Kristian Ferrell
Xavier University's basketball team, the Musketeers, have been part of several conferences over the years. Beginning in 1979, the Musketeers were members of the Midwestern City Conference (MCC), which was renamed the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in the early 1980s. During their time in the MCC, the Musketeers enjoyed success, winning multiple regular-season and conference tournament championships. In 1995, the Musketeers left the MCC and subsequently joined the BIG EAST Conference, where they remain today, alongside fellow basketball powerhouses such as Butler, Georgetown, and Villanova.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year joined | 1979 |
| Former conference name | Midwestern City Conference (MCC) |
| Former conference nickname | Midwestern City 6 |
| Former conference present-day name | Horizon League |
| Former conference members | Butler, Evansville, Loyola (Chicago), Oklahoma City, Oral Roberts |
| Year of departure | 1995 |
| Former conference members (after name change) | Detroit, Notre Dame, Saint Louis, Marquette, Dayton |
| Championships won | Eight regular season and six conference tournament championships |
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What You'll Learn
Midwestern City Conference/Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC)
The Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team was a member of the Midwestern City Conference/Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) from 1979 to 1995. The MCC, nicknamed the Midwestern City 6, was formed in 1979 with Xavier and other charter members, including Butler, Evansville, Loyola (Chicago), Oklahoma City, and Oral Roberts. The conference underwent a slight name change to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in the 1980s, adding more teams such as Detroit, Notre Dame, Saint Louis, Marquette, and Dayton. During their time in the MCC, the Xavier Musketeers enjoyed significant success, winning eight regular-season and six conference tournament championships. They also made it to the NCAA Tournament seven times during this period, with their first five wins in the tournament occurring under the leadership of head coach Pete Gillen between 1985 and 1994.
The Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) served as a platform for competitive basketball and fostered the growth of the sport in the region. The conference provided a structured format for teams to compete, develop, and showcase their talents. During the Musketeers' tenure in the MCC, they established themselves as a formidable force within the conference. Their success in the MCC laid the foundation for their future achievements and contributed to the legacy of the basketball program at Xavier University.
The team's home arena during the early years of their MCC membership was the Cincinnati Gardens, where they played all their regular-season games from 1983 to 2000, excluding the 1987-88 season when they played at the Schmidt Fieldhouse. The Musketeers compiled an impressive 215-25 record during their time at the Gardens. Their success at this venue contributed to their overall achievements during the MCC era.
In 1995, the Musketeers left the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, marking the end of their affiliation with the conference. The MCC itself underwent further changes and eventually evolved into what is now known as the Horizon League. Today, the Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team is part of the BIG EAST Conference, competing against renowned basketball programs such as Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, and Villanova. The team continues to build on its rich history and tradition of success, striving for excellence in the highly competitive BIG EAST Conference and beyond.
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NCAA Tournament
The Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team has a rich history when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. The team first appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 1961 under the leadership of coach McCafferty. Although they suffered a loss to Morehead State, it marked the beginning of the team's journey in the tournament.
In 1979, Xavier University became one of the founding members of the Midwestern City Conference (MCC), later known as the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and now the Horizon League. This conference affiliation played a significant role in shaping the team's future NCAA Tournament appearances. During their time in the MCC, the Musketeers established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
The 1985 season marked a turning point for the Musketeers. With the hiring of head coach Pete Gillen, the team's fortunes took a turn for the better. Between 1985 and 1994, Gillen guided the Musketeers to unprecedented success, compiling a remarkable 202–75 record. During this period, the Musketeers advanced to the NCAA Tournament in seven out of Gillen's nine years at the helm, including their first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1990.
Following their successful run in the MCC, the Musketeers continued to thrive in the NCAA Tournament under different coaches. In the 2009–10 season, Chris Mack, a Xavier graduate, took over as head coach. In his very first season, Mack led the Musketeers to the Sweet Sixteen, a feat he repeated in the following season. With a strong 14–2 record in Atlantic 10 play, the Musketeers claimed a share of their fourth consecutive conference championship. The 2010–11 season saw the Musketeers secure another NCAA tournament berth, showcasing their consistent excellence.
Today, Xavier University is part of the BIG EAST Conference, alongside renowned basketball programmes such as Butler, Creighton, and Georgetown. The Musketeers continue to build on their proud basketball tradition, with the Cintas Center serving as one of the best on-campus arenas in the nation for their home games.
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Horizon League
The Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team was a member of the Midwestern City Conference (MCC) from 1979 to 1995. The MCC, nicknamed the Midwestern City 6, is the predecessor to the present-day Horizon League. During its time in the MCC, Xavier won eight regular-season and six conference tournament championships. In 1990, the Musketeers advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen for the first time, beating Kansas State and future Big East colleagues Georgetown.
