Game Thread: BET Xavier v Marquette University (3/13/2025)

[paulxu]

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2a1f45a0-e1cc-4202-89d7-1b7b5c27f309_1.3c18d8e111cdcd7e8a271effb6000907.jp eg?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFF VS.https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xeEAAMXQya1Q8vgG/s-l500.jpg


CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers, 21-10 overall and 13-7 in the BIG EAST Conference, earned the No. 4 seed in this week's BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York. Xavier will take on the No. 5 seed Marquette University Golden Eagles, 22-9 overall and 13-7 in the BIG EAST, in the BET Quarterfinals on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. XU is riding a seven-game win streak.

The two teams split the regular season meetings this season with Marquette winning at XU 72-70 on Dec. 21 and Xavier winning at MU 59-57 on Jan. 18. Xavier leading scorer and rebounder Zach Freemantle missed the December game with an injury but contributed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in Milwaukee. Xavier holds a 2-1 advantage in three previous meetings with Marquette in the BIG EAST Tournament.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (21-10, 13-7 BIG EAST)
NO. 25/23 MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (22-9, 13-7 BIG EAST)
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025 AT 2:30 P.M. ET
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK, NY

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STATS

TV/Stream: Peacock with Noah Eagle, Donny Marshall and John Fanta.
Xavier Radio: 55KRC-AM with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer Joe Sunderman ('79) and analysis from XU all-time leading scorer and Hall of Famer Byron Larkin ('88). XU broadcast is also available on the Varsity Network and on Sirius XM.

Live Stats: Media stats at Statbroadcast.com (http://Statbroadcast.com) and fan stats at GoXavier.com (http://GoXavier.com)

[drudy23]

Win please.

Please win.

[Tim]

Win please.

Please win.

Win and we're in. Lose and we're out. About as straightforward as it can be. At least we don't have to nervously await other game scores.

Don't like that we opened as dogs but I expect it to drop ro 1.5 by game time. This is crazy but there's about the same chance in my mind that we win the entire BE tournament as there is that we lose this game. My gut says the former is more likely.

[drudy23]

All signs point to us being at about a 80% shot of making the tourney right now. I would think with a close loss, we'd probably be a coin flip (or a little better or worse depending on bubble results and bid stealers).

What's annoying is that I think we're simply a better team than most of the bubble, but not taking advantage of early season close games may cost us.

Man, we need to get in.

[Xavier]

I have no idea. I love the streak, and I know Creighton was part of it, but neutral court game against a team that will be all over you. It’s different than playing Providence and butler. We beat them by 2, they beat us by 2 (without Freemantle).

To me all signs point to a game I think we should win, but something in my gut says otherwise. They aren’t a good shooting team. Key players are battling through injuries. They struggled down the stretch. But I’m pretty nervous about it. Probably bc it means so much (we think?). Open -3. Feels like the game is taking forever to get here.

[HenryMuto]

PeFNcock you got to be kidding me F this world

[GoMuskies]

Outside of the three NCAA Tournament games we played two years ago, is tomorrow the most important basketball game Xavier has played since Mack packed up for Louisville?

[webxu]

If you look Marquette hasn't beaten anyone of note since Jan 3.. I think X matches up well with them and are playing their best ball.

[paulxu]

One of my buddies said he saw the Xavier pep band on the Today show playing the fight song.

GO X !

[Xavier]

Outside of the three NCAA Tournament games we played two years ago, is tomorrow the most important basketball game Xavier has played since Mack packed up for Louisville?

Maybe in terms of games not played yet? I mean- throw any other Q1 game we lost this year and flip it to a win and we are safely in regardless of tomorrows game. So in that regard, those games were more important.

[XUBison]

Outside of the three NCAA Tournament games we played two years ago, is tomorrow the most important basketball game Xavier has played since Mack packed up for Louisville?

I can’t think of another with so much on the line, so yes.

[HenryMuto]

I think Xavier should be safely in with a win and if they lost still be in but go to Dayton.

That is what I think should happen but it doesn't matter what I think only what 12 committee people think so just go win.

[HenryMuto]

I can’t think of another with so much on the line, so yes.

I can think of a few in the past 5 years where the game was a bubble must win game and lost both in the 1st round

2022 Xavier 18-12 vs Butler and loses 89-82 in OT and was left out of the tournament
2020 Xavier 19-12 vs DePaul and loses 71-67 but since there was no bracket that year didn't end up mattering but we were on bubble before that game

[Xville]

Dunno if I have ever been this nervous before a game I've not played in. Just huge for the program on so many levels.

