Pick your school's new Big East rival

[yorost]

St. John's/Georgetown is easily the most historic rivalry in this conference a...

Easily? Marquette/DePaul would at least challenge it, I assume. It's down right now, too, but it's old and was going strong in the 60's before each team hit respective national prominence.

[DudeAnon]

It will take time for new rivalries to form, but everyone will be gunning for the top dogs: Marquette and Georgetown. And I have a feeling the 7 will be wanting to put a beat down on the new 3.

[xu1990]

Xavier-DePaul? Really? X-Butler makes much more sense.


X and Butler have had a somewhat on and off rivalry over the years dating back to at least Darin Archbald and MCC battles. In the past 10 years the two teams have had some great OOC match-ups and last years two games, while not artistic, were great battles.

I see no reason based on geography and similar "small school" basketball success why this would not be a very natural rivalry. I see nothing about DePaul that seems to promote a rivalry in any capacity. After Butler, I think Marquette and Creighton come to mind as being similar Midwestern Jesuit schools.

Lastly, I am guessing a few Georgetown fans recall Mourning, Mutumbo and friends being knocked out of the tourney by an unknown but future NBA stacked X team in 1990. We also had a great NCAA game after X suspended a couple guys then lost a hotly contested game to Iverson and co. (that was a long drive back to Cincinnati from Tallahassee after that one).

Look forward to seeing all of these rivals come to Cintas sooner rather than later. SJU you are first up NYE.

[ChicagoX]

Xavier has had a very spirited rivalry with Butler the past four years and I expect that to continue. I think Marquette and Creighton could also become solid Midwestern rivals. I believe X and Creighton played each other five straight seasons in recent years and it was very competitive.

[xu1990]

tangentially related, and mentioned by someone in a recent post. X and Creighton had some truly memorable games in the last 10 years or so. I love Creighton as a league rival.

December 31, 2002
#19 Xavier 75
#13 Creighton 73

David West 28 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast, 2 blks and a steal
Kyle Korver (with Romain Sato in his jock the whole game) 32 pts, 6 reb, 4 asst

Korver's long range shooting performance was the best I have ever witnessed in person. Sato was an accomplished defender, but KK release was so fast and deadly was literally unstoppable most of the game. 8-13 from the arc, seemed better live.

[Bluejay]

I believe X and Creighton played each other five straight seasons in recent years and it was very competitive.

That was a great series and Creighton, under Dana Altman, wanted to renew it. Sean Miller, prior to bolting to Arizona, refused.

At least from now on the games will be televised. I'd love a healthy rivalry with X.

Marquette should be a great rivalry with Creighton too since so many Omaha kids decide to go to Marquette while so many Milwaukee kids enroll at Creighton. Those two schools battle hard for undergrad enrollment throughout the midwest already, so taking that battle to the courts is a natural progression. I see a lot of brother vs. brother type of scenarios in that rivalry.

[Bluejay]

tangentially related, and mentioned by someone in a recent post. X and Creighton had some truly memorable games in the last 10 years or so. I love Creighton as a league rival.

December 31, 2002
#19 Xavier 75
#13 Creighton 73

David West 28 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast, 2 blks and a steal
Kyle Korver (with Romain Sato in his jock the whole game) 32 pts, 6 reb, 4 asst

Korver's long range shooting performance was the best I have ever witnessed in person. Sato was an accomplished defender, but KK release was so fast and deadly was literally unstoppable most of the game. 8-13 from the arc, seemed better live.

Game was in Cincy. I remember that game vividly, although I had to listen on the radio because there was no TV coverage. I never felt both so good about a loss and so miserable about a loss because it was so gut wrenching.

Still one of my all-time regular season favorites. And the first thing that pops into my head every time I hear "Xavier."

Damn, do we really have to wait until November to get this season started!?!?!

[redmen9194]

This is why I hope we stay at 10. With that number, rivalries will develop much more quickly. A round robin schedule allows rivalries to move faster.

[BoarCommaThe]

tangentially related, and mentioned by someone in a recent post. X and Creighton had some truly memorable games in the last 10 years or so. I love Creighton as a league rival.

December 31, 2002
#19 Xavier 75
#13 Creighton 73

David West 28 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast, 2 blks and a steal
Kyle Korver (with Romain Sato in his jock the whole game) 32 pts, 6 reb, 4 asst

Korver's long range shooting performance was the best I have ever witnessed in person. Sato was an accomplished defender, but KK release was so fast and deadly was literally unstoppable most of the game. 8-13 from the arc, seemed better live.

This game had one of the most famous quotes that I can remember our play by play guy on the radio having during a game. It was late in the game and the score was pretty close with Xavier up a few points and Kyle Korver was starting to go bananas. Anyway, I think Kyle was trailing the play and our point guard dished it back to him and he hit close to a 27-30 footer. Our play by play guy lost it and said, "He shot it from the X!!!" So depending on where the X starts on the court it must have been quite a shot. Were any Xavier fans at this particular game ten years ago?

[Xubob]

I was there that night, my seats were 12 rows behind the basket. Korver put on the best late game clutch shooting display I've ever seen. I think X was up about 9 with a minute left and Korver almost pulled it out by himself. The shot you are talking about was a legit 30 footer. It was New Year's Eve and David West bobble head night. One of the best games of all time at Cintas. Can't wait for the season to start. Thinking about coming to Omaha for the game if I can get a reasonable flight and find tickets. Always liked the Blue Jays and enjoyed our brief rivalry with them.