UC Bearcats Basketball: Crosstown Shootout Moving Back On Campus

Dec 14, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Xavier Musketeers forward Isaiah Philmore (31) shoots during the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats forward Jermaine Sanders (15) at the US Bank Arena Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

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The Cincinnati Business Courier is reporting this year’s Crosstown Shootout on February 18th, and the next 10 Crosstown Shootouts, will be moved back on campus in a rotational home-and-home series.

I’m definitely not a fan of this change. While having the game on UC’s home floor every other year is good news for the Bearcats, that is negated by the fact that it will be played at the Cintas Center during the opposite season. US Bank Arena certainly wasn’t ideal but at least it didn’t provide either team a home court advantage. More specifically, it didn’t allow rowdy fans, like those during the last Crosstown Shootout that was played on either Cincinnati or Xavier’s arena, to become a distraction from the game. The neutral floor mellowed the intensity of the contest, which was close to the point of a bloodbath in 2011, and allowed coaches, players, and spectators to focus on the matchup itself.

Overall I think it’s been a refreshing change for the series.

My worry here is that the game becomes so heated once again that we witness another brawl like on December 10, 2011, at which point neither school will have an option but to cancel the Crosstown Shootout all together. That’s obviously the worst case scenario and even though it seems preposterous, remember that we were narrowly close to that point just two seasons ago. Hopefully this break has taught both fanbases that we can’t take this game for granted and we can get back to the good, clean hatred of each other rather than the kind that forces the schools to prevent it from being played ever again.