(1) Thursday Game 01/26/2017 - Xavier at Cincinnati...

[billyjack]

Big game tonight in non-conference:

#24 Xavier at #19 Cincinnati, 7pm.

Big game that Xavier should win. Tough that it's on the road.

[anXUfan]

UC is favored. Heavy, heavy local media coverage for this game. Here's a link to a free podcast. There's an even better one from the Xavier Scout site that's 160+ minutes. (!!!)

http://local12.com/sports/uc-bearcats/t ... eview-2017

[SJUBBALL]

Still waiting for Xavier to play 40 strong minutes and look like a convincing elite 8 threat. Last year they showed that potential multiple times. This year I just haven't been seeing it.

[Edrick]

[anXUfan]

You're right- X has yet to fire on all cylinders. Also a drag that Sumner is banged up. But I still believe the team has significant upside.

[Bill Marsh]

Should be a war. Both teams are tough and physical, both rebound and pressure the ball. Then there's the rivalry thing to bring out the nasty in both of them.

Cincy defends really, really well. Second in the country in FG% defense. OTOH, X is really good at drawing fouls. Top 25 in FT attempts per game. Can Cincy stop X without putting them on the line? They are one of the least foul prone teams in the country.

Home court edge goes to the Bearcats, but that will only make an upset all the more valuable.

[stever20]

Ken Pom shows 2 huge areas to watch....
1st like Marsh said is Xavier offense getting to the line... Xavier is #10 in FT Rate while Cincy is #24 in FT Rate allowed.
2nd is Cincy offensive rebounding. Cincy is #36 in the country in that stat, while X is #3 in not allowing offensive rebounds

It's amazing, if you had told me that 2 months ago that in this game a Xavier win would be considered an upset, I would have said you are a loon. But really it would be.

[Xudash]

Still waiting for Xavier to play 40 strong minutes and look like a convincing elite 8 threat. Last year they showed that potential multiple times. This year I just haven't been seeing it.

You are not alone with respect to that sentiment.

[JohnW22]

I hate this game...too nerve racking. Just find a way to win and get out of there. Limit the pick 6 turnovers that killed Xavier against Butler and take the crowd out of the game early by hitting shots. Can't go under 20% from the field most the first half like X did vs Georgetown. Xavier never won 4 straight so Caulpain and Johnson most likely don't want to be the first to go 0-4. Just Win

[MUPanther]

Thursday 1/26:
24 Xavier @ 19 Cincinnati, ESPN2 - Adam Amin, Len Elmore
Line: Cincinnati -3.5