This season, UC eventually will play 11 games starting at 9 p.m. or later. The Bearcats were on ESPN just once that season, having fallen off the national TV map during a 14-year NCAA Tournament drought. This season, Xavier will play seven games starting at 9 p.m. or later. In 1995-96, the year XU joined the Atlantic 10, the Muskies had only three games that started at 9 p.m or later. The Miami RedHawks have no games that start later than 8p.m. this season.
Some fans enjoy the late games, but some think they're on too late.
It's something we work with the schools on. The midnight game has a little sizzle to it, because it's not the traditional time slot. UC has had four midnight home games in the past four years, with one of those games being its last home defeat. UC has won 40 straight home games since losing a Preseason NIT midnight game to Arizona State in 1997-98. Hathaway said UC occasionally seeks out the midnight games.