Fans entered Carnesecca Arena nervous. Some stated that the Xavier Musketeers reminded them of Providence... and everyone knew the struggles the team had with the Friars.
Fans were concerned about the team’s ability to compete on the boards and were glad that, with Mustapha Heron out again, it was Sedee Keita starting, not Bryan Trimble Jr.
“We need the defense and rebounding of Keita,” was a common sentiment. One fan, expecting to be on the short end of the rebounding battle, summarized, “we’d better make our threes.”
First Half
The first minute of play started out well for the Red Storm.