Tuesday, June 12, 2001
Xavier to face Missouri in John Wooden event
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A schedule that's arguably the strongest in Xavier men's basketball history just got stronger.
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PARTIAL SCHEDULE
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Home games capitalized (RPI last season in parentheses):
Nov.2 .CALIFORNIA ALL-STARS*
Nov.17 .COASTAL CAROLINA (285)
Nov.20 .SIENA (117)
Nov.24 .vs. Missouri (47)
Nov.28 .at Miami U. (121)
Dec.1. at San Francisco (231)
Dec.5.at Purdue (67)
Dec. 15. CINCINNATI (31)
Dec.22 .at Creighton (23)
TBA .WISCONSIN (19)
TBA. KENT STATE (93)
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The Musketeers will meet Missouri, ranked No.3 in CNN/SI's projections for the upcoming season, Nov. 24 in the John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. XU's non-conference schedule counts five 2001 NCAA Tournament teams — including Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Kent State at home, Creighton on the road — plus a visit to Purdue, an NIT team.
“The schedule has a tremendous amount of strength built into it,” XU athletic director Mike Bobinski said. “We're all wanting to play this type of schedule.”
XU, picked No.23 by CNN/SI, has secured 10 non-conference opponents with one more home game (and one exhibition) to schedule. The average Ratings Percentage Index ranking for those 10 is 103.4. Since XU entered the Atlantic 10 in 1995-96, the best average was 128.3 in 1998-99. Counting St. Joseph's and Temple in A-10 play, XU will play seven games against 2001 NCAA Tournament teams. It will play six games against 2001 NIT teams: Richmond (twice), Dayton (twice), Purdue and St. Bonaventure.
“It's difficult when a school of Xavier's stature, where they sit as a high major, to get all those on their schedule,” ESPN analyst Dick Vitale said. “That'll reflect upon their RPI.”
Missouri secured XU after Ohio State pulled out of the Wooden. For the Musketeers, the Missouri date replaces the CoSIDA Classic, an exempt event to have been played Nov. 23-24 at Cintas Center.
“Our own event was struggling to come together, and that opportunity (with Missouri) was still out there — one we couldn't turn down,” Bobinski said.
The contracts call for Purdue and Creighton to visit XU in the 2002-03 season and for XU to play Siena that season in Albany, N.Y. The Musketeers have also committed to play in the 2002 Preseason NIT.
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Xavier to face Missouri in John Wooden event
