David Woods/IndyStar
INDIANAPOLIS — Butler fans consider Xavier players to be a bunch of thugs. Xavier fans consider Butler irrelevant except for a couple of lucky March runs.
Ah, college basketball.
The twice-a-year hatefest resumes Saturday when No. 14 Xavier meets No. 13 Butler in an important Big East game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Xavier is 3-1 and Butler 3-2 in the conference, trailing 4-1 co-leaders Villanova and Creighton.
Butler-Xavier is a rivalry more applicable to fans than players themselves. Athletic director Barry Collier said Butler has not required extra security for this game.