Oct. 4, 2006

CINCINNATI - Xavier fans can catch the first glimpse of the Musketeer basketball teams on Saturday, October 21st at the annual Skyline Chili Musketeer Madness at Cintas Center. The event is FREE and all seating is general admission. Cintas Center doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and the festivities will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. The Xavier basketball teams will be introduced along with a special smoke and laser-light show at 6:45 p.m. and will scrimmage shortly thereafter.

"It should be a great night, and we would like to see as many Xavier fans as possible attend." said men's basketball head coach Sean Miller. "Musketeer Madness is a great way to start the season and get excited about Xavier Basketball. Support from our students and fans plays a huge role in our success by making Cintas Center a difficult place for our opponents to play."

Fans are encouraged to arrive early this year. New to this year's event will be a Party on the Plaza outside of Cintas Center beginning at 4:00 p.m. with food and live entertainment. There will be a number of great contests throughout the night as well as a return of last year's crowd pleasing Slam Dunk contest. In addition, several Cincinnati-area personalities will take on the Blue Blob in a Celebrity Hot Shot contest.

The festivities will include prize giveaways including personal electronics and round-trip airfare for two, and will also feature a performance by Dave "Travelin" Davlin.

Skyline Chili Musketeer Madness will feature the following schedule:

4:00 p.m. - Party on the Plaza

5:00 p.m. - Cintas Center Doors Open

6:00 p.m. - Festivities Begin - Contests, Prizes and Entertainment

6:45 p.m. - Team Introductions and Slam Dunk Contest

7:15 p.m. - Team Scrimmages

There is a long list of reasons for optimism for men's basketball head coach Sean Miller, who is entering his third year at the helm at Xavier. Miller returns all five starters from the team that finished 21-11, won the 2006 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In fact, XU returns the top seven players that put together that championship run.

Two of the returning starters are seniors, including forward Justin Cage, the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship "Most Outstanding Player" and two-time A-10 All-Defensive Team selection. Cage and fellow senior forward Justin Doellman are expected to start for the fourth straight season. The duo has won two Atlantic 10 Championships and two NCAA Tournament berths in three years in the starting lineup. Junior guard Stanley Burrell, a member of the 2005-06 Atlantic 10 Conference Second Team, led the team in scoring for the second straight year at 14.4 ppg.

The women's basketball team and fifth-year head coach Kevin McGuff will have one of the most talented and experienced backcourts in the nation with the return of seniors Suntana Granderson, Miranda Green and Michele Miller. The talented group of newcomers includes 6-5 freshman forward Amber Harris, who was ranked as the top prep player in the nation by some recruiting services.

For ticket information on the men's or women's basketball team, please call 745-3411 or log on to www.GOXAVIER.com.

Xavier Musketeers Men's Basketball

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