Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers (Preseason)

The Pacers travel to Cincinnati on Wednesday night for a preseason contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers' Cintas Center. The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Pacers power forward David West, who starred for the Musketeers from 1999-2003 and was a first-team All-American and the AP National Player of the Year as a senior.

At Monday's practice, West downplayed the significance of returning to Xavier, though he spoke with great fondness for the institution and the fan base. West's jersey was retired by the school during his senior season and he was inducted into Xavier's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 in the same class as the coach who recruited him to the school, the late Skip Prosser.

Wednesday's game will also be the first time new Pacers forward C.J. Miles faces off against his old teammates. Miles spent the last two seasons with the Cavs, averaging 10.6 points and 38.8-percent shooting from 3-point range.

Of course, the Cavaliers, have an entirely different look this season with the return of four-time MVP LeBron James and the addition of three-time All-Star Kevin Love. Cleveland also has a new head coach   David Blatt, who comes to the NBA after spending the past 20 years coaching overseas.

Cleveland is 3-0 so far this preseason, beating Blatt's former club Maccabi Tel Aviv, besting the Miami Heat in the NBA Global Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and topping the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night in Cleveland.

Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Rodney Stuckey, SF - C.J. Miles, PF - David West, C - Roy Hibbert
Cavaliers: PG - Matthew Dellavedova, SG - Dion Waiters, SF - LeBron James, PF - Kevin Love, C - Anderson Varejao

Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation, fractured right tibia/fibula)
Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving - out (right ankle), Tristan Thompson - TBD (right shoulder)

"I'm really encouraged about some of things we're doing. We're doing some things really well, we're learning what we've been working on, we're building those habits. We have a long way to go." -Pacers head coach Frank Vogel

"I just feel like I just kept carrying on the tradition. There were guys that came before me that laid the groundwork for me and hopefully I did my part. The program has grown above-and-beyond." -David West on his time at Xavier

"Part of the deal is to be a whole person and not just be an athlete. That's one of the things I learned there." -David West on his Xavier education

"It's always fun to see guys you had a chance to build with, make some friendships with, and be able to compete against them. Not to mention, they're a good basketball team, so those are always fun games, too." -C.J. Miles on facing his former team

"Last year, we just really had a lot of guys who were seeing everything for the first time. So there was a lot more teaching, a lot more games where...really, we just didn't have enough experience to win. And here, it's the total opposite." -Miles on the differences between playing in Cleveland last year and being with the Pacers this season

"He's great to have on the floor because he talks throughout the whole game, talks throughout the timeouts or a dead ball if he sees something...He's one of those guys that is just knowledgeable." -Miles on playing with David West

March 30, 2014: The Pacers managed just 76 points on 37-percent shooting in a 14-point loss in Cleveland. Paul George had a team-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and five steals. David West added 14 points, while Lance Stephenson chipped in 11 and seven boards, but no other Pacers players reached double figures.

Six Cavaliers players scored in double figures, led by Dion Waiters, who had 19 points. Tristan Thompson recorded his 32nd double-double of the year, finishing with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana/NBA TV - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5/1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)