[Xville]

Prepare for a ref show at least in the 2nd half. Breeding time ugh

[KabeX]

Sitting right behind B & J. Good to be amongst friends.

[Strange Brew]

Welp. It’s over. :)

[murray87]

Yes, let's get Conwell heated up!

[Xville]

First War Win

9 to go

[Three Point Pete]

Foster showed up today!

Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

[murray87]

Ugh, come on Dailyn!

[D-West & PO-Z]

Swain can’t shoot more than 40% in the paint. Jesus

[Xville]

Second War loss. Marquette on a 6-0 run ugh.

[noteggs]

Calling it a little tight

[Xville]

Calling it a little tight

well its breeding so that tracks.

[noteggs]

well its breeding so that tracks.

And his little toady Tony Chiazza

[Xville]

There ya go Conwell! Gold and Joplin with two fouls each...time to make a big run here to end the half.

[Xville]

ugh now swain will have to sit.

[HenryMuto]

Hitting big shots but can't get the stops to blow this game open

[Three Point Pete]

Hitting big shots but can't get the stops to blow this game openI'll say hitting 54% is outstanding!

Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

[Xville]

Need some stops down the stretch here. Come on!

[Xville]

There we effing go!!!

[HenryMuto]

On fire right now wish they had made that front end I hate missing front end FT's but that 3 ball puts X up 12

[HenryMuto]

Now just please end the half strong and keep the double digit lead is all I ask

[HenryMuto]

Well the final 45 seconds could gone better but I will take a 10 point halftime lead

[murray87]

OK boys, very well rounded effort! One more half like that please.

[Xville]

All in all a really good half of basketball for X. Good shooting half, only 3 turnovers, outrebounded them. 20 more minutes of good bb and we're dancin

[paulxu]

Keep the foot on the gas.

[Three Point Pete]

X is 18-3 when leading at halftime. Keep the pedal down and finish strong!

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[American X]

I hope this is real life. That exceeded expectations. One more half means either another day in NYC/MSG or a miserable return to CVG.

[KabeX]

Sitting next to a UConn fan. Nice guy who correctly pointed out that Marquette ain't going away. I agree with this. They're not going away until we pound them into submission in the 2nd half. LFG!

[HenryMuto]

It's going to be a long 20 mins of game action it is one thing to watch games but it is another level when it amounts to what this game means.

[murray87]

3 fouls on Joplin is helpful

[Xville]

Marquette one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the freaking country, and almost at 40%...ridiculous

[HenryMuto]

Had it up to 14 with ball and Free misses a short one and then X gives up 3 in a row from 3 point land and all of them were wide opens shots.

Luckily Conwell hit 2 big time shots including that 25 foot 3 with a guy in his face to get it back to 10.

This thing could be blown wide open right now up 16 or more if not for all those wide open 3s allowed.

Need to stop that obvisouly

[KabeX]

and 2 of those 3s were travels. They just don't call it anymore

[xudash]

Marquette is not going to continue that pace behind the arc.

[Xville]

Another one....fuck! Defense has disappeared.

[murray87]

Conwell has brought his A game today!

[HenryMuto]

Stupid Peacock went out on me there for the last 5 mins I turned it back on just in time for a timeout. X leads by 9.

[Xville]

Not liking this at all. Defense needs to step the f up.

[HenryMuto]

What a freaking disaster 7-0 run on another open 3 then 2 bad bad turnovers leading to 2 easy baskets

Lead down to 2 from 14 like 5 mins ago

[HenryMuto]

It took 6 mins of game time to go from 14 to 2

I was feeling great not long ago not feeling good now

[xudash]

This stage has been too big for Swain so far. And HUNTER should know better given how long he’s been around.

[Xville]

Can Marquette effing miss? Come on d get a hand in their face

[Strange Brew]

it's over.

[Xville]

Alright gut check time! Let’s go x!

[HenryMuto]

I can't believe Free missed that dunk that can't happen would been up 5 then he couldn't redeem himself on the open 3 to get it to 6.

Wow that hurt missing that dunk

[Blue Blooded-05]

4 point feels minuscule and 6 minutes feels like an eternity

[Xville]

Marquette can’t fucking miss

[GoMuskies]

Swain seems to be killing us.

