By Ben Dickison, Sports Editor
Last Wednesday, the Big East conference had its eyes frozen on Cintas Center as the defending national champion Connecticut Huskies marauded into town for a matchup against Xavier. Prior to the game, a first-of-its-kind rendezvous took place outside the main entrance of Xavier’s 10,250 seat arena.
The Big East Road Trip will host sixteen fan fest events, with at least one stop at each Big East institution, at premier men’s and women’s basketball games during the regular season. The Road Trip provides fans with an opportunity to take a photo with the men’s basketball conference tournament championship trophy, watch the Big East shootaround show and take place in a free throw shootout against a friend. Prior to the Connecticut game, Xavier welcomed its cheer squad, dance team, mascots and pep band to infuse extra energy into the frigid students waiting in line for entry.
The Big East Shootaround show was hosted by Xavier media personalities Paul Fritschner and Adam Baum, who co-host “The Sean Miller Podcast” with the head coach himself.
In addition to appearances by staples of the Xavier community, commissioner Val Ackerman stopped by the Xavier fanbase.
“This is our way of celebrating the season and giving back to fans,” remarked Ackerman.
Ackerman raved of the locale that was hosting the event, noting, “I love Xavier’s campus, and I think Cintas is one of the premier venues in college basketball.”
She was additionally complimentary of the leadership of President Dr. Colleen Hanycz and Athletic Director Greg Christopher, along with dining options in the Rookwood neighborhood.
As a player at then Big East member Pittsburgh, Miller faced then Seton Hall Pirate point guard, now UConn head man, Danny Hurley multiple times in conference play.
“I’m sure it adds many storylines to the Big East,” Miller told Newswire. “If you’ve played in this league, you have a forever respect for the competitiveness it takes. Having those memories in a conference you’re coaching in now makes it mean more.” he continued.
Until the latter stages of the second half, Xavier gave the Associated Press’ current top rated team all it could handle. Each team was led in scoring by a veteran transfer guard. The Musketeers were paced by graduate transfer Quincy Olivari, who poured in 24 points. Cam Spencer countered for the visitors with 19 points on three-for-five shooting from beyond the arc. The Musketeers dominated the boards, recording 20 offensive rebounds on the night. Despite this advantage and the Huskies converting on only half of their fourteen foul shots, deadeye three point shooting from the Huskies in the second half pushed the visitors over the hump for a final score of 80-75. The Musketeers battled to find themselves within five points for about 12 minutes of the contest, but held a lead for just more than a minute in the second half.
The Musketeers bounced back from a loss in the conference-wide spotlight with a no-doubt win on the road in Providence on Saturday. Senior forward Gytis Nemeikša continued to flash his hot hand from beyond the arc, knocking down two three pointers in 24 seconds to extend the Xavier lead to 58-43 early in the second half. First year floor general Trey Green saw an ocean for a basket, connecting on nine of his 14 field goal attempts, including five three pointers.
Desmond Claude, who had 19 points in the first half, “looked like a first round draft pick,” according to Kim English, who is in the midst of his first season at the helm in Providence. Claude finished having added 21 points and six boards on his way to being named a member of the Big East Weekly Honor Roll.
With Saturday’s victory, Xavier climbed to 2-3 in the Big East and rose to seventh in the conference standings heading into Tuesday night’s battle with the Butler Bulldogs, a game Xavier won 85-71.