Xavier basketball schedule includes Bob Huggins, WVU in 2022 Big East-Big 12 Battle

The Xavier Musketeers are scheduled to host former UC Bearcats head coach Bob Huggins and the West Virginia Mountaineers in the 2022 Big East-Big 12 Battle on Dec. 4 at Cintas Center, the Big East confirmed Thursday via Twitter.

From @BIGEASTMBB:

From @XavierMBB via Twitter:

XU defeated Huggins and the Mountaineers in overtime, 79-75, in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in Phoenix in March 2008. Sean Miller, who recently returned for his second stint as the Muskies' head coach, was XU's head coach at the time.

Entering his 16th season as WVU's head coach, Huggins is among Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 inductees announced in April. Huggins' record at Cincinnati from 1989 to 2005 was 399-127.

Miller was an assistant under Thad Matta at Xavier for three Crosstown Shootouts against the Huggins-led Bearcats from 2001 to 2004, but Miller and Huggins only met as head coaches in one Shootout, won 65-54 by UC in Feb. 2005.

Miller's Arizona team did not face WVU while he was head coach of the Wildcats from 2009 to 2021.

The last Big 12 team Xavier faced was Oklahoma State, in Dec. 2021 in the Big East-Big 12 Battle. XU beat the Cowboys, 77-71, at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Days earlier, XU suffered its first loss of last season, 82-70 to Iowa State of the Big 12, at Barclays Center in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Xavier beat Oklahoma by 22 at Cintas Center in Dec. 2020 in the Big East-Big 12 Battle, and won at TCU in Dec. 2019.

Baylor is the only other Big 12 team Xavier has faced during the regular season or in the NCAA tournament since the Muskies joined the Big East in 2013. The Musketeers downed the Bears, 76-63, at Cintas Center on Nov. 28, 2017. Xavier lost at No. 9 Baylor, 76-61, on Dec. 3, 2016.

Xavier is expected to be among the 16-team field at the PK85 tournament in Portland in November.

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