Xavier Has Torn Its Midmajor Tag to Shreds

PHOENIX — All season long, Xavier Coach Sean Miller and the university bristled at the notion of their basketball program being described as a midmajor. Midmajor, a term reserved for colleges outside the six power conferences, hints at smaller budgets, fewer television appearances and inferior players.But in their run to the Round of 8 in the N.C.A.A. tournament, the Musketeers have made a case more convincing than any coach’s plea.The third-seeded Musketeers jumped out to an 18-point first- half lead over West Virginia on Thursday night, lost a 2-point lead in the last 14.5 seconds of regulation, trailed by 6 points in overtime but finally outlasted the seventh-seeded Mountaineers, 79-75, in the West Region semifinals.The backup forward B. J. Raymond hit two 3-point shots in the final 1 minute 22 seconds to seal the victory. All 8 of his points were scored in overtime.The Musketeers have a chance to reach the Final Four for the first time in their history, but to get there they will have to defeat No. 1 U.C.L.A. on Saturday.“We found a way to win in a fantastic game,” Miller said. “We’re very thankful to be moving on and excited as well.” SOURCE OF THIS STORY