Crosstown Shootout has added importance
UC, Xavier meet as ranked teams for third straight year.
The rivalry between Cincinnati and Xavier already is regarded as one of the best in college men’s basketball just because of the close proximity between the two schools that sit just three miles apart.
But the Crosstown Shootout has become even fiercer the past few years, and once again, there is an added level of importance this time.
When the No. 11 Bearcats (6-0) and No. 21 Musketeers (5-1) tip off today at the Cintas Center in the 85th edition of the game, they both bring a national ranking for a third year in a row. Each of the past two years, the higher ranked team came out ahead, but regardless the matchup always promises to be entertaining for fans.
Here is a look at five things to know about the Crosstown Shootout:
Back-and-forth battle
Cincinnati leads the series 50-34. Xavier had won three straight before falling 86-78 in front of a record crowd of 13,477 at Fifth Third Arena last year. In that game, the No. 19 Bearcats overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to beat the No. 24 Musketeers.
The 2015-16 matchup marked just the second time both teams were ranked entering this game, the first coming in 1994. No. 12 Xavier controlled from the get-go and beat No. 23 Cincinnati 65-55 to improve to 10-0 in front of a Cintas Center record crowd of 10,617.
KenPom.com predicts this one to be a 74-73 win for Xavier, perhaps a nod to the Musketeers’ recent success playing at home. Xavier has won 34 straight non-conference home games with its last loss coming in the 201213 season, and the Musketeers are 232-35 (.869) alltime at Cintas Center, including 4-0 this season. That alltime winning percentage is ranked sixth in the nation.
Xavier more tested
While Cincinnati boasts the better ranking, Xavier has fared well through more difficult competition so far. The Bearcats are coming off an 83-51 rout of winless Alabama State on Monday, while the Musketeers are riding high after knocking off No. 16 Baylor, 76-63, on Tuesday.
Xavier’s only loss came just before that — against unbeaten Arizona State in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational championship game. The Musketeers were ranked No. 15 going into the tournament.
The Bearcats also played in a tournament last week, but were the only ranked team in the field at the Cayman Islands Classic, which they swept.
Balanced Bearcats
Gary Clark has stepped up his game to lead UC, averaging 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds, but the Bearcats have three other guys scoring in double digits and all are capable of big performances.
Jacob Evans (11.7 ppg), Wilmington’s Jarron Cumberland (11.0 ppg) and Kyle Washington (10.4 ppg) were among the team’s top five scorers last year during a 30-6 season, along with Clark and Troy Caupain, who graduated, and they’ve helped the Bearcats pick up right where they left off.
Other contributors such as Cane Broome, Keith Williams, Justin Jenifer and Trevor Moore also have shown an ability to score as each has tallied 10 points or more in at least one game.
The Bluiett Show
Xavier senior guard Trevon Bluiett scored a career-high 40 points, including matching a school-record nine 3-pointers, in last year’s Crosstown Shootout, and he’s once again the player to watch. He averages 19.7 points per game even with J.P. Macura chipping in 14.6 points.
Bluiett finished the 2016-17 season with 18.5 points per game, and he is ninth on XU’s all-time scoring list with 1,723 points for his career.
The Musketeers’ offense is rounded out by Kaiser Gates (11.3 ppg), Tyrique Jones (9.6 ppg) and Naji Marshall (8.1 ppg).
Efficient shooters vs. efficient defenders
Xavier is shooting 55.0 percent from the field, which ranks second in Division I men’s basketball, but the Musketeers face one of the nation’s toughest defenses. UC has held opponents to a 34.6 percent shooting rate, and only three teams have a better field-goal percentage defense.
The Bearcats are giving up 57.3 points per game (seventh best), while the Musketeers average 89.0 points per game (21st).
Cincinnati ranks second nationally in two statistical categories while outscoring opponents by an average margin of 30.6 points per game and owning a plus15.4 rebound margin. Contact this contributing writer at 772-260-8826 or email laurelpfahler@gmail. com.