Xavier Faces Florida State on Saturday in NCAA Second Round Matchup

Saturday, March 18

Orlando, Fla.

6:10 p.m.

Xavier University

Florida State

Xavier Faces Florida State on Saturday in NCAA Second Round Matchup

03.17.17 | Men's Basketball

Xavier vs. Florida State NCAA game notes Live Stats Watch Live Live Audio

Musketeers shooting for sixth Sweet 16 berth in 10 years

By: Tom Eiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

ORLANDO, Fla. - No. 11 seed Xavier takes on No. 3 seed Florida State on Saturday for a berth in the 2017 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. XU is shooting for its sixth Sweet 16 appearance in 10 years. The game will be broadcast on TNT, 700 WLW-AM and Westwood One Radio.

Xavier advanced to the second round by defeating No. 6 seed Maryland, 76-65, on Thursday night. Florida State topped No. 14 seed Florida Gulf Coast, 86-80.

THE MATCHUP

No. 11 Seed Xavier University Musketeers (22-13, 9-9 BIG EAST)
No. 3 Seed Florida State University Seminoles (26-8, 12-6 ACC)
NCAA TOURNAMENT SECOND ROUND
Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 6:10 p.m. ET
Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

TV AND RADIO

Television: TNT with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Steve Lavin (analysis) and Evan Washburn (reporter)
Xavier Radio: 700 WLW-AM with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer and former Musketeer standout Joe Sunderman ('79). Analysis will be provided by Xavier Hall of Famer and XU all-time leading scorer Byron Larkin ('88).
National Radio: Westwood One with play-by-play from Tom McCarthy and analysis from Will Perdue.

X FACTORS

• Xavier is shooting for its sixth Sweet 16 appearance in 10 years (since 2008).

• Xavier has secured its fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth and its 11th in the last 12 years; only eight schools have been to at least 11 of the last 12 tourneys.

• Xavier eighth-year head coach Chris Mack has led XU to seven NCAA Tournaments in eight years, including three Sweet 16 appearances.

• Xavier is 6-1 this season in neutral site games, including 4-0 in Orlando, Fla.

• Xavier, 22-13, has its fourth straight 20-win season and its 11th in 12 years.

• Xavier junior Trevon Bluiett, First Team All-BIG EAST and All-BIG EAST Tournament, is third in the BIG EAST in scoring at 18.2 ppg. and eighth in rebounding at 5.7 rpg.

• Xavier's Trevon Bluiett has 17 games with 20 points or more this season, including 21 vs. Maryland. Bluiett scored 18 in the second half on Thursday, the fourth time in the last five games that he has scored at least 17 in the second half.

• Xavier's Trevon Bluiett is 17th on XU's all-time scoring list with 1,521 points, while fellow junior J.P. Macura is also in the XU 1,000 Point Club at 1,012 (No. 53).

• Xavier's J.P. Macura is 2nd on the team in scoring (16th in BIG EAST at 14.4 ppg.).

• Xavier freshman Quentin Goodin has averaged 5.5 apg. for his 14 straight starts at point guard, including a career-high nine assists in win over Maryland.

• Xavier senior RaShid Gaston ranks third in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage at 59.0 percent and fourth in the BIG EAST in rebounding at 6.3 rpg.

• Xavier junior Sean O'Mara scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Maryland win; XU is 7-1 when O'Mara scores in double figures.

• Xavier has a list of 100 consecutive men's basketball seniors that have graduated dating back to the 1985-86 school year.