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Xavier goes for tourney sweep against Toledo – The Associated Press - November 27, 2020
The Musketeers will try for a sweep of the Xavier Invitational on Friday when they meet Toledo in Cincinnati.
The Musketeers got 19 points from Zach Freemantle and 17 from senior leader Paul Scruggs against Bradley, but it was freshman point guard Dwon Odom who produced the winning points. His running bank shot in the lane with 4.8 seconds left gave Xavier a one-point edge, and the Braves' Terry Nolan Jr. clanked the front end of a one-and-one with 0.4 ticks on the clock to ice the outcome.
A day after scoring 101 points in a 52-point rout of Oakland, the Musketeers barely produced half that. However, they defended and rebounded well again, limiting Bradley to 33.3 percent shooting from the field and winning the board battle 47-40.
"Good teams will find ways to win games, even when we play ugly. We've got to be able to hang our hat on defense, which always allows you to be in the game," Steele said. While Xavier had to work for its win, Toledo bounced back from a tough 61-59 loss Wednesday to Bradley by drilling Oakland 80-53.
Matchup: Toledo Rockets at Xavier Musketeers – ESPN – November 27, 2020
ESPN’s
Matchup Predictor gives Xavier an 85% chance of winning the game.
On May 8, 2020 Fieldhouse Flyer wrote:
I’m old-school, and as a matter of principle, I will always root for a Catholic school to beat a non-Catholic school.
Best of luck to the Musketeers in the Championship game. I hope the university has invested in a suitably impressive trophy for the winner.
On November 26, 2020 Omaha1 wrote:
Bradley > Oakland
I agree. So does Matt Norlander and Ken Pomeroy.
College Basketball 1-357 Rankings: Here are the projected best 68 teams for the 2020-21 season - Matt Norlander, CBS Sports – November 5, 2020
1. Villanova
11. Creighton
41. Seton Hall
43. UConn
44. Butler
47. Marquette
57. Providence
64. Xavier
74. St. John's
107. DePaul
122. Georgetown
126. Bradley
169. Toledo
280. Oakland
2021 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings – Kenpom.com – Data through games of Thursday, November 26, 2020
63. Xavier
117. Toledo
118. Bradley
311. Oakland
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:51 am