[Xville]

Swain playing like complete ass

[Strange Brew]

That will about do it.

[GoMuskies]

Troubling

[Xville]

Not going to win a lot of games when the opponent shoots almost 50% from 3, especially vs a team that usually shoots 31-32

[HenryMuto]

This sucks was up 4 and now down 4 they won't miss and when they do they get it back and score and the turnovers the costly turnovers leading to easy baskets

[paulxu]

Somehow they've taken 11 more shots than we have.

[noteggs]

Half of their points are from 3. Ugh

[xudash]

Does regression to the mean still exist?

They shouldn’t hit another three for the remainder of this game.

[GoMuskies]

Conwell!!!!!!

[Xville]

Defense just absolutely atrocious this half.

[GoMuskies]

Too many second half turnovers. Oh well, get em next year I guess.

[Strange Brew]

unbelievable....

[noteggs]

Ugh

[HenryMuto]

That 3 was brutal and with X only having 3 fouls that could hurt us they need to get a turnover but damn that 3 ball really sucked

They have made 8 of their last 10 3s

[Xville]

Fucking great

[xu82]

I find it helps if I just start accepting that we somehow lost this. That way I have only upside.

[GoMuskies]

I can't imagine them missing FTs the way they're shooting. Hopefully a steal.

[HenryMuto]

Try and force a jump ball you should be very aggressive don't just give away the fouls

[Xville]

Really going to come up one game short after reeling off 7 straight? Fuck

[xu82]

I can't imagine them missing FTs the way they're shooting. Hopefully a steal.

Maybe shooting from closer to the rim will mess with them.

[HenryMuto]

OMFG no off foul call fawkers

[HenryMuto]

God that 1st FT almost missed

[HenryMuto]

Damn how much is that Free missed dunk hurting right now

I would hit both FTs again and hope they miss 1

[xu82]

I thought this was supposed to be fun?

[GoMuskies]

Fitting end.

[Xville]

Looks like another lost season. Sick of this shit

[paulxu]

They know how to foul when up 3.
Master class on how to blow a 14 point lead in a most important game.
Maybe Wake can beat UNC.

UGH.

[Blue Blooded-05]

March basketball is a cruel mistress

[American X]

Still leading the country in moral victories.

[Strange Brew]

So, are we definitely out now?

[Xville]

So, are we definitely out now?

As of this moment no, but if unc and Texas win today, and most likely there will be 2-3 bid stealers. Yeah most likely

[xukeith]

I think X still has a chance to get an NCAA invite. 12 seed in Dayton.

[paulxu]

I don't know if we just ran out of gas in the second half.
But up by 10 at half, lead by 14 mid way through the second, and lose...just absolutely sucks.

If we're out, its gonna be a long off season.

[HenryMuto]

God that hurts up 14 and couldn't finish. Gave up too many open 3s you don't expect them to hit most of them but they did 8 for last 10.

Also a few very bad turnovers 2 of them during their run to take the lead that cost us 4 pts.

That and that missed dunk you never know how the final minute plays out if we had those 2 more pts.

Now we have to sweat out now and hope for bubble teams to lose and no bid stealers and have to root on UCONN to blow out Nova and get inside that to top 30.

Just hate it this team is clearly a tournament team

[Strange Brew]

As of this moment no, but if unc and Texas win today, and most likely there will be 2-3 bid stealers. Yeah most likely

Ugh, not looking good right now.

[GoMuskies]

The Crown sounds exciting. Actually, it does not.

[Xville]

I don't know if we just ran out of gas in the second half.
But up by 10 at half, lead by 14 mid way through the second, and lose...just absolutely sucks.

If we're out, its gonna be a long off season.

That’s been the tale for most of the season. The team has mostly wilted in tight games down the stretch.

[IM4X]

Frustrating as heck.

All went to crap once Sean decided to take out both Conwell and Fremantle at the same time and deciding to have Swain and Hunter in there together (two players giving us nothing on offense and were liabilities almost all game up to that point). It was like Sean just decided he was going to give away 7-10 points.

[Wiggy1227]

Why are they clearly a tournament team. What am I missing. I see a team that wins games they should but loses the rest. I guess if the ncaa wants a team that will be competitive but lose by 4-5 then sure that’s us. Cant beat the good teams. And let’s be honest Marquette came limping into this and yet here we are
Miller better figure it out. He is on the fence in my eyes.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

What a game for Conwell. Too bad for the L.

