Men's Basketball's Opening Night Is Tuesday Vs. Niagara

Tuesday, November 9

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:30 p.m.

Xavier University

Niagara

Men's Basketball's Opening Night Is Tuesday Vs. Niagara

11.08.21 | Men's Basketball

Xavier-Niagara Notes package

Xavier has won 31 straight regular season openers.

By: Tom Eiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers host the Niagara University Purple Eagles on Opening Night at Cintas Center on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

Xavier opens the regular season with a four-game homestand. XU won its lone public exhibition game on Friday over Ferris State, 100-59.

THE MATCHUP

2021-22 OPENING NIGHT • REGULAR SEASON OPENER
XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (0-0) VS.
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY PURPLE EAGLES (0-0)
TUESDAY, NOV. 9, 2021 AT CINTAS CENTER (10,224)

TV, RADIO & LIVE STATS

Television: FS1 as part of the "FOX Opening Night Tip-Off Show" whip-around coverage with play by-play from Jeff Levering and analysis from Brian Butch. XU fans wanting to see the entire game uninterrupted should use the FOX Sports App.
Radio: 55KRC with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer Joe Sunderman ('79) and analysis from Xavier all-time leading scorer and Hall of Famer Byron Larkin ('88). Xavier broadcast is available on Sirius XM channel 382 and SXM App. channel 972.
Live Stats: Media stats at Statbroadcast.com and fan stats at GoXavier.com.

X FACTORS

• Xavier has won 31 straight regular season openers (30 at home, including the last 22). XU has won 21 straight season openers at Cintas Center.
• Xavier opens the 2021-22 regular season with a four-game homestand.
• Xavier fourth-year head coach Travis Steele welcomes back each of his top seven scorers from last season. XU finished 13-8 in a Covid-shortened 2020-21 season.
• Xavier has earned its share of national attention. CBS Sports picked Xavier No. 25 in its preseason rankings, while XU checks in at No. 32 in The Field of 68 countdown.
• Xavier fifth-year senior Paul Scruggs was a unanimous choice on the 2021-22 preseason All-BIG EAST First Team by league coaches. Scruggs was Blue Ribbon First Team and Athlon Second Team All-BIG EAST. Scruggs led the BIG EAST and was 20th in the nation in assists at 5.7 apg. last season, while ranking second on the team and 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring at 14.0 ppg.
• Xavier's Paul Scruggs was selected by ESPN analyst Dick Vitale as a preseason Fifth Team All-American. In addition, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Scruggs is among the 20 Watch List candidates for the 2022 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.
• Xavier sophomore Colby Jones was named by Jon Rothstein as one of the top breakout players for this season, while junior Jack Nunge made his list of top under the radar transfers. Nunge transferred to Xavier from Iowa.
• Xavier junior Zach Freemantle, who led XU in scoring at 16.1 ppg. and rebounding at 8.9 rpg., is sidelined by injury. He was named preseason All-BIG EAST First Team.