The last Sweet 16 matchup comes from the Midwest Region and will feature 2-seed Texas and 3-seed Xavier. Texas (28-8) took down 15-seed Colgate in the first round and was able to evade upset-minded 10-seed Penn State in the second round. Texas had a terrific regular season despite the firing of head coach Chris Beard in December, as interim coach Rodney Terry guided the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the Big 12 in the regular season and a Big 12 Tournament title. Xavier (27-9) stopped 14-seed Kennesaw State and 11-seed Pitt to get to the Sweet 16. They came in second in the Big East in both the regular-season standings and the conference tournament. Don’t miss our March Madness betting preview and predictions for this prime-time showdown.
NCAA Preview: Xavier Musketeers vs Texas Longhorns
- When: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 9:45 pm ET
- Where: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City
- TV: CBS
- Radio: ESPN Radio
- Live Stream: Sling TV
- NCAA Odds: Texas -4.5 / Xavier +160 / Texas -190 / O/U 149.5
Why should you bet on the Musketeers?
Xavier is in its third Sweet 16 since 2017, and they took the game to Pitt right from the opening tip-off in the second round, building a 14-point lead at the half that they would not surrender. Xavier shot 47.6% for the game and outrebounded Pitt, 44-41. They built a lead as large as 20, limiting the Panthers to 38.6% overall shooting and 30% (6 of 20) from behind the arc. Senior guard Souley Boum is the top scorer for the Musketeers, averaging 16.5 points per game and shooting 44.2% overall, including 40.8% from three-point land.
Other scorers to watch are guard Colby Jones (15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game), forward Jack Nunge (14.1 points, 7.7 rebounds per game), and guard Adam Kunkel (10.6 points per game). As a team, Xavier finished 12th in the nation in scoring (82.1 points per game) and shoots 50.0% overall (third in the nation). From three-point land, they are fifth in the nation (39.8%). They win the rebounding battle by an average of 5.7 boards per game.
Why should you put your money on the Longhorns?
Texas dispatched Colgate with ease in the first round but then got all they wanted from Penn State, eventually winning by five. Texas limited the Nittany Lions to 23 points in the first half and went into the locker room up by eight. However, Penn State won the second half, 43-40. Texas managed to hold on by shooting more than 50% overall from the floor despite clanking 12 of their 13 three-point attempts.
Texas only turned the ball over five times in the win and won the rebounding battle by four. Penn State entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in three-point shooting percentage, but they missed 20 of 28 shots from distance in the loss. Guard Marcus Carr is the Longhorns’ top scorer this year, putting up 15.8 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 42.9% overall. Guard Sir’Jabari Rice (12.9 points per game), forward Timmy Allen (10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game), guard Tyrese Hunter (10.1 points per game) and forward Dylan Disu (9.1 points per game) have all made major contributions. The Longhorns score 78.8 points per game and shoot 47.1% overall from the floor. They are 10th in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom, and they will look to their defense to slow Xavier down.
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Final Score and Prediction
You don’t get to the Sweet 16 without winning at a high level, but Texas had the tougher second-round opponent in Penn State. Xavier’s offense excelled in a tough Big East, though, and while Texas overcame a lot of adversity this season, the Musketeers’ consistency shooting the ball should see them through. I predict a final score of Xavier 77, Texas 73.
UConn vs St. Mary’s – Second Round NCAA tournament
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