[bleedXblue]

I don't know if we just ran out of gas in the second half.
But up by 10 at half, lead by 14 mid way through the second, and lose...just absolutely sucks.

If we're out, its gonna be a long off season.

we gave up 53 points in the 2nd half.

[Xavier]

Swain was garbage man. Sitting both Freemantle and conwell at same time as they go on a 10-0 run was rough.

[HenryMuto]

Swain was garbage man. Sitting both Freemantle and conwell at same time as they go on a 10-0 run was rough.

Yep I don't get that in a life or death game

[bleedXblue]

Why are they clearly a tournament team. What am I missing. I see a team that wins games they should but loses the rest. I guess if the ncaa wants a team that will be competitive but lose by 4-5 then sure that’s us. Cant beat the good teams. And let’s be honest Marquette came limping into this and yet here we are
Miller better figure it out. He is on the fence in my eyes.

ok buddy

[Xavgrad08]

The Marquette game felt like a microcosm of Xavier this year. Killer Turnovers and just a play or two short of winning. Felt like this team developed into a Tournament type team, but I am not sure they get selected. Xavier's fate feels like it is in other team's hands at this point. Need certain teams to lose and no bid stealers.

[bleedXblue]

Yep I don't get that in a life or death game

How much more were you going to get from Conwell? I did think we went away from Free too much in the 2nd half.

Defense lost the game for us......and credit Marq for making some of those 3's

[Xville]

Can’t believe free will have been here six years and probably never play in the tourney.

[Wiggy1227]

ok buddy

What part of that do you disagree with? Tell me what I am missing then. 1 quad one win. No bad losses. It speaks for itself. They beat who they should period.

[Xville]

What part of that do you disagree with? Tell me what I am missing then. 1 quad one win. No bad losses. It speaks for itself. They beat who they should period.

You described same situation as most of the bubble. They will most likely have 2 quad one wins, three teams they beat that make the tourney with no losses. That’s a bubble team. They may make it, may not. No one said they are a sure fire ncaa team

[Xavier]

It will be 2 Q1 games. And wins over 3 tournament teams which is more than other bubble teams. Weird to think UConn Creighton and Marquette aren’t good teams?

[IM4X]

I don’t get Sean playing Hugely just 2 minutes when Swain and Hunter were struggling. Yes they are quicker, but they both had costly turnovers and literally looked scared to do anything on offense. Hugely scored a bucket pretty quickly and effortlessly.

He had 2 point in 2 minutes of play. Maybe he would have given us 12 points with 12 minutes.

[HenryMuto]

such an incredibly painful loss when you held a 14 point 2nd half lead.

[nickgyp]

Ryan Conwell played inspired ball but at the half, I believe X had 3-4 turnovers. Six in the second half spelled disaster especially when Marquette hits 8 of 10 threes. Xavier defense wasn’t good but as has been alluded here, traveling doesn’t seemed to be called. Even when X had two deflections, both resulted in points including one of those improbable threes. That kind of stuff happens in games. Just wished it wasn’t in this game. X got sloppy; and Marquette capitalized. Free misses a dunk and Conwell gets run over on that late inbounds play that was far worse than Hugley’s first half offensive foul. And no call. It all added up to a disappointing result in a game that showed flashes of brilliance

On the bright side, we don’t have to witness a St. John’s street mugging in MSG tomorrow.

[HenryMuto]

I forgot about that non call which should been off foul giving Xavier ball down 2. Seen that called plenty this year in that exact situation. That would been huge.

[HenryMuto]

3 games vs Marquette all 3 were decided by 2 pts

[XUGRAD80]

I’m not going to hang my head and let this loss affect my mood. They played hard, the fought for the win, they came up just short. Nothing to be ashamed about. Marquette hit some shots they normally won’t make, and the same can be said for Xavier. It’s a shame that anyone had to lose that game, especially X.

I just think that it would be a crying shame if Free and Hunt couldn’t end their Xavier careers playing in the NCAA tourney. That team deserves to play there, and so do they.

[Xavier]

I appreciate everything Hunter went through and battled to play. I will leave it at that.

[drudy23]

I’m not going to hang my head and let this loss affect my mood. .

I am.

[GoMuskies]

It affected my mood, but I've already come around. That's probably a bad sign.

[Xville]

I’m not going to hang my head and let this loss affect my mood. They played hard, the fought for the win, they came up just short. Nothing to be ashamed about. Marquette hit some shots they normally won’t make, and the same can be said for Xavier. It’s a shame that anyone had to lose that game, especially X.

