Two 27-game winners put XU in elite groups in 2010-11

NEW ORLEANS — What does Xavier University of Louisiana have in common with Connecticut, Duke, North Carolina and Notre Dame?

All five colleges had men's and women's basketball teams that won at least 27 games during the 2010-11 season.

The list isn't much bigger than that. Xavier was one of three NAIA Division I members to reach a pair of 27s — Azusa Pacific and Texas Wesleyan were the others — and NAIA Division II's Davenport and Indiana Wesleyan also achieved it. No schools in NCAA Division II or III had a pair of 27-game winners.




U.S. four-year colleges with 27-game winners in men's and women's basketball during 2010-11.

So that brings the total to nine out of more than 1,200 four-year U.S. colleges which sponsor men's and women's teams.

"That's an amazing list," said Dennis Cousin, Xavier's athletics director. "It's not a long list, and that's why it's great to see Xavier on there. I know our coaches and athletes worked very hard this season. Any positive recognition is good for them and for Xavier."

Although Xavier's basketball teams have combined for nearly 50 20-win seasons, this was the first time that both reached 25 victories in the same season. It's the seventh time in Louisiana history that a college had a pair of 25-game winners and the fourth time for a pair of 27s.

Among Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Xavier is the first with a pair of 25-game winners since Norfolk State in 1994-95. Norfolk State is the only other HBCU with a pair of 27-game winners, accomplishing that in 1993-94.

U.S. four-year colleges with 27-game winners in men's and women's basketball during 2010-11 College Affiliation Women's W-L Men's W-L Azusa Pacific NAIA I 33-5 29-6 Connecticut NCAA I 36-2 32-9 Davenport NAIA II 29-6 37-1 Duke NCAA I 32-4 32-5 Indiana Wesleyan NAIA II 28-8 29-6 North Carolina NCAA I 29-8 28-9 Notre Dame NCAA I 27-7 31-8 Texas Wesleyan NAIA I 30-4 28-6 Xavier NAIA I 27-7 27-6

Louisiana four-year colleges with 25-game winners in men's and women's basketball during same season College Season Women's W-L Men's W-L Xavier 2010-11 27-7 27-6 LSU 2005-06 31-4 27-9 LSU 1999-2000 25-7 28-6 New Orleans 1986-87 25-7 26-4 LSU 1985-86 27-6 26-12 Louisiana Tech 1984-85 29-4 29-3 Louisiana Tech 1983-84 30-3 26-7

Four-year HBCUs with 25-game winners in men's and women's basketball during same season College Season Women's W-L Men's W-L Xavier 2010-11 27-7 27-6 Norfolk State 1994-95 25-5 27-6 Norfolk State 1993-94 27-4 27-6

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Xavier University of Louisiana: 4,500-seat Convocation Academic Center to replace The Barn for 2012-13

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Thursday that a 4,500-seat Convocation Academic Center will be constructed across Washington Avenue and near the main campus on a site bounded by Short, Palm and Stroelitz streets.

Test pilings were driven into the site earlier this year. Construction is expected to begin in May, with anticipated completion in late summer 2012.

The facility will include a 4,500-seat arena suitable for athletic and other large-scale events. It will become the home of Xavier men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball and replace The Barn, a 1,300-seat gymnasium opened in 1937.

"This new arena will be a tremendous addition for Xavier athletics," XU Athletics Director Dennis Cousin said. "It will upgrade our already excellent programs and take them a notch higher. It will be a big boost to us in recruiting."

The Convocation Academic Center also will contain classrooms, offices and meeting spaces. A regulation-size auxiliary basketball court also will be included to add flexibility in scheduling practices for the basketball and volleyball teams.

Manning Architects' rendering of Xavier's Convocation Academic Center, which is expected to be completed in late summer 2012.

"This is an exciting time for Xavier," women's basketball coach Bo Browder said. "We've been blessed with a lot of fun, a lot of success and a lot of great memories in The Barn. But I'm looking forward to this new arena and creating some new memories."

A pedestrian bridge will be constructed across Washington Avenue to help the Xavier community better access the new building. And for Xavier athletics, the progress does not stop there.

"There also are plans to construct tennis courts in the near future not far from the Convocation Academic Center," Cousin said. "This will give our nationally ranked tennis teams the ability to not only practice on campus but to also host dual matches, something we haven't done in decades."

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets