SITE: Cleveland
TIME: 7:25 p.m.
TV: truTV
ANNOUNCERS: Gus Johnson play-by-play, Len Elmore analyst
THE SPREAD: Xavier by 2.5
RECORDS: Xavier 24-7, Marquette 20-14
ENROLLMENTS: Xavier 6,800; Marquette 11,689
THE BUZZ: Xavier G Tu Holloway will be the best player on the floor. The question is whether Marquette’s “”Big Three”” of Jimmy Butler, Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder can do enough to overcome Holloway. Marquette’s perimeter defense is spotty, but Xavier has not been consistent from 3-point range, hitting just 33.3 percent. Xavier looks to have the advantage in the low post with Kenny Frease and Jamel McLean. Marquette is at its best when it is allowed to play up-tempo basketball. The Golden Eagles aren’t all that good from the line, while Xavier is solid from the line.
