Villanova @ Xavier preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 18, 2019 ) Xavier 75, Villanova 85

Villanova's recent stretch has gone from a loss to a slump to a mini-crisis. The 16th-ranked Wildcats aim to avoid a fourth loss in five games Sunday when they visit Xavier.

Villanova is in a stretch where it plays four of five games on the road, and the team has lost the first three away games, with the final one coming Sunday. Most recently, the Wildcats fell at Georgetown 85-73 as they shot under 40 percent from the field and an uncharacteristic 9-of-38 from long range. “I just think we’re not the team yet that we want to be,” coach Jay Wright said. “I think the three road losses are more indicative of where we are as a team right now in relation to those teams. … It’s just indicative of the inconsistency of this team right now. That’s what we’re trying to build on, is our consistency.” Perhaps the Wildcats can find their consistency against a Musketeers team that is playing its best basketball of the season with three straight league victories.

TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT VILLANOVA (20-7, 11-3 Big East): The Wildcats need to get their 3-point shooters on track, as Phil Booth is 3-of-16 from long range in the last two games, while Eric Paschall is 3-of-15 over that stretch and Collin Gillespie is 4-of-25 in the last four contests. Booth had a team-high 26 points versus the Hoyas, while Saddiq Bey chipped in nine points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Joe Cremo had 14 points versus St. John's last Sunday but went scoreless in a 10-minute run against Georgetown.

ABOUT XAVIER (14-13, 6-8): The Musketeers have four double-digit scorers on the season, led by Naji Marshall (14.3), who has three 20-point scoring efforts in the last four games and is shooting 48.2 percent from 3-point land over that span. Marshall had a career-high 28 points in Wednesday's one-point win over Seton Hall while Tyrique Jones added 18 points and 15 boards. Jones has shot at least 50 percent from the field in 10 of the last 11 games and has eight double-doubles this season, including 21 points and 12 boards in the first matchup with Villanova.

TIP-INS

1. Booth, Gillespie and Paschall combined for 57 points in an 85-75 win over Xavier last month.

2. Xavier G Quentin Goodin (11.7 points) has not scored more than 14 points in a game since Christmas.

3. Marshall averages 3.5 assists, but has dished out at least four helpers in five straight games.

PREDICTION: Villanova 77, Xavier 70