who is Xavier's biggest rival?

[muskieman]

In the BE, which team do you look at as being Xavier's rival and why? Who is the next closest?

[kyzrex]

Buttler. Case closed.

[Kevin Reilly]

Villanova. We almost never beat them. They have won two NCAA championships while we were in the same league. They are the class of our league.

[WCWIII]

Nah on Butler. Credit to them that they have the two final fours, but they are a bit of an annoyance. Like formally Dayton and our recent Bearcat brethren - both with some outstanding teams in recent times (OK, maybe a stretch for UC), but still they are little boys down the street to us. We can be their biggest rivals if that makes them feel better. Let them storm the court if everything goes their way. Here's a good listen podcast caller.

To be honest, I think "the rival" to us is the entire Big East. It's a nod of respect for the old league to which we are now part. Until now, "the rival" was to see if we could rise to beat Nova. "The rival" is for us to not just be recognized during one good occasional season, but can our program compete year in and year out?

I love the Big East tournament and have gone every year since we've joined. The MSG atmosphere and the fans from all the teams that we've seen home and away are great. There is a mutual respect among the fans at MSG - we are so fortunate to be in this league. I just don't feel we have, nor do we need, a sub-rival in the Big East ... can we become that national team that is synonymous with Big East?

[kyzrex]

I said Buttler because they are the one school and program in the BE that I have virtually no respect for. I dislike everything about them and their “Buttler Way”. They are the one BE school that I really can’t stand, and I hate X losing to them more than I like X beating them. The rest of the BE schools are honorable opponents. Buttler is just a pain in the Butt(ler).

[Xavier2005]

IMHO X has no real rival at all in the BE.

[pdxmuskie]

I would generally agree that X has no true rival in the BE. Nova can't be a rival given that we have been so unsuccessful at beating them.

A rival will emerge if we are able to consistently fight for the top 2 to 4 spots in conference and are consistently competing against the same teams to win the conference. Creighton and Marquette are likely to become rivals based on the above thought process. Nova needs to prove the new coach is able to keep them at the top of the conference. Butler has a competent coach so they may work their way back toward the top.

If Xavier or others fail to consistently stay at the top and it simply rotates based on recruiting classes, old vs young teams, then a rivalry is unlikely to emerge. Hating a team or simply wishing we could beat a team is not a rivalry. Record has to be somewhat competitive. UC is getting close to losing rivalry status but proximity will retain the rivalry status longer than it otherwise would.