DAYTON, Ohio -- Most NCAA tournament teams dispatched to the First Four view it as an opportunity or a nuisance, but rarely, if ever, an advantage.
The First Four is a logistical and preparation scramble, not to mention an extra game before the start of what many consider to be the true NCAA tournament. But Xavier found itself in a unique spot Wednesday night against Texas, playing just 47 miles from its Cincinnati campus, in front of a raucous crowd that burst into "Let's go X!" chants and flashed the Horns Down signal like a reflex.