While Gillen has received much of the attention because of his personality, Xavier has two potential NBA first-round draft choices--Hill and center Derek Strong. Strong, a 6-foot-10 senior from Palisades High, is averaging 13.8 points and 9.8 rebounds a game. Hill, a 6-10 senior, is averaging 20.1 points and 12.5 rebounds.
The Musketeers also have a good shooting guard in Jamal Walker, a 5-11 junior averaging 15.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.
After playing its best game of the season to beat Georgetown, Xavier must face a Texas team that upset second-seeded Purdue, 73-72, last Sunday.
The Longhorns, who finished third in the Southwest Conference, have traded in their cowboy boots for Cinderella's glass slippers.
"We're not here on luck or because Cinderella didn't want to go, we're here because we should be here," Texas guard Lance Blanks said.
Does Texas feel vindicated by its postseason success?
"We felt we were a team that had to prove something all year long," Travis Mays said. "We were a team that was looked upon as not being able to win any big games on national TV. And now we've won two of the biggest games of the season on national TV."
After containing Georgetown's strong front line of Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo, Xavier will try to stall Texas' BMW--guards Blanks, Mays and Joey Wright. Blanks is averaging 20.2 points, Mays 24.0 and Wright 19.2.
"Their BMW is very tough to stop," Gillen said. "Defense, we think is a town in Bolivia. Our idea of defense is to let their guy get 22, and if we get 24, then we're successful. (But) we'd better play defense tomorrow or we could be in serious trouble."
