Xavier @ Providence preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 15, 2017 ) Xavier 63, Providence 75

After suggesting his team may have spent too much time congratulating themselves following a school-record 15-1 start two years ago, Xavier senior guard J.P. Macura doesn't expect a repeat with this season's squad. With a showdown at No. 3 Villanova looming next week, the fourth-ranked Musketeers eye an 11th consecutive victory Saturday when they visit Providence.

Xavier won 16 of its first 17 games during the 2015-16 campaign and finished with 28 victories but saw its dream season end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Musketeers, who will face Villanova on Wednesday in a battle of two Big East powerhouses, moved within one game from matching the best start in school history with Tuesday's 86-79 triumph over Butler, which just knocked off the previously unbeaten Wildcats last weekend. "I would say we never can be satisfied. I think we took our foot off the gas a little bit two years ago. I think this group - we push each other and we're going to try to make a run," Macura told reporters. The Friars will try to regroup after giving up a late lead in regulation during Wednesday's 95-90 overtime home loss to Marquette, falling victim to the Markus Howard's conference- and school-record 52-point outburst.

TV: Noon ET, Fox

ABOUT XAVIER (15-1, 3-0 Big East): Senior wing Trevon Bluiett (19.8 points, 5.7 rebounds) is battling through a number of ailments - shoulder, knee and hamstring - and the team's leading scorer is paying the price from an efficiency perspective as a result, shooting 34.9 percent from the floor over his last six outings (54 percent prior). Macura (13.3, 4.1) has stepped up with the best four-game stretch of his final season, averaging 17.3 points on 47.8 percent shooting - including 45 percent from 3-point range - over that span. Sophomore forward Tyrique Jones (9.1, 5.9) and senior forward Kerem Kanter (8.3, 5.1) each suffered facial injuries against Butler but are expected to be ready for Saturday.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (10-6, 1-2): Since missing a Dec. 22 victory over Sacred Heart with an ankle injury, Kyron Cartwright (10.3 points, 6.1 assists) is averaging 17.3 points, 7.7 assists and three steals despite a lackluster two-point effort Dec. 31 at Creighton; however, he is also committing 5.7 turnovers per game over that span. The senior guard exploded for a career-high 29 points Wednesday in part due to the absence of Rodney Bullock (team-high averages of 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds), who was scoring 22.5 points per game over his previous four outings before sitting out Wednesday with an illness. Sophomore guard Alpha Diallo (11.2, 5.9) is averaging 14 points and 9.3 boards in three games since returning from his own ankle injury.

TIP-INS

1. Bluiett's 21 points Tuesday gave him 1,902 for his career, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the school's all-time scoring list.

2. Due largely to an overwhelming number of injuries and absences, the Friars have used eight different starting lineups - the most in seven seasons under coach Ed Cooley.

3. The Musketeers are 15-0 this season when they outrebound their opponent and 12-0 when at least four players score in double figures.

PREDICTION: Xavier 90, Providence 85