VIDEO: Sean Miller discusses Xavier’s win over Florida
Xavier men’s basketball coach Sean Miller discusses his team’s 90-83 win over Florida on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022
Adam Baum, Wochit
PORTLAND, Ore. ‒ The list of overused clichés that get employed in the description of point guards is long and well-documented.
Colby Jones had a different description for Souley Boum, his point guard, on Thursday after Xavier’s men’s basketball team defeated Florida, 90-83, in the opening round of the Phil Knight Legacy event in Portland.
“The head of the snake,” Jones said.
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Boum was instrumental on Thursday. He jump-started Xavier’s offense and kept it moving the entire game. Boum got to the rim, got to the foul line, hit a 3-pointer, made steals, finished in transition, and hit a tough mid-range jumper to give the Musketeers a seven-point lead with 90 seconds left to ultimately put the game on ice.
Boum scored 22 points with six assists and five rebounds.
The UTEP transfer’s value through five games has been a big part of Xavier’s 4-1 start.
“I’m in a different position now. I’m running the team more now,” Boum said Thursday when asked about the biggest adjustment coming from UTEP to Xavier. “I’m a guard like I’m a combo guard, whatever you want to call it. I’m a player out there.
“… Being in that position the whole time, running the team, getting guys shots, being in attack mode, playing defense and like Colby said, being the head of a snake, that’s what I came here for ‒ to be able to run the team and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
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After five games, Boum is averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and he’s shooting 50% from beyond the arc.
“My whole life I’ve been a player. Everybody always says, ‘Is he a two? Is he a one?’ I’ve been a guard. I can score. I can play-make,” Boum said.
There hasn’t been apprehension or hesitation.
There were questions about how Boum would handle a step up in competition. He’s handling it better than anyone could have hoped.
His confidence is abundant, and his ability to attack and provide a spark from the point guard position is something that’s been missing at Xavier for some time.
“When we recruited Souley we really didn’t try to get caught up in playmaking point guard, two-guard, I think the way the game has evolved, guards that can score, guards that can make shots, man, they’re really valuable,” said Xavier head coach Sean Miller.
“Through five games, Souley, really like Day One, he’s brought that to the table. I think where he’s starting to settle in as he gets more reps, is everything else. We challenged him defensively and for the most part, I thought he did a good job on defense in tonight’s game as well.”
Boum’s been an added dimension for the Musketeers. He’s led Xavier in scoring in three of the first five games. He’s one of the main reasons why Xavier’s one of the best-ranked offensive teams in the country, according to KenPom.com.
He’s another player that opposing teams have to worry about when they play the Musketeers.
The big question is whether Boum’s only scratched the surface at Xavier. If he continues to develop, then his final season in college basketball could be his most impressive.
