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On Saturday, Jan. 21, the Xavier University Musketeers will travel the short distance up I-75 to take on the University of Dayton Flyers. Each year, the Musketeers make this drive, and each year it is anybody's game.

The Musketeers started out their season with one of the strongest starts in school history, followed by the worst losing streak under head coach Chris Mack.

In the past couple of weeks, however, the Musketeers have bounced back in the direction of the team they were at the beginning of the season.

Since making the step in returning toward their former glory, the Flyers will be the toughest opponent the Musketeers have faced.

Prior to its losing streak, Xavier took on a number of tough opponents to prepare them for this Atlantic 10 Conference rivalry game.

For the Musketeers, shutting down redshirt junior guard Kevin Dillard will be a huge key for success.

Averaging 12.1 points and 5.7 assists per game, Dillard is a quality matchup for Xavier's senior point guard Tu Holloway.

Holloway averages 16.0 points and 5.2 assists per game and was named a pre-season All-American and potential National Player of the Year candidate.

If the backcourt duo of Holloway and junior shooting guard Mark Lyons can shut down Dillard, the Musketeers can give themselves a necessary advantage.

The Musketeers also will need a healthy Kenny Frease to take on the Flyers.

The senior center rolled his ankle on Saturday, Jan. 14, against St. Bonaventure University but played 28 minutes on Wednesday, Jan. 18, when the Musketeers beat St. Joseph's 68-55. Frease, along with the rest of Xavier's frontcourt, will play a vital role in a Musketeer victory over the Flyers.

The Musketeers will be responsible for shutting down Dayton big man Matt Kavanaugh. The junior forward/center averages 8.6 points per game and leads the Flyers in rebounding with 5.8 rebounds per game.

Physically, Frease has a height advantage of four inches over Kavanaugh, but senior forward Andre Walker will be the player to challenge Kavanaugh in boards.

Walker averages 6.6 rebounds per game, in addition to averaging 6.0 points and 2.4 assists per game.

Walker can provide a unique advantage for the Musketeers, as he is a skilled player from anywhere on the court. Walker has tied his career-high in rebounds, 14, twice this year, once against Vanderbilt University, his previous team, and again against Fordham University.

The combined efforts of Frease, Walker and the rest of Xavier's talented frontcourt should be able to not only out-rebound, but also defensively dominate the Flyers.

The Musketeer's defense has been its saving grace for their past few games. Throughout its current three-game winning streak, Xavier has held each of its opponents to under 65 points, and St. Bonaventure was the only team to break 60 points, though Xavier held the Bonnies to only 21 points in the first half.

A primary factor in Xavier's success has been the performance of its bench. Xavier's bench has averaged 27 points per game during its current three-game winning streak and 20.2 points per game in its 12 wins this season.

Xavier's primary key to winning is going to come from within its own players. Throughout the season, the game-changer for the Musketeers has been their confidence and mental toughness.

If the Musketeers can maintain the mentality that they possessed for the start of their season, they will be able to shutdown the Flyers as a whole.



University of Dayton fans cheered on the Flyers against Xavier University in this Feb. 27, 2011, file photo, at UD Arena. UD takes on Xavier at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in the latest rematch between the two Atlantic 10 Conference rivals.