The Departure of Dez Claude: A Pivotal Loss for Xavier Basketball

[A Fan]

The transfer portal has transformed college basketball, offering players the freedom to pursue opportunities that align with their aspirations. For Xavier, the loss of Dez Claude—last season’s alpha dog—has been a major setback. While Sean Miller’s struggles to land Big East-caliber players through the portal are often criticized, the decision to let Claude leave reflects a larger issue within the program.

A Missed Opportunity

Dez Claude’s advisers emphasized that transitioning to point guard would improve his NBA prospects. As Xavier’s most dominant player last season, Claude had the leadership, scoring ability, and physicality the team relied on. However, Miller’s refusal to accommodate Claude’s move to point guard prompted his departure—a decision that now feels shortsighted.

While shifting Claude to point guard would not have guaranteed success, it was an opportunity to retain an indispensable player whose presence could elevate the team. Allowing him to leave wasn’t just a loss of talent; it was a loss of leadership, leaving Xavier without the alpha presence needed to win critical games this season.

The Impact of Claude’s Absence

Xavier has narrowly lost to Connecticut, Cincinnati, Marquette, and Georgetown this season—games that might have been winnable with Claude. His ability to take over games, particularly in high-pressure moments, is exactly what Xavier now lacks. The team’s struggles to close out tight contests highlight the void left by his departure.

While some challenges can be attributed to roster depth or execution, the absence of a go-to player underscores the program’s failure to retain its most important asset. Losing Claude wasn’t bad luck—it was a preventable blow to the team’s competitiveness.

Beyond the Transfer Portal

Critics of Sean Miller point to his inability to attract top-tier transfers as a key issue, but the portal is inherently unpredictable. What isn’t unpredictable is the importance of retaining homegrown talent. Programs like Marquette and Connecticut have succeeded not just by landing transfers but by creating environments that prioritize player development and fit. Xavier must learn from this, focusing not only on recruitment but on fostering relationships that keep critical players in the fold.

Moving Forward

The loss of Dez Claude is a stark reminder of the importance of flexibility in coaching and player management. Moving forward, Xavier must balance team goals with individual aspirations, ensuring players see a path to growth and success within the program. Additionally, the team must refine its approach to the portal, targeting players who can fill immediate gaps while recruiting and retaining promising high school players.

Conclusion

Dez Claude’s departure was a self-inflicted wound, not just a result of the portal’s unpredictability. In a hyper-competitive Big East, retaining and developing talent is just as critical as recruiting it. Xavier must take this lesson to heart, prioritizing adaptability and player retention to avoid repeating the mistakes that have cost them this season.

[Xavier]

Mr Claude? That you?

His ability to take over games? Huh? We missed the tournament last year…he wasn’t even the best player on the team.

Sean isn’t great at portal talent? Boum was first team all big east, Quincy was all big east and in the NBA- and was the best player on the team.

[XU 87]

I heard that X offered 500k, and he wanted 600k. Simple as that. Money.

[MHettel]

I heard that X offered 500k, and he wanted 600k. Simple as that. Money.

Yup.

But we got Roddy Anderson!

[Xville]

I heard that X offered 500k, and he wanted 600k. Simple as that. Money.

Not true but you are free to believe what you heard.

To the op I’d chill on all the Claude love. He’s a good player no doubt but he doesn’t solve our frontcourt issues which have been the problem since Mack left. Let’s say miller agreed for Claude to be pg… that means Dayvion is gone. Claude doesn’t suddenly make this team better, and did you forget the number of times he lost games last year at the end? He was the opposite of clutch. If miller and his staff is to be criticized at all, it’s their inability to land 4/5 impact players in high school recruiting/portal.

[XUBison]

…Sean isn’t great at portal talent? Boum was first team all big east, Quincy was all big east and in the NBA- and was the best player on the team.

True, of course. But if we’re going to turn the roster over every year, then we need more than one good portal player per year.

[MHettel]

Let’s look back at the turn of events. I don’t recall exactly how it went down, but Claude didn’t even enter the portal for several weeks after it opened. We grabbed Foster on like day #2. We needed to replace Quincy and Foster is obviously not a 2.

Des can’t shoot, so he’s not a 2. He’s a 3 through and through.

So did we PUSH Des out? Grab his replacement and send a message? I don’t know. But that was the way it went down.

