Cincinnati has leaned on defense to start the season. They’re holding opponents to just 63.4 points per game, but their offense has been inconsistent, so far, similar to the last few seasons. The Musketeers had a rocky start to the season but might have found something with the adjustments made by first-year head coach Richard Pitino. Xavier is going to shoot a ton of threes and do a better job in protecting the ball. They’re also 5-1 SU at home on the year. This is also the Bearcats first true road game of the season and have’t beaten Xavier in the Cintas Center since 2001.

It's the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout in Cincinnati tonight, and we wonder if the local eateries are giving away free cheese coneys if the X hits ten or more triples in a game. After a slow start in early November, the Musketeers are raining in 3-balls en masse of late (including a 16 for 25 beyond the arc in Charleston vs. WVU) to up their accuracy to 38% from tripleville, with Valpo transfer G All Wright now raining triples at a 50% rate. With wins in three straight, Richard Pitino's side now looks in gear, while we're not so sure about the Bearcats, whose offense has lurched in recent weeks as it tries to incorporate 6-11 ex-FAU frontliner Baba Miller into the mix. Play Xavier.