March 16, 2008

CINCINNATI - The Xavier University men's basketball team has earned a No. 3 seed in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and will square-off against No. 14 seed Georgia in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, March 20 at 12:20 p.m. as part of the Tournament's West Regional.  

Xavier's No. 3 seed ties the school's best seed ever in the NCAA Tournament.  XU was also seeded No. 3 in the 2003 NCAA Tournament.  XU defeated No. 14 Troy by a 71-59 count before falling to defending national champion Maryland, 77-64, in the second round.   

XU, 27-6, is playing in the West Regional for the second time.  Xavier was the No. 7 seed in the West Regional of the 2002 NCAA Tournament.  The Musketeers defeated No. 10 Hawaii, 70-58, before falling by a 78-65 count to No. 2 seed Oklahoma in the second round.   

The Musketeers will be making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time and sport a 12-18 record in tourney play. The appearance will also be XU's seventh in the last eight years, including an Elite Eight run in the 2004 Tournament. XU defeated No. 8 BYU, 79-77, before falling to No. 1 seed Ohio State, 77-71, in overtime during last year's tourney.  

The winner of the XU vs. UGA showdown will take on either No. 6 Purdue or No. 11 Baylor in our nation's capital on Saturday, March 22 for a berth in the Sweet 16.

Please continue to check back at www.GOXAVIER.com regularly for updates on game times and ticket information.