Xavier @ Creighton preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2018 ) Xavier 72, Creighton 71

Xavier has missed the NCAA Tournament once in the past 13 seasons and hasn't finished with a losing conference record since 1982. Both those scenarios are in danger of becoming reality unless the Musketeers can go on a run in February, beginning with a visit to Creighton on Sunday for a Big East clash.

Xavier, the conference's regular-season champion last season, entered Saturday in a tie for last place in the conference after dropping its fourth straight Thursday at Georgetown. "I was really disappointed," coach Travis Steele told reporters after his team allowed 52 second-half points. "I told our guys going into the game we couldn't have the mentality to try to outscore Georgetown. We had to have that defensive nastiness and toughness, which I didn't think we had at all in the second half." The Bluejays ranked second in the Big East in scoring with 82.7 points per game through Friday and was one of seven teams in the country shooting at least 50 percent from the floor, but the offense sputtered in an 83-67 loss at home to St. John's on Wednesday. Sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander scored 15 points in the setback as Creighton finished with a season-worst 41.7 percent mark from the floor.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FSN

ABOUT XAVIER (11-11, 3-6 Big East): Sophomore guard Paul Scruggs (13.4 points per game) and sophomore forward Naji Marshall (13.3) lead the way for the Musketeers and they combined for 31 points in Thursday's loss. Junior guard Quentin Goodin chips in 12.1 points and was third in the Big East in assists (4.8), but has handed out only 13 over his last five games. Senior forward Zach Hankins was first in the league in field-goal percentage (70.8), and teammate Tyrique Jones ranked fifth (60.4).

ABOUT CREIGHTON (12-9, 3-5): The Bluejays had won two straight and felt primed to rise up the conference standings with St. John's coming to town, but the uncharacteristic offensive struggles - including a 9-of-34 showing from beyond the arc - has sent them back to the drawing board. "We just have to make sure this doesn't impact us more than (Wednesday)," coach Greg McDermott told reporters. "I'll watch it (Wednesday night). We'll share some things with the guys (Thursday). Then we need to wipe it, and we need to get ready for an important game against Xavier on Sunday." Alexander leads the team in scoring (17.4) while four players average between 11.4 and 10.0, a quartet led by junior forward Martin Krampelj, who has 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting over his last two games.

TIP-INS

1. Creighton was tied for third nationally in 3-point percentage (41.7). Xavier was tied for 225th (33.3).

2. Bluejays G Davion Mintz had one point on 0-of-6 shooting in Wednesday's loss after averaging 15.7 on 51.4 percent from the floor over his previous three contests.

3. The teams have split 12 meetings since they joined the Big East prior to the 2013-14 season.

PREDICTION: Creighton 83, Xavier 77