Jovan Milicevic returns to Xavier basketball with big goals

After a breakout sophomore season, Jovan Milicevic had options. The 6-foot-10 Xavier forward had plenty of schools reaching out to people in his circle, hoping to lure him away from the Musketeers.In an era of constant roster turnover, Milicevic opted to stay put. The decision wasn't just about where he wanted to play next, but more about who he wanted to play for, play with and whether Xavier could become the team he envisioned.With the 2026-27 season about to tip off, Milicevic said he believes that vision is becoming a reality.More: Xavier basketball has deeper roster and a key question to answerMore: Xavier wraps up exhibition play at 3-0. Why it matters."100 percent," he said. "This year, we have a lot of depth on our team. Way more depth than past teams that we succeeded with."That confidence comes after Xavier's difficult first season of the Richard Pitino era. Xavier went 15-18 last season and finished tied for last in the Big East Conference. One bright spot was Milicevic, who became a double-digit scorer and shot over 40% from 3-point range. He arrived at Xavier from New Mexico with just three career collegiate starts under his belt but established himself as a major piece in Pitino's program.“I gained a lot of confidence," Milicevic said. "We didn’t have the record we wanted to have, but going to war with those guys and seeing what Big East basketball is about was really positive. We’re gonna have a big turnaround this year.”The breakout didn't happen without its ups and downs. Milicevic, a natural power forward, spent much of the season playing center in Xavier's small-ball lineup that scored a lot of points but gave up even more. There were clear offensive advantages to having Milicevic's ability to shoot and put the ball on the floor at center. Defensively, however, was a challenge when it came to the physicality of the Big East. Xavier's defense ranked last in the Big East in efficiency, according to KenPom, and 10th in defending shots from inside the arc. Milicevic was often in foul trouble, as well, trying to defend future first-round picks like UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. and St. John's Zuby Ejiofor."Big East basketball is very physical," Milicevic said. "When you're going up as a sophomore against these centers on these very good teams and seeing the amount of toughness it takes to play down there, it was definitely a wakeup call.More: Check out Xavier Musketeers Big East basketball schedule for 2026-27More: Pitino says 'selfish basketball' led to Xavier's 2nd-half struggles"At the same time, I'm not backing down, and I knew that I'm gonna go give my all for the team."Milicevic's time at center brought highs and lows, but Xavier made it a priority to find a better fit at the position. That fit arrived this offseason when Xavier landed its first commitment out of the portal in LSU transfer Mike Nwoko. A fellow Toronto native, Milicevic played with Nwoko in high school and still trains with him.He said he called Nwoko "every single day" during the recruiting process, making the pitch that Xavier was the right place for his next step. "When he committed here it was just a lot of happiness," Milicevic said. "I know when his parents came to Xavier, they were happy to see me, as well. It was a full-circle moment now that we're playing together in college."Nwoko, a veteran center who played in 66 Southeastern Conference games between one-year stints at Mississippi State and LSU over the last two seasons, posted career highs in scoring and rebounds in 2026. Milicevic said Nwoko's energy and athleticism will quickly get the attention of Xavier fans.His arrival helps Xavier address its frontcourt and allows Milicevic to return to the familiar No. 4 spot, where he can retain the offensive advantages he enjoyed last year while eliminating some of the disadvantages of being an undersized center.This preseason, Milicevic had 46 points, 17 rebounds and six assists over three exhibition games. He shot over 50% from the field (17-for-32) and went 6-for-15 from 3-point range."He's probably our most consistent worker on a daily basis, and it's showing," Pitino said of Milicevic after Xavier's exhibition win over Kent State on Oct. 23."I'll still be able to shoot, but mismatches inside will be a big play for me this year," he said. "Getting a switch and being able to punish those smaller defenders."Nwoko joining the Musketeers was just part of why returning to Xavier made sense. He also has familiar faces from his freshman season at New Mexico, including Tru Washington, Filip Borovicanin and Braden Appelhans, plus a coaching staff he already trusted."When you have that relationship with them and seeing the vision for this year, it definitely was a big factor in me staying," Milicevic said. Last year, Milicevic was one of the newcomers. One year later, he's one of just three returning players and the only one who got on the court last season, meaning he'll need to be a leader on the revamped roster."Knowing the system that I've played in over the last three years is a pro for me. Guys see that I'm an upperclassman and a returner, so they have that respect factor," Milicevic said. "Being there for them and helping as much as I can because I want to see us all win."Along with a new role, expectations have changed, too. Last year felt like Xavier was laying the groundwork after a coaching change while Milicevic learned what Big East basketball demanded.This season, Milicevic isn't hiding what Xavier wants to accomplish. He could've chased a different opportunity after his breakout season but chose to stay and see what Xavier could become. He gets to find out soon from his natural position, with a familiar teammate beside him and a much deeper roster around him. "Making March Madness, and we always want to win the Big East championship," Milicevic said. "That's the main goal for all of us. We're gonna do whatever we need to do to chase that goal."This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jovan Milicevic returns to Xavier basketball with big goals