By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Xavier student Hilary Leeman held a sign praising XU guard Romain Sato during the team's victorious Friday night battle against Texas at Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Xavier will meet Duke tonight for a shot at the NCAA Final Four. The Cincinnati Enquirer/CRAIG RUTTLE

Xavier basketball fan Teresa Black went to Atlanta - and took her intuition with her.

"I had the feeling we were going to win (Friday) - and I have that feeling again," she said in a telephone interview from Jocks & Jills, an Atlanta sports bar, Saturday night. "I know we have the talent. If they play well, they'll win."

Black, 43, of Deer Park, was one of a horde of Xavier fans who invaded Atlanta for today's game against Duke, hoping for another upset victory. On Friday, Xavier beat Texas in a nerve-racking matchup to make the coveted "Elite Eight" playoff berth.

"Our legs were shaking, our hands were shaking, our hearts were pounding - because you knew it was going to be history if they made it," said Black, a 1982 Xavier graduate.

Fellow Xavier alumnus Keith Fenton, 35, of Villa Hills, said he was proud of the school spirit he sees all around him in Atlanta.

"You see Xavier people all over the streets, wearing Xavier gear. There's definitely more here from Xavier than any other school," he said.

Mary Fetick, 41, of Norwood, also made the trip to Atlanta, hoping to savor victory again.

"It's going to be nice to upset another (top team). We're playing well - and we're going to do it," she said.

For those who couldn't make the Atlanta trip, students and fans alike were gearing up for the game. An Elite Eight Party is set for tonight at Xavier's Gallagher Student Center.

A large screen and projector are up to show the game, which airs at 5:05 p.m. on CBS.

On Saturday, several students sat lazily in the student center watching and reveling in reruns of Xavier's first- and second-round games.

Brad Wadl, 21, campus bookstore manager and a Xavier senior, said the store sold out of "Sweet 16" shirts and he doesn't expect "Elite Eight" shirts to arrive until Tuesday.

Anna Michael contributed. E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com