 18 points, 15 rebounds in 71-53 Round 1 win over #15 Weber St.
- 2017: Trevon Bluiett - 21 points, 4 rebounds in 76-65 Round 1 win over #6 Maryland
- 2017: Trevon Bluiett - 29 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists in 91-66 Round 2 win over #3 Florida St.
- 2017: Malcolm Bernard - 15 points, 6 rebounds all in 2nd half in 73-71 Sweet 16 win over #2 Arizona
- 2017: Trevon Bluiett - 25 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists in 73-71 Sweet 16 win over #2 Arizona

[GoMuskies]

What's most amazing to me from this list is the fact that less than 25 years ago New Orleans was a #8 seed!

[X-ceptional]

I am tempted by my recency bias to shout MALCOLM BERNARD from the proverbial rooftops. However, while it was a great game (specifically, a great half), I can't say it was the best.

Best overall tournament performance has to be J-Craw... just ridiculous. But specific game? That's a tough one.

Stainbrook showing up against Zona's bigs a couple years ago was huge. Hard to argue against 31 points from #0. I might say Myles in the Duke game. Maybe because I'm still so salty because I think that game turns out differently with him still in the lineup at the end, but he really showed up.

But, damn... I keep coming back to Crawford. The 32 points in the K-State game has the wow factor, but as an overall line:


2010: Jordan Crawford - 28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals 1 block in 65-54 Round 1 win over #11 Minnesota

Good Lord!

[Ohionite_X]

Chalmers with 31 points, 11/13FG, 4/4 from 3, in a win over a 2 seed. Give me some of that!

Also, shoutout to Derrick Brown and his under appreciated 16 rebounds against BYU in what was essentially his coming out party.

[X-band '01]

They weren't bad in the 1990s, but were hit particularly hard by Hurricane Katrina. They were actually in the process of transitioning down to Division 3 a few years ago before they did a 180 and returned to Division I.

[paulxu]

Hank Stein: back when the NIT was still a big deal.


Never did he demonstrate his ability under pressure more than in the 1958 NIT when he scored 90 points in four games. Having lost to Dayton twice in the 1957-58 season, Xavier was an underdog when the two teams met in the final at Madison Square Garden.

Stein was the tournament's MVP after scoring 23 points in Xavier's 78-74 overtime victory over the Flyers.

[drudy23]

Just cut the list to Chalmers, Crawford, and Trevon...I'd have to give the nod to Chalmers. He was on a mission.

[Masterofreality]

On a One game basis, Tu vs Notre Dame in 2012 was my vote. JCraw vs KState has been more memorialized, but Tu WILLED Xavier to a win with 25 points and the game winning shot off glass over ND's bigs. Spectacular all-time performance.

Second would by Byron over Mizzou. Xavier had never won before and weren't supposed to win there. ZERO people thought XU even had a chance. Just pure steel balls.

[atljar]

Jcraw vs K state was my pick. I actually just watched the final few min of that game and both OTs the other day

[Tardy Turtle]

2017 regionals: Tardy Turtle vs. a bottle of Buffalo Trace

[SemajParlor]

Tre vs Arizona for me.

[Porkopolis]

So many great choices, but I have to go with Crawford against K State.

[xu82]

Just cut the list to Chalmers, Crawford, and Trevon...I'd have to give the nod to Chalmers. He was on a mission.

I voted Crawford, and can't correct to make it Chalmers vs Miss State. Oops. I was there and that was magnificent! Plus I had a memorable encounter with their loud mouth Tuba Boy. "Hey, number Zero, who is you?" All game long..... "His name is Lionel Chalmers - and he just kicked your ass!"

[American X]

If Justin Cage had made one more free throw, this would not be a debate.

[chico]

Have to go with Byron. Even without it being Xavier's first ever win his performance (a double-double plus 4 assists) was phenomenal.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Not that I would pick this one but for a kind of under the radar one was Josh Duncan against WVU in the Swet 16 in 2008.

[xukeith]

loved Cage and Crawford's performances.

[Blue Blooded-05]

A couple observations...

