We asked five coaches who have played against both UC and XU for their opinions on how the Crosstown Shootout shapes up.

2004 CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT

SPORTS • Tonight, one trend has to end • XU disputes Huggins' claims • Bobbitt is Mr. Impact • Crosstown Matchups: A position-by-position look • Coaches' oaths • Storylines to keep your eyes on • Xavier's Chalmers: We still have bragging rights NEWS • Crosstown staples: cookies, chili, rivalry EDITORIAL PAGE • Shootout more than 'just one game'

CHARLIE COLES, MIAMI

"Cincinnati has a lot of good players. That makes it difficult. Last year, when we played them, there were a couple of things we could do to slow them down. But this year, they've got a lot of players and that makes it difficult when you're scouting. You can say, 'We're going to take away this,' and then something else happens.

"The second thing is they're a better shooting team than they've been in the past. It used to be you could guard the inside and stop Field Williams and take your chances. Now you've got to guard them inside and out. They're a team that can hurt you both ways.

"The third thing is you've got to beat their defense, get it downcourt and run a good offense against a good halfcourt defense. They've got a good three-quarter-court press. Once you get it past the halfcourt line - and that's not easy - you've got to score against their defense. The other thing is to keep them off the offensive boards. You've got to do that.

"Xavier, to me, is a good defensive team. Their defense is underrated. The second thing is that Xavier has got to shoot the ball well to be successful. The third thing is Lionel Chalmers. He's a huge key for them. If he's running their offense well, they're going to have a decent night. You kind of fear him because of his ballhandling. If he shoots it real well, that's a bonus.

"Romain Sato, whether he has a big night or not, is important. When he has big nights, they play well. When he doesn't, they don't play well. The inside guys have been off and on this year. If you're an opponent, you're saying, 'Let's keep it to the guard play.' If you're Xavier, you're saying, 'You guys have got to have a good game for us to be successful.' "

GREG KAMPE, OAKLAND

"The strength of the Xavier team is their perimeter. Those three guards, Sato, (Lionel) Chalmers and (Dedrick) Finn, we thought we had to take the 3 away from them. We tried to pressure them as well, but we found that they could go by us. Cincinnati is a more athletic team than we are and could do a better job of taking the 3 away and pressuring them. We couldn't do both.

What hurt us most against Xavier is we got hurt on the offensive glass. That's where (Jason) Maxiell is the key to the game. He's a great player. ... Cincinnati was the best team we've played in a couple years, but Xavier is going to be hard to beat in that place. You've got two great coaches going after each other. When emotions are this high, you really do throw everything else out."

FANG MITCHELL, COPPIN STATE

"Xavier has a good shooting team, but to be successful against Cincinnati, their guards have to step up, especially with the pressure Cincinnati puts on.

"Cincinnati is one of the top five teams in the country and has a lot more depth and athleticism and will be able to go to its bench a lot. I was very surprised by that they lost against Louisville. ... With (Jason) Maxiell, he's so athletic and does so much. How is Xavier going to defend that? That's why I stayed in a zone.

" ... Xavier has to be aware that Cincinnati has a lot of talent, but the reality is whoever comes to play to these types of games is going to win that night, so it's very hard to predict."

ERNIE NESTOR, ELON UNIVERSITY

"Obviously, the success you're going to have against Cincinnati is going to depend on the level of guard play you get because they're going to extend the pressure and get after you aggressively. ...

"After you get past the pressure - and the first wave of pressure is easier said than done - you have to decide if you're going to attack or set up and run your offense. College basketball is a volatile game. It's based on who can impose their style of play on that particular team on that particular night.

"Games such as this one bring the best out of everyone. Many times it brings the best out of players you don't expect it from. They play two different styles. Xavier is more of a control team with more of a halfcourt game. Cincinnati is definitely full-court.

BRIAN GREGORY, DAYTON

"Cincinnati's pressure defense gets them going because their offense is created so much by their defense. That's No. 1. No. 2, coach Huggins has 11 guys. So if one of those guys isn't playing as hard as coach wants them to play, he just sits them out. That's a hell of an option to have.

"... I think Xavier matches up pretty well with them because of their guard play and their ability to handle the ball and handle pressure. You have two point guards playing, so that helps. Sato is getting better with the ball, and (Justin) Doellman can stretch the defense. They match up very well with them.

"... I think it's going to be a heck of a game. We struggled simply due to athletic ability against Cincinnati, where Xavier won't."

Common denominators

Xavier and Cincinnati are a combined 9-1 against five common opponents:

Team	UC result	Xavier result
Coppin State	W 76-56	W 62-37
Oakland	W 89-60	W 76-66
Miami (Ohio)	W 83-63	W 55-36
Elon	W 102-63	W 75-58
Dayton	W 82-53	L 74-67