The Midwestern City Conference was renamed the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in the 1980s after adding more teams, including Detroit, Notre Dame (excluding men's basketball and football), Saint Louis, Marquette, and Dayton. The Horizon League, as it is known today, includes fellow basketball powerhouses Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall University of Connecticut, and Villanova.
Xavier's success in the MCC began under head coach Pete Gillen, who compiled a 202-75 record from 1985 to 1994. Gillen's tenure saw Xavier reach the NCAA Tournament in seven of his nine years at the helm. He was replaced by Skip Prosser in 1994, who continued the program's success.
Today, Xavier's men's basketball team calls the Cintas Center home, which is considered one of the best on-campus arenas in the nation. The team has enjoyed recent success, advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen for three consecutive seasons under head coach Chris Mack, a Cincinnati native and Xavier graduate. In his first year as head coach, Mack led the Musketeers to a share of their fourth straight conference championship with a 26-9 record. The following year, he guided them to a fifth consecutive conference title and another NCAA Tournament berth.
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BIG EAST Conference
The Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team is currently part of the BIG EAST Conference, which includes fellow basketball powerhouses Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall University of Connecticut, and Villanova. The Musketeers have had a successful history in the BIG EAST, with the team advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen for three consecutive seasons, starting from Chris Mack's first year as head coach in 2009-2010. Mack was named the Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year for his impressive debut season.
The Musketeers have a long and storied basketball tradition. They played their regular-season games off-campus at the Cincinnati Gardens for 17 seasons, from 1983-1984 to 1999-2000, with the exception of a single game against Florida International in 1988. During this time, the team achieved a remarkable 215-25 record. Prior to that, the Musketeers called the Schmidt Fieldhouse their home court, where they compiled a 326-129 record.
The team has also experienced success in various conferences over the years. From 1979 to 1995, Xavier was a member of the Midwestern City Conference (MCC), which later became the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. During this period, they won eight regular-season and six conference tournament championships. In 1990, the Musketeers advanced to the program's first Sweet Sixteen, beating Kansas State and future Big East colleagues Georgetown.
The Musketeers have had a number of notable head coaches throughout their history. In 1961, McCafferty led the team to their first appearance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Subsequent coaches include Don Ruberg, George Krajack, Dick Campbell, Tay Baker, Bob Staak, Pete Gillen, and Skip Prosser. Under Gillen's leadership from 1985 to 1994, the Musketeers achieved significant success, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in seven of his nine years as head coach.
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Musketeers' history of coaches
The Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team has a long and illustrious history, with the team now playing in the BIG EAST Conference alongside other basketball powerhouses. However, the Musketeers' journey to this point has been marked by several coaching changes and conference realignments.
In the early 1960s, under the leadership of head coach McCafferty, the Musketeers made their first appearance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 1961. Despite the loss to Morehead State, McCafferty laid the foundation for the team's future success. He was replaced in 1963, beginning a series of coaching changes that included Don Ruberg (1963-1967), George Krajack (1967-1971), Dick Campbell (1971-1973), and Tay Baker (1973-1979).
In 1979, the Musketeers became charter members of the Midwestern City Conference (MCC), alongside notable basketball programs such as Butler and Evansville. This era also marked the arrival of head coach Bob Staak, who guided the team for six seasons, achieving a respectable 88-86 record.
The MCC underwent a slight name change to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in the early 1980s, adding powerhouse programs such as Notre Dame and Marquette to its ranks. During this period, the Musketeers were led by head coach Pete Gillen, who steered the team to remarkable success. Between 1985 and 1994, Gillen compiled a remarkable 202-75 record, including the program's first five wins in the NCAA Tournament. The Musketeers advanced to the NCAA Tournament in seven of Gillen's nine years at the helm.
In 1994, Skip Prosser took over as head coach from Gillen, marking a new chapter in the Musketeers' history. The team continued to thrive, and in 2009, Xavier Assistant Coach Chris Mack was named the 17th head basketball coach in the program's history. Mack's inaugural season was a resounding success, with a 26-9 record, and he guided the Musketeers to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen for three consecutive seasons.
The Musketeers now call the Cintas Center home, which is renowned as one of the finest on-campus arenas in the nation. The team's rich history, marked by the dedication and strategic guidance of its coaches, has contributed to the Musketeers' reputation as a formidable force in college basketball.
As of 2025, Josh Pastner is finalizing a deal to become the next coach at UNLV.
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Frequently asked questions
The Musketeers are part of the BIG EAST Conference.
The Musketeers were part of the Midwestern City Conference (MCC), now known as the Horizon League.
The Musketeers joined the BIG EAST Conference in 1995, after leaving the MCC.
The Musketeers won eight regular-season and six conference tournament championships during their time in the MCC.
Other teams in the BIG EAST Conference include Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall University of Connecticut, and Villanova.
