Point guard

Taron Barker has been a pleasant surprise. He's not an offensive threat like Steve Logan, nor can he penetrate and dish like Kenny Satterfield, but he runs the offense well and can knock down an open shot on occasion. He averages 7.0 assists and 2.0 turnovers. He has attempted only four free throws. Dedrick Finn is a true freshman, and this is his first Crosstown Shootout. More than a few veterans of the game have said you have to experience this game to realize how intense it gets. Finn's impact today probably will more than likely be minimal.

Edge-UC

Shooting guard

Field Williams is a streaky shooter, but when he's on, he can be devastating. He's the team's top outside threat, having made 43 percent of his 3-pointers last season. He has improved defensively but remains average at best. He'll need a big offensive day for the Bearcats to have a chance against Xavier. With Finn in the lineup, Lionel Chalmers has looked like a scoring machine. Jump shots, twisting drives to the hoop and fast-break finishes are all part of his repertoire. So is his defensive play, which will be key today. Look for Chalmers to create some of his own shots simply by stealing the ball.

Edge-XU

Center

This is UC's greatest weakness. Three different players have started at the position, and none has excelled. Rod Flowers is the best offensive player, but his defense is suspect. Kareem Johnson averages 4.5 rebounds in 18.5 minutes. Derek Hollman has been the least effective of the three. For XU, it doesn't matter whether it's Anthony Myles or Will Caudle, neither one is going to impress you with their moves. But both will convert inside baskets and both play good post defense. Basketball is a game of possessions, and there will be some today when one of these two will have to step up.

Edge-XU

Small forward

Leonard Stokes is the one Bearcats player who can carry this team when things aren't going well. He is the team's leading scorer at 15.8 points a game. He is shooting 48 percent from the field but only 20 percent from 3-point range. He has the ability to slice through defenses and create his own shot. He's also UC's best defensive player. There's not much to dislike about Romain Sato. He shoots well, he rebounds well, and he plays hard. And he doesn't get involved with the trash-talking that goes on in this game. "Shut up and play," Sato says. He'll have to play better than he has been in the first half, though, after scoring two points in the last two games in the opening 20 minutes.

Edge-UC

Power forward

Jason Maxiell finally found his shooting touch in the second half against Dayton. He's UC's only low-post scoring threat with his turnaround jump shot. Likes the physical game around the basket and will be looking to back up his words about how much tougher he is than Xavier All-American David West. No one has more reason to make amends for last season's game than West. Everything is in place for him to dominate today's game. The All-American is more versatile than last year, and he has revenge on his mind after a sprained ankle kept him out of much of the second half of last season's game. West wants to show Maxiell how much he really does like contact.

Edge-XU

Bench

UC is still looking for an impact player off the bench. Guard Tony Bobbitt has that potential but hasn't hit his stride yet. Forward Eugene Land, back after missing two years, offers some experience, but he's still struggling to become the player he was before a knee injury interruputed his career. Eric Hicks and Armein Kirkland have great potential, but have played sparingly so far. Backup point guard Jamaal Lucas sparked UC with five points against Florida A&M. With players like senior Dave Young and sophomore Keith Jackson, Xavier's bench has experience and plenty of athletic ability. But most important, the Musketeers get better when Young and Jackson come into the game and bring offensive skills and energy.

Edge-XU

Coaches

One of Bob Huggins' strengths is finding a way to take away an opponent's most effective weapon. In this case, he'll be looking to neutralize XU's West. Huggins seems to do his best coaching with teams that aren't highly regarded, like this year's team. Thad Matta says he was prepared last year; he was just surprised by all the hype. The Musketeers still lost by 20. Matta has a better idea of how the game will go today, but it's never easy playing as a favorite on the road. At least it shouldn't be hard for him to find motivational material.

Edge-UC

Intangibles

UC has the homecourt advantage, which should mean a lot but often doesn't in this series, with the visiting team winning four times in the last seven years. The Bearcats' greatest intangible advantage could be its role as an underdog. UC is unranked and feels it has something to prove against 16th-ranked Xavier and West, its All-American forward. Xavier has five scholarship players who have played in the Shootout, four of whom have played two or more games. Cincinnati has just three players who have played against Xavier. Experience matters. But so does playing as the underdog, which Xavier doesn't get to do anymore.

Edge-UC

Score, Xavier wins 69-65.