Xavier lands in Top 25 for first time this season

OLIVIA: GOOD EVENING. IT IS THE GAME THAT DIVIDES THIS CITY. BRAGGING RIGHT RIGHTS BETWEEN U.C. AND XAVIER ON THE LINE IN THE 90TH CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT WHICH JUST UNFOLDED THIS AFTERNOON. X LOOKING FOR THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT OVER THE BEARCATS AND SEAN MILLER LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST WIN IN THE SHOOTOUT IN 13 YEARS THAT IS. HE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE. IF YOU HEARD RUMBLINGS ABOUT THIS RIVALRY LOSING ITS LUSTER, YOU HEARD WRONG AND DO NOT LET THE HALFTIME SCORE FOR YOU. IN THE FIRST HALF ZACH HAD A DOUBLE DOUBLE WITH 14 AND 12 AND X LED BY 17 AT THE BREAK. THEY SPEAK FROM -- A SPEECH FROM KENYON MARTIN IN THE LOCKER ROOM HAD THEM PLAYING INSPIRED BALL. UNDER ONE MINUTE TO PLAY, DAVID JULIUS HITS THE TRIPLE AND THE CATS ARE WITHIN THREE, 76-73. HE FINISHED WITH 22 POINTS, THE BIGGEST WITH 11 9:00, HE DREW THE FOUL AND GETS FOULED AT THE END, HITS A THREE FOR -- A FREE THROW, AND XAVIER TOOK THE CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT 80-77, AN INCREDIBLE COMEBACK FROM U.C.. >> WE GAVE THEM HOPE AND CONFIDENCE AND FROM THAT POINT ON, WE WERE IN ONE HECK OF A GAME. ON OUR END WE HAVE SOME LESSONS THAT WE CAN LEARN. >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FIGHTING, THEY ASKED ME AM I PROUD OF THAT. ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE IN OUR KIDS. I LOVE OUR KIDS. I AM PROUD OF THEIR FIGHT

Xavier lands in Top 25 for first time this season

Updated: 1:11 PM EST Dec 26, 2022

For the first time this season, the Xavier Musketeers are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.The Musketeers begin the week as the #22 team in the nation, tied with New Mexico.XU has not been ranked since the Feb. 7 poll last year, when they fell from #21 to #25.The Musketeers are 10-3 in the pre-Christmas schedule and have won six-straight games, including a 2-0 start to Big East play.UConn (#3) is the only other Big East team ranked this week, with Marquette (12) and Providence (6) each receiving votes.XU returns to the court Wednesday at St. John's in an effort to win their seventh consecutive contest.

For the first time this season, the Xavier Musketeers are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.

The Musketeers begin the week as the #22 team in the nation, tied with New Mexico.

XU has not been ranked since the Feb. 7 poll last year, when they fell from #21 to #25.

The Musketeers are 10-3 in the pre-Christmas schedule and have won six-straight games, including a 2-0 start to Big East play.

UConn (#3) is the only other Big East team ranked this week, with Marquette (12) and Providence (6) each receiving votes.

XU returns to the court Wednesday at St. John's in an effort to win their seventh consecutive contest.