Heading into Saturday’s Men’s Crosstown Shootout game. Cincinnati and Xavier Basketball head into the game with many similarities. From their overall records to their hefty schedules heading into the game.

The scheduling approach Cincinnati and Xavier have taken for this season is fascinating. Both are going into Saturday’s game with 6-3 records. Both have taken what could be dubbed the Tom Izzo approach to their schedules. Scheduling high-profile programs early in the season. With the goal of building up their respective team’s resilience ahead of conference play. Along with boosting a team’s tournament resume in case conference play doesn’t go well. Instead of padding the non-conference schedule with opponents many expect major programs to beat soundly.

Xavier’s losses heading into Saturday have all been to AP Top 25 teams. Their opponents heading into the Crosstown Shootout have included then No.12 Indiana. In a game at the Cintas Center that Xavier lost 81-79 on November 18th. Along with Florida, Duke and Gonzaga in the Phil Knight Legacy Invitational. Beating Florida but losing to now No.15 Duke and No.18 Gonzaga in that Thanksgiving weekend tournament. Most recently, the Xavier Musketeers beat West Virginia at the Cintas Center. Winning the reunion between Sean Miller and Bob Huggins 84-74 last Saturday.

Two of Cincinnati’s three losses have been to teams currently in the AP Top 25. Cincinnati’s opponents so far include Arizona and Ohio State in the Maui Invitational. The Cincinnati Bearcats contended deep into their game against now No.10 Arizona. Yet, the Bearcats lost that game on November 21st 101-93. A day later, the Bearcats lost to now No.25 Ohio State handily.

Cincinnati’s lone win in the Maui Invitational was to a rebuilding and currently winless Louisville team. On a side note, it’s been a fascinating three weeks for Cincinnati and Louisville’s “Keg of Nails” rivalry. Besides their meeting in the Maui Invitational. Their respective football team’s will meet next weekend in the Fenway Bowl. Days after Cincinnati hired Scott Satterfield away from Louisville to be their head football coach.

Switching back to basketball, the Bearcats went to Maui less than a week after their first loss of the season. A 64-51 loss at Northern Kentucky back on November 16th. That stands as the NKU Norse’s signature win so far in their NCAA Division I era. That game was a unique test for the Bearcats. Taking on an opponent that’s just a few miles away from Cincinnati’s Clifton campus. It could be seen as an adequate Crosstown Shootout tune-up. Cincinnati can apply at least lesson from that game on Saturday.

After taking a four-point lead into the halftime break. Cincinnati fell behind early in the second half against NKU. The Bearcats were ultimately outscored in the second half 28-11. Cincinnati needs to avoid a similar second half slump this Saturday. Especially considering they’re facing a Xavier team averaging 84 points per game. Cincinnati heads into the Crosstown Shootout averaging 79.4 points per game.

Going into Saturday, Xavier looks like the more impressive team. When using the informal eye test metric. They contended closely with Indiana and Gonzaga. Many key players from last year’s team are on this year’s roster. Plus, Xavier head coach Sean Miller has more experience than Wes Miller does with this rivalry.

Yet, the Crosstown Shootout tends to bring us surprises. I was expecting Cincinnati to keep the game close last year. Xavier won last year’s game by 20 points. Fueled by a breakout performance from Jack Nunge; who had a game-leading 31 points in that game. This year, Cincinnati goes in as the underdog despite hosting the game. Perhaps a Bearcats player will have a Nunge-like performance on Saturday. Perhaps the Musketeers will win in another rout; we’ll find out on Saturday.

Saturday’s Crosstown Shootout is set to tip-off at 3 PM Eastern on ESPN2. Xavier’s radio broadcast can be heard on WKRC-AM (550). Cincinnati’s radio broadcast can be heard on WLW-AM (700).