CLEVELAND - Cincinnati no longer brings its football team to Cleveland for an annual game. But the Queen City gets to show off its major college basketball in the northern part of the state tonight in the fourth Rock 'n' Roll Shootout.
No. 13 Xavier (6-2) plays in the event at Gund Arena for the first time, facing DePaul (3-6), from Conference USA, at 7 p.m. The University of Cincinnati (6-2) makes its third consecutive Shootout appearance when it takes on Massachusetts (6-4), from the Atlantic 10, at 9:30 p.m.
Xavier's game will be shown on SportsChannel Ohio, and UC's will be shown on ESPN.
This year's event might not have as much appeal as last year's foursome, which included Kentucky, Ohio State and UC.
The Bearcats are 2-0 at the Rock 'n' Roll Shootout, having defeated Temple (70-49) in 1995 and Western Kentucky (81-57) last season. Danny Fortson was named most outstanding player in both games. Xavier is trying to rebound from an 86-84 loss to Purdue, in which the Musketeers battled back from an early 20-point deficit only to fall short by two points.
''It was a lost opportunity to gain respect,'' center Torraye Braggs said. ''But in a way we still did because we came back on one of the best teams in the country.''
UC will again be playing without three suspended starters - Ruben Patterson, D'Juan Baker and Kenyon Martin. Still, the Bearcats have won two in a row and coach Bob Huggins has remained upbeat.
''This team is still capable of winning the league tournament (Conference USA) and can win some games in the NCAA tournament,'' he said.
The event began in 1994 with three local schools - Cleveland State, John Carroll, Baldwin-Wallace - and Ohio State as the marquee name.
Tonight's games will feature several local products, which should help contribute to ticket sales.
Xavier junior James Posey graduated from Twinsburg High School and played his freshman year at Shaker Heights High.
Cincinnati junior Melvin Levett played at Euclid High School, and UC senior Ruben Patterson - who is ineligible and will not play until Jan. 18 - attended John Hay High School.
Xavier page | UC page
