Providence @ Xavier preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 16, 2019 ) Xavier 75, Providence 61

Playing on the road in the Big East is never easy, but Providence might feel like it's getting a little break Saturday night at Xavier in the first game this season between the teams. At least the Friars won't have to face a ranked opponent for the first time since Jan. 15.

Providence played five straight games against Top 25 teams for only the third time in program history and went 2-3. The Friars ended that difficult stretch Wednesday night with a 73-56 victory over No. 22 Creighton, which gave Providence its second straight win over a ranked foe for the first time since 2016. Xavier hasn't played up to its typical high standards this season, but the Musketeers have won two in a row and need a win at home Saturday to build their NCAA Tournament resume. They're returning home after winning two straight on the road, including a 74-62 victory at No. 13 and Big East front-runner Seton Hall last Saturday.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: Fox Sports 1

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (13-10, 6-4 Big East): Sophomore AJ Reeves can be a difference-maker when he get as hot as he was Wednesday night in the win over Creighton, hitting 6-of-8 3-pointers en route to 22 points - far exceeding his season average of 7.3 points. Steady senior Alpha Diallo leads the Friars in scoring and rebounding at 12.9 points and 7.9 boards. In last Saturday's 65-51 win at No. 19 Butler, senior transfer Luwane Pipkins stepped up to deliver a game-high 22 points, making 10-of-10 free throws in the game and 6-of-6 in the last 27 seconds, to also surpass his season average of nine points.

ABOUT XAVIER (15-8, 4-6): Naji Marshall, one of 10 candidates announced this week for the national Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, ranks third in the Big East in scoring at 16.5 points per game and eighth in assists at 3.6. Tyrique Jones has posted double-doubles in each of the past five games, including 18 rebounds in each of the wins over Seton Hall and DePaul, and is on track to become the first Xavier player to average a double-double for the season since David West in 2003. Freshman KyKy Tandy has given Xavier a scoring boost in its two recent wins, averaging 13 points per game.





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BUZZER BEATERS

1. Defense has helped dictate Xavier's last three Big East wins as they held opponents to 62 or fewer points in each game.

2. Jones ranked 11th nationally entering Friday and is tied for the Big East lead in rebounding at 10.8 per game while also averaging 13.5 points.

3. Sophomore guard David Duke leads Providence in assists with 3.5 per game and is second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points.

PREDICTION: Xavier 73, Providence 63