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Nearly five months after its preseason trip to UD Arena, Xavier is back in Montgomery County this week with much larger stakes as it prepares to face Texas in the First Four Wednesday night.
The faces have changed from just two years ago, when Texas ended Xavier's season in the Sweet 16 but the coaches are the same.
Sean Miller has taken Xavier to March Madness for the second time in three seasons and Rodney Terry, the Longhorns' interim head coach for that Elite Eight run, has now gone to the NCAA Tournament three years in a row.
Watch: Xavier reacts to NCAA tournament bid, First Four matchup with Texas
'A lot of hugs': For Xavier's Zach Freemantle, NCAA Tournament was the missing piece
"I think Rodney Terry does an amazing job with his staff, getting the guys to play hard with great effort," Miller said Sunday. "We'll certainly have to be ready for that."
There's no more talk of the bubble, bracketology or Quad 1 wins. The records are wiped clean when Xavier and Texas fight Wednesday for the right to play No. 6 Illinois at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee Friday night.
More: John Fanta NCAA tournament bracket prediction: Xavier over Kentucky to reach Sweet 16
Xavier will certainly take a repeat performance of its preseason trip to UD Arena, when the Musketeers had seven players in double figures and shot 59.3% from the field in a 98-74 win over the Flyers.
Less than 50 miles from the Cintas Center, Xavier will have a large contingent of supporters make the trip and that's one of the advantages the Musketeers have in this matchup.
"I know we're in the wheelhouse of our fanbase," Miller said. "When you give our fanbase the opportunity to get to our games, they'll find a way in."
Texas was 4-6 on the road this season while Xavier was 15-2 at home.
Xavier won by double figures four times over its seven-game winning streak to end the regular season. In two of its single-digit victories, the Musketeers had commanding second half leads but had to hang on at Providence (91-82) and at Seton Hall (73-66) in what should've been blowouts.
It finally caught up to Xavier in the Big East Tournament when it squandered a 14-point second-half lead in a loss to Marquette.
Not playing a full 40-minute game has been a problem for Xavier all season. In the postseason, the Musketeers will have to find out how to finish against good teams. Xavier went just 2-6 against NCAA Tournament teams in games decided by 10 points or less.
Late-game turnovers have particularly stung Xavier in several matchups. Texas ranks No. 220 on KenPom in turnover percentage. Xavier is 9-1 this season when they keep turnovers in the single digits.
Scouting is crucial in the NCAA Tournament with quick turnarounds. Xavier has a 72-hour window to install a gameplan for Texas, but they had to start from scratch compared to the familiarity of Big East foes.
The focal point to Xavier's defense is no secret as Texas boasts a projected NBA Lottery Pick in guard Tre Johnson.
Johnson was named the Freshman of the Year in the SEC. He averaged an SEC-best 20.2 points per game during the regular season, the most by a Texas player since Kevin Durant in 2007, and shot 39.2% from downtown and nearly 90% at the free-throw line.
It will be interesting to see who draws the defensive assignment against Johnson for Xavier. The talented guards in the Big East saw a healthy mixture of Marcus Foster and Dailyn Swain on the defensive end.
Tip: Wednesday, 9:10 p.m., UD Arena (13,409)
TV/Radio: truTV/700WLW
Ratings: Xavier is No. 43 in KenPom and Texas is No. 44. Xavier is No. 45 in the NCAA NET Rankings and Texas is No. 39.
History: Texas leads the all-time series, 4-2, with each of the last four meetings in the postseason.
Record: 19-15
Head coach: Rodney Terry (62-36 at Texas, third season)
Offense: 78.4 ppg
Defense: 72.2 ppg
Overview: Texas was an interesting case for the Selection Committee since the Longhorns had several wins over ranked teams but finished 14th in the 16-team SEC with one of the weakest non-conference strength of schedules in the nation (No. 349).
Texas went just 6-12 in SEC play during the regular season and had lost eight of eight of its last 11 before winning a pair of conference tournament contests.
UConn and South Carolina were the only similar opponents for Texas and Xavier.
Texas lost by double figures to UConn (76-65) at home Dec. 8 and to South Carolina on the road (84-69). Xavier split with UConn and won on a neutral court over the Gamecocks.
(Pos., Height, Stats)
Jordan Pope (G, 6'2", 11.2 ppg)
Tramon Mack (G, 6'5", 10.4 ppg)
Tre Johnson (G, 6'6", 19.8 ppg)
Arthur Kaluma (F, 6'7", 12.4 ppg)
Kadin Shedrick (F, 6'11", 8.7 ppg)
Record: 21-11
Head coach: Sean Miller (184-86 at Xavier, eighth season)
Offense: 78 ppg
Defense: 70.9 ppg
(Pos., Height, Stats)
Dayvion McKnight (G, 6'0", 9.6 ppg)
Ryan Conwell (G, 6'4", 16.8 ppg)
Marcus Foster (G, 6'5", 7.6 ppg)
Dailyn Swain (G/F, 6'8", 10.5 ppg)
Zach Freemantle (F, 6'9", 17.3 ppg)
Guard Ryan Conwell has averaged 24.4 points over the last five games. Texas does a good job of chasing teams off the 3-point line as opponents attempt just 21 triples a game against the Longhorns.
Tre Johnson was the Longhorns' leading scorer 10 times in an 11-game stretch from Jan. 18-Feb. 26, but just once in the final six games. The Longhorns' starting lineup features four double-digit scorers including forward Arthur Kaluma, a former starter at Creighton. He's averaging a career-high 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.
Xavier gets its shots blocked at one of the highest rates (No. 321) in the country and Texas big man Kadin Shedrick is one of the best shot-blockers in the SEC.
Xavier is a 3-point favorite and the total (over/under) is sitting at 149.5 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Xavier's defense has shown the ability to repair itself in a hurry. Xavier went 5-0 this season in its next game after allowing 80-plus points in regulation. The Musketeers fix some mistakes from the Marquette loss and the home-court advantage at UD Arena gets them to Milwaukee.
Final score prediction: Xavier 75, Texas 70
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: First Four: Here's how Xavier beats Texas in NCAA Tournament
Continue reading...
The faces have changed from just two years ago, when Texas ended Xavier's season in the Sweet 16 but the coaches are the same.
Sean Miller has taken Xavier to March Madness for the second time in three seasons and Rodney Terry, the Longhorns' interim head coach for that Elite Eight run, has now gone to the NCAA Tournament three years in a row.
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Watch: Xavier reacts to NCAA tournament bid, First Four matchup with Texas
'A lot of hugs': For Xavier's Zach Freemantle, NCAA Tournament was the missing piece
"I think Rodney Terry does an amazing job with his staff, getting the guys to play hard with great effort," Miller said Sunday. "We'll certainly have to be ready for that."
There's no more talk of the bubble, bracketology or Quad 1 wins. The records are wiped clean when Xavier and Texas fight Wednesday for the right to play No. 6 Illinois at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee Friday night.
More: John Fanta NCAA tournament bracket prediction: Xavier over Kentucky to reach Sweet 16
3 keys to a Xavier Musketeers' win over Texas Longhorns in NCAA Tournament's First Four
1. Xavier should have massive home-court advantage at UD Arena
Xavier will certainly take a repeat performance of its preseason trip to UD Arena, when the Musketeers had seven players in double figures and shot 59.3% from the field in a 98-74 win over the Flyers.
Less than 50 miles from the Cintas Center, Xavier will have a large contingent of supporters make the trip and that's one of the advantages the Musketeers have in this matchup.
You must be registered for see images attach
"I know we're in the wheelhouse of our fanbase," Miller said. "When you give our fanbase the opportunity to get to our games, they'll find a way in."
Texas was 4-6 on the road this season while Xavier was 15-2 at home.
2. Xavier needs to find a way to win late
Xavier won by double figures four times over its seven-game winning streak to end the regular season. In two of its single-digit victories, the Musketeers had commanding second half leads but had to hang on at Providence (91-82) and at Seton Hall (73-66) in what should've been blowouts.
It finally caught up to Xavier in the Big East Tournament when it squandered a 14-point second-half lead in a loss to Marquette.
Not playing a full 40-minute game has been a problem for Xavier all season. In the postseason, the Musketeers will have to find out how to finish against good teams. Xavier went just 2-6 against NCAA Tournament teams in games decided by 10 points or less.
You must be registered for see images
Late-game turnovers have particularly stung Xavier in several matchups. Texas ranks No. 220 on KenPom in turnover percentage. Xavier is 9-1 this season when they keep turnovers in the single digits.
3. Can Xavier slow down Texas guard Tre Johnson?
Scouting is crucial in the NCAA Tournament with quick turnarounds. Xavier has a 72-hour window to install a gameplan for Texas, but they had to start from scratch compared to the familiarity of Big East foes.
The focal point to Xavier's defense is no secret as Texas boasts a projected NBA Lottery Pick in guard Tre Johnson.
You must be registered for see images attach
Johnson was named the Freshman of the Year in the SEC. He averaged an SEC-best 20.2 points per game during the regular season, the most by a Texas player since Kevin Durant in 2007, and shot 39.2% from downtown and nearly 90% at the free-throw line.
It will be interesting to see who draws the defensive assignment against Johnson for Xavier. The talented guards in the Big East saw a healthy mixture of Marcus Foster and Dailyn Swain on the defensive end.
Xavier Musketeers vs. Texas Longhorns
Tip: Wednesday, 9:10 p.m., UD Arena (13,409)
TV/Radio: truTV/700WLW
Ratings: Xavier is No. 43 in KenPom and Texas is No. 44. Xavier is No. 45 in the NCAA NET Rankings and Texas is No. 39.
History: Texas leads the all-time series, 4-2, with each of the last four meetings in the postseason.
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Texas Longhorns scouting report
Record: 19-15
Head coach: Rodney Terry (62-36 at Texas, third season)
Offense: 78.4 ppg
Defense: 72.2 ppg
Overview: Texas was an interesting case for the Selection Committee since the Longhorns had several wins over ranked teams but finished 14th in the 16-team SEC with one of the weakest non-conference strength of schedules in the nation (No. 349).
Texas went just 6-12 in SEC play during the regular season and had lost eight of eight of its last 11 before winning a pair of conference tournament contests.
UConn and South Carolina were the only similar opponents for Texas and Xavier.
Texas lost by double figures to UConn (76-65) at home Dec. 8 and to South Carolina on the road (84-69). Xavier split with UConn and won on a neutral court over the Gamecocks.
Projected starting lineup
(Pos., Height, Stats)
Jordan Pope (G, 6'2", 11.2 ppg)
Tramon Mack (G, 6'5", 10.4 ppg)
Tre Johnson (G, 6'6", 19.8 ppg)
Arthur Kaluma (F, 6'7", 12.4 ppg)
Kadin Shedrick (F, 6'11", 8.7 ppg)
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Xavier Musketeers scouting report
Record: 21-11
Head coach: Sean Miller (184-86 at Xavier, eighth season)
Offense: 78 ppg
Defense: 70.9 ppg
Projected starting lineup
(Pos., Height, Stats)
Dayvion McKnight (G, 6'0", 9.6 ppg)
Ryan Conwell (G, 6'4", 16.8 ppg)
Marcus Foster (G, 6'5", 7.6 ppg)
Dailyn Swain (G/F, 6'8", 10.5 ppg)
Zach Freemantle (F, 6'9", 17.3 ppg)
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Players to watch
Guard Ryan Conwell has averaged 24.4 points over the last five games. Texas does a good job of chasing teams off the 3-point line as opponents attempt just 21 triples a game against the Longhorns.
Tre Johnson was the Longhorns' leading scorer 10 times in an 11-game stretch from Jan. 18-Feb. 26, but just once in the final six games. The Longhorns' starting lineup features four double-digit scorers including forward Arthur Kaluma, a former starter at Creighton. He's averaging a career-high 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.
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Xavier gets its shots blocked at one of the highest rates (No. 321) in the country and Texas big man Kadin Shedrick is one of the best shot-blockers in the SEC.
Xavier vs. Texas pick and score prediction
Xavier is a 3-point favorite and the total (over/under) is sitting at 149.5 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Xavier's defense has shown the ability to repair itself in a hurry. Xavier went 5-0 this season in its next game after allowing 80-plus points in regulation. The Musketeers fix some mistakes from the Marquette loss and the home-court advantage at UD Arena gets them to Milwaukee.
Final score prediction: Xavier 75, Texas 70
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: First Four: Here's how Xavier beats Texas in NCAA Tournament
Continue reading...
