# 1987–88 Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team

The 1987–88 Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team represented Xavier University from Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1987–88 season. Led by head coach Pete Gillen, the Musketeers played their home games at Cincinnati Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio. After opening the season 2–2, Xavier won 24 of its next 25 games on its way to winning regular season and MCC tournament titles. The team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 11 seed in the Midwest region – despite a No. 18 ranking in the AP poll. In the NCAA tournament, the Musketeers fell in the opening round to No. 6 seed and eventual National champion Kansas, 85–72. Xavier finished with a 26–4 record (9–1 MCC).

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Dec 5, 1987* | | at Marquette | L 61–67 | 0–1 | MECCA Arena Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Dec 8, 1987* | | Delaware State | W 100–77 | 1–1 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Dec 12, 1987* | | at Miami (OH) | W 91–73 | 2–1 | Millett Hall Oxford, Ohio |
| Dec 22, 1987* | | at Providence | L 76–96 | 2–2 | Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island |
| Dec 29, 1987* | | Canisius | W 87–56 | 3–2 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Jan 2, 1988* | | Kent State | W 92–87 | 4–2 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Jan 6, 1988* | | at Western Michigan | W 82–70 | 5–2 | University Arena Kalamazoo, Michigan |
| Jan 9, 1988* | | Florida International | W 125–84 | 6–2 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Jan 12, 1988* | | Cincinnati | W 98–80 | 7–2 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Jan 16, 1988 | | Loyola–Chicago | W 98–90 | 8–2 (1–0) | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Jan 18, 1988 | | Detroit Mercy | W 105–84 | 9–2 (2–0) | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Jan 23, 1988 | | at Evansville | L 84–86 | 9–3 (2–1) | Roberts Municipal Stadium Evansville, Indiana |
| Jan 25, 1988 | | at Saint Louis | W 100–86 | 10–3 (3–1) | Kiel Auditorium St. Louis, Missouri |
| Jan 30, 1988* | | vs. Saint Peter's | W 78–75 | 11–3 | |
| Feb 3, 1988* | | Wright State | W 101–84 | 12–3 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Feb 6, 1988 | | Butler | W 89–74 | 13–3 (4–1) | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Feb 8, 1988* | | Western Michigan | W 100–84 | 14–3 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Feb 13, 1988 | | at Loyola–Chicago | W 94–83 | 15–3 (5–1) | International Amphitheatre Chicago, Illinois |
| Feb 15, 1988 | | at Detroit Mercy | W 114–97 | 16–3 (6–1) | Calihan Hall Detroit, Michigan |
| Feb 20, 1988 | | Evansville | W 102–79 | 17–3 (7–1) | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Feb 22, 1988 | | Saint Louis | W 93–70 | 18–3 (8–1) | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Feb 24, 1988* | | at Florida International | W 122–95 | 19–3 | U.S. Century Bank Arena Miami, Florida |
| Feb 27, 1988* | | Dayton | W 86–73 | 20–3 | Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Mar 1, 1988* | No. 20 | at Niagara | W 93–80 | 21–3 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Lewiston, New York |
| Mar 6, 1988 | No. 20 | at Butler | W 71–70 | 22–3 (9–1) | Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Midwestern Collegiate Conference tournament ||||||
| Mar 11, 1988* | No. 20 | vs. Loyola–Chicago Semifinals | W 117–79 | 25–3 | Market Square Arena Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Mar 12, 1988* | No. 20 | vs. Detroit Mercy Championship game | W 122–96 | 26–3 | Market Square Arena Indianapolis, Indiana |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| Mar 18, 1988* | (11 MW) No. 18 | vs. (6 MW) Kansas First Round | L 72–85 | 26–4 | Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest. All times are in Eastern Time. ||||||

## Awards and honors

* Byron Larkin – MCC Player of the Year