NCAAB Game Preview - Rider at Xavier
Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:30 PM EST

Charl
63
WichSt
81
F
GWebb
74
Fla
116
F
NDSU
65
USC
75
F
WCU
51
Cin
102
F
MtStM
62
ND
88
F
Minn
86
Prov
74
F
Rider
75
Xav
101
F
StPet
66
NW
75
F
NMSt
74
StMar
92
F
TXAMC
46
Baylor
70
F
NCC
55
Evans
68
F
JSU
94
Rich
61
F
E KY
75
Miss
85
F
(N/A)
83
Norf
80
F
South
74
Marsh
83
F
ETSU
76
Savan
61
F
Brown
79
Quin
72
F
(N/A)
45
Tows
89
F
NOrl
68
Oakl
87
F
(N/A)
81
Drex
95
F
(N/A)
82
Detr
105
F
(N/A)
60
UNCA
92
F
Bingha
84
Corn
94
F
(N/A)
44
Campbl
108
F
Albany
88
Boston
74
F
APSU
49
UVA
93
F
NFla
85
VCU
95
F
Morg
63
SoFL
53
F
FlGlf
86
Sien
53
F
Mont
83
Pitt
78
F(OT)
LaSal
75
Penn
71
F(2OT)
CenMI
65
Mich
72
F
ODU
69
JMU
53
F
KennSt
57
Hof
75
F
LIU
68
Ford
81
F
SDak
88
BGSU
79
F
(N/A)
43
IUPUI
75
F
SEMO
95
LaTec
96
F(OT)
Vand
60
Belm
69
F
CSBak
53
GaSo
77
F
StJos
86
IL-C
82
F(OT)
BethC
74
UTRGV
92
F
W MI
60
SouthCar
78
F
(N/A)
57
InWor
93
F
AlaAM
68
Samf
87
F
Eccle
54
McNee
101
F
Reinh
53
TNSt
92
F
(N/A)
46
Valpa
83
F
ORU
71
Tuls
90
F
SeLA
66
Tul
89
F
UNCC
65
OkSt
83
F
Alc
45
NrthIA
73
F
N TX
67
Nebras
86
F
MTSU
72
Murr
67
F
WIMil
74
IaSt
56
F
DelSt
57
DeP
81
F
Mobil
49
USA
71
F
Chat
47
UAB
89
F
(N/A)
82
NoAZ
70
F
Rockh
50
StLou
74
F
RobM
61
GrCan
75
F
UCDav
72
N CO
59
F
PVAM
67
Oreg
100
F
MTSt
73
UtSt
81
F
MsVl
51
Utah
91
F
TNTec
63
TCU
100
F
Merrim
55
Mizzu
99
F
AbCh
69
ArkSt
83
F
UND
80
ArkPB
71
F
(N/A)
62
Ida
101
F
StFPA
63
USF
75
F
CSNor
73
Fres
89
F
Wyo
75
OrSt
66
F
URI
81
Nev
88
F
Troy
67
HI
72
F(OT)
Unselfish No. 17 Xavier hosts Rider
Sun Nov 12, 2017 2:49 AM

CINCINNATI -- Xavier Musketeers head coach Chris Mack was pleased with his team's effort in Friday's season-opening win over Morehead State, particularly the players' unselfishness. Could this become a hallmark for the 17th-ranked Muskies?

In the 101-49 blasting of the Eagles, Xavier dished out 26 assists on 36 made field goals. During a 62-point first half, the Musketeers had 17 assists on 22 field goals. Of the 26 assists, nine came from freshmen.

"Our emphasis is to create good shots for one another," Xavier head coach Chris Mack said. "That could be underneath the basket, that could be a '3', as long as we're trying to find one another and get good looks. If we can get the ball in the lane through plays and drives and make the extra pass ... we should be able to shoot at a high level."

Xavier (1-0) hosts Rider on Monday night at Cintas Center. It's the first meeting between the two schools.

Head coach Kevin Baggett's Broncs went 18-15 last season and 10-10 in the Metro Atlantic Conference.

Rider (1-0) broke open a tight game to beat Hampton 90-75 on Friday. Five Broncs players were in double figures led by Jordan Allen's 21 points. Allen, a redshirt freshman, was the Delaware Player of the Year as a senior at Dover High School.

"There weren't any nerves," Allen told the Trentonian, when asked about his college debut. "It was more of being excited that I'm finally here. Sitting out a whole year was really nerve-wracking because I didn't want to sit out, but I had to. Coming into the first game, it's like, 'Oh, shoot, I'm finally here.'"

On Monday, Allen and his teammates will get a chance to perform on the big stage, in front of 10,000-plus fans against a Big East Conference school that many believe is capable of a Final Four run.

Musketeers forward Trevon Bluiett, who battled a minor shoulder issue during the preseason, scored 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting on Friday. He was seen icing his shoulder after the game, but the national player of the year candidate appeared healthy while going 5 of 7 from 3-point range.

Senior J.P. Macura scored 18 points against Morehead and Quentin Goodin, who took over at point guard last season for injured Edmond Sumner and helped lead the Musketeers to the Elite Eight, had seven assists.

Xavier will try not to look past Rider to Thursday's game at Wisconsin. A few Musketeers players have painful memories of the Badgers' buzzer-beater that knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament two years ago as a No. 2 seed.

But, for now, Xavier will set revenge aside and focus on Rider. The Broncs say they won't be intimidated on Monday.

"We can't be afraid to go play a top-20 team," Baggett said. "They put their shoes and uniforms on the same way we do. We're not going to back down. We're not going to be afraid. We're going to take our chances and compete, and wherever it takes us, it takes us."

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Rider  
Xavier  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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