Xavier @ Providence preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2020 ) Providence 58, Xavier 64

Providence is peaking at the right time, victimizing a string of ranked opponents during its late push to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. Coming off a huge road win at No. 12 Villanova on Saturday, the Friars take aim at their fifth consecutive victory when they host Xavier on Wednesday in a Big East Conference matchup.

Providence clinched a first-round bye in the Big East tournament with its 58-54 victory at Villanova, posting its fifth victory over a Top 25 opponent in February. "We're just trying to win as many games as we can to be in that conversation to be an at-large team if we're not fortunate enough to win the Big East tournament," coach Ed Cooley told reporters. The Friars will be looking for revenge against Xavier, which has won two straight and six of its last eight, including a 64-58 victory over Providence on Feb. 8. The Musketeers also have won four of their last five on the road to even their record in conference play and need one victory to reach 20 wins for the 13th time in the past 15 seasons.

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

ABOUT XAVIER (19-10, 8-8 Big East): While resident double-double machine Tyrique Jones torched the Huskies for 14 points and 18 rebounds in the first meeting, fellow forward Naji Marshall is coming off a pair of huge games against DePaul and Georgetown. Marshall scored 43 points in the two victories while averaging eight rebounds and 5.5 assists, capping his week by nailing the winning 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds to play against the Hoyas. Jones, meanwhile, had 18 points and 13 points at Georgetown for his 20th double-double - third-most in the country.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (17-12, 10-6): Alpha Diallo leads the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game, but backcourt mate Luwane Pipkins has emerged out of a shooting slump by scoring in double figures in each of the past four games. Held to six points at Xavier, the 5-foot-11 senior erupted for a season-high 24 in a win versus Marquette and followed that up with 27 points at Villanova, shooting a combined 16-of-29 from the floor in the two games. Diallo averaged 20 points in a five-game span before connecting on only 2-of-15 shots in the past two.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Xavier has won eight of the past 14 meetings, including a 75-61 victory at Providence in February 2019.

2. The Friars rank first in the conference in offensive rebounding at 13.2 per game.

3. Musketeers freshman G KyKy Tandy averages 6.4 points overall and 11.6 in Big East play.

PREDICTION: Providence 67, Xavier 65