Reactions: Xavier tops Texas to reach Round of 64 showdown with Illinois
Reactions: Xavier tops Texas to reach Round of 64 showdown with Illinois
The Xavier Musketeers trailed the Texas Longhorns by 13 points in their NCAA tournament First Four game Wednesday in Dayton, and dealt with foul trouble all night for leading scorers Zach Freemantle and Ryan Conwell.
But 11th-seeded XU outscored the Longhorns 47-33 in the second half, made 12-of-25 from 3-point range and got a season-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from Marcus Foster to rally past Texas, 86-80, to advance to a Friday night matchup with No. 6 Illinois in Milwaukee.
"They're hot, man," former Villanova head coach Jay Wright said during TruTV's "Inside March Madness" studio show after the game. "They could make a run. They could really make a run."
Advertisement
The Musketeers avenged a Sweet 16 loss in 2023 to Texas. It was the fourth time the two teams have met in the NCAA tournament.
The Xavier bench celebrates against Texas during the First Four
Social media reactions to the Muskies' First Four win:
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reactions: Xavier comeback topples Texas in First Four; Illinois next
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Ben Johnson says QB Caleb Williams putting in extra work ahead of Bears training camp
The Chicago Bears are wrapping up the first phase of their offseason activities this week. While it was mostly rookies attending the final voluntary workouts at Halas Hall, quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze were among the 2nd year players, along with a handful of other veterans, on the practice field for this optional final week of organized team activities. Head coach Ben Johnson liked that Williams is putting in the extra work ahead of training camp next month. "He's committed to learning the offense. We're not where we need to be yet as a team, and he understands that, and any chance he gets to get a few more full-speed reps, it sounds like he wants them," Johnson said. "We've loaded him up. We've tried a number of different things: long play calls, multiple plays at the line, tempo. We've dabbled here, there and everywhere really throughout the springtime and some come a little bit more natural than others for him, but I do think we've seen him get better in really all facets." Second-round draft pick Ozzy Trapilo said he's been adjusting to the speed of the NFL game. With Braxton Jones out, he got the chance to rotate with Kiran Amegadjie, getting reps as the first team left tackle. "It's a really great opportunity. You know, this is the perfect time for the coaches to do it, you know, rotate guys in. Like I said, there's no pads on or anything yet, so they're really just doing their best to get guys looks, get a feeling for it all. So I'm going out there every opportunity I get, and trying to make the most of it, and I think again it's really beneficial to be able to work next to guys that have played in this league," Trapilo said. The Bears' top two picks, tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden, have both been out as they recover from injuries. Loveland said he's been diving into the playbook and doing some walkthrough reps, and the plan is for him to be ready for training camp after offseason surgery. Johnson said he expects Burden to be good for training camp as well after suffering a soft tissue injury during rookie minicamp. Players have six weeks off before training camp begins in late July, but Johnson said he is happy with what he's seen overall during offseason activities so far. "I think when these guys walk away, they understand what the expectation level is. I hope that they also understand our coaching staff a little bit better as well. We haven't fully come together as a unit, a full team yet; just offense, defense, special teams," Johnson said. "But I think we made some headway there, just getting to know each other, because really training camp's going to be a lot about building trust, and I think we got a head start there, but when we come back, it'll be the fundamentals, techniques. They'll know what that's about, how we want to practice, what's allowed, what's not allowed. I think really they're going to take that and run with it. Our vets will, and then we'll really just be able to focus on getting good at football plays." I'm Matt Zahn, and this is what I learned today at Halas Hall. - This was our last look at the Bears before training camp. It's the final week of OTAs, and this week is optional for the veterans. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were among the 2nd year players here along with a few true vets like Zacch Pickens and Josh Blackwell. Ben Johnson says Caleb being here shows he's committed to learning the offense. - Tight end Colston Loveland wasn't able to go through any full practices in the offseason program. But the Bears top pick says he has been diving into the playbook and has even gotten to run routes and catch passes in walkthroughs. When asked if he'll be ready to go for training camp, he said "that's the plan." Ben Johnson also said he expected injured 2nd round pick Luther Burden to be ready for camp too. - Fellow 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo says he's been adjusting to the speed of the NFL game. With Braxton Jones recovering from injury, Trapilo rotated with Kiran Amegadjie as the first team left tackle, calling it a "great opportunity." The Bears will have one more OTA practice Wednesday before being off until training camp in July.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
