Xavier heads to Madison Square Garden as 4.5-point underdogs against Texas A&M in the NIT Championship game. The Aggies, who narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament, have dominated their NIT run with double-digit wins and victories in 11 of their last 12 games.

Under interim head coach Jonas Hayes, Xavier has found their rhythm, defeating potential NCAA Tournament teams Florida, Vanderbilt, and St. Bonaventure. The Musketeers have shown impressive depth, with at least four starters reaching double figures in most games and strong bench contributions.

Key Factors:

• Xavier's interior presence with Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle could pose problems for A&M's smaller lineup
• The Musketeers' physical guard play matches well against A&M's aggressive defense
• Xavier has already defeated two SEC teams en route to the championship
• Despite losing Paul Scruggs to injury, Xavier has maintained strong performance

New head coach Sean Miller will be in attendance to evaluate his future roster, with most players expected to return next season. A NIT championship could provide momentum for Miller's rebuilding efforts.

The total is set at 137.5 points. Given both teams' recent offensive success and strong form, Xavier plus the points appears to be the value play in this championship matchup.

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