DePaul @ Xavier preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 29, 2018 ) Xavier 74, DePaul 65

Slumping Xavier carries a five-game losing streak into Saturday night's Big East home game against DePaul. The Musketeers will attempt to stop their skid and sweep the season series with the Blue Demons after opening their conference schedule with a 74-65 victory Dec. 29 in suburban Chicago.

DePaul will be trying to end a nine-game losing streak in the series with Xavier. The Blue Demons moved into a fifth-place tie in the Big East after a 67-55 victory over Providence on Feb. 2. They had lost three in a row and four of five before picking up their fourth conference victory. DePaul is one game ahead of Xavier, which brings up the rear in the standings along with Providence after a 76-54 loss on Sunday at Creighton.

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

ABOUT DEPAUL (12-9, 4-6 Big East): Max Strus leads the Blue Demons in scoring at 17.0 points per game, but Paul Reed has achieved double figures in seven of his last eight contests and had his fourth career double-double - all in the last seven games - with 18 points and a career-high 15 rebounds win in the team's latest win. The reigning Big East Player of the Week also leads DePaul in rebounding with an average of 8.2 per game and in blocked shots with 25. In the last eight games, Reed is averaging 16.6 points and 10.3 rebounds, and shooting 56 percent from the field while making 25-of-26 free throws..

ABOUT XAVIER (11-12, 3-7): Five players average in double figures, led by Paul Scruggs and Naji Marshall at 13.0 points per game. Quentin Goodin is next at 12.2 points per game and leads the team in assists at 4.9. Zach Hankins is shooting 70.4 percent from the field and has a shot at breaking the school season record of 65.4 percent set by Brian Grant in 1992-93.

TIP-INS

1. DePaul senior F Femi Olujobi is averaging 18.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the last seven games to boost his season averages to 13.1 and 5.4.

2. DePaul is seeking its fifth Big East victory, which would be its highest total in a season since winning six in 2014-15.

3. Xavier is in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament after five straight appearances and 12 trips in the previous 13 years.

PREDICTION: Xavier 64, DePaul 62