From Aussie Rules booter to Seahawks mainstay, Michael Dickson re-signs on 4-year deal
More than a decade ago, Michael Dickson had never seen an entire football game. Not an American one. Dickson was a teenager in Australia. He was an Aussie Rules Football player, and a good one. He could direct the oblong balls he kicked like it was attached to a joystick. An acquaintance suggested he send films of his kicking electronically to the United States — specifically, to the University of Texas football coaches. That led to a college scholarship to play football, American style. 'I was part of a kicking program and they had contacts in American college football. I just was just punting at a local field, no helmet or pads,' Dickson said last week. 'And they just took his (the scout's) word that that I had what it took to play at Texas. 'They invited me for my official visit and that's when they offered me.' A decade later, Dickson is 29. He's recently married, to his college sweetheart at Texas, Gianni Outram. He's been an All-Pro and Pro Bowl punter for Seattle. And he just signed his third NFL contract, one that will nearly double his career earnings. Dickson signed a four-year contract extension with the Seahawks Tuesday just before the team's mandatory offseason minicamp began. It's believed to be worth $16.2 million. He's earned $17 million in his first seven seasons, all with Seattle. The team traded up in the fifth round of the 2018 draft to get him. And the Seahawks still have him, signed now through 2028. Yeah, this American football thing worked out. 'I think that it was always the dream. My purpose in college was to play the best I could to play in the NFL. But, yeah, eight years? I don't know if I would have thought I'd be playing at a high level for that long,' Dickson said. 'But, each time I achieve a goal, the goal just gets higher. It'll be fun to look back one day.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Arch Manning's Weaknesses Revealed Ahead of Potential Breakout Season at Texas
Arch Manning's Weaknesses Revealed Ahead of Potential Breakout Season at Texas originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick even before his first season as a full-time starter. Advertisement After sitting behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons, it's Manning's turn to take the helm of head coach Steve Sarkisian's offense. The former five-star recruit showed flashes of ability in some meaningful appearances last season, but there are more questions than answers given Manning's inexperience. That's where his weaknesses lie entering the 2025 season, according to ESPN's Jordan Reid, who evaluated Manning among other top quarterbacks that will be eligible for next year's draft. "Manning has only 95 career passing attempts, so his sample size is small and more development is necessary," Reid wrote. "He had a habit of sticking to his primary read too long in his starts, leading to poor decision-making. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16).Jerome Miron-Imagn Images "He will need to improve his timing in getting through progressions and knowing when to move off his first read," Reid continued. "He could also use his mobility much more on non-designed QB runs to help string together positive plays." Advertisement Manning (6-foot-4, 216 pounds) completed 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions in 10 appearances as a redshirt freshman last season. He also racked up 108 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Three of those appearances came in pressure-filled situations. Ewers first went down with an injury in the second quarter against the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners in Week 3, giving Manning full rein of the offense. And he didn't disappoint. In the decisive win against UTSA, Manning rushed for a 67-yard touchdown, the longest by a Longhorns quarterback since Vince Young (2005). Ewers went on to miss the next two games against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and Mississippi State Bulldogs, marking Manning's first two wins as a starter. Advertisement Albeit against some poor competition, Manning did enough over that three game stretch to paint a promising picture for the future. He completed 69.4% of his passes for 805 yards with eight touchdowns to two interceptions while adding 86 yards rushing and two scores on the ground. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs the ball during a game against the University of Texas at San Antonio E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Reid believes Manning will be best served by declaring for the 2027 draft due to his inexperience at this point. However, that doesn't mean there isn't "immense potential" surrounding the Longhorns' star. "He has a well-put-together frame, allowing him to avoid defenders in the pocket and bounce off tacklers in open space as a runner," Reid wrote of Manning's strengths. "Manning has a picture-perfect base and smooth delivery as a passer. He doesn't have much experience in that department, as Texas used him primarily as a runner in 2024, but his prototypical build and physical tools were apparent on tape and give him immense potential." Advertisement Manning and the Longhorns will kick the 2025 season off in a big way against the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus. The College Football Playoff rematch will take place at noon ET Aug. 30 on Fox. Related: Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit Related: Kirby Smart, Georgia Add Another Recruiting Win As Surge Continues This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
