Transfer Player Spotlight: Ryan Conwell (Xavier)
The Xavier Musketeers have had 9 players enter the transfer portal this season including their star player Desmond Claude. While the raw number of players in the portal is eye opening Sean Miller has done an incredible job of using the portal to find guys who can replace the talent he is losing. The latest addition in the portal is Indiana State guard Ryan Conwell. The 6-4 combo guard averaged 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists on one of the most prolific offenses in the nation. The Sycamores ran a fast-paced offense that seeks out threes and Ryan Conwell fits that mold perfectly. He loves to shoot threes and it made him one of the most efficient players in the nation. Conwell shot 60% on shots inside the arc and 40% on an extremely high volume of three pointers. His shooting and instant scoring ability fit right into the shooting guard position for Xavier but that is where Dante Maddox is also projected to slot in. Conwell has the ability to play the three, but the most likely scenario is that Conwell serves as a spark plug off the bench while still getting over 30 minutes a game. If he does fit into this role, he is going to win 6th man of the year in the Big East, and it will not be particularly close. Xavier is building one of the deepest teams in the nation and Sean Miller is not even done yet.
Ryan Conwell is going to be an instant fan favorite for the Xavier fanbase because of his electric playstyle. Conwell first and foremost is a prolific three-point shooter and will do whatever he can to get his shot off. He loves to get his shots off through step backs, designed sets, and transition threes. He takes really tough threes, but he shoots them at such a high clip that it doesn’t even matter. It really seems like Sean Miller is leaning into outside shooting in the portal with Maddox, Conwell, and Foster all being great shooters. This could cause Xavier’s transition game to become more focused on getting transition threes rather than getting to the cup. This would fit Conwell to a tee and really unlock his offensive potential in the Big East. If teams are ever able to get Xavier in the half court Conwell is extremely dangerous there as well. He is a highly effective pick and roll ball handler where he is really trying to score whether that is getting in the lane or stepping back for a three. He also showed a real strength for hitting the screener specifically in pick and pop scenarios. Hopefully, Zach Freemantle or John Hugley can unlock the pick and pop game for Xavier which they really missed last season without Jack Nunge. It is when Conwell does not have the ball where he is most dangerous though. He is an elite off ball mover whether it is in the structure of sets or making a cut at the right time. This allows Conwell to fit into any system he plays in, and Xavier is no exception to that. His cutting and shooting are going to allow Xavier to run different sets and layer their motion style offense even more. The one small issue in Conwell’s offensive game is his playmaking. His passing is good, but it is mostly a keep the ball moving type of passing rather than creating open looks for others. He is not going to limit the offense in any way with his lack of playmaking, but it is about the only hole in his offensive game. Whether Conwell is handling the ball or working off ball he is going to manufacture points for Xavier which is what they need from him. While this playstyle is extremely important and effective it does not usually result in a number one option unless the entire offense is centered around them like for example how it was for Boo Buie at Northwestern. That is not going to work for Xavier and Sean Miller. So, Conwell is going to fit into more of a secondary scoring role to Dante Maddox and hopefully a healthy Zach Freemantle. This is not to say that Conwell is not fully capable of being a good number one option but within Xavier system Maddox and Freemantle will most likely take those duties.
One of the most exciting parts of Conwell’s addition to Xavier roster is his defense. Conwell is not the biggest guy on the court, but he applies pressure really effectively and is a physical defender. He is not going be an absolute lock down defender or anything like that, but he is absolutely a plus defender. His defense does not really result in steals or turnovers, but it does end it tough shots most of the time. Similarly, Dayvion Mcknight plays a similar brand of defense where it does not result in steals, but he applies pressure and forces tough shots. This could be an issue if Xavier is not forcing any turnovers because that puts so much pressure on the offense to not only take care of the ball but also be very efficient. This is not a major issue, but it is noteworthy, and it could be a reason Xavier loses a few games this season. Xavier has needed more guys that can impact the game on the defensive end and Conwell is just that. Conwell and Dayvion McKnight will most likely share the responsibility of guarding the other team's best guards on a nightly basis. Xavier still has some questions in the front court regarding defense as of right now, so it is vital that the guards like Conwell and Mcknight step up on the perimeter. If Sean Miller can add an inside force like Justin Abson or Brandon Garrison this roster would be complete and ready to take Xavier back to the tournament.
