The news has been bad all year for Xavier, but we finally get to start today with a good tidbit. Beyond that, not much is going on as practice kicks into gear with (now) nine scholarship players available to Coach Chris Mack.
Cantino cleared to practice with Xavier: Chris "Sneaker Stacker" Cantino has been cleared by the NCAA to start practicing with the team. While this is good news, it doesn't entirely solve the issue of whether Cantino will be able to play this year. For the time being, Chris will be practicing while the NCAA reviews the situation.
Writers' roundtable -- Our experts answer five big questions about Midnight Madness - ESPN: If you are wondering about what may be the big stories this year, this is a good place to start. Xavier does not figure prominently, but Rotnei Clarke from Butler does get a mention. The sleeper section includes a host of BCS schools that represent no risk taking on the part of the writers, and North Texas.
As Midnight Madness gets underway, time to embrace chaos of wide-open season: This season may be wide open, but John Calipari's free agent signings have to make UK the prohibitive favorite.
NCB - Man stabbed at Syracuse University's Orange Madness event: Things at Syracuse went poorly after a non Syracuse student stabbed another non Syracuse student at a packed Carrier Dome last night.
Mat Latos: 'I let down the whole team': Yes, Mat, you did. Interestingly, the Cardinals are still in the playoffs after the largest comeback win in elimination game history.