Scouting report, keys to victory for Xavier in Crosstown Shootout

When Richard Pitino was introduced as Xavier’s next head basketball coach, he already knew the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout would come up.

“As good as it gets. I understand the responsibility. I understand how important it is to fans,” Pitino said April 1.

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With the 93rd Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on tap for Dec. 5 at Cintas Center, Pitino is trying to become just the second first-year Xavier coach (Chris Mack) to win his debut against UC since 1986.

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More: How have first-year Xavier, UC coaches fared in Crosstown Shootout?

Pitino is also trying to respect the magnitude of this game while realizing Xavier has a 20-game Big East schedule beginning in just two weeks.

“We totally respect the rivalry and the amazing tradition the game has. Our guys know it, but on a day-to-day (basis), we’re not working any harder,” Pitino said. “I can promise UC’s doing the same thing, but we obviously know it is a huge game for both programs. We’re gonna fight our butt off to get a win.”

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Part of the balance is sticking to the same routine, whether it’s the annual rivalry with UC or Missouri State, which Xavier plays host to on Dec. 12, while acknowledging that there’s a little more on the table when the Bearcats take the 4.4-mile bus ride to Cintas Center. The Crosstown Shootout divides a city into two sides with former players, coaches and alumni hoping for annual bragging rights.

“The community really embraces the game, and that’s a cool thing to be a part of. You wanna take a job where people care,” Pitino said. “We certainly know it’s a big, big challenge; they’re a really good team. We understand it’s huge for the fans, as well.”

Tip: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, at Cintas Center (10,224)

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TV/Radio: TNT+HBO Max/55KRC

Ratings: Xavier is No. 83 in KenPom and UC is No. 70. In the NCAA NET Rankings, which were released for the first time Dec. 1, Xavier is No. 105 and UC is No. 131.

History: UC leads the all-time series, 52-40. Xavier had a five-game winning streak in the rivalry until the Bearcats’ 68-65 win at Fifth Third Arena last season. UC has not won back-to-back games over Xavier since 1996. Xavier has won 10 straight over UC at Cintas Center, dating back to 2001.

More: UC Bearcats haven’t won Crosstown Shootout at Cintas Center since 2001

Record: 6-2

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Head coach: Wes Miller (88-61 at Cincinnati, fifth season, 1-3 in Crosstown Shootout)

Offense: 75.5 ppg

Defense: 63.4 ppg

Overview: The sky was falling in Clifton Nov. 26 when UC suffered a metric-crushing 64-56 home loss to Eastern Michigan at Fifth Third Arena.

Sure, that loss will sting the Bearcats down the road if they are fighting for an NCAA Tournament bid, but Pitino disregarded that defeat when scouting UC.

“The Eastern Michigan game you have to throw out. I know fans can’t do that, but they didn’t have their leading scorer (Baba Miller), they didn’t have the backup to him, so they were out of sorts offensively, which is totally understandable,” Pitino said.

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Instead, Pitino referenced UC’s loss to then-No. 6 Louisville at Heritage Bank Center, where the Bearcats led 32-28 at the break before the Cardinals pulled away late.

“Louisville is one of the most-talented teams in the country,” Pitino said. “That first half was as high-level of a game as you would see on both sides of the ball.”

UC got healthier with Miller returning to post a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double while the Bearcats knocked down 15 three-pointers in a 76-58 win over Tarleton State Monday night.

More: UC-Xavier rivalry is greatest when its fierce and respectful | Opinion

Projected lineup

(Pos., Height, Stats)

Day Day Thomas (G, 6’1″, 13.8 ppg)

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Kerr Kriisa (G, 6’3″, 8.1 ppg)

Shon Abaev (G, 6’8″, 11.5 ppg)

Baba Miller (F, 6’11”, 14.2 ppg)

Moustapha Thiam (C, 7’2″, 9.9 ppg)

Xavier Musketeers scouting report

Record: 6-3

Head coach: Richard Pitino (6-3 at Xavier, first season, first Crosstown Shootout)

Offense: 78.7 ppg

Defense: 72.8 ppg

Projected starters

(Pos., Height, Stats)

All Wright (G, 6’3″, 11.3 ppg)

Malik Messina-Moore (G, 6’5″,7.1 ppg)

Tre Carroll (F, 6’8″, 15.9 ppg)

Filip Borovicanin (F, 6’9″, 8.1 ppg)

Jovan Milicevic (F, 6’10”, 12.6 ppg)

Players to watch

Jovan Milicevic

Milicevic is coming off his worst game statistically since joining the starting lineup Nov. 14. He was just 1-of-7 from the field, finishing with five points and five rebounds against Saint Francis. Milicevic is an undersized center, which comes with positives and negatives.

On one hand, he’ll have to match up with UC’s length and strength down low between Miller at 6-foot-11 and the 7-foot-2-inch Moustapha Thiam. On the other hand, his ability to stretch out opponents by bringing bigger defenders to the perimeter has opened up the offense. He’s shooting 44.2% from deep this season and had hit at least four 3-pointers in four consecutive games before going 0-for-3 against Saint Francis.

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“I feel like we’ll just have to play our game, knock down shots, play defense and be a little more gritty and grimy on the court and we’ll be good,” Milicevic said.

Roddie Anderson

Xavier has exceled at taking care of the ball this season and that will be a key in every game. It’s even more crucial against UC, which ranks No. 8 in turnover percentage, per KenPom, and forces over 17 per game. Anderson had five of Xavier’s eight turnovers against Saint Francis.

Anderson’s also been a streaky shooter on a team filled with guys who can fill it up. He had 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting vs. Saint Francis, his third 20-point effort of the season. He’s also had nights going 2-of-11 (West Virginia), 2-of-10 (Georgia), 1-of-6 (Iowa) and 1-of-8 (Marist).

Anthony Robinson

Pitino said Baba Miller “is as talented as probably any player we’ll face” at his press conference Dec. 3. Miller has recorded a double-double in four of the six games he’s played in this year and presents a big challenge for an undersized Xavier starting lineup.

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Coming off the bench, Robinson will need to turn in quality minutes for Xavier to turn away UC’s offense down low. Robinson, the grandson of former UC national champion George Wilson, began the year in the starting lineup but has come off the bench since Nov. 14. He was better over the last two games (17 points, 13 rebounds), but UC will be a taller task than St. Francis and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Keys to a Xavier victory over UC in Crosstown Shootout

Xavier’s defense must match UC’s physicality

The biggest concern for Xavier is a UC defense that is lengthy, tough and is No. 17 in the nation in scoring. Pitino called for toughness out of his Musketeers when the current homestand started. We’ll see if that message gets through to Xavier when UC visits.

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“If we don’t match that physicality, we’re gonna have some problems,” Pitino said.

Can Xavier’s defense force UC into long misses?

Nearly half of UC’s overall shot attempts have come from beyond the arc. The Bearcats chuck 3s at the No. 26 rate in the country but rank just No. 234 in 3-point percentage.

The last time Xavier faced a team that shoots from deep at a high rate was Georgia (46.6%). In that game, Xavier went into a second-half zone that stymied the Bulldogs and nearly led to a Musketeers’ comeback win.

UC hasn’t made double-digit triples against Xavier since 2006. Forcing long misses and making them one-shot possessions by battling on the glass is crucial for Xavier in making it 11 straight home wins in the rivalry.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Previewing Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout between Xavier-UC