The Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout for years has featured top players, many of whom come from nearby communities or high schools.
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Fast forward to 2025, and locals have seen the game go global.
On Friday, December 5, at Cintas Center, a dozen international players will be in the layup lines. In fact, you can get to 13 if you count UC freshman Shon Abaev, born in Israel but from Broward County, Florida.
The UC squad includes players from Brazil, Canada, Estonia, France, Senegal and Spain. Xavier has new musketeers from Canada, Italy, Ivory Coast, Mexico and Serbia.
As for the portal, UC has players from Baylor, Florida Atlantic, George Mason, Kentucky, UCF and West Virginia who have not played in a Crosstown Shootout. The same goes for Xavier players from Belmont, Evansville, FAU, New Mexico, North Dakota, UNLV, Valparaiso and Virginia.
International Reactions to Rivalries, Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout
Kerr Kriisa, Estonia – “Every school has its rivalry partner. Louisville/Kentucky was big. On the other hand, West Virginia, Pitt, Arizona, Arizona State. I’ve heard a lot about it (Crosstown Shootout). In fact, I looked it up. A lot of places have it in the top four as far as rivalries in college basketball.”
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Moustafa Thiam, Senegal – “In the Big 12, I would say Kansas (UCF vs. Kansas) was the biggest rivalry. I’m really excited about it (Crosstown Shootout). The crowd will be crazy. I’m good. That really motivates me to play harder.”
Baba Miller, Spain – “The biggest rivalry I’ve played in is Florida/Florida State. I played in that twice and lost twice. I’ve heard that this (Crosstown Shootout) is one of the biggest in college basketball. I feel like everyone knows that. Being here in Cincinnati, since I got here, I keep getting the question: ‘When are they going to play Xavier? Whoever wins will rule the city.’ Stuff like that. I’m very excited to play there and I know it’s going to be a hostile environment. I think we’re prepared for it. “We are a tough team and we are going to have fun.”
Jovan Milicevic, Ontario − “We had New Mexico against New Mexico State. That was a great rivalry. It was probably the biggest game I’ve ever been in. I had goosebumps walking into the stadium. It was electric there. I hope to have the same feeling on Friday.”
Filip Borovicanin, Serbia −“I have heard from some colleagues that it is a great rivalry, and I know that it means a lot to these people.”
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Pape N’Diaye, Ivory Coast −”I asked people if it’s a good rivalry or a fighting rivalry. Everyone told me it’s a fighting rivalry, so we have to win that game, no matter what. I just want to see it for myself and feel that experience. We have to win, that’s the only thing that matters now.”
Further: How have the first-year Xavier, UC coaches fared in the Crosstown Shootout?
Day Day Thomas, Lone Shootout Veteran
“Xavier and Cincinnati!” Thomas responded immediately when asked about his biggest rivalry game. “It’s important for the city. The city will be involved, the team, the coaches, all the fans.”
Cincinnati Bearcats guard Sencire Harris will play in his first Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on December 5. At Illinois he played against Missouri in a rivalry and also has experience with West Virginia in the “Backyard Brawl.”
Sencire Harris, transferred from Illinois, West Virginia – “I played in Illinois and Missouri, they called it ‘The Bragging Rights Game,’ then I played in West Virginia vs. Pitt, ‘The Backyard Brawl.” Probably Illinois vs. Missouri be my biggest game yet. I don’t really know anything (about Crosstown Shootout). “I’m here for the fun, here for the journey, here for the battle.”
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Grant Darbyshire, Kentucky transfer, from Sycamore – “Kentucky/Louisville or Kentucky/Tennessee were the biggest rivalry games. I grew up here, but I’ve never actually been to one (Crosstown Shootout), so I don’t know much about it.”
Tyler McKinley of Walnut Hills/Winton Woods – “The biggest rivalry I’ve ever played in was probably in high school, probably like Walnut Hills vs. Turpin. My favorite memory (of the Crosstown Shootout) was I was at my grandma’s house and I was watching the news and that was the year they got into a fight. I didn’t know if it was gang violence or a basketball game.”
Keyshuan Tillery, of Albany, New York – “Something about New Hampton, my high school (when asked what their biggest rivalry is). (Shootout) is pretty big for the town.”
Isaiah Walker (7), son of former Xavier forward Tyrice Walker, said it’s a “dream come true” to play in the Crosstown Shootout. Walker scored the winning shot for Belmont in last year’s “Battle of the Boulevard” against Lipscomb.
Isaiah Walker, Cincinnati/Wyoming High School − “It’s (Belmont-Lipscomb Boulevard Battle) honestly, very similar because both schools are very close (in Nashville), and so is this. It means a lot to a lot of people there. I think understanding the game will be a little different than most games. It (Crosstown Shootout) is a game that I always focused on growing up, I went to a lot of them. I know what it’s about and it’s a great opportunity to finally be able to play in it.”
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Further: Xavier guard Isaiah Walker has family ties to Crosstown Shootout
Roddie Anderson III, of Orange County, California − “I didn’t really believe all the hype until I saw it last year. It’s one of the craziest games I’ve ever played in and I wasn’t even playing.”
Tre Carroll, of Port Charlotte, Florida − “Once I got to Xavier (from FAU), the first thing they showed me was the Crosstown Shootout rivalry. Before I even committed, I thought, ‘I don’t like UC.’ When we play UC at Cintas Center, I’m ready for that. I want to see what all the hype is about.”
Malik Messina-Moore, from Ventura, California − “I didn’t realize how big the rivalry was until I got here. It’s kind of part of their recruiting pitch. We had Montana-Montana State last year, but it didn’t compare to UC-Xavier. I’m excited for that crowd.”
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Reactions of the former player/announcer
Brian Thornton, former Xavier player, current Big 12 director of basketball – “Buckle up! The Crosstown Shootout is one of the most intense rivalries in the entire country. I loved playing in it. I got to play against Jason Maxiell and Eric Hicks and some of those guys from UC. It was just a great battle. It’s something that means a lot to the city of Cincinnati. Buckle up and get ready for a very close game.”
Dan Hoard, UC Bearcats play-by-play – “The first one I did on Fox 19 was the Lenny Brown game. I was Thom Brennaman’s color analyst. Obviously it’s one Bearcat fans would like to forget. Andy Mac (MacWilliams) got the legendary call after that: ‘No. 1 in the country, No. 2 in your own city!’ “That one was memorable, definitely not my favorite.”
“As for a favorite, this one might surprise you: Mick Cronin’s first. Cincinnati won when they had no business winning. That was the roster he put together at the last second. Xavier wasn’t very good that year, but Xavier was good that year. For Cincinnati to come out on top that year, that’s my favorite that I’ve ever had a chance to name.”
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Tyrice Walker, former Xavier player − “Seeing it on TV or hearing it definitely doesn’t do it any kind of justice. When you see that crowd and see how intense the players are playing, it’s different. You’ll be excited for that game.”
This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: The rivalry between UC and XU Crosstown Shootout from different points of view.