Cincinnati Basketball: 3 keys to Crosstown Shootout matchup versus Xavier

Coming off an 84-67 victory over Howard, Cincinnati is set to host Xavier for the annual Crosstown Shootout. Sitting at 7-1 overall and ranked 22nd, the Bearcats have an opportunity to add a solid non-conference win to their resume ahead of Big 12 play. The Bearcats have lost five straight games in the series to Xavier, and will be looking to end the losing streak, and pick up their first win over the Musketeers since 2018.

While Cincinnati has had a solid start to the season, and are looking to flip the script in the Crosstown Shootout, it will be a tough matchup against a Xavier team that will likely be playing with a chip on their shoulders after a wobbly start to the 2024-25 season. Here are the keys for the Bearcats to regain the bragging rights over the crosstown rivals.

1. Strong production from beyond the arc

In the Bearcats' only loss this year, which came at Villanova, Cincinnati's struggles from beyond the arc were one of the main reasons the Bearcats came up short. The Bearcats shot just 30% from beyond the arc, which was their worst mark all year. Despite a strong start to the year, Cincinnati has had recent struggles with 3-point shooting, as they have shot under 35% from the three-point line in each of their last three games. Xavier has struggled defensively this year, as they have allowed the highest 3-point field goal percentage among all Big East teams, along with allowing the second most points per game in the conference.

2. Minimize the impact of Ryan Conwell and Zach Freemantle

Xavier's duo of guard Ryan Conwell and big man Zach Freemantle have led the Musketeers offensively this year across the board. Conwell and Freemantle lead the Musketeers in scoring, both averaging over 16 points per game. Zach Freemantle is coming off an impressive 27-point double-double in Xavier's 119-58 blowout win over Morgan State, while Conwell is shooting an impressive 45.6% from beyond the arc.

If Conwell and Freemantle get hot, they both are capable of quickly breaking any game open, and their 119 scoring outburst proves just what the Musketeers are capable of doing when they get going. If the Bearcats struggle to contain this duo, it will likely be a rough afternoon for Cincinnati and it could prove to be the difference between a win and a loss.

3. Control the Glass

The Bearcats have had both good showings and not-so-good showings when it comes to rebounding this year, and they must avoid another bad showing should they want to earn a victory. During their win over Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati struggled to pull down boards, as they were outrebounded 36-27. On the flip side, In their loss to Villanova, the Bearcats actually outrebounded the Wildcats 33-32, including 13 offensive rebounds, showing what they can be capable of when it comes to rebounding.

Xavier is a team that is fully capable of controlling the glass on both sides of the ball, and a player like Zach Freemantle is someone who can lead that charge. If the Bearcats can control the glass on both ends of the ball and create second-chance opportunities throughout the game, it would likely be in a position to earn a victory.