I just think that it would be a crying shame if Free and Hunt couldn’t end their Xavier careers playing in the NCAA tourney. That team deserves to play there, and so do they.

Moral victories are for losers, and x has had way too many of them this year. First game against Marquette, second game against St. John’s, first game against UConn and so on and so forth. This could be 6 of 7 not making the tournament. That’s unacceptable.

[paulxu]

Especially when you think we made 16 out of 18 in the preceding years.

[xukeith]

Especially when you think we made 16 out of 18 in the preceding years.

Ah the glory years of the A10.

[IM4X]

Two areas jump off the page as the reason this team lost last night.

Turnovers and Steals.

We had 10 turnovers. Marquette had 4.

We had 0 steals. Marquette had 8.

This was not the game for Swain to have 0 steals and 4 turnovers.

We likely win if we just have 2 steals in the game and 1 or 2 less turnovers.

[XUGRAD80]

Moral victories are for losers, and x has had way too many of them this year. First game against Marquette, second game against St. John’s, first game against UConn and so on and so forth. This could be 6 of 7 not making the tournament. That’s unacceptable.

I’m only responding because you quoted me, so I kinda feel that your post is pointed directly at me. Telling me what I should do.

Who said anything about “moral victories”? I merely stated that I appreciated the efforts of the players, that they played hard, and have nothing to be ashamed about. You once told me to not preach to others about how they should “fan”. Pot, meet kettle. I didn’t say that YOU shouldn’t hang your head, let a loss ruin your mood, or be ashamed and angry. If you want to act like that, go right ahead. That’s your prerogative. Have fun with that if you want. Just not MY choice.

[IM4X]

Sean taking the two most steady players out today for that late stretch still haunts me. If Conwell and Free weren’t both sitting for that one late stretch, the team likely doesn’t make so many mistakes and Marquette doesn’t go on that run.

God, I really hope the committee feels 7 straight wins and a very close loss to a top 25 team is enough to prove we belong.

[Xville]

I’m only responding because you quoted me, so I kinda feel that your post is pointed directly at me. Telling me what I should do.

Who said anything about “moral victories”? I merely stated that I appreciated the efforts of the players, that they played hard, and have nothing to be ashamed about. You once told me to not preach to others about how they should “fan”. Pot, meet kettle. I didn’t say that YOU shouldn’t hang your head, let a loss ruin your mood, or be ashamed and angry. If you want to act like that, go right ahead. That’s your prerogative. Have fun with that if you want. Just not MY choice.

Yeah not telling you how to fan, it was more regarding your comments of they played hard, and fought for the win. To me that’s a bare minimum expectation, and well it was close. Moral victory. Not telling you how to feel about it, giving my thoughts on it. As I said they have had a lot of those this year, and yeah I’m pissed off that this could be what 7 of 8 not making the tourney? It’s not the game, it’s the implications that go along with it. I’m wondering where the hell the x basketball program is.

[bleedXblue]

Our D in the 2nd half was not good and Marq made a bunch of 3's that they normally dont. That was the game.

[hoopster68]

Our D in the 2nd half was not good and Marq made a bunch of 3's that they normally dont. That was the game.

Why wasn't our defense good in the second half? Was it more aggressive play by Marq, disinterest by X players, being tired, poor coaching decisions, or some other cause(s)? This loss hurts.

[Xavier]

Turnovers. Led to a ton of easy points and a bunch of 3s. I think Sean was in a bad spot bc Hunter and swain were awful on offense but helped with D/rebounding. Marquette was the 250th 3 point team in the country and made 14 shooting 43%. Unexpected, but not an excuse for giving up the lead.

[Xville]

Just gonna say it. Miller fucked up putting conwell and free on the bench together in the 2nd half. That’s coaching malpractice in my mind. He’s not infallible, he makes mistakes and that was a big one. Went from up 9 to only up 2. I understand wanting to get a few minutes for them, but you can’t do that in a do or die game. There is no tomorrow, and you certainly don’t take them both out at the same time

[XU 23]

What was it, a 14 point lead in the 2nd half? Gotta find a way to hold on to that. I still think we’re in. Still, I can’t recall an X team in recent memory that has blown as many leads as this one.

[Xavier]

Sitting both was ridiculous, IMO. Push the lead. Wanted a timeout desperately but only had one left. Frustrating