Campus Watch

Xavier is building the powerhouse the rest of the Atlantic 10 can only dream of. If the Musketeers could have made one more free throw, defended one three-point shot -- or got the intentional foul call on Greg Oden they deserved to get -- they might be in Atlanta this weekend instead of Ohio State.

Last week, Xavier signed coach Sean Miller to a long-term extension that send shudders through the A-10 when it was learned Miller's salary will range from $700,000-$900,000 for the life of the deal.

Now comes this nugget from Wednesday's Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier has received a verbal commitment from 6-foot-11 Kenny Frease of Massillon, Ohio, a junior who is one of the top 10 big men in the class of 2008. Frease's message: "I want to be Xavier's Greg Oden"

---Mike Harrington