Before the Shootout I thought that rivalry games should be close. That is apparently, not the case. Xavier threw down a 12-2 run in this game to take a nine point lead with roughly 30 minutes left to play. Incredibly, UC never got back to within two possessions. Xavier’s lead peaked at 27 and the 83-63 scoreline flattered the Bearcats. To paraphrase the old saying, this was the sort of rivalry that a hammer has with a nail. Xavier dominated a game that KenPom’s algorithm gave them a 97.3% chance of winning by halftime. This game was over by the time it settled into a rhythm.
Things the Shootout taught me
