*****GAME THREAD: 2-Seed Texas Longhorns vs. 3-Seed Xavier Musketeers*****

[HornSports Staff]

Mar 23, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Longhorns players warm up during a practice session at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns (28-8, 12-6 Big 12) will face the No. 3 seed Xavier Musketeers (27-9, 15-5 BIG EAST) on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.  The Longhorns' last appearance in the round of 16 was in 2008, when they defeated Stanford 82-62 and advanced to the Elite 8 where they would lose to the Memphis Tigers 85-67.

The contest between the Longhorns and Musketeers marks the third time these two programs have met in the Regional Semifinal, with Xavier defeating Texas in 2004 and Texas besting the Musketeers in 1990.

Xavier, coached by Sean Miller, defeated No. 14 Seed Kennesaw State and No. 11 Seed Pittsburg in their bracket to reach the Sweet 16 matchup against the Longhorns.  After plowing through the Big 12 Tournament undefeated, Texas defeated #15 Colgate and #10 seeded Penn State en route to their 11th Sweet 16 appearance all-time.

Senior forward Jerome Hunter is a name to remember for the Musketeers, as he has led his team in points and rebounds through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament (19 ppg, 5 rpg). Musketeer junior guard Colby Jones trails Hunter in points per game averaged, but not by much (15 ppg) but leads the team in assists (4.3 apg).  Xavier plays solid basketball and averages 81.2 points per game this season.

On the Texas side, senior forward Dylan Disu is having his way with teams in the tournament.  Disu is averaging 22.5 points and 10 rebounds per tournament game (team highs) and is hooting a whopping 71% from the floor.  Last week in Texas' 71-66 win over the Nittany Lions, Disu notched a season high 28 points and 10 rebounds which set a Texas NCAA record for field goals made (14-20).

WHAT: No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns (28-8, 12-6 Big 12) vs. No. 3 seed Xavier Musketeers (27-9, 15-5 Big East)
FORMAT:  2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - Sweet 16
WHEN: Friday, March 24, 2023
TIME: 8:45 PM CST
TV:  CBS
VENUE: T-Mobile Center
LOCATION: Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: Texas -5.5

SERIES/ALL-TIME RECORD:  Texas leads Xavier 3-2
LAST MEETING:  Texas defeated Xavier 78-76 OT (March 24, 2019 - Austin, TX)

 

[HornSports Staff]

[No message]

 

[TB14]

This one is going to be tough. Better be ready from the tip.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Match ups make fights and I like how we match up. They are a very good team, so not an easy game, but very winnable 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

IMO, it will go down to the wire.

 

[Sunkist]

Hook ‘em!

 

[Sunkist]

Winning formula:

Minimize TOS (Xavier doesn’t force them), crash the boards, play tight D and shoot 35%+ from 3.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Winning formula:

Minimize TOS (Xavier doesn’t force then), crash the boards, play tight D and shoot 35%+ from 3.

Or, hear me out.... Simply score 1 more point then them... ?

 

[Baron]

Texas has contested all the teams, that they have played, ability to shoot the three so far. Xavier shouldn't be any different. It's Xavier's big guy that worries me. The last time we played against a tree in the paint we lost.

If Carr can limit his uncontested give-a-ways, Texas should squeak one out like the Penn St. game.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Got my drinks and food all set. Ready for the battle of the Xs... Late game...

 

[Steelhammer]

If we get by Xavier,Either Houston or Miami be ready.

 

[Eastexhorn]

Will be Miami. They are hiting a better precentage of three's than Houston is layups.

 

[HornSports Staff]

[No message]

 

[Eastexhorn]

Hope the time out helps . Horns were playing right where Xavier wanted them.

 

[java]

It did.

These announcers are such Xavier homers. 
 

Hook ‘em!

 

[java]

Love Bishop’s athleticism.

 

[Steelhammer]

We are not playing smart even though we lead

 

[java]

He hit it!

 

[java]

We are playing the heck out of defense, and 17 points smarter than Xavier, evidently.