One of only two SEC teams remaining in the 2022 NIT, Vanderbilt advances to the quarterfinal round where the Commodores will travel to face the Xavier Musketeers.
Having hosted the first two rounds of the 2022 NIT, Vanderbilt has rattled-off back-to-back impressive wins, a span that includes Belmont and a 70-68 overtime win over Dayton on Sunday afternoon. Due to some key plays late from center Liam Robbins, as well as a game-high 32 points from the SEC’s leading scorer Scotty Pippen Jr, this win advanced the Commodores to 19-16 overall for the season, with Vanderbilt now traveling where they hold a 5-7 record away from Nashville.
Having now won five of their last six games, the Commodores will likely need strong performances once again from Pippen and Robbins here, as well as other key scorers such as Jordan Wright, Myles Stute, and Rodney Chatman. For a team that is only averaging 70.7 PPG for the season however, the Commodores will certainly need to eclipse that mark as well, with the play of Vanderbilt’s bigs key against an experienced Xavier frontcourt.
Speaking of the SEC in the 2022 NIT, Xavier is coming off a dominant 72-56 win at home over Florida in the second round, a game in which the Musketeers rarely trailed. Shooting a combined 49.1% from the field, a big reason for the Musketeers success on Sunday was by outscoring the Gators 39-23 in the second half, as well as having five players score in double-figures led by senior guard Nate Johnson with 16.
Holding a 20-13 record, Xavier comes into this contest averaging a combined 73.8 PPG for the year, and despite having gone 3-6 across their last nine games, the Musketeers will be playing at home where they are 15-5 this season. As mentioned previously as well, Xavier has an experienced frontcourt in juniors Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle, while three other guards also average in double-figures in Paul Scruggs, Colby Jones, and Johnson previously.
Vanderbilt vs Xavier Odds: Line, Spread, Over/Under
The line, spread, and over/under for Vanderbilt vs Xavier can be found here.
Vanderbilt vs Xavier 2022 NIT Prediction
While you could certainly say that Vanderbilt has the best player on the court in Pippen, this game could present some matchup problems for the Commodores, as well as Xavier having been very-good on their homecourt this season. Vanderbilt is certainly capable of picking up the win here, but I’ll say that the Musketeers win a close one on their homecourt. Prediction: Vanderbilt 68, Xavier 72
What channel is the Vanderbilt vs Xavier Game On?
An NIT quarterfinal matchup, Vanderbilt vs Xavier will be played on Tuesday, March 22 from Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH. The game is set to begin at 9:00 pm ET, and will be available on ESPN.
Vanderbilt vs Xavier Live Stream
A live stream of Vanderbilt vs Xavier on fuboTV can be found here.