In Cincinnati, where you consistently go for fast-food chili is synonymous with Alabamians’ choosing between Auburn and Alabama.
The same can be said when it comes to whom you root for in the annual Crosstown Shootout between Xavier and the
University of Cincinnati.
Auburn senior Quantez Robertson, a Queen City native, sided with Bob Huggins’ Bearcats every time the two rival schools met. After the game, or pretty much any time of the year, he preferred Gold Star Chili to Cincinnati staple,
Skyline Chili.
Robertson will have a chance to take out his disdain against the Musketeers tonight and, perhaps, grab some of his favorite chili after the game. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. at the Cintas
Center.
As of Monday, the veteran guard said he plans to see about 50 friends and family in the stands for tonight’s non-conference matchup with the No. 14 Musketeers. That number, however, will likely be even higher by tip time.
“I’m looking forward to going and seeing family and friends,” Robertson said. “I’ll get a chance to see some family that I haven’t seen in awhile and give them a chance to see me play.
“It’s going to be quite an Auburn fan club come Wednesday.”
That fan base will get a chance to watch two teams headed in opposite directions.
Coming off two losses at the Chicago Invitational, Auburn sits at 3-3, with plenty of questions to answer.
Coach Jeff Lebo said before the trip that he would figure out a lot about his team over the weekend. He found out plenty of progress needs to happen before conference play begins in January.
“Defensively, for the most part, we were good enough,” said Lebo, whose team held Dayton and Northern Iowa to 60 and 67 points, respectively. “Offensively, we shot the ball horrendous. Making shots is like an energy pill for you defensively.”
Those pills have been readily available at Xavier, who has started the season 6-0, including a victory over Memphis two weeks ago. The Musketeers are balanced all around, do a good chunk of damage at the foul line — where they’ve averaged 35 attempts per game — and will serve as Auburn’s toughest matchup before SEC play begins January.
And even though a good number of fans will be there to see Robertson, it might serve as one of the loudest, most hostile scenes of the entire season.
“It’s going to be a pretty tough environment,” Robertson said. “They have the crowd and hype behind their team.”