CINCINNATI -- Xavier coach Chris Mack saw quite a bit of growth from his team in just two days between a narrow season-opening win over Lehigh to a more decisive 33-point victory over Buffalo on Monday.Its November 14, so we have a lot of room for growth, Mack said. It was by far the best (performance) for our newcomers, which is a really good sign.On Thursday, the 11th-ranked Musketeers begin play in the Tire Pros Invitational at HP Fieldhouse in Orlando, Fla., the site of one of last seasons signature moments when they captured the Advocare Invitational with victories over Alabama, USC and Dayton.Xavier (2-0) will face the Missouri Tigers (1-0), a team they have beaten three straight times. The Musketeers topped Mizzou 78-66 last year at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.We havent really talked about the competition were going to face in Orlando, Xavier senior forward Rashid Gaston said. Were going to play some pretty good teams.Joining the Musketeers and Tigers in Orlando are Oklahoma, Tulane, Northern Iowa, Arizona State, Clemson and Davidson.Like Xavier, Missouri showed significant improvement in recent days.After a seven-point win over Central Missouri in an exhibition game, the Tigers were impressive in routing Alabama A&M 99-44 Sunday in their home opener.We werent very good eight days ago (against Central Missouri), Tigers coach Kim Anderson told the Kansas City Star. and we knew we werent very good.Frankie Hughes scored 23 points against Alabama A&M, tying a school record for points scored in a freshman debut. Missouri is a young team, with three sophomores and two freshmen among the starters.The Tigers will look to extend Xaviers perimeter defense on Thursday. After shooting 31 percent from 3-point range last season, Mizzou drained 8 of 16 attempts from beyond the arc on Sunday.We need outside shooting, because that was a struggle for us last year, obviously, Anderson said.Defense is where Xavier is looking to make its biggest strides. After allowing 81 points to Lehigh, the Musketeers held Buffalo to just 53 on Monday, limiting the Bulls to 31 percent shooting and forcing 21 turnovers.Some of the things we emphasized (in practice) -- taking care of the ball, playing a little bit longer into the shot clock, defensive intensity, crowding the floor a little bit more, I think we took a step forward, Mack said.The Musketeers continue to deal with depth issues. Senior guard Myles Davis is still suspended due to an incident involving his ex-girlfriends property, and sophomore forward Kaiser Gates is working his way back from a knee injury. On Monday, Xavier had four players in double figures, led by Trevon Bluiett with 18 points.Xavier and Missouri have only played six times previously, but there is plenty of history between the two programs.One of the most significant victories in Xaviers program history came against the Tigers in the first round of the 1987 NCAA Tournament. The 70-69 upset win was the first-ever NCAA Tournament victory for the Musketeers. Byron Larkin, now the color analyst on Xaviers radio broadcasts, scored 29 points in that game to lead all scorers.Missouri hasnt beaten the Musketeers since 2001, a 72-60 victory in the Wooden Tradition Classic in Indianapolis. NMD Cheap . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . NMD Store .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheapnmdoutlet.com/ . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. NMD Outlet . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. NMD Discount . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. A doctor who worked for years treating members of the U.S. womens Olympic gymnastics team has been indicted on child pornography charges.The indictment against Dr. Larry Nassar was unsealed Friday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.According to the indictment, Nassar received child pornography from 2003 through 2016 and possessed one or more computer files or disks that had thousands of images, including images of a person younger than age 12.Nassar already had been charged last month in state court with sexual assault of a minor. The Michigan attorney generals office charged Nassar in November with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.Nassar also is named as a defendant in separate civil lawsuits filed by two former members of the U.S. womens national team. The women are both identified as Jane Doe in court documents. One of the plaintiffs was a medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.Nassars attorney, Matt Newburg, declined to comment on Fridays charges but confirmed to ESPN that Nassar is held in Newaygo County Jail in White Cloud, Michigan.Prosecutors are expected to hold a news conference Monday, annd Nassar is scheduled for a court hearing Wednesday, according to Newburg.dddddddddddd.Nassar, 53, an osteopathic physician, worked with the U.S. womens gymnastics team from 1986 to 2015, first as a trainer and then, starting in 1996, as team doctor.Nassar was fired by USA Gymnastics in the summer of 2015 after officials received complaints of sexual misconduct during medical exams.A spokesperson for USA Gymnastics says the governing body contacted the FBI about Nassars alleged behavior, but he continued to treat patients at Michigan State University for more than a year.On Aug. 29, Rachael Denhollander filed a complaint with Michigan State University Police, claiming Nassar sexually abused her during a medical exam at Michigan State in 2000 when Denhollander was a 15-year-old club-level gymnast. Denhollander initially told her story to the Indianapolis Star.Nassar was fired by Michigan State in September. Since Denhollanders initial complaint, dozens of women have filed similar complaints with Michigan State University Police.The Associated Press contributed to this report.? ' ' '