CINCINNATI — After a years-long hiatus, the Xavier Musketeers are back in the NCAA Tournament — and students, alums, fans and even faculty members seem ready to celebrate a lengthy postseason run.

No. 3-seeded Xavier opens play on Friday against No. 14 Kennesaw State in Greensboro, N.C. The game starts at 12:40 p.m.

The Xavier Athletic Department expects to see at least 1,000 Musketeer fans at Greensboro Coliseum for the game. Alumni watch parties are set in cities across the country. There are two formal game-time meet-ups in Cincinnati: Queen City Exchange in downtown and Champions Grille on Werk Road.

Closer to campus, fans are likely to venture to haunts such as Dana Gardens or Listermann Brewing Company for the lunchtime tipoff. 

Some Xavier students are gathering at the lower level of Gallagher Student Center to watch together. But sophomore Ethan Nichols plans to watch with friends from the comfort of their dorm. They “may or may not” be skipping class to do so.

Sean Miller returned to coach the Xavier men's basketball team. Fans viewed his hiring as a potential return to postseason success. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

“Getting to see my school represented nationally has been really amazing,” he said.

Nichols grew up in Cincinnati, so had experienced the success the team had in years past.

Over five decades, the Xavier program became synonymous with March Madness. The men’s team has qualified for 28 NCAA Tournaments since 1983. But the program struggled in recent years under former head coach Travis Steele. He failed to reach the Big Dance in any of his four seasons.

Xavier parted ways with Steele on March 16, 2022. Three days later, the school brought back Sean Miller to serve as coach. Miller previously led the program from 2004 to 2009.

During that five-year stretch, Miller took the Musketeers to four NCAA Tournaments, advancing as far as the Elite Eight. He left Cincinnati in 2009 to take the job at the University of Arizona.

“This is an incredible opportunity for us to build on Xavier’s successful tradition and take the program to new heights,” Miller said during his introductory press conference last year.

Nichols described the passion for the team being night-and-day compared to last year.

“The energy on campus has changed so much,” he added. “This team, under Coach (Sean) Miller, has absolutely revitalized the school spirit and energy on campus.”

Miller’s success is due partly to the continued development of several key veterans, such as Colby Jones and Jack Nunge. Super transfer Souley Boum was vital to the team earning a chance to take part in the madness of March.

“It feels great to be back and right where we belong at the top of the bracket,” said Kristy Beagle, an XU grad and longtime season-ticket holder.

Returning to the tournament is why Xavier brought back Miller, Beagle said. She described it as “Step 1.” The next step is winning on Friday and making an extended postseason run.

An XU win on Friday would set up a showdown with either No. 6 Iowa State or No. 11 Pitt for a trip to the Sweet 16. Miller played point guard for Pitt.

“The program needs more than simply punching our ticket to the tournament,” she said.

Returning to the NCAA Tournament a “magical moment” for the university’s more than 50,000 alumni, according to Xavier President Colleen M. Hanycz. But she stressed the team’s success extends beyond the basketball court.

For almost 200 years, Xavier has been an “institutional pillar of Cincinnati and this region,” said Hanycz, who became university president in 2021.

Xavier fans packed the Cintas Center this year to support the nationally ranked Musketeers. (Photo courtesy of Ethan Nichols)

While basketball isn’t the “most important of Xavier’s spires of excellence,” she knows it’s the most visible.

“As I see it, playing in the NCAA Tournament is the earmark of a program — and of a university — that is committed to perseverance, to excellence and to success in all that we do,” Hanycz added. “For our student athletes on the team, it is a reminder that they are part of something bigger than themselves; beneficiaries of a Jesuit Catholic mission that spans over 500 years.” 

Greg Christopher, XU’s director of athletics, echoed those sentiments. He described the men’s basketball team as the “front porch” of the university as it helps people connect with the school.

“It’s an incredibly visible window into the institution,” Christopher added.

Xavier alum Curtis Bailey knew about Xavier because of what he called “geographic knowledge.” He grew up just outside Indianapolis. But the history of the basketball program influenced his decision to enroll at Xavier, he said.

Bailey mentioned the vaunted Thad Matta-coached team that featured pro talents like David West, Romain Sato and Lionel Chalmers.

“The quality of the education brought me to check out Xavier, and it was the success of the basketball team that swayed me to attend,” he said.

Despite its regular-season struggles last year, the Musketeers won the NIT — a consolation postseason tournament — after Steele’s firing. Former assistant Jonas Hayes led the team to that title.

“The tournament drought was disappointing, although the NIT victory last year felt vindicating for that squad,” Bailey said.

Bailey attended a few games this season at Cintas Center, and he watched others at home with his two children. He admitted the late-season loss of big man Zach Freemantle hurts the team’s postseason chances. But he feels they’ve had time to adjust, and their offense is clicking at the right time.

“I think the team can make a solid run this year,” Bailey added.

Nichols expects to see a great tourney showing from his Muskies as well. But even if there’s no Final Four appearance this year, he won’t be too disappointed. He’s just glad his team is playing meaningful games in March again.

“We’re back,” Nichols said.