Top four most significant/Memorable XU wins
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 8:34 am
What would you say are the top four most significant/memorable Xavier wins (and plays) of ALL time.
Here are three to get the ball rolling...
2017: Regional Semifinals, number 11 Xavier upsets number 2 Arizona
The Musketeers, who lost starting point guard Edmond Sumner in January and slumped into the tournament as an 11 seed, were headed to the Elite Eight after a 73-71 upset of the No. 2 Wildcats at SAP Arena, scoring the game’s final nine points over the final 2 minutes, 37 seconds. Xavier got 25 points from Trevon Bluiett and 14 from J.P. Macura, who sliced up Arizona’s defense all game long, creating good looks for himself and his teammates. Xavier shot 53% for the game, getting an easy layup with 40 seconds left on a feed from Bluiett to big man Sean O’Mara rolling to the rim. That play completed the comeback for Xavier, which fell behind 69-61 with 3:44 left. Xavier took over from there, scoring every point during the last few minutes to pull an upset and comeback of epic proportions!
1996: Xavier beats number one ranked Cincinnati
Legendary Xavier Play by Play man Andy MacWilliams had the iconic call as the Muskies upset the number one ranked team in the country: “The Cincinnati Bearcats number one in the country and number two in their own city!”
How good was this UC team? I will tell you, they had Ruben Patterson, Danny Fortson, Damon Flint, Darnell Burton. Bob Huggins led the Bearcats to a 26-8 overall record, 14-2 in Conference USA. This game was played early in the season with both teams coming into the game with 1-0 records. The Muskie’s defense was the difference in this game as they caused 21 turnovers from the Bearcats as once again Bob Huggins was out-coached as Lenny brown hit a buzzer-beater for the Muskies to win the shootout.
1990 (Hoosier Dome): Sixth-seeded Xavier takes down third-seeded Georgetown in NCAA Tournament second round
Xavier in 1990 had Tyrone Hill and an experienced team that had lost in the previous two NCAA Tournaments to the eventual National Champions. Entering this second-round matchup they were coming off a first-round victory over Kansas State and not many gave the Musketeers much of a shot against the highly-ranked Hoyas led by Mutombo and Mourning. Somebody forgot to inform the Musketeers they couldn’t win as Xavier squeaked by the Hoyas in front of a large crowd in Indianapolis. The Muskies would come up short in the Sweet 16 to the Texas Longhorns but this was a game that informed people that Xavier was more than just a tiny mid-major program.
Here are three to get the ball rolling...
2017: Regional Semifinals, number 11 Xavier upsets number 2 Arizona
The Musketeers, who lost starting point guard Edmond Sumner in January and slumped into the tournament as an 11 seed, were headed to the Elite Eight after a 73-71 upset of the No. 2 Wildcats at SAP Arena, scoring the game’s final nine points over the final 2 minutes, 37 seconds. Xavier got 25 points from Trevon Bluiett and 14 from J.P. Macura, who sliced up Arizona’s defense all game long, creating good looks for himself and his teammates. Xavier shot 53% for the game, getting an easy layup with 40 seconds left on a feed from Bluiett to big man Sean O’Mara rolling to the rim. That play completed the comeback for Xavier, which fell behind 69-61 with 3:44 left. Xavier took over from there, scoring every point during the last few minutes to pull an upset and comeback of epic proportions!
1996: Xavier beats number one ranked Cincinnati
Legendary Xavier Play by Play man Andy MacWilliams had the iconic call as the Muskies upset the number one ranked team in the country: “The Cincinnati Bearcats number one in the country and number two in their own city!”
How good was this UC team? I will tell you, they had Ruben Patterson, Danny Fortson, Damon Flint, Darnell Burton. Bob Huggins led the Bearcats to a 26-8 overall record, 14-2 in Conference USA. This game was played early in the season with both teams coming into the game with 1-0 records. The Muskie’s defense was the difference in this game as they caused 21 turnovers from the Bearcats as once again Bob Huggins was out-coached as Lenny brown hit a buzzer-beater for the Muskies to win the shootout.
1990 (Hoosier Dome): Sixth-seeded Xavier takes down third-seeded Georgetown in NCAA Tournament second round
Xavier in 1990 had Tyrone Hill and an experienced team that had lost in the previous two NCAA Tournaments to the eventual National Champions. Entering this second-round matchup they were coming off a first-round victory over Kansas State and not many gave the Musketeers much of a shot against the highly-ranked Hoyas led by Mutombo and Mourning. Somebody forgot to inform the Musketeers they couldn’t win as Xavier squeaked by the Hoyas in front of a large crowd in Indianapolis. The Muskies would come up short in the Sweet 16 to the Texas Longhorns but this was a game that informed people that Xavier was more than just a tiny mid-major program.