#11 Xavier vs. #6 Illinois: A High-Stakes 6-11 Midwest Matchup

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Transcript

00:00Really good matchup today for the Musketeers out of the Big

00:03East, taking on Illinois, the 6-11 matchup in the Midwest

00:09region. As we look at this game, DRS three and a half points

00:12spread in favor of the Illini. And everybody pay attention to

00:14that total 159 and a half. How much offense are you

00:19anticipating in this game between the Illini and the

00:21Musketeers?

00:22We're expecting a lot of offense here and the shotmakers all the

00:25way around. You want some decent tempo, both teams will play at

00:28it. You want some three-point shots to be shot. These teams do

00:30like to shoot. However, when looking at one little setup,

00:33which is going to decide this game for me, you take a look at

00:36Xavier's offense, sixth in the nation at making the three-point

00:39shot at close to 40% as a team. You look at Illinois' defense,

00:43they'll defend it quite well. But how about this? Third in the

00:45nation at chasing you off of that three-point line. So it's

00:49like that battle of attrition. Because understand this, Xavier

00:52is not built like we talk about, like a BYU, hey, bomb away, if

00:55you make them, there's nothing they can do. They're pretty

00:57judicious from the three-point range here, only 206 in the

00:59country at volume, which means they're not forcing it. So

01:02they're taking the open shot. But how many of those open shots

01:05are going to be available is the question for me. I like Illinois

01:08in this game. Now they are the favorite. My MO is usually take

01:11the points and pray. In my bracket, I have Illinois

01:14Advancing. It's one of those where I do think we get a great

01:17total here. But also, do you get that effect where Xavier played

01:21so well in game number one? Coming into this game where

01:23Illinois hasn't played here yet in the dance. Does that make

01:27up a difference here? And also, is Xavier going to translate

01:29that great shooting into this environment? We'll find that

01:32out. A great game, a fun game, and maybe the best game to

01:35watch overall if you're looking to bet profits. Why? Because of

01:37how high that total is. I can't wait to watch it play out. And

01:40the key, once again, is that three-point line for Xavier and

01:43how many shots they get a chance to knock off Illinois when

01:46they'll chase you right off that three-point line.