So Des declares and we go with Conwell and Maddox. I initially (and even recently) thought a 3 for 2 trade to get Foster/Conwell/Maddox was a good deal to replace Quincy/Des. But the reality is that we just didn’t get any “attack the basket” skills in the trade, and it turns out you really need that to run a good offense.

I convinced this was just a money play. Des would be a XMan for the right price. I get skewered for that, and frankly I don’t know any specifics about HIS situation, but I do know how humans work. Money will make people do crazy things. And people will do crazy things in its pursuit.

Anyone want to discuss Miller going on vacation for a week during the first 2 weeks of the portal being open?

[Xville]

Would I like Claude on the roster? Sure but that’d mean no Dayvion. Does that swap make x any better? No, not imo. X would be in the same position we are today whether des was on the team or not. All I remember last year is how unclutch he was. Missed wide open shot against nova, missed layup against Providence. Those are the two that stick out, and there may be more if I look.

He doesn’t solve any of the frontcourt problems. I’m not going to question Sean’s decisions on guards. He seems to be doing just fine with those (outside of whatever the heck Maddox is doing), but I’m starting to question if his staff can identify and recruit in impact frontcourt players

[MHettel]

Not true but you are free to believe what you heard.

To the op I’d chill on all the Claude love. He’s a good player no doubt but he doesn’t solve our frontcourt issues which have been the problem since Mack left. Let’s say miller agreed for Claude to be pg… that means Dayvion is gone. Claude doesn’t suddenly make this team better, and did you forget the number of times he lost games last year at the end? He was the opposite of clutch. If miller and his staff is to be criticized at all, it’s their inability to land 4/5 impact players in high school recruiting/portal.

You continue to cling to this idea that Des actually left to play PG.

Here’s how it goes:

Des- I want 600k or whatever.

miller- can’t, won’t.

Des People- fuck this were out.

Des- but I like it here, I don’t wanna seem like a greedy prick.

Des People- cover story bro. Just say you wanted to be a PG, and put it on Miller for holding you back.

Des- but I can’t shoot!

Des people- yeah, but Miller could FIX that! You gotta leave for something he’s unwilling or unable to do…like get rid of McKnight.

Des- yeah. I’m declaring today!

2 days later

Des- anyone check their messages? Did I miss any calls?

Des people- no, but USC said they were looking for a “lead guard”

Des- how much money???!!! I mean, what is a lead guard?

Des people- take the money

Outcome?

Same Des. Can’t shoot. Can drive. Gets to the line. Got the bag.

This where we are.

[Xville]

It’s not clinging to an idea, it’s what happened. I do know things from time to time, and this is one of them. I’m just tired of having a kids name tarnished based on your feelings of what you think happened. It’s childish and immature.

If you choose to not believe me, you could believe 94grad. I assume you know who he is and how pretty well connected to the basketball team he is. And he’s said the same thing.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

I don't think Claude's transfer was anything close to a "pivotal loss". It was a loss, no doubt. But Dez had multiple opportunities to win games last year and failed.

Like Hettel, I initially thought the acquisition of Maddox, Conwell and Foster was more than enough to offset him. That hasn't proven out and I'm disappointed that McKnight has, so far, not had the breakout season I expected. Still, if Claude had stayed, is there any reason to believe our season would be going much better? I don't see one.

[zippin']

McKnight certainly hasn’t been what we hoped, but please take a look at Claude’s assist to turnover ratio in B10 play so far before you continue talking about him being a good PG. There’s a good chance he loses that role at USC if he keeps up what he’s currently doing.

[drudy23]

He bailed - good riddance.

[murray87]

And if his main reason for leaving was to develop into some type of desirable point guard for the NBA, you'd think sticking with Sean Miller would have been the wisest path. Not that Sean played there but he obviously has the credentials given his own background.

[profson]

I don’t think we can assume that we would have gotten Conwell if Des had stayed. And we would likely have lost McKnight if the basis for Des staying was the lead guard role.

[bleedXblue]

Claude was one of our best players last year. Losing him can only be viewed as a big loss for the program. Yes, he had some flaws but don't all players to some degree?

[Xville]

I think these two things are both true:

-- Claude was a loss for the program, and it'd be nice to still have him.

--X wouldn't be any better with him this year, because he solves none of the main issues this team has.

[XU 87]

I don’t think we can assume that we would have gotten Conwell if Des had stayed. And we would likely have lost McKnight if the basis for Des staying was the lead guard role.

