“He is clearly clicked now. How Dante Maddox Jr. went from the bench to escape for Xavier

For the first time since Crosstown shooting lossXavier Sean Miller’s head coach was alongside an post-match podium player on February 12 after the Winner of Route 91-82 of Musketeers against Providence.

It was normal that Miller was sitting next to Dante Maddox JR., Two men raised by basketball coaches in high school who succeeded who have collectively found a way to release Maddox’s talent to the world of university basketball.

Maddox equaled a career summit with 26 points and six 3 points against Providence. It was his second consecutive performance in 20 points after flocking 24 In a defeat against Villanova who landed on the Big East Honor Roll.

Maddox’s view being the podium player would have seemed to be a fan fiction a few months ago.

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“He hadn’t really clicked up to the end of January and certainly all February,” said Miller about Maddox. “He is clearly clicked now.”

Tabulely as a veteran goalkeeper and Stellar shooter outside the transfer portalMaddox did not find instant success at Xavier in a new era of university basketball where patience is rare.

More: What we have learned from the victory of Xavier Musketeers over Butler Bulldogs

“You want things to be transparent. You want success right away,” said Miller. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work like that. He is one of the most workers I have trained. He likes the game. He puts in time every day. He had great moments for us.”

In non-conference, Maddox seemed to be a guard whose skills would not result in the Big East after Lighting the Mac to Toledo. Maddox combined for only 33 points in the first eight games. It was 10 out of 35 on the field and 6 out of 22 of the three -point beach.

“There were many games in November and December when you would not have felt the same thing about Dante as a player,” said Miller. “He always had it in there. He needed to become more comfortable. We had to do a better job to train him. Everything is really united.”

“I continued to fight through adversity.

Xavier survived a fear of the state of South Carolina in a 71-68 Victory at the Cintas Center December 1st. Maddox only played two possessions – he authorized a 3 -point pointer in defense and traveled on the offensive side. He was replaced and did not return.

Four days later, there were signs of life like Maddox pierced three triples in a defeat against TCU at Fort Worth.

Maddox has certainly taken the long road and there is light at the end of the tunnel for a talented goalkeeper who mounted the tops and extinguishes when Xavier needed it most.

“One thing I did my best to do is stay with this process. No matter well, you are trying to focus on processes and not focused on results,” said Maddox. “If I was focused on the results, then I would have stopped a long time ago. I am happy to have continued to fight through adversity and I am delighted that the moments to come.”

Miller added: “I know he had times when he probably guessed everything. He fought. He stayed with him. He continued to train,” said Miller. “It’s fun to see a guy climb through it and go out on the other side and be at the best at that time.”

How Dante Maddox makes Xavier dangerous on the road

Maddox can destroy a game with its elite manufacturing capacity. Against Providence, Xavier followed by first 11 before Maddox went against and tore five consecutive points to revive Xavier’s attack. Providence leading 23-16, Maddox overturned a triple to feed a 22-0 race.

“Son (Maddox) shooting (against Providence) gave us an advance that we could not give up, no matter how bad we played from that moment,” said Miller. “He was simply incredible.”

Good things come to those who trust the process and continue to put the work. Maddox could always fill him, but he had to excel in small things to enjoy his playing time – find open spots in transition, sprint on the field, better effort on the defense, moving without the ball. Over time, players collect the rewards of high energy games.

“I have improved with some of these things. I think the opportunities arose more,” said Maddox.

But the impact of Maddox goes beyond the disputed triplets which he overturns who leave the opposing coaches amazed. In Xavier’s victory over Depaul, Maddox finished with only one point but caught five rebounds to help Xavier win the battle on the boards.

In Tuesday’s victory against Butler, Maddox registered with 13:33 to do in the first half and Xavier Leading, 15-14. In just 3:23, Maddox had eight points and Xavier led, 29-21. When he checked at 7:23, Xavier’s advantage had increased to 36-21. Xavier has ahead of Butler, 21-7, in 6:10 with Maddox on the ground.

Although he did not score again, Maddox had another impact on the glass with a top of eight rebounds in just 15 minutes to go with a pair of flights.

“Dante has really lying to be a good player for us,” said Miller.

After the loss of Trey Green, Xavier was a good three -point shooting team titled by the efforts of the transfer of the state of the Indiana Ryan Conwell. Maddox has entered the fold with a Explosion of 22 points in a quasi-out-out of the time. 11 Uconn in Hartford.

There were always difficulties with the consistency, but a corner may have been filmed with Maddox with an average of 15 points on a section of five games where he found the stroke developed from 1000 shots per day in Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, where his father was the coach.

If Maddox can ensure the stability of the bench with constant production, Xavier’s offensive is even more deadly and can help push the musketeers on the finish line in certain decisive matches during the last month of the season.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Dante Maddox Jr. went from the bench to an escape for Xavier basketball