Butler vs. Xavier Game Thread

[American X]

http://www.lrgusa.com/images/clients/butler_bulldog.gif vs. http://www.xavierhoops.com/forums/images/logos/150/xu.gif


Butler Bulldogs (9-1) vs. Xavier Musketeers(9-1)
Cintas Center, Cincinnati OH
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
7:00 ET

TV: ESPNU with play-by-play from Jim Barbar and analysis from Larry Conley
Radio: 700 WLW (http://www.700wlw.com/cc-common/ondemand/player2.html?world=st)


The Setting:
The Musketeers (#12 AP, #14 Coaches) return home to the Cintas Center for the last game before Christmas against dangerous former MCC rival Butler.

Last Game:
Xavier lost 82-64 to #5 Duke at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Derrick Brown led the team in scoring with 18 points.

Butler defeated Florida Gulf Coast 73-53 on Saturday. Their lone loss was at Ohio State 54-51.

Last Meeting:
Xavier won 73-66 in the 1998-99 season opener at Butler (11-17-98).

No Common Opponents.

OFFICIAL RESOURCES
Official Xavier Preview (http://goxavier.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122208aaa.html)
Xavier Tries to Avoid Another Holiday Letdown (http://goxavier.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122308aab.html)
Official Butler Preview (http://butlersports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122208aaa.html)

MEDIA
Sportsline Preview (http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/gamecenter/preview/NCAAB_20081223_BUT@XAVIER)

NOTE: Early tip at 7:00 ET.

[More Cowbell]

Collegehoops.net Preview & Prediction: By Evan Dorey

-- On the last night before the holiday break, we’re quite fortunate to get an early present, as a couple of excellent games highlight today’s action, including #32 Butler (9-1, 2-0) facing #29 Xavier (9-1) in Cincinnati.

Xavier had an undefeated season going before this weekend, having won the Puerto Rico Tip-off with wins over Missouri and Memphis, and picked up a good win in the cross-town rivalry with Cincinnati. However, the Musketeers had a total disaster against Duke, falling behind quickly and trailing by more than 30 at half-time. Butler’s lone loss was more respectable, coming by three points at Ohio State, and it has some decent wins as well, beating the like of Northwestern, Evansville and Drake.

Full Preview (http://collegehoopsnet.com/gamenight-xavier-vs-butler-163321)

[BBC 08]

Jim Barbar and Larry Conley (who?) will be announcing tonights game on the U.

[BBC 08]

Gary Parrish on tonights game:

Notable game scheduled for Tuesday: Butler is 9-1 and one of the biggest surprises in the country, but the Bulldogs are still searching for that marquee victory to launch them into the national rankings, which leads me to this game against Xavier. The Musketeers, also 9-1, are ranked 14th nationally, and if Butler upsets them Brad Stevens will have a Top 25 team by this time next week. Xavier is led by Derrick Brown's 14.4 points per game; Butler is led by Shelvin Mack's 13.0 points per game. Tip-off is set for 7 pm ET.

[GoMuskies]

Tear off the rear view mirrors and forget Saturday. Huge game tonight for both teams!

[xavierfan06]

Tear off the rear view mirrors and forget Saturday. Huge game tonight for both teams!

agreed need to stop thinking bout duke and move on to butler.

[xu95]

The important question is how many santa hats are they giving out?

xu95

[American X]

Butler preview from Indianapolis Star (http://www.indystar.com/article/20081223/SPORTS0605/812230338/1073/SPORTS0605).

This is a huge game for Butler, so I hope our guys are taking it seriously. They will be markedly better competition than what we have seen in the Cintas so far this year.

As for the Santa hats, I desperately want the blue and white Santa hat with XU on it.

[xudash]

I have to imagine our guys read Sean's quote about the 'living hell' they'll face for ten days in the event they lose this game.

Who knows how intensely Ohio State played these guys when they beat them by 3 at home. In fact, if I recall reading something correctly, Ohio State let them back in it late by missing FTs.

Butler certainly has a good team and is well coached. But, their athletes don't physically stack up with ours across the board and they're young.

I'm having visions of Custer and Indians here, and we're the ones with paint on our faces.

[KC4X]

Does anyone know if Butler is there, yet? Roads are horrible according to the news just now. Apparently, the rain froze on the roads.

[joe titan]

Larry Conley is a very good color guy but mostly familiar w/SEC teams. He played on the ever famous "Rupp's Runts" team @ UK w/ Pat Riley among others. Knows the game but does not hog the mike.

[xuwin]

It doesn't look like I'll make it to the game. Cross County Highway looks to be almost impassable. I hate to miss games like this, but, at least I'll get to see it on TV. The problem with games like this is that you lose the home town crowd advantage. If I lived on that side of town I would go anyway.

[xavierfan06]

im going and i live in fairfield.

[xu15]

Is the game tonight only on the U or is it on FS Ohio or anything? I found it on channelsurfing.net either way, but just wondering since I prefer a TV.

[xubball93]

As mentioned in other threads, and now in the pre-game, Sean is talking about Brad's shooting stroke developing and him becoming a bigger factor, "Maybe starting tonight."

I'd love to see this kid unload tonight and contribute to a comfortable X win!

[ATL Muskie]

Not sure, but I don't think it is on FSNOH. Think I remember seeing that the Cavs game was on that channel tonight. I have DirecTV and I looked earlier today. Getting ready to go turn on the tube now, but I'm pretty sure it's only on ESPNU.

[xu15]

Ok. Thanks ATL, but I guess I'm settling for this little tiny screen on channelsurfing.net because I can't figure out how to make it bigger.

[ATL Muskie]

Ok. Thanks ATL, but I guess I'm settling for this little tiny screen on channelsurfing.net because I can't figure out how to make it bigger.

Yeah, but it sure beats those pre-Internet days when I had to go out and sit in my car and listen to WLW.

[American X]

Live Chat (http://www.xavierhoops.com/forums/irc.php)

The Live Chat (http://www.xavierhoops.com/forums/irc.php) is up and running.

[MuskieMark]

its only on espn u..i tried to call in and order it but even full court wont carry it..pretty garbage

[Xavier Bob]

X has got to take better care of the basketball. Lets hope we can turn around the TO numbers in the second half.

[American X]

Read the post-game article by kyxu:

Butler muscles #12 Xavier to second-straight defeat, 74-65 (http://www.xavierhoops.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7323)