The 94th Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout ignites Saturday, December 5th at Fifth Third Arena, marking Jerrod Calhoun’s debut as UC’s new head coach while Richard Pitino leads Xavier into their first matchup since last year’s win. With deep rivalry stakes—Xavier’s dominance in recent years (7 of last 10, 11 of last 15) versus UC’s overall series lead—this game carries citywide weight. Calhoun, who lost as a student assistant in 2004, calls rivalries everything, and Pitino joins a rare club of Xavier coaches to win their first Shootout since 2009. UC’s last win came in 2006 under Mick Cronin. This isn’t just another game—it’s the kind that shapes seasons and legacies in Cincinnati.

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Xavier Musketeers Headline Battle Four Atlantis

Xavier Basketball Lands Transfer Guard Braden Appelhans from Drake

Xavier mens basketball secures their first transfer portal commit for May, landing six-foot-six guard Braden Appelhans from Drake. Appelhans, who has one year of eligibility left, brings valuable backcourt depth to the Musketeers following a successful April recruitment.

Appelhans, who played under current Xavier coach Richard Pitino at New Mexico, spent three seasons with the Lobos, appearing in fifty-seven games and averaging 2.7 points per game. He received a medical redshirt as a freshman after ten appearances.

Last season at Drake, Appelhans came off the bench in twenty-seven games, contributing 5.3 points per game, including a career-high 30 in a blowout win over Western Illinois. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 14-12 record.

With Appelhans addition, Xaviers roster now stands at fourteen players for next season, featuring seven transfers, three returners, and four incoming freshmen. The Musketeers are shaping up to have one of the top portal classes in the country.

Appelhans commitment to Xavier strengthens the teams roster and sets the stage for a successful season, with fans eagerly anticipating their performance come winter.

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