Five hours before Saturday's Crosstown Shootout, Xavier's men's basketball team huddled together at midcourt around head coach Travis Steele, who told them, "I'm 2-0 today. I want to make it 3-0."
Steele was referring to his son Winston's third-grade basketball team at Summit Country Day.
"It's funny, thank God they work the schedule around our main schedule here. Obviously, this is my main job, let's make that very, very clear. But it is fun coaching the third-grade team. It gives you a different perspective," said Steele, whose wife Amanda is the head coach, and Travis is one of her assistants. "... How patient you have to be and listen, like the purpose of playing basketball is to have fun. You never want to lose that.
"Sometimes, with all the pressure that's put on all of our guys throughout the entire world, whether it's social media and all that stuff, nobody can take that from you. That's what I always tell our guys.
"... Enjoy this moment, enjoy the atmosphere. And our fans are camping out at 12:30 (for an 8:30 game). We're on break right now. I handed out pizzas earlier and there's a line going around our arena of all of our students. We're not even in session right now.
"You know, embrace it. Have fun, live in the moment, man. And I thought we did that ... but Winston had a really good game. We went 2-0 with Summit as well today, which is good."
For 40 minutes on Saturday night, as Steele's team built a lead and finished off an 83-63 win – tied for the third-largest margin of victory by Xavier in the Shootout – the Musketeers embraced the moment and had fun doing it.
'I'm really happy for Paul'
Paul Scruggs knew there was some history at stake on Saturday night.
"I've been told a lot but my focus is just on winning the game, so that's what we went out there and did," said Scruggs, when asked if he was aware that he had a chance to become the first Xavier player to beat UC four times.
The fifth-year senior, who closed his career against UC with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, checked out of the game to a standing ovation with just over a minute left. Scruggs got a big hug from Steele as he walked off the floor and after both teams shook hands, Scruggs hopped up on the end table on the baseline in front of Xavier's student section and pounded his chest like a Phil Collins drum solo while the crowd went crazy.
More:Jack Nunge powers Xavier past UC basketball in dominant Crosstown Shootout win
"I'm happy for Paul because he decided to come back," Xavier Hall of Famer Byron Larkin, who went 3-1 in the Shootout, told The Enquirer Sunday morning. "He could have gone on with his life and started his professional basketball career. But instead, he made the great decision to come back ... him and Nate (Johnson). And as a result, they've got a special team, and for Paul to enjoy being the first Xavier player to ever beat UC four times in his career, I mean that's a memory Paul's going to cherish and keep with him forever, as I do. I'm really happy for Paul."
Scruggs also hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since his freshman year.
"He wants that," said Larkin. "He wants to go out as a leader ... this is his team.
"... My senior year, I was like, 'This is my team. I'm responsible for what happens to this team. It's on me, whether we win or whether we lose.' Seniors take ownership of their team. And that's what I believe Paul is probably feeling in his head and in his heart."
Jack Nunge and the most promising Xavier trend
When Colby Jones picked up two early fouls, it meant that one of Xavier's best players would spend a significant portion of the game on the bench.
Nate Johnson, Xavier's leading scorer and best shooter, only made one shot in 23 minutes.
For much of Saturday night, Jones and Johnson, Xavier's top two scorers, weren't an overwhelming factor like they have been all season.
The Musketeers leaned on their depth.
Takeaways: Cincinnati Bearcats look overwhelmed in Wes Miller's first Crosstown Shootout
Over the last few seasons, the most noticeable trend was that if an opponent took away Xavier's top guy or Xavier's best player didn't play well, it usually meant a loss or an ugly game for the Musketeers.
That's not the case this season. Jack Nunge showed why on Saturday. The Iowa transfer, making his Shootout debut, put on a memorable show with career-highs in points (31) and rebounds (15). Adam Kunkel provided a spark that could have powered a small city with 12 points off the bench. Dwon Odom played the point guard role to near perfection.
Teams can't key on one or two Musketeers. Xavier has a handful of guys that can impact winning and Steele's been solid with how he uses his pieces.
Another trip to Dana Gardens
After Steele's first Shootout win as Xavier's head coach, he made his way up to Dana Gardens, a Xavier bar just off campus, and dropped $1,000 in cash to buy drinks for Xavier fans.
Last season, after the Musketeers beat the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena, Steele dropped $2,000.
Saturday night it was $3,000.
Steele was asked after the game if there comes a point where it will be too much money to drop $1,000 for every win Xavier collects in the Shootout with him as the head coach.
"Listen, no," Steele said, smiling. "I will happily go up there. We're so appreciative of just all of our fans and they make this place an incredible place to play. We owe it to the fans."
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