The Cincinnati men’s basketball team gets set to take on the Xavier Musketeers in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Saturday, December 14th, 2024.
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. central on ESPN+. The Bearcats (7-1) are ranked No. 22 in the AP Top 25. The Musketeers (8-2) are unranked.
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In Cincinnati they called the Crosstown Shootout, a matchup of the two best Division I basketball programs in the area. The Bearcats are in the midst of a tremendous season as they’ve been ranked in the Top 25 all year and have lost just one game.
The Musketeers, who play in the Big EAST, are every bit the Bearcats’ equal going into this contest.
The Bearcats get a bit of an edge as the game is in their home arena. But, as they say in rivalry games, the records don’t matter.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s game.
How to Watch Cincinnati vs. Xavier
Date: Saturday, December 12th, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN+
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Site: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cincinnati vs. Xavier Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Cincinnati -9
Current Line: Cincinnati -7
Over/Under: 144.5
Cincinnati vs. Xavier Predictions
Dillon Mitchell has been a huge boost to Cincinnati. The Texas transfer is averaging a team-high 7.1 rebounds, along with 11.9 points. His game has clearly gone to a different level under Wes Miller.
Meanwhile, guards Simas Lukosius and Jizzle James averaged 16.3 points and 13.6 points respectively. This is a deep team that shoots the 3-pointer nearly 40% and grabs nearly 39 rebounds a game. They’re fun to watch and they have their eye on the NCAA Tournament.
The Musketeers are built around forward Zach Freemantle, who leads the Musketeers with 16.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Guard Ryan Conwell is right behind him, averaging 16.4 points. Dayvion McKnight handles the point and averages 4.3 assists, to go along with 11.1 points per game. This is a high-scoring team that, like Cincinnati, can shoot the 3-pointer well.
Expect both teams to shoot a lot from distance and for a hot hand to decide the outcome.
One thing to keep in mind. Cincinnati lost its only game against a Big EAST team this season (Villanova). Xavier lost its only matchup with a Big 12 team (TCU).
Cincinnati 79, Xavier 78
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Cincinnati (81.9% Chance of Winning)
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
