Xavier outlasts UC in Double OT thriller.
The 77th annual Crosstown Shootout took place last night and what a game it was. A double overtime 83-79 thriller between Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati once again came down to the wire. A back and forth encounter between two schools separated by only three miles ended with a Xavier victory. The benches cleared, punches were almost thrown and multiple technicals were issued. But, did anybody even notice?
Cincinnati came into the game ranked in the Top 20 in the nation while Xavier entered struggling with three early season losses. As has been evidenced in the past, none of that matters when these two teams square off. Xavier has twice defeated Cincinnati when they were number one in the nation.
The game was a coming out of sorts for heralded Cincinnati freshman Lance Stephenson. Stephenson was strong down the stretch, sending the game into overtime on a driving lay-up at the end of regulation and hitting some pivotal shots in the extra periods. His crossover on Terrell Holloway put the Xavier guard on his behind before Stephenson calmly hit a 16-footer. Stephenson finished with 22 points, but was outdone by Holloway who finished with a game high 26.
Two schools that are the second closest Division 1 colleges in proximity renewed their historic rivalry last night and the ESPN family of networks did everything they could to make sure nobody even watched.
Talk about prime time. A Sunday night game on ESPNU during football season. Thanks a lot ESPN. What used to be the biggest game of the year in the city of Cincinnati has now turned into a footnote for the people at ESPN and the entire nation.
Interest has been down this season from local fans as well.
The success of the Cincinnati Bengals this season and of course and Cincinnati Bearcats football team may have taken some attention away from this game. The news of Brian Kelly's departure earlier in the week clearly stole the headlines away from one of the greatest rivalries in college sports. The players did not seem to notice and the war that ensued on the court was one for the ages.
A game that used to be so big Dick Vitale would even show up has now turned to this. It is truly a shame to see. For the players it doesn't matter if the game is played in a 200-seat gym and not televised at all, they give it everything they have when these two teams square off.
For the few who saw the game, it is hard to ask for anything more from two bitter rivals. An instant classic for sure in a rivalry that is as good as any in college basketball. Maybe next year ESPN will get rid of the game completely and it will go back to local television in Cincinnati. But, my best guess is after last nights thriller, a primetime weeknight game on ESPN is much more likely. Heck, maybe 'Dickie V' will even return to town.