Crosstown Shootout Preview: Cincinnati at Xavier

by Riverfront U Team December 5, 2025

The Crosstown Shootout has produced classics, chaos and unforgettable moments — but for Cincinnati, winning at Cintas Center has become the rivalry’s great white whale. The Bearcats enter Friday night having dropped 10 straight road games to Xavier, a streak stretching back to 2001.

(Photo:: Taylor Keeton/ Bearcatsportshub)

In general, Cincinnati has struggled in this rivalry since their last win at Cintas Center, having won the game just seven times. Still, Cincinnati owns a 52-40 all time advantage against their crosstown rival.

Wes Miller isn’t interested in the noise. But he is excited.

“As competitors, the games are fun,” Miller said this week. “The higher the level of the game, the more excitement there is. There’s no coach-speak here — that stuff’s fun. Competitors enjoy those type of things.”

This year’s matchup brings unfamiliarity on both sides. UC’s Day Day Thomas is the only Bearcat with more than one Shootout experience, while Xavier brings in an entirely new roster under first-year head coach Richard Pitino.

“That’s unfortunately unique historically, but normal now,” Miller said. “My job is to get our team better today and get them ready to play.”

Xavier’s New Look

If Xavier’s early season film tells a story, it’s one Miller has studied in detail. Despite the early season struggles, Xavier has found its rhythm, having won four of their last five games.

“They’ve done a nice job making some adjustments,” he said. “After the Santa Clara game you could see they made some adjustments to lineup, some adjustments to the style of play, and the shooting at every position is very noticeable. The passing, the movement offensively… they’ve really improved as a team over the last two or three weeks.”

Miller noted that the Musketeers’ heavy use of stretch forwards and centers makes them unusual even by modern standards.

“It’s unique to have the majority of lineups where the four and the five are prolific three-point shooters and decision makers,” he said. “Both of them have made five in a game already. That’s unique and something you certainly have to prepare for.”

Spearheading that frontcourt skill is Tre Carroll, who currently leads the Musketeers at 15.9 pts, 2.9 ast, 5.4 rebounds per game on 39.5% from deep .

(Photo: Xavier Athletics)

“He’s one of those guys that shoots it, but he can do quite a bit more,” Miller said. “He can bring it up, he can drive it, he can finish, he can playmake. He’s a really versatile player in the front court for them and presents a lot of problems.”

A Rivalry That’s ‘Special’ — No Matter the New Faces

Cincinnati won last year’s Shootout at home, but Miller isn’t leaning on the past.

“I just think that experiencing the game now for a handful of years, I have an appreciation for what it means to this community,” he said. “This one’s special because it means so much to Cincinnati. I’m appreciative that I get to experience a rivalry like that.”

And while he emphasizes consistency in preparation, Miller acknowledged the obvious: the atmosphere at Cintas will feel different.

“There’s a different feeling in the air in weeks like this,” he said. “You walk in here and there’s a lot more people sitting here and a lot more cameras. There’s excitement. But the things that matter — getting better every day, winning the details — those don’t change.”

Can UC Exploit Xavier’s Smaller Lineups?

Though Xavier has leaned into smaller, more skilled groups, Miller isn’t assuming Cincinnati can simply bully its way to the rim.

“They might not have traditional centers, but they have really good positional size,” he said. “If you look at these last couple games, when you drive the ball they do a good job coming at you. It’s not easy to get downhill.”

Xavier has also mixed coverages and flashed occasional zone looks — something Miller says UC prepares for as a matter of routine.

“That’s normal stuff,” he said. “You try to prepare your team for things like that every game.”

Miller on Richard Pitino

Miller praised his relationship with Pitino, who has quickly reshaped Xavier’s style in his first season.

“I’ve known Richard a long time,” he said. “I was really impressed with the job he did at New Mexico, and they’ve made a really nice pivot early in the season. He’s a terrific coach.”

(Photo: Xavier Athletics)

Scouting Xavier:

Xavier (6–3) rides a three-game winning streak into this matchup after a 96–74 rout of Saint Francis, powered by senior guard Roddie Anderson III’s 28 points. The Musketeers are trending upward offensively, and the scouting tape shows a team leaning heavily on perimeter firepower and balanced scoring.

Identity & Style

Xavier averages 18.4 assists per game with a 1.9 A/T ratio, both indicators that they share it and don’t beat themselves (9.7 turnovers). Their defining trait right now: five straight games with 10+ made threes, fueled by efficiency from multiple spots.

Defensively, they’re solid in the passing lanes (7.6 steals per game) but vulnerable at the point of attack, allowing opponents to shoot 46.9% from the field.

Players to know

Tre Carroll (15.9 ppg) – Versatile scorer and the only Musketeer in double figures every game. Can score at all three levels and is their most reliable late-clock option.
Roddie Anderson III (13.9 ppg) – Playing with confidence after his near-career-high outburst. Quick downhill guard who applies pressure in transition and can create separation for pull-ups.
Jovan Milićević (12.6 ppg) – One of the more versatile stretch forwards in the Big East... 2.56 threes per game on 44.2% shooting. Pick-and-pop is a staple action. Closeouts must be disciplined.
All Wright (11.3 ppg) – Deadeye shooter at 50% from three and 2.22 makes per game. Best used as a movement shooter; loses impact if forced off the line.
Filip Borovicanin (8.1 ppg) - Leading rebounder for the Muskies at 7.6 per game. Began his career at Arizona, playing two seasons in Tuscon, before spending last season at New Mexico with Pitino. Best game of the season was a 12-point, 12-rebound effort against Georgia November 21st.

Rebounding & Interior

Xavier is slightly negative on the glass , but Borovićanin has been a recent force, averaging 10.3 boards over his last four and ranking fourth in the league (7.6 rpg). Still, opponents have found success scoring inside (42.9% allowed), and XU doesn’t offer much rim protection (3.7 blocks per game).

Team Trends to Know

3-Point Differential: Xavier makes 10.9 threes per game to opponents’ 5.4
Efficiency: Overall shooting is only 42%, but the three-point line (38.4%) keeps the offense humming.
Pressure Points: They win the turnover battle consistently (+3.9 margin) and generate easy runout opportunities.

Overall:

Xavier wants a high-possession game built around pace, spacing, and perimeter volume. Limit their three-point attempts, make Carroll and Anderson finish through length, and force Milićević and Wright to put the ball on the floor. Control the glass and slow their assist-driven rhythm, and you take away their identity.

Final Thoughts

Cincinnati arrives deeper, more athletic and better defensively than in recent seasons — yet Cintas Center has swallowed up plenty of Bearcat teams that believed the same. Xavier, meanwhile, is heating up after early lineup adjustments and enters the Shootout with a renewed identity.

Miller isn’t shying away from what awaits.

“The games are fun,” he said again, smiling. “If the moment ever stops being fun, you’ll find me on the first tee.”

On Friday night, the Bearcats hope that fun finally includes breaking the streak that’s defined the rivalry for more than a decade.