The Xavier talk began just moments after the No. 11-ranked University of Cincinnati crushed winless Alabama State 83-51 on Monday night, with the postgame scoresheets literally still warm off the presses.
UC (7-0) expectedly routed Alabama State (0-7), as senior forward Gary Clark led the Bearcats with 14 points and seven rebounds. After some perfunctory questions about Monday's game, reporters shifted the subject to the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against No. 21 Xavier (5-1) at noon Saturday at Cintas Center.
"It's that game every year that everyone goes crazy about in the city," Clark said. "Every game you experience up until that doesn't compare.