Just one thing here: Xavier Basketball

Several weeks ago I would have called you crazy if you said Xavier would be in the A-10 Championship game. Josh would have called you a vondrook. Last night's epic win against a good St. Louis team should punch the Musketeers ticket to the big dance. Tonight, we should solidify a decent seed and continue the run. First about last night. In nerve racking fashion the Musketeers were led by Tu and Dez who put up 21 and 18 points respectively on a night where Xavier shot 53% from the field and a sick nasty 85% from the stripe. For a few minutes at the start of the second half Tu was unstoppable from the arc hitting 3 consecutive treys to further the despair of the Billikens. In the end it was the Musketeers who were victorious and stand to face the Bonnies tonight.

St. Bonaventure holds a 19-11 record and has won several close games in the past few weeks against UMass and St. Joe's times two. For the Bonnies this is it. The only thing standing between them and a trip to the NCAA tourney are the Mighty Muskies. The key to stopping them is simple. Stop Nicholson, who averages 18.2 pts a game and shots decent from treyville and the line. Hopefully the D sticks on him like fleas on a bonnie. So let's make a wolfskin coat for the long winter and ZIP'EM UP!!!!!

This picture above is the new ad campaign to attract people to St. Bonaventure. Be careful my little bonnies, its tough out there for wild animals.

Revenge is sweet, but pan seared Billikin is delicious. Xavier has not had much luck against SLU this year losing 2 of 2. Today Mack's Mighty Muskies get another chance for redemption. SLU is seen as a tournament lock having big wins in the early part of the season and closing out the conference 12-4. Obviously if XU wants to dance they have to knock out St Louis much like George McFly knocked out Biff Tannen in Back to the Future to get into the dance. Conklin and Mitchell are the two leading scorers for SLU with the former a dominant inside threat and Mitchell and sharpshooter from behind the arc. If Xavier wants to win they will have to again rely on the poise and leadership of Tu and Frease. This should be an epic matchup as the Muskies are riding the momentum of a clutch win against Dumpster diving Dayton. The battle begins at 3:30 EST. Game can be seen on CBS Sports or heard on 550KRC http://www.iheart.com/#/live/1709/?autoplay=true

To cheer on our beloved Muskies are Josh and Goo, slugging it out in A city! Wish them luck!

When it comes to rubber matches all bets are off and you can count only on pure mayhem to ensue. The northeastern playground of Atlantic City got all that and more as two foes squared off in a battle royale. Miles from the safe haven of I-75 the battle was waged. The first half was a disaster and looked as if the Dayton Dumpsters would again dash the hopes of the Musketeer faithful. I don't know what was said in that locker room during halftime but the mighty Muskies came back with a vengance. Tu and Kenny led the team in true senior fashion with 21 and 17 points respectively. The team that entered that left the court at halftime was not the team that stepped out on the floor to eliminate a 10point deficit and win the second half 42-31. The Muskies shot a lights-out 56% FG during the second half. The Dayton Cryers inched back to within striking distance and had several attempts to go ahead but their 3 point luck had run out. Lyons sliced and diced like a whirling dervish to add the final layup to put X up for good. Dayton tried every tactic in the book to stop the onslaught of Musketeer Madness including 3 pointers, pick and rolls and setting fire to the Boardwalk Hall (unverified information).

Tonight we dine on Billikens!!! More to Come.

Well, we've seen these two play what seems like countless times over the last half decade.  Until last year's train wreck of a game, Xavier has always beaten Dayton in A10 tournament play.

If you don't get the game on TV, you can watch any or all of the games on atlantic.com/allacess for free!

I was going to dive into the stats and break down XU's first game but whenever it's Xavier and Dayton, you can throw all that out the window.  Xavier is probably a little bit more talented than Dayton on an individual basis, but as a team on the whole, Dayton has played better than the Muskies for large stretches of the season.  I hate to say that, but it's true.  One thing is for sure: the loser of this game is not going to the big tourney.  The winner will still be alive.  Dayton has more NIT experience of late; let's hope that trend continues!

Yours truly is heading out to Atlantic City early Thursday and I hope to bring back a winner (3 winners in fact).  Cheer on our Muskies from your home, and I'll do my best to cheer them on in person.

Go Muskies!

For the 6th time in the last 14 months or so, Xavier and Dayton will play each other.

Last year, you probably remember cursing and yelling as Xavier lost to Dayton in the A10 tourney due to a ridiculous last second foul call.  Let's hope the Muskies fare much better this time around.

Will the Dayton team that beat XU at home or the Dayton team that lost to Rhode Island show up?  Much more to come on the A10 tourney so stay tuned.

Go Muskies!