The University of Cincinnati basketball team is riding high a year earlier than expected, currently a surprising sixth (8-5) in the Big East Conference.
The buzz around town is not only about UC's near-guarantee of postseason play in the NIT, but maybe taking the Big East tournament title - and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that comes with it - all the way to those hallowed March brackets.
But not even 20 minutes away lies a team in waiting; a team finding success right under the city's nose. Sure, you hear about it, but there's not a whole lot of discussion about the remarkable season Xavier is having.
Maybe it's the stigma that the A-10 is a has-been conference, but anyone who has watched this team play would be hard-pressed not to root for them.
Earlier this year, when so-called experts proclaimed Xavier to be a three-seed in disguise, no one payed attention. Not even Skyline-eating, pig-run-training Cincinnatians.
Yet, here they are, decimating the A-10 and dominating the month of February like they have for the past few years, and only after they crack the top 10 do they get any credit.
Still, it's only a blip on the radar in this self-proclaimed college basketball town. Even the uncharacteristically average Kentucky Wildcats are getting more love.
There is no doubt that UC is making an incredible showing of their own, and Big Blue supporters have their eyes set on an outside chance to make the tourney as well, but Xavier deserves all the fan support they can get. They play like a team (something fans from this area typically admire) and have a good shot at running deep come March Madness time. No coaches are there threatening the fans (ala the Bearcats) to show up or else; Sean Miller continues to steer the ship and his players are putting their nose to the grindstone regardless of the amount of praise they get for doing it night in and night out.
Unfortunately, Xavier has tried to make noise through their stellar play and no one notices. Many trees have fallen this season at the hands of the Muskies, but area sports fans for some strange reason aren't around, and are wondering if any noise is being made at all. They will miss out on one of the greatest local seasons in recent history, and will swear they were there all along as the accolades come in March and April throughout their long tournament run.
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