Xavier men's basketball might be rankled by the ongoing national debate regarding their March Madness bona fides, but it now has an opportunity to halt the conversation and silence its critics.
Xavier (19-12, 9-9 Big East) opens Big East Tournament play at New York City's Madison Square Garden Wednesday night against the last-place and 10th-seeded DePaul University Blue Demons (9-22, 2-16). The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinal round game against No. 2-seeded Butler University (23-7, 12-6).
While the only road to the NCAA Tournament for nine-win DePaul would be an improbable run to the Big East Tournament crown, an at-large tournament bid is still available to the Musketeers despite their injury-riddled campaign and a much-discussed six-game losing streak.