(01-25-2017 07:22 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Matchup article:

Quote:Xavier vs. Cincinnati Game Preview

When: Thursday, Jan. 26 – 7 p.m. ET
Where: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati.
TV Broadcast: ESPN2

Myles Davis’ departure from Xavier remains puzzling. Davis tweeted Jan. 20 that he was leaving the program, and coach Chris Mack nor the university have commented on specifics. All that’s known is that Davis, who scored 17 points in last year’s win over Cincinnati, was suspended following a domestic abuse investigation, reinstated Jan. 8 and after only three games the fifth-year senior decided to leave.

Perhaps coincidentally, the Musketeers lost all three games Davis played before snapping that skid with Sunday’s 86-75 win over Georgetown in the first game since he left. Trevon Bluiett scored 24 points, and J.P. Macura added 20.

But while Xavier was going through a rough patch, the Bearcats just kept winning. They’re 7-0 in American Athletic Conference play and have won 10 in a row since losing to Butler on Dec. 10. Jacob Evans III led four players in double figures with 15 points in Saturday’s 17-point win at Tulane. Cincinnati has lost the last three meetings in the city rivalry, though.

Xavier Wins If …

… Bluiett stays hot. He nailed three 3-pointers against Georgetown after missing his previous eight attempts. The junior guard is 12 for 26 from the field in his last two games following a four-game stretch when he shot 8 for 40. The Musketeers will need him to be consistent offensively against a Bearcats team that ranks third in the AAC in scoring defense allowing 61.4 points per game.

Cincinnati Wins If …

… it continues to have a balanced offensive attack. Four players have reached double figures in each of the last two games, and Evans III (14.2), Kyle Washington (13.4) and Troy Caupain (10.8) are doing so consistently. Kevin Johnson and Quadri Moore both stepped up against Tulane with 14 points apiece, and Johnson has hit six 3-pointers over his last two contests. The Bearcats have multiple weapons and use them efficiently, which is the main reason they’re 17-2 and on quite a roll recently.

Matchup To Watch

Bluiett vs. Evans

It seems obvious given they’re the leading scorers for their respective teams, but this game easily could be decided which streaky shooter plays better. They should be matched up against each other in man-to-man situations.

Betting Odds

Spread: Cincinnati -3.5
Over/Under: No line as of post

Xavier vs. Cincinnati Prediction

This annual rivalry always is a huge matchup in the city of Cincinnati as the teams fight for bragging rights for the next year. Xavier has won each of the last three years, but this is where the streak ends. Evans scores 22 points and Bluiett will struggle as the Bearcats pull of the home victory.

Xavier vs. Cincinnati final score prediction: Cincinnati 67, Xavier 61

Campus Insiders

Given the tendency for opposing teams to suddenly get hot and shoot-lights out from 3-point range when they play the Bearcats, this...

Quote:Xavier Wins If …
… Bluiett stays hot. He nailed three 3-pointers against Georgetown after missing his previous eight attempts. The junior guard is 12 for 26 from the field in his last two games following a four-game stretch when he shot 8 for 40. The Musketeers will need him to be consistent offensively against a Bearcats team that ranks third in the AAC in scoring defense allowing 61.4 points per game.

Worries me.
We're going to have to figure out how to put a guy up in Bluiett's face and not let him sit out on the wing and shoot uncontested.

Will we cover?

Seems to me a hot start for UC is imperative: come out and make shots and put them down a dozen or more out of the opening tip. Get them out of their game plan and force long, errant thee point shots and take control.

Having said that, the unpredictability of this game haunts us all. It would be pretty special if Johnson and Caupain could lead the way tonight. If they're both finding ways to score I think UC could win by double digits.

So lets play our favorite game.

Who on X's bench comes in and can't miss all night from behind the arc?

(01-26-2017 09:09 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  So lets play our favorite game.

Who on X's bench comes in and can't miss all night from behind the arc?

Kaiser Gates.

(01-26-2017 09:09 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  So lets play our favorite game.

Who on X's bench comes in and can't miss all night from behind the arc?

Myles Davis is reinstated again and scores 25.. that's how my teams seem to get burned..