The interesting thing about Jordan Crawford's game against Kansas St, is that his stat line was the result of volume more than efficiency. He was only 3/12 from three. Those threes were pretty memorable, though. Holloway had a better statistical game and was every bit as clutch. Also, how about a shout out to Jason Love that game, putting up a quiet 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Justin Cage vs. Ohio State still breaks my heart. Cage was one of my favorite X players of all time and he was playing out of his mind. Didn't miss a FG the entire game. He had Greg Oden completely befuddled on that high ball screen switch. All against the backdrop of playing against his former coach who recruited him to Xavier and then bolted for more money and the chance to recruit players of Oden's caliber. Damn, that game still hurts.

Lionel Chalmers was playing at an entirely different level through the first two rounds in 2004: 56 points on 19-26 shooting. I ultimately voted for him vs. Mississippi St because that game did so much for the program. No way we are where we are today without that win.

This was before my Xavier rooting years, but how good were Tyrone Hill and Derek Strong on that 1990 team? In 3 NCAA Tournament games that year, they combined for 127 points and 74 rebounds (Hill: 64 points/37 rebounds; Strong: 63 points/37 rebounds). That's an average of 21 & 12 by two players on the same team. That must have been something to watch.

[muskiefan82]

This was before my Xavier rooting years, but how good were Tyrone Hill and Derek Strong on that 1990 team? In 3 NCAA Tournament games that year, they combined for 127 points and 74 rebounds (Hill: 64 points/37 rebounds; Strong: 63 points/37 rebounds). That's an average of 21 & 12 by two players on the same team. That must have been something to watch.

It was. I cried the day they beat Georgetown. It still ranks as one of the best memories of Xavier I have. It was THE breakthrough moment.

[XUMIOH12]

I would have voted for Crawford vs K-State, but I just can't vote for a loss.

[Masterofreality]

I still think people are discounting Tu's 2012 & Notre Dame. That guy WILLED XU to the Sweet 16 that year.

[XUMIOH12]

I still think people are discounting Tu's 2012 & Notre Dame. That guy WILLED XU to the Sweet 16 that year.

that was one of the 3 I was debating between. That game was classic Holloway

[mid major]

I still think people are discounting Tu's 2012 & Notre Dame. That guy WILLED XU to the Sweet 16 that year.

How did he ever bank that last shot HIGH off the glass is still beyond me.

[XUMIOH12]

How did he ever bank that last shot HIGH off the glass is still beyond me.

that shot was amazing!

[Blue Blooded-05]

Surprised there are no votes for Sato vs. Texas. Chalmers finally had an off night shooting, and Sato was huge in getting us to our first E8.

[X-ceptional]

Seriously, though. How did he get this shot off?

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/tu-holloway-of-the-xavier-musketeers-makes-a-basket-over-jack-cooley-picture-id141464800?s=594x594

[Masterofreality]

Seriously, though. How did he get this shot off?

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/tu-holloway-of-the-xavier-musketeers-makes-a-basket-over-jack-cooley-picture-id141464800?s=594x594

Looked even better from a Las Vegas Sportsbook. Right Chico??!!

[xeus]

Not that I would pick this one but for a kind of under the radar one was Josh Duncan against WVU in the Swet 16 in 2008.

Agreed. I was lucky enough to be there for that one. Josh was a man, and BJ scored all 8 of his points in OT. (Would have to make his performance an option also.) And we gained the famous "Do it BJ, DO IT" call by Byron.

By the way, does anyone have a link that call?

[chico]

Looked even better from a Las Vegas Sportsbook. Right Chico??!!

How right you are!

[D-West & PO-Z]

Agreed. I was lucky enough to be there for that one. Josh was a man, and BJ scored all 8 of his points in OT. (Would have to make his performance an option also.) And we gained the famous "Do it BJ, DO IT" call by Byron.

By the way, does anyone have a link that call?

That 26 points was a career high for Duncan.

[bobbiemcgee]

I went to over half these games. Hard to pick one. The 2004 campaign was a magical run and I sat in awe as Chalmers and Sato dismantled the oppositions in Orl and Atl. Crawford and Tu in SLC was great. The crowd was unreal. Dagger after Dagger.