that captures Xavier basketball.

The numbers would be impressive for any program. Over the past 26 years, Xavier University basketball has:

• 18 NCAA Tournament appearances - more than Memphis, Connecticut, Florida and Cincinnati - including two Elite Eight appearances and one Sweet 16
• 21 seasons with 20 victories - more than UCLA, Illinois, Memphis and Indiana
• A .713 winning percentage - better than Illinois, Georgetown and UCLA
• 15 NBA draft picks

Overall the team highlights are many, including the 1958 NIT championship.

But the tradition-rich program comes to life when talking about its former coaches and players, including 2003 National Player of the Year David West and career scoring leader Byron Larkin, now the team's radio analyst.

Xavier Tales, the first-ever book on the Musketeers, covers roughly 60 years of Xavier basketball, from coach Lew Hirt (1946-51) to Sean Miller, who took over the program in 2004.

Michael Perry, a former Cincinnati Enquirer sports editor and Xavier basketball beat reporter, interviewed more than 70 former players, coaches and staff to deliver a comprehensive look at the rise of the program.

Through the voices of some of the most notable Musketeers of all time, this book chronicles how Xavier become one of the most consistent winners in Division I basketball, starting its steady climb under coach Bob Staak, perhaps one of the program's unsung heroes.

There are anecdotes from the locker room, road trips and grueling practices. Most of all, you'll hear about some of the more memorable games in school history, and get to know some of the endearing personalities that have brought the program acclaim for its success on the court and in the classroom.

This is a must-read for any Xavier basketball fan.

Only a limited number of books have been printed, so order yours before they're all gone. Xavier Tales: Great Stories from Musketeers Basketball has been published. Orders are in the process of being fulfilled. Thank you for your patience.