Opportunities like the one Xavier's men's basketball team has at Cintas Center on Thursday night (6:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1) are not regular occurrences.
To host a ranked opponent – No. 19 Ohio State (3-0) – in the third game of the season, the Musketeers (2-0) have the chance to prove themselves against a quality team and the result could put an early pin in Xavier's postseason resume.
On the final night of the Gavitt Tipoff Games – an annual event that pits the Big Ten Conference against the Big East Conference – Xavier welcomes the Buckeyes to Cintas Center for the first time in a game that's been more than 14 years in the making since the two last met in a second-round game in the 2007 NCAA Tournament when Ohio State was a No. 1 seed and beat the ninth-seeded Musketeers in overtime.
The current Buckeyes are deep, talented and they have a legitimate All-American at the top in junior forward E.J. Liddell, who Xavier will have to account for whenever he's on the floor. Zed Key gives the Buckeyes another skilled big who can score and rebound, and Ohio State brings Kyle Young and Joey Brunk off the bench in a tidal wave of size that never seems to let up.
In the backcourt, the Buckeyes are led by Jamari Wheeler and freshmen guard Meechie Johnson and Malaki Branham.
A sellout crowd will be on hand to see if the Musketeers can continue their recent success against the Big Ten.
Xavier's won 11 of its last 15 games against nine different teams from the Big Ten since the 2006-07 season, including 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament and 2-1 in the Gavitt Games.
The Game
- Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Cintas Center
- TV/Radio: FS1 with play-by-play from Brandon Gaudin and analysis from Bill Raftery. Byron Larkin and Joe Sunderman will have the radio call on WKRC-AM (550).
- Series info: Ohio State leads the series 3-1.
Scouting Report
Xavier Musketeers (2-0)
Coach: Travis Steele, fourth season (53-37 overall)
Offense: 68.0 ppg
Defense: 59.5 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Paul Scruggs (G, 6'5", 20.0 ppg)
Jerome Hunter (F, 6'8", 9.0 rpg)
Colby Jones (G, 6'6", 17.5 ppg)
Dieonte Miles (F, 6'11", 5.0 rpg)
Nate Johnson (G, 6'4", 4.0 ppg)
Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)
Coach: Chris Holtmann, 11th season (205-129 overall)
Offense: 80.0 ppg
Defense: 66.0 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Justin Ahrens (F, 6'6", 6.5 ppg)
Zed Key (F, 6'8", 12.5 ppg)
E.J. Liddell (F, 6'7", 27.0 ppg)
Malaki Branham (G, 6'5", 7.0 ppg)
Jamari Wheeler (G, 6'1", 5.5 ppg)
Players to watch
E.J. Liddell
At 6-7, 240 pounds, the junior forward is a matchup nightmare. His size, skill and the way he can score on the perimeter and in the low post make him hard to defend.
Paul Scruggs
Through two games, Xavier's fifth-year senior has looked comfortable stepping up in big moments and the Musketeers need him to do that again on Thursday night. Xavier needs its leader to play with the passion and fire he's capable of, and his teammates have to follow him.
Key to the game
Discipline
Discipline is roped into everything Xavier needs to do to win a game like this. Taking good shots, taking care of the basketball, blocking out on rebounds and defensive execution are all too important to ignore. The Musketeers need 40 minutes of complete basketball to beat the Buckeyes.
Rankings
KenPom.com: Xavier (37); Ohio State (15).
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