Musketeers slay yet another favorite

The right Xavier team came to NewYorkCity thisweek.

The one capable of beating anybody, not the group that lost to Long Beach State, UTEP and Creighton this season.

Friday, for the second straight night, the sixthseeded Musketeers eliminated a favorite, holding off No. 2 Georgetown, 6563, in the Big East Tournament semifinals at the Garden 24 hours after knocking off No. 3 Butler in overtime.

Xavier ( 2112), in just its second season in the Big East, will go for the tournament crown Saturday night against top seeded Villanova, a 6361 winner over No. 4 Providence earlier in the evening.

“It’s been a long journey, ups and downs,” Xavier coach Chris Mack said. “It means a lot. We’ve been in a lot of good leagues, this obviously is the best league [ we’ve been in]. We’re playing for a championship [ Saturday night].”

There was some doubt as to whether coach Chris Mack’s team belonged in the NCAA Tournament less than a week ago, coming off three losses in its previous five games. But Xavier won at Creighton to close the regular season and nowis in the conference final after beating Georgetown.

Xavier’s deep front line gave the Hoyas nightmares at both ends of the floor much of the evening, producing easy baskets and nullifying Georgetown at the other side of the court. Matt Stainbrook, the Musketeers’ 6foot10 wide body, owned the Garden floor, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He repeatedly got the better of slowfooted Georgetown big man Josh Smith with a series of hook shots, turnarounds and putbacks.

“[ Stainbrook is] a very, very good player,” Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. “He’s poised, he makes the right decisions, either it be for himself or his teammates. He poses a problem, not just because of his size, not just because of his skill level, but also his basketball IQ.”