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Sweet 16 scouting report: Xavier vs. Texas in the NCAA Tournament

Adam Baum, Cincinnati Enquirer
·3 min read
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KANSAS CITY, MO. – The final game of the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 features No. 3 Xavier and No. 2 Texas on Friday night at approximately 9:45 p.m. at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

This will be the fourth postseason meeting between the Musketeers and Longhorns. The two last met in the 2019 National Invitation Tournament, and they've faced off twice before in the NCAA Tournament.

In 2004, Xavier defeated Texas 79-71 in the Sweet 16 to advance to its first-ever Elite Eight. In 1990, when Xavier was playing for the first time in the Sweet 16, the Longhorns defeated the Musketeers 102-89.

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Texas (28-8) has won six games in a row including a Big 12 Conference Tournament championship in the same arena that will be home to this weekend's Sweet 16.

Xavier's men's basketball team takes on Texas on Friday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Xavier's men's basketball team takes on Texas on Friday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for a spot in the Elite Eight.

Strength against strength on Friday will be Xavier's offense (No. 7 nationally in efficiency) against the Texas defense (No. 10). The Longhorns are 15th offensively, so they can put it together at both ends of the floor.

Texas is deep. It's a nine-man rotation and everyone can play. The Longhorns are athletic and have great guard play. They also bring their second-leading scorer, Sir'Jabari Rice, off the bench.

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The Musketeers will need that high-powered offense and a disciplined defense to get past the Longhorns.

Xavier forward Jack Nunge finishes an alley-oop dunk in the second half of the Musketeers' 84-73 second-round victory over Pittsburgh last Sunday. The victory set up a showdown between the No. 3 seed Musketeers and the No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns.
Xavier forward Jack Nunge finishes an alley-oop dunk in the second half of the Musketeers' 84-73 second-round victory over Pittsburgh last Sunday. The victory set up a showdown between the No. 3 seed Musketeers and the No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns.

The Game

  • Tipoff: 9:45 p.m. on Friday at the T-Mobile Center

  • TV/Radio: CBS with play-by-play from Jim Nantz and analysis from Bill Raftery and Grant Hill. Tracy Wolfson is the sideline reporter. Byron Larkin and Joe Sunderman will have the radio call on WLW-AM (700). Kevin Kugler and Robbie Hummel will also broadcast the game on national radio on Westwood One.

  • Series info: Texas leads 3-2.

Scouting report

Xavier Musketeers (27-9, 15-5 Big East)

Coach: Sean Miller, 18th season (449-165 overall)

Offense: 81.2 ppg

Defense: 73.8 ppg

Projected lineup

Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)

Adam Kunkel (G, 6'4", 10.6 ppg)

Jerome Hunter (F, 6'8", 7.9 ppg)

Colby Jones (G, 6'6", 15.0 ppg)

Souley Boum (G, 6'3", 16.5 ppg)

Jack Nunge (F, 7'0", 14.1 ppg)

Texas Longhorns (28-8, 12-6 Big 12)

Coach: Rodney Terry, 11th season (184-163 overall)

Offense: 77.8 ppg

Defense: 67.2 ppgProjected lineup

Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)

Marcus Carr (G, 6'2", 15.8 ppg)

Tyrese Hunter (G, 6'0", 10.1 ppg)

Timmy Allen (F, 6'6", 10.3 ppg)

Dylan Disu (F, 6'9", 9.1 ppg)

Dillon Mitchell (F, 6'8", 4.5 ppg)

Players to watch

Marcus Carr

Plays a team-high 34 minutes a game. Very creative offensively and attempts the lion's share of the Longhorns' shots.

Forward Jerome Hunter, attacking the basket against Pittsburgh, has been playing arguably his best of his Xavier career in the tournament. In two games, he's averaging 18.0 points on 14-of-21 shooting and he's 10-for-10 at the foul line.
Forward Jerome Hunter, attacking the basket against Pittsburgh, has been playing arguably his best of his Xavier career in the tournament. In two games, he's averaging 18.0 points on 14-of-21 shooting and he's 10-for-10 at the foul line.

Jerome Hunter

Hunter's put together the best start of any Xavier player through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He's averaging 18.0 points on 14-of-21 shooting and he's 10-for-10 at the foul line.

Key to the game

Lay it all on the line

The national conversation about this game has been mostly about Texas. Not many people are talking about Xavier. The Musketeers should love that. Xavier's played and beaten some really good teams this season. Texas is no different. The Longhorns are solid, talented and athletic. Xavier needs to throw its A-game at Texas to keep dancing.

Rankings

KenPom: Xavier (15), Texas (5)

NET: Xavier (22), Texas (7)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sweet 16 scouting report: Xavier vs. Texas in the NCAA Tournament