At Xavier, They’re Hooked on Phonics

Now that Xavier has made it to the regional finals for the first time, it’s time for a refresher on the school’s name.

Listen up, those who want to pronounce it “Ex-ay-vee-er.” All together now, it’s “Zay-vee-er.”

“It used to be about 50-50, those who could pronounce it right,” Xavier Coach Thad Matta quipped Saturday on the eve of the Atlanta Regional final between the Musketeers and Duke. “After this year, it should be 80-20 for those getting it right.”

As a Catholic kid growing up in Chicago, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski was familiar with the Jesuit university in Cincinnati. That didn’t prevent him from mispronouncing the name during his news conference.

Matta had fun with the subject.

“Xavier is not for all people,” he said. “We don’t let in those who can’t pronounce it. I’m not going to say where they go to school.”