Xavier University Athletics
Thursday, December 31
Villanova, Pa.
12 P.M.
Xavier University
at
Villanova University
Undefeated No. 6 Xavier Visits No. 16 Villanova On New Year's Eve
12.29.15 | Men's Basketball
CINCINNATI --- No. 6 Xavier, 12-0, opens BIG EAST Conference play on Thursday at noon at No. 16 Villanova, the defending BIG EAST champion and preseason favorite.
Xavier freshman Edmond Sumner added to his honors today. Sumner was named Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week and has been added to the top 10 for CBSSports.com's Freshman of the Year Watch List. Yesterday Sumner was named BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Week for the second straight week.
Sumner is not the only Musketeer reeling in the honors. Sophomore Trevon Bluiett was named to the BIG EAST Conference Weekly Honor Roll for the fourth time this season.
No. 6 Xavier University Musketeers (12-0, 0-0 BIG EAST)
No. 16 Villanova University Wildcats (10-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE OPENER
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 at 12 P.M. ET at The Pavilion (6,500)
Television: FS1 with play-by-play from Gus Johnson and analysis from Bill Raftery.
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).
• Xavier, 12-0 and off to the best start in school history, is one of only four remaining unbeaten teams in the nation.
• Xavier is ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll for a 2nd straight week, the highest-ever rankings for XU in each poll.
• Xavier has five players with double-figure scoring averages.
• Xavier is ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Official Men's Basketball RPI.
• Xavier, BIG EAST rebound margin leader at +12.9 rpg., is ranked 4th in the nation.
• Xavier has made more free throws (247) than its opponents have attempts (225).
• Xavier soph. Trevon Bluiett earned a spot on BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this week, his fourth time this season on the list.
• Xavier freshman Edmond Sumner is the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week; BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for a second straight week.
• Xavier jr. Myles Davis is 3rd on the team in scoring (10.9 ppg.) & 2nd in assists (3.0 apg.); 1st in BIG EAST & 4th in nation in FT% (.939).
• Xavier senior James Farr leads XU in rebounding at 8.7 rpg. (third in BIG EAST).
• Xavier has made nine of the last 10 NCAA Tournaments, one of only 11 schools that have at least nine in that stretch.
• Xavier has been to five NCAA Sweet 16s in the last eight years, one of only nine schools with at least five in that stretch.
• Xavier has graduated the last 96 men's basketball players that have played as seniors, including all three seniors from last year's team.
Xavier freshman Edmond Sumner added to his honors today. Sumner was named Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week and has been added to the top 10 for CBSSports.com's Freshman of the Year Watch List. Yesterday Sumner was named BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Week for the second straight week.
Sumner is not the only Musketeer reeling in the honors. Sophomore Trevon Bluiett was named to the BIG EAST Conference Weekly Honor Roll for the fourth time this season.
 | THE MATCHUP |
No. 6 Xavier University Musketeers (12-0, 0-0 BIG EAST)
No. 16 Villanova University Wildcats (10-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE OPENER
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 at 12 P.M. ET at The Pavilion (6,500)
| TELEVISION AND RADIO |
Television: FS1 with play-by-play from Gus Johnson and analysis from Bill Raftery.
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).
| X-FACTORS IN 140 CHARACTERS |
• Xavier, 12-0 and off to the best start in school history, is one of only four remaining unbeaten teams in the nation.
• Xavier is ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll for a 2nd straight week, the highest-ever rankings for XU in each poll.
• Xavier has five players with double-figure scoring averages.
• Xavier is ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Official Men's Basketball RPI.
• Xavier, BIG EAST rebound margin leader at +12.9 rpg., is ranked 4th in the nation.
• Xavier has made more free throws (247) than its opponents have attempts (225).
• Xavier soph. Trevon Bluiett earned a spot on BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this week, his fourth time this season on the list.
• Xavier freshman Edmond Sumner is the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week; BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for a second straight week.
• Xavier jr. Myles Davis is 3rd on the team in scoring (10.9 ppg.) & 2nd in assists (3.0 apg.); 1st in BIG EAST & 4th in nation in FT% (.939).
• Xavier senior James Farr leads XU in rebounding at 8.7 rpg. (third in BIG EAST).
• Xavier has made nine of the last 10 NCAA Tournaments, one of only 11 schools that have at least nine in that stretch.
• Xavier has been to five NCAA Sweet 16s in the last eight years, one of only nine schools with at least five in that stretch.
• Xavier has graduated the last 96 men's basketball players that have played as seniors, including all three seniors from last year's team.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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