Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big East Basketball: Biggest in-state battles in non-conference schedule for 2018-19

By Brian Foley

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 02: Quentin Goodin #3 of the Xavier Musketeers dribbles the ball as Tre Scott #13 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reaches for the steal at Cintas Center on December 2, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 02: Quentin Goodin #3 of the Xavier Musketeers dribbles the ball as Tre Scott #13 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reaches for the steal at Cintas Center on December 2, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 17: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 17: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Xavier at Cincinnati (Dec. 8)

All-time: UC leads 50-35
Last meeting: XU 89-76 (2017)

While the Bearcats owned the first part of this rivalry, the Musketeers have flipped the script in the 21st century, winning 12 of the last 18 matchups in the Crosstown Shootout, appearing in 16 NCAA tournaments to Cincinnati’s 13, and stepping into the new Big East while UC was relegated to the American.

The 2017-18 campaign was the best combined regular season showing for the two rival schools, as they totaled 60 wins and captured top-two seeds in the NCAA tournament. However, both teams were bounced in the second round of the dance and are now recovering from major losses up and down the roster, including Trevon Bluiett, JP Macura, Kaiser Gates, Kerem Kanter, Sean O’Mara, and head coach Chris Mack for Xavier, and Gary Clark, Jacob Evans III, and Kyle Washington for Cincinnati. Those eight players provided 64 percent of the points scored in last year’s meeting at the Cintas Center.

There is still a host of talent returning to this vicious rivalry, but it feels like only one Queen City club will make the tourney come March.

Marquette vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 8)

All-time: UW leads 67-57
Last meeting: MU 82-63 (2017)

This year will mark the 125th meeting between the Badgers and the Golden Eagles, two teams looking to return to the NCAA tournament after frustrating 2017-18 showings. Steve Wojciechowski and Greg Gard will rely upon a familiar cast of characters; both teams rank in the top 50 in the country in returning minutes, including Wisconsin at no. 6. Marquette‘s Andrew Rowsey – who torched UW for 39 points on just 17 total shots in the previous two meetings – is the only notable player no longer in the rivalry.

Even without Rowsey, this battle is loaded with star power, as Marquette’s Markus Howard and Sam Hauser and Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ were all tabbed as preseason all-conference players. MU has struggled to handle Happ in the low post in the past; the 6-foot-10 senior has averaged 13.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 56 percent shooting in three games against the Golden Eagles. Look for newly eligible transfer Ed Morrow to soak up big minutes for Wojo in an effort to shut down the engine to the Badgers’ offense.

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