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An earlier loss to Georgetown may end up costing Xavier a chance at winning the Big East regular season title. The X-men can avenge that upset defeat and hang near Villanova at the top of the standings while waiting for a showdown with the No. 1 team in the country.
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HOW THE XAVIER MUSKETEERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Xavier continues to cement its status as Villanