College Sports Established
1925
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
College Name
Xavier University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1925 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2013 - Present / Big East Conference
1995 – 2013 / Atlantic 10 Conference
1985 – 1995 / Midwestern Collegiate Conference
1979 – 1985 / Midwestern City Conference
Nickname
Musketeers - Xavier Musketeers is one of the most recognizable nicknames in college sports. It’s a name that evokes images of strength and courage, but where did it come from? The origins of Xavier’s nickname can be traced back to the late 19th century when students at St. Xavier College (now known as Xavier University) adopted “Musketeers” as their unofficial mascot.
At the time, muskets were commonly used for hunting and warfare, so they symbolized strength and courage—traits many students wanted to embody during their collegiate years. In addition to being an ideal representation for student-athletes competing on behalf of St. Xavier College, muskets also had a special significance within Cincinnati's Catholic culture: Saint Ignatius Loyola was known as "The Soldier-Saint" because he once served in Spain's military with a musket by his side!
It wasn't until 1928 that “Musketeers” became official when then-athletic director Ed Jucker chose it over other options, including Cardinals or Aviators; since then, it has become synonymous with athletic excellence at both local and national levels thanks to numerous NCAA Tournament appearances throughout its history—the most recent coming this past season!
For any fan looking for an inspiring team name rooted in tradition, look no further than the mighty Musketeers, who proudly represent Cincinnati and all those who strive for greatness through hard work and dedication!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1935
- 1994
- 2003
- 2013
- 2017
-
Xavier basketball team wins its first National Catholic Invitational Tournament title
In 1935: Xavier basketball team wins its first National Catholic Invitational Tournament title, defeating St. Francis (PA) in the final. -
Xavier baseball team wins its first MCC title
In 1994: Xavier baseball team wins its first MCC title and reaches the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship for the first time. -
Stellar Career for Musketeers – David West
In his freshman season at Xavier, West was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team after leading the A-10 in rebounding (9.1) and finishing fourth on the Musketeers in scoring (11.7). In his sophomore season, West led Xavier in scoring (17.8 ppg), rebounding (10.9 RPG, tops in A-10 and fourth nationally), and blocks (2.1 BPG). He recorded five 20-point, 20-rebound ... -
Xavier joins the newly reconfigured Big East Conference
In 2013: Xavier joins the newly reconfigured Big East Conference for basketball and other sports. -
Xavier soccer team wins its first Big East title
In 2017: Xavier soccer team wins its first Big East title and reaches the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship for the second time.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Musketeers
The Xavier Musketeers, a college basketball team from Cincinnati, Ohio, have been thrilling sports fans since their inception in 1920. As one of the most successful teams in NCAA history and a member of the Big East Conference since the 2013-2014 season, they’ve earned numerous accolades, including 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and two trips to the Elite Eight.
In addition to their success on the court over the years, Xavier has also enjoyed some memorable moments off it as well. One such moment came during March Madness 2008 when then-head coach Sean Miller led them to an improbable Elite Eight run that included wins against top seeds Louisville and Tennessee en route to becoming just one of five double-digit seeds to do so at that time. This incredible feat sealed Miller's legacy as one of XU's all-time great coaches who went on win multiple conference titles before leaving for Arizona after the 2009 season ended.
Another highlight worth mentioning is when The Musketeers made back–to–back Sweet 16 appearances under current head coach Chris Mack in 2010 & 2011, respectively; something no other Big East school had done prior or has managed since then! They also won four consecutive Atlantic 10 regular seasons championships between 2012 - 2015 while consistently being ranked among the nation’s best programs year after year due largely thanks to Mack's leadership abilities coupled with talented players like Tu Holloway & Semaj Christon, who helped lead the way for future stars like Trevon Bluiett (2016) Edmond Sumner (2017) JP Macura (2018).
With nearly 100 years of unforgettable memories behind them, there is little doubt that Xavier will continue adding even more exciting chapters to its storied history book over the next decade-plus! Whether you're a fan or not, we can all agree it would be hard to find another program with quite the same level of excellence achieved by these legendary Musketeers throughout decades past, present future alike...
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