MILWAUKEE — The outlook for Xavier’s basketball season has notably improved with the return of fifth-year forward Zach Freemantle, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his time at the university.
Freemantle, who missed the entire 2023-24 season due to a foot injury, saw Xavier finish with a disappointing 16-18 record, marking the school’s first losing season since 1995-96. A knee injury kept him out of the initial three games of the current Big East season, contributing to the team’s shaky start of 1-4 in conference play. However, the Musketeers have recently rebounded, winning three consecutive games with Freemantle’s significant presence.
“I had to miss three games, and obviously, it hurt the soul a little bit,” Freemantle stated after Xavier’s narrow 59-57 victory against No. 7 Marquette on Saturday. “I just took that time to refocus and get my stuff right so I could return and perform at my best.”
Since his comeback on January 3, Freemantle has shown exceptional performance, achieving his 25th career double-double in the recent game with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Throughout the current season, he is averaging 16.8 points and 7.8 rebounds, but his impact extends beyond mere statistics.
“His ability to come back from injury and quickly regain his rhythm speaks volumes about his character,” noted Marquette coach Shaka Smart. “With him on the court, Xavier appears to be a completely different team, brimming with confidence.”
The 6-foot-9 Freemantle’s influence was evident at the onset of the game as Xavier (12-7, 4-4 Big East) emerged victorious against Marquette (15-3, 6-1), marking just the Golden Eagles’ fourth home loss in the last three seasons.
Freemantle contributed 10 points by halftime, and Xavier held the lead throughout the match, having lost to Marquette earlier in December without him. The Musketeers built a lead as high as 19 points before fending off a late rally from the Golden Eagles.
“I just wanted to instill confidence in my teammates and show that we’re here to win,” Freemantle remarked. “We aren’t just here to see what happens.”
His confidence stems from a wealth of experience battling through hardships. Freemantle joined Xavier in 2019 and made a significant impact, earning second-team all-Big East honors during the 2020-21 season by averaging 16.1 points and 8.9 rebounds. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for the last 15 games of the 2022-23 season due to a significant foot injury requiring surgery. Another foot operation later that year led to him missing all of the previous season.
After diligently working to recover, Freemantle has returned to Xavier this season, marking a rare achievement of a sixth-year player finishing his entire college career with one team. He emphasized that he was not overly worried about his future when he sustained another injury this season, clarifying that the recent knee issue is not connected to his previous foot problems.
With Freemantle back on the court, Xavier is looking to build momentum in the season.
“Zach makes us a better team. You could see it especially in the first half—his scoring ability near the basket is invaluable,” stated Xavier coach Sean Miller. “He provides essential experience and did an excellent job on both ends of the floor tonight. Having him back is a huge boost for us. Let’s hope he stays healthy for the remainder of the season.”
