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"We not me" seemed to be the stand-by for the uber-balanced Xavier Musketeers last season. Four guys averaged double digit points per game, and six averaged 9.4 points or above. Leading the charge, however, was then-sophomore Trevon Bluiett. The 6'6" guard from Indianapolis averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in his second season in Cincinnati and, although he flirted with the NBA for a short period of time, decided to gamble on improving his stock in his upcoming junior season. All of this is music to Chris Mack's ears; returning a player like Bluiett gives the Muskies a fighter's chance at dethroning defending National Champion Villanova in the Big East, and solidifies them as one of the country's 10 to 15 best teams.
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It's not like Bluiett was unheralded headed into last season; after all, he averaged 11 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists as a freshman. What caught even the causal fan's attention, however, was the fact that he seemed to take the role of go-to-guy by the horns. It was Blueitt's consistency that set him apart; he never scored higher than 24 points, but he also only scored in single digits three times. His consistency, in fact, was a microcosm of Xavier's consistency all season long.
While Bluiett's field goal percentage stayed the same (42 percent), his vastly improved three-point shooting made him all the more dangerous. In 2014-2015, Bluiett put in 32 percent of his long-range shots; in 2015-2016, he connected on 39 percent of his threes.
This increase, while impressive on its own, becomes all the more impressive when you consider that he led the team in three-point percentage. Not Miles Davis, and not J.P. Macura. Trevon Blueitt led a team known for killing you from dowtown in three point percentage.
With leaders James Farr and Jalen Reynolds departing, Mack will likely turn to Bluiett to help make up for the more than 20 point-per-game void that the two big men are leaving. While this may seem daunting, consider this; Blueitt was good enough last year that he impacted the game without truly looking for his shot. Now that he figures to be the clear focal point of the offense, he's going to make it hard for nine other Big East coaches to sleep at night.
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So what's next for Trevon Bluiett?
To start, he'll likely be a First Team All-Big East preseason pick. If he plays to the ability that many know he is capable of, he won't stop at All-Big East: He could be all-American come season's end. Should he work at it, he can improve his already solid defense, and help neutralize some of the conference's toughest scoring threats with his length and athleticism.
Add all of this to the fact that Bluiett will play alongside Edmond Sumner next season, and it leads to Xavier possessing one of the nation's most fearsome 1-2 guard punches. Should Bluiett continue his consistent rise, he'll justify the hype, and hear his name called by Adam Silver next June.