Wednesday, September 01, 1999Schedule isn't tougher for XU
Crosstown, Great Alaska Shootouts are highlights
BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati EnquirerBased on the season-ending Rating Percentage Index ranking, the strength of the Xavier men's basketball schedule for 1999-2000 is similar to last season's, when schedule strength was a factor in keeping XU out of the NCAA Tournament.
This year's schedule, released Tuesday, includes six opponents that were not on last year's regular-season schedule (XU played Princeton in the NIT). The RPIs of those six average 152.5. The six on last year's schedule that the Musketeers won't play this season average 151.3.
'99-'00 SCHEDULE Nov. 10 - *Foreign team (TBA)
Nov. 13 - *Athletes in Action
Nov. 20 - MD.-EASTERN SHORE
Nov. 25 - #Louisville
Nov. 26 - #Kansas
Nov. 26 - #or Georgia
Nov. 27 - #TBA
Dec. 4 - E. TENNESSEE STATE
Dec. 8 - at Miami
Dec. 11 - at Central Michigan
Dec. 18 - CINCINNATI
Dec. 21 - ST. MARY'S (Calif.)
Dec. 27 - PRINCETON
Dec. 30 - TOLEDO
Jan. 2 - at Marquette
Jan. 6 - VIRGINIA TECH
Jan. 9 - at Rhode Island
Jan. 11 - at Dayton
Jan. 15 - at Duquesne
Jan. 23 - LA SALLE
Jan. 25 - at Temple
Jan. 30 - FORDHAM
Feb. 2 - DAYTON
Feb. 5 - at Geo. Washington
Feb. 9 - at Canisius
Feb. 12 - MASSACHUSETTS
Feb. 15 - DUQUESNE
Feb. 19 - at Virginia Tech
Feb. 22 - GEO. WASHINGTON
Feb. 27 - at La Salle
March 1 - at St. Bonaventure
March 5 - ST. JOSEPH'S 1
March 8 - Atlantic 10 tournament at Philadelphia
Home games in CAPS
RPIs are final 1998-'99
* Exhibition
# Great Alazka Shootout at Anchorage (other teams participating: Alaska-Anchorage, Georgia Tech, Grambling State, Washington)What does that mean?
The Musketeers need Atlantic 10 Conference teams to fare a little better than last season, when only three earned NCAA bids (Temple, George Washington, Rhode Island) and four had RPIs in the top 100.
“I think the A-10 race is going to be the most competitive since we've been in it,” Xavier coach Skip Prosser said. “Every night's going to be a tremendous battle, home and away.”
Teams that have been near the top of their divisions — XU, George Washington, Rhode Island, Massachusetts — lost a slew of key players. St. Joseph's, La Salle, Fordham, St. Bonaventure have almost everybody back.
• Key dates: at Miami University (Dec. 8), Cincinnati (Dec. 18), at Temple (Jan. 25).
• Best of the bunch: Louisville, Miami, Cincinnati, Rhode Island, Temple and George Washington were in the 1999 NCAA Tournament; Princeton and Toledo were in the NIT. The second game of the Great Alaska Shootout will be against Kansas (NCAA) or Georgia (NIT).
• Toughest stretches: Dec. 18-30, XU plays consecutive games against Cincinnati, St. Mary's and 7-foot-3 center Brad Millard, Princeton and Toledo. Also, XU is at Rhode Island Jan. 9 and at Dayton two days later.
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Schedule isn't tougher for XU
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