By Bill Koch and Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

XU's Lionel Chalmers isn't ready to surrender the Musketeers' recent superiority over UC without a fight. The Musketeers have won three of the last four games between the two local rivals.

"We have bragging rights all the way up until (tonight)," Chalmers said. "They want the bragging rights, and they've got to come here and get it."

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'

A NEW BOBBITT: UC guard Tony Bobbitt played only six minutes last year against Xavier, scoring three points on three free throws.

This year, Bobbitt has emerged to become one of the top sixth men in the country and the Bearcats' second-leading scorer at 13.9 points per game. He's looking forward to playing a more vital role in UC's effort tonight.

"I didn't play that much that game," Bobbitt said. "I'll get a good feel for it now. It's going to be fun for me. It's going to be exciting. I'm just looking forward to going over there and seeing what their fans are like."

LESS HYPE: With only three days between their last game and the Crosstown Shootout, there's been less time for media buildup this year. But UC coach Bob Huggins says the hype is not really as bad as people sometimes think it is.

The tough thing, he said, is finding new jokes every year for the events surrounding the game.

"It's not as bad as what people think it is," Huggins said. "I'm kind of happy that we don't have 56 different functions we have to go to now. That got to be a little much. Everybody tried to jump on that wagon. In 15 years, there's only so many one-liners you can say."

GO-TO GUYS: Huggins said neither team has a player the magnitude of a David West or Danny Fortson who can dominate this game the way they did.

"We don't have anybody like that," Huggins said. "We have a number of guys who could (have a good game) and I think they have a number of guys who could. But you don't have a Danny Fortson or a David West or a Kenyon Martin. We don't have a Pete Mickeal, for that matter."

SWITCHING SIDES: UC trainer David Fluker will make his first trip to the Cintas Center tonight as a member of the UC program since he left XU after last season, following seven years as the Musketeers' trainer.

SOULEY'S TURN: XU's Romain Sato and UC's Asrangue Souleymane are both from the Central African Republic and remain close friends, with Sato having taken the time to help Souleymane adjust to Cincinnati after he signed with UC.

But Souleymane, who's being redshirted this year and won't play tonight, is looking for a little revenge against his friend. He said he played three times against Sato back home and lost all three. "I tell him now it's my time," Souleymane said.

PRESSURE'S ON: Xavier coach Thad Matta said Cincinnati is the most talented team the Musketeers have played so far, with a schedule that includes No. 7 Mississippi State and No. 3 Saint Joseph's.

"I think they're the best team that we will have played at the conclusion of the game tomorrow night, just by what I've seen," Matta said.

"The one thing Cincinnati has on Mississippi State is their depth. Mississippi State didn't have that much depth. But just the size and experience that both those two teams have is invaluable to those two teams. That's a game that's very similar to a Cincinnati-type team, without maybe the pressing."

KNOCK THEM DOWN: Xavier has become known for its propensity to shoot 3-pointers this season, but Matta said it only matters if they go in.

"The big thing for us when we shoot a lot of 3s, the thing we have to do is make some," Matta said. "And we've had a couple games where we've shot a lot but not very many have gone in."

ANKLE ISSUE: Xavier's Keith Jackson practiced Monday after injuring his ankle in practice last week. He said he will "more than likely" be ready to play today.

SHOOTOUT TRIVIA (Answers below)

1. What is the longest winning streak in the series? A.) UC, 12 games B.) XU, seven games C.) UC, 16 games D.) UC, 10 games

2. What's the series record the past 20 seasons? A.) UC, 13-7 B.) UC, 11-9 C) tied 10-10 D.) XU, 11-9

3. Dontonio Wingfield, a much-heralded UC freshman, played in just one Shootout, the 1994 game. How many points did he score? A.) 2 B.) 21 C.) 30 D.) 9

4. XU's Darnell Williams scored 24 points as a freshman against UC. How many points would he total in his other three Shootouts? A.) 16 B.) 26 C.) 70 D.) 44

5. Terry Nelson correctly predicted UC would blow out Xavier in 1992. How many points did Nelson score that night? A.) 20 B.) 14 C.) 6 D.) 2

6. What was the Shootout record of XU coach Pete Gillen? A.) 4-5 B.) 5-4 C.) 3-6 D.) 7-2

7. How many points did XU's all-time leading scorer, Byron Larkin, average in his four Shootouts? A. 16 B.) 29 C.) 25.5 D.) 21.5

8. How many points did UC's leading scorer, Oscar Robertson, average in his four Shootouts?

A.) 25 B.) 32 C.) 17 D.) 38

9. Joe Stiffend beat Xavier with a buzzer-beating shot in 1987. How many points did he score that night? A.) 8 B.) 4 C.) 21 D.) 15

10. In 1967, UC won in a game marred by an overtime brawl in which XU's Joe Pangrazio grabbed a crutch and threw it at UC's Raleigh Wynn. Who was the leading scorer that night? A.) XU's Luther Rackley B.) UC's Mike Rolf C.) UC's Rick Roberson D.) Pangrazio

Answers

1. A. Those victories spanned 1957-1967. 2. D. 3. A. He was 0-of-7 from the field and made two foul shots. 4. B. He had 4, 6, and 16 points, respectively, in those three games. 5. C. 6. A. 7. D. His totals were 12, 24, 24 and 26 points, respectively, and XU won three of those games. 8. B. His totals were 36, 29, 38 and 25, respectively, in four UC victories. 9. A. 10. C. Roberson scored nine of his 20 points in OT.