Nevermind the disappointment and four letter words as you’ve walked out to your car in the UD Arena parking lot. It’s time to jump back on the bandwagon for the biggest game of the year as Skip Prosser’s Xavier Musketeers drive up from the Queen City for a noon tip-off onESPN.

The Muskies are fresh off a disappointing loss of their own, dropping a hard-fought game to Cincinnati in the Crosstown Shootout on Thursday. Both teams will be ready to play Saturday and the contest typically brings out the best in both programs.

Xavier’s lineup hosts a trio of familiar names to UD fans and two new faces that will be familiar in years to come.

In the backcourt are a pair of seniors in 6-2 Lenny Brown and 6-2 Gary Lumpkin. The tandem has teamed up since HS and are looking to make this year’s team the most successful in their careers.

Brown is a wonderful shooter and ball-handler who has stepped up his game in the absence of Darnell Williams, out for the season with an ACL tear. Brown shoots .471% from the field and a stellar .449% from long distance. He has already made 61 three pointers. The only weakness in Lenny Brown has been consistency. One night he is unstoppable while other nights he struggles. A season-high of 31 points in one contest shows his potential for big games.

On the other side is Gary Lumpkin, like Brown in so many ways but so different too.

Lumpkin is a bit quicker than Brown and is a slightly better passer, but has struggled with shooting the basketball all season. Lumpkin hits only .407% from the field and .276% from trifecta even though he has taken almost as many treys as Brown. Lumpkin is streaky and has a tendency to go in cycles.

Xavier’s marquee player now gets a starting role this year after being the conference’s best sixth man for two consecutive seasons. James Posey, a 6-8 forward, is a do-it-all tweaner who is battling GW’s Shawnta Rogers for A-10 Player of the Year. Posey is athletic, quick, explosive, and talented. He has range on his jumper, can finish off of the fast break with the best players in the country, and is also one of the best rebounders in the A-10. In short, there is little Posey cannot do well, and even then, one shouldn’t bet against him. This year he is shooting .466% from the floor but has taken 60 fewer attempts than Lenny Brown. Posey’s biggest weakness could be his unselfishness.

At the other forward slot is 6-5 freshman Lloyd Price, an unbelievably talented rookie who reminds basketball fans of Tony Stanley. Price is an exceptional athlete who likes to finish with authority, is very quick, and loves to take players off of the dribble. He has connected on nearly .500% of this shots this year but is only 5-29 from behind the arc. He is a gifted shooter but has yet to find his range.

Once again, Skip Prosser must play the center position by committee. Though 6-10 JUCO transfer Obi Harris is now available, Prosser has used 6-7 frosh Kevin Frey because of his blue-collar mentality. Very much like T.J. Johnson a year ago, Frey’s game is not pretty but his contributions are underrated. Whenever Xavier needs someone to light a fire in the belly of the players, Frey is usually the one to oblige.

Dayton is hoping to make it four straight wins over the Muskies at the UD Arena, but it won’t be easy. Each time Dayton has won, they were outclassed in talent and athleticism and won by sheer grit and the home court advantage. Sooner or later raw talent is going to prevail and Dayton will lose at home. But will it be this year?

Mark Ashman is Dayton’s biggest favorable mismatch. Xavier’s centers are smaller and lessexperienced, but they may elect to rough Ashman up with a few fouls early in the game to rattle the junior from St. Mary’s, Ohio. Tony Stanley will have his hands full once again with either Brown or Lumpkin, and Coby Turner may not be quick enough for Lloyd Price. Turner’s asset is his size and strength however. Turner must stay in Price’s face but avoid cheap hand check fouls.

In a game that is already a sellout, not even an 8-10 record will keep fans from getting fired up for this one. It should be another dandy in a series consisting of great games and great players.