- The Xavier Musketeers are again within the NCAA Event after lacking out in 2024, and dropping within the first spherical of the NIT.
- They have been in hassle after a poor first half in opposition to Texas, however the Musketeers rallied for an 86-80 win over the Longhorns of their First 4 matchup on Wednesday evening in Dayton, Ohio.
- The Musketeers at the moment are a #11 seed within the Midwest Area, and can tackle #6 Illinois on Friday evening within the spherical of 64.
The spherical of 64 is lastly set for the NCAA Event. First 4 video games on Tuesday gave North Carolina and Alabama State their go into the sphere.
On Wednesday, Mount St. Mary’s beat American College to e book their spot within the Event. In the meantime, Xavier needed to claw onerous and dig deep for a giant win over Texas.
Xavier Outscores Texas 47-33 within the Second Half
It was trying shaky for the Musketeers, who’re based mostly in Cincinnati, which is about an hour’s drive from Dayton. You’ll suppose that may give Xavier the sting, however it was Texas who got here out scorching within the first half and dominated the Musketeers.
However Xavier stepped up at each ends of the ground within the second, beating the Longhorns by 14 within the second half to win 86-80. Marcus Foster was 8-of-9 from the ground, together with 4-of-5 from three-point land, for 22 factors and eight rebounds. Zach Freemantle was subsequent with 15 factors, whereas Ryan Conwell and Dailyn Swain added 11 every for the Musketeers.
Texas received 23 factors from Tre Johnson, and Tramon Mark had 16 for the Longhorns. It was doubtless the final recreation at Texas for Johnson, who’s projected as a top-five decide within the NBA Draft in June.
This was additionally revenge for the Musketeers, who misplaced to Texas within the Candy 16 in 2023 as a #3 seed, whereas the Longhorns have been a #2 seed.
Can Xavier Make a Deep March Insanity Run?
March Madness odds have Xavier as a slight underdog of their spherical of 64 assembly with Illinois, however it’s a winnable recreation for the Musketeers. They didn’t even make the NCAA Event in 2024, and even perhaps worse, misplaced within the first spherical of the NIT Event.
However when you’re trying to make some March Madness underdog bets, have a powerful have a look at Xavier on Friday. That they had gained seven in a row earlier than dropping to Marquette within the quarterfinals of the Huge East Event, they usually’re a balanced crew at each ends of the ground.
The Musketeers must keep away from foul hassle in opposition to the Preventing Illini, as Conwell and Fremantle struggled with that in opposition to Texas. If they’ll keep on the ground, they’ve a particular shot in opposition to Illinois.
So far as March Madness Cinderella teams go, Xavier has some current historical past with this. In 2017, the Muskateers have been a #11 seed, and defeated #6 Maryland (one other Huge Ten college, like Illinois), #2 Florida State, and #2 Arizona. Coincidentally, the Wildcats have been coached by Sean Miller, who left Xavier for Arizona in 2009.
Miller would return to Xavier in 2022, and has guided the Muskateers again to the NCAA Event. The 2017 Xavier run would finish within the Elite Eight, the place they misplaced to #1 seed and eventual finalist Gonzaga.
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