In all honesty, even though he is a starter, I think Malcolm Bernard will destroy us for 16-19 points.. He will get his 3 point shots(bc we will guard blew-it well) and as the best 3pt shooter on the team he will get hot and hit 4 of 6 or 5 of 7..

I expect our frontcourt play to overcome their hot shooting (similar to Marshall), if we can get out big then we roll, or if they shoot lights out we need to keep it under 8 at half and I think we win..

Either way I think this UC team is too good and too deep we win 77-70.. Big Game Jake will come to play and drop 20..

Xavier has shot 48.2%, 52.6% and 56.4% in the last three games. That can't happen tonight for UC to win.

(01-26-2017 10:38 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Xavier has shot 48.2%, 52.6% and 56.4% in the last three games. That can't happen tonight for UC to win.

Or, UC shoots the lights out tonight and we have another score like the Marshall game. But I really expect more of a grinder with each possession becoming a battle of will and fans reaching for antacids.

(01-26-2017 09:14 AM)JFlight21 Wrote:  

(01-26-2017 09:09 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  So lets play our favorite game.

Who on X's bench comes in and can't miss all night from behind the arc?

Kaiser Gates.

As I said earlier in the thread, I'm feeling like a Quentin Goodin 5-5 from three night is coming on.

I think its time we demolish and humiliate those punks. Hope we win by 25

(01-26-2017 10:38 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Xavier has shot 48.2%, 52.6% and 56.4% in the last three games. That can't happen tonight for UC to win.

No way they're shooting 48% tonight

I was just reading through one of the X message boards. Good lord their is a lot of hate that flows from that fan base. I never even think about X til they are the next game on the schedule. I do not live up there anymore, so maybe it is different for me. Is the rivalry still that white hot up there?

(01-26-2017 01:15 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  I was just reading through one of the X message boards. Good lord their is a lot of hate that flows from that fan base. I never even think about X til they are the next game on the schedule. I do not live up there anymore, so maybe it is different for me. Is the rivalry still that white hot up there?

Yes, but only real bad around the Crosstown Shootout. That's when it is Catholics versus Convicts, Cincinnati style.

(01-26-2017 01:15 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  I was just reading through one of the X message boards. Good lord their is a lot of hate that flows from that fan base. I never even think about X til they are the next game on the schedule. I do not live up there anymore, so maybe it is different for me. Is the rivalry still that white hot up there?

Makes me think of the a-hole I occasionally see on Columbia Parkway in the mornings. His vanity plate says "Zipmup". XU stickers on the car. Those Catholics. So classy.

Twitter fan base is turning on FC Cincinnati for being impartial.

(01-26-2017 01:40 PM)BearcatnKY Wrote:  Twitter fan base is turning on FC Cincinnati for being impartial.

Well they could always split the games at XU's football stadium...

(01-26-2017 01:15 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  I was just reading through one of the X message boards. Good lord their is a lot of hate that flows from that fan base. I never even think about X til they are the next game on the schedule. I do not live up there anymore, so maybe it is different for me. Is the rivalry still that white hot up there?

Feeling(and in fact being) chronically inferior can make some people bitter. At least that's how I explain their behavior.

(01-26-2017 01:51 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(01-26-2017 01:15 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  I was just reading through one of the X message boards. Good lord their is a lot of hate that flows from that fan base. I never even think about X til they are the next game on the schedule. I do not live up there anymore, so maybe it is different for me. Is the rivalry still that white hot up there?

Feeling(and in fact being) chronically inferior can make some people bitter. At least that's how I explain their behavior.

It is weird. I have not seen anything on this board that comes close to the nonsense they are spewing. Very childish.

(01-26-2017 02:05 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(01-26-2017 01:51 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(01-26-2017 01:15 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  I was just reading through one of the X message boards. Good lord their is a lot of hate that flows from that fan base. I never even think about X til they are the next game on the schedule. I do not live up there anymore, so maybe it is different for me. Is the rivalry still that white hot up there?

Feeling(and in fact being) chronically inferior can make some people bitter. At least that's how I explain their behavior.

It is weird. I have not seen anything on this board that comes close to the nonsense they are spewing. Very childish.

Not much to do in Norwood. My guess is they are all just eating their vending machine pizza and being keyboard warriors in their 1950's dorm rooms.