Troy Caupain said it calmly, but there was no mistaking his desire to finally beat archrival Xavier in his final University of Cincinnati basketball season.
“I want it real bad,” UC senior point guard Caupain said Tuesday, as the No. 19 Bearcats (17-2) prepare to play No. 24 XU (14-5) in the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. The game will be played at sold-out Fifth Third Arena on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN2).
UC has lost its past three meetings with XU, and the Musketeers have never beaten the Bearcats four consecutive times. No Bearcat on the 2016-17 roster has beaten the Musketeers, including a 65-55 decision last season at XU’s Cintas Center.