Des officially declared for the portal almost immediately after Conwell committed. I assume X gave most of Des' money to Conwell, after waiting for Des to accept their offer.

Des takes the ball to the hoop as well as anyone at X in the last 20 years. He's 6'6" and athletic. But he isn't a point guard. And he can't shoot threes.

[bleedXblue]

Des officially declared for the portal almost immediately after Conwell committed. I assume X gave most of Des' money to Conwell, after waiting for Des to accept their offer.

Des takes the ball to the hoop as well as anyone at X in the last 20 years. He's 6'6" and athletic. But he isn't a point guard. And he can't shoot threes.

But would be a better 3 than Swain right now.

[XU 87]

But would be a better 3 than Swain right now.

Agreed.

I think we essentially "traded" Conwell for Des. Conwell shoots threes much better than Des. Des goes to the hoop better than Conwell.

[drudy23]

Conwell is the better player overall. It's close, but Conwell gets after it on D too.

[xuwillie]

But would be a better 3 than Swain right now.


I'm sure Miller thought Swain was ready to be the guy at the 3, unfortunately that hasn't been the case. But wasn't it rumored Claude only wanted to play PG? So the argument should be would he be better than Mcknight? Think its a close call based how Mcknight has played this year

[bleedXblue]

I'm sure Miller thought Swain was ready to be the guy at the 3, unfortunately that hasn't been the case. But wasn't it rumored Claude only wanted to play PG? So the argument should be would he be better than Mcknight? Think its a close call based how Mcknight has played this year

Agreed on the PG. Is he actually only playing PG for USC?

[Xuperman]

I don't think Claude's transfer was anything close to a "pivotal loss". It was a loss, no doubt. But Dez had multiple opportunities to win games last year and failed.

Like Hettel, I initially thought the acquisition of Maddox, Conwell and Foster was more than enough to offset him. That hasn't proven out and I'm disappointed that McKnight has, so far, not had the breakout season I expected. Still, if Claude had stayed, is there any reason to believe our season would be going much better? I don't see one.

I see one....several in fact.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/5105606/desmond-claude

"Pivotal Loss" is a massive understatement. The Claude/Conwell "WAR" debate officially makes no sense.

[MHettel]

I see one....several in fact.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/5105606/desmond-claude

"Pivotal Loss" is a massive understatement. The Claude/Conwell "WAR" debate officially makes no sense.
Interesting stats for Des.

He’s taking less than half the number of 3s as last year, and is still slightly below 30% from deep.

His overall shot attempts per game have dropped by more that 4, which is significant. But his shooting % is up, due in part to taking less 3s as discussed above.

But I also notice his FTAs per game has gone up from about 5 to 6.5.

So he’s undoubtably more efficient offensively. Less total shots, less 3s, more makes. More FTs.

He’d be a good fit at SF on our team.

[Xville]

I like Claude, wish he was still here but imo x wouldn’t be any better. Doesn’t solve the frontcourt or rebounding problem

[Xville]

Agreed on the PG. Is he actually only playing PG for USC?

Pretty much. I’ve watched 3 of their games now and when he is in, he’s brining the ball up and initiating the offense 90% of the time

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Well, he just torched Illinois for 31. Perhaps we could use a little of that after all.

[XUBison]

QUOTE=Jumpin_Jamal_Forever;794812]Well, he just torched Illinois for 31. Perhaps we could use a little of that after all.[/QUOTE]

We would definitely be better with him. I’m not sure to what degree, but I’m also not sure how someone could argue to the contrary.

[MHettel]

QUOTE=Jumpin_Jamal_Forever;794812]Well, he just torched Illinois for 31. Perhaps we could use a little of that after all.

We would definitely be better with him. I’m not sure to what degree, but I’m also not sure how someone could argue to the contrary.[/QUOTE]

I think the question comes down to what we DONT have if Claude was here. We never would have had all 3 of Foster, Conwell, and Maddox. Foster signed on very early. If we had Claude instead of Maddox, we for sure be better. But if we had Claude instead of Conwell then we’d be relying heavily on Maddox and I’m not sure we’d have enough shooting. Not sure we would actually be a better team with Claude vs Conwell

[Xavier]

Thought same thing Hett. If it’s Claude for one year vs conwell for 2 I’d go conwell.

[bleedXblue]

Des isn't going pro either. He will be playing next year. Good player, but cant shoot outside 10 feet