The usual themes and story lines always accompany the Crosstown Shootout every year when it arrives on the calendar.
Not much needs to be said. It's well known what's demanded in order to win this game.
In that sense, the statistics can be thrown out the window on Saturday night (8:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1) when Cincinnati meets Xavier in the Cintas Center for the 89th Shootout.
Xavier (8-1) has won two in a row in the Shootout and seven of the last 10, and Cintas Center has been a friendly venue for the Musketeers, winners of eight straight at home.