Georgetown @ Xavier preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 31, 2019 ) Xavier 73, Georgetown 80

Xavier will look to save what is quickly becoming a lost season when it squares off against visiting Georgetown on Wednesday in a Big East game. The Musketeers have dropped three straight games - all by double figures - but have dominated the Hoyas of late.

The Musketeers hadn't suffered three straight losses by double figures since February 2017 and had never started 1-4 in the Big East, which it joined in 2013-14, but that's where they stand after a 20-point loss to Marquette. "We have to do a lot of soul searching at this point," coach Travis Steele told the media of his team, whose lone win in conference came over last-place St. John's. "Something has to change for us. I haven't lost belief in our team, but we have to be able to play to our identity. When we hit a little bit of adversity, our guys start to lose their minds." The Musketeers have been outrebounded by an average of 10 boards over the last three games and 3-point shooting continues to be a problem with a combined 11-of-51 showing in the past two contests. The Hoyas, whose most recent loss was also to Marquette and the nation's top scorer in Markus Howard, will be in search of their first Big East road win (0-3).

TIME: 6:30 p.m. ET. TV: Fox Sports 1

ABOUT GEORGETOWN (12-7, 2-4 Big East): Omer Yurtseven of Georgetown and Xavier's Tyrique Jones have been battling it out all year in several statistical categories, only now do they get to meet face-to-face. Yurtseven, a 7-foot center from Turkey, has the upper hand over his counterpart in the Big East in rebounds, field goal percentage, blocked shots and offensive rebounds per game in addition to holding a 10-8 advantage in double-doubles. Yurtseven has recorded a double-double in two straight and three of the last four games while Jones, a senior forward, has gone three straight games without recording one.

ABOUT XAVIER (12-6, 1-4): If Steele is serious about making changes, the first may be to remove Quentin Goodin from the starting point guard spot. The senior, who is closing in on 1,000 career points, is averaging fewer assists this season (four) than in each of the last two seasons and his shooting has been atrocious. The Kentucky native is 2-of-28 from the field in the last four games and 0-of-20 from 3-point territory in the last past six, but his potential replacement - freshman KyKy Tandy - hasn't showcased much shooting ability this season either, making 16-of-55 from the field with 13 of those made baskets coming from beyond the arc.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Jagan Mosely had five assists against Marquette, giving him 300 for his career and moving him into a tie with Markel Starks for 20th in Georgetown history.

2. Xavier is 14-5 overall against Georgetown and 10-3 since joining the Big East.

3. The Musketeers have a chance to finish the season with four players with 1,000 career points at Xavier as Goodin (962) and Paul Scruggs (847) are close to joining Naji Marshall and Jones, who reached the milestone against Marquette.

PREDICTION: Xavier 79, Georgetown 76