- The Xavier Musketeers are again within the NCAA Event after lacking out in 2024, and shedding within the first spherical of the NIT.
- They had been in bother 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 are actually 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 move into the sector.
On Wednesday, Mount St. Mary’s beat American College to e book their spot within the Event. In the meantime, Xavier needed to claw exhausting and dig deep for an enormous win over Texas.
Xavier Outscores Texas 47-33 within the Second Half
It was trying shaky for the Musketeers, who’re primarily based in Cincinnati, which is about an hour’s drive from Dayton. You’ll assume that will give Xavier the sting, nevertheless 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 acquired 23 factors from Tre Johnson, and Tramon Mark had 16 for the Longhorns. It was seemingly the final sport at Texas for Johnson, who’s projected as a top-five choose 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 had been a #2 seed.
Can Xavier Make a Deep March Insanity Run?
March Insanity odds have Xavier as a slight underdog of their spherical of 64 assembly with Illinois, nevertheless it’s a winnable sport for the Musketeers. They didn’t even make the NCAA Event in 2024, and maybe even worse, misplaced within the first spherical of the NIT Event.
However when you’re trying to make some March Insanity underdog bets, have a robust have a look at Xavier on Friday. They’d received seven in a row earlier than shedding to Marquette within the quarterfinals of the Large East Event, they usually’re a balanced group at each ends of the ground.
The Musketeers should keep away from foul bother in opposition to the Combating Illini, as Conwell and Fremantle struggled with that in opposition to Texas. If they will keep on the ground, they’ve a particular shot in opposition to Illinois.
So far as March Insanity Cinderella groups go, Xavier has some latest historical past with this. In 2017, the Muskateers had been a #11 seed, and defeated #6 Maryland (one other Large Ten faculty, like Illinois), #2 Florida State, and #2 Arizona. Coincidentally, the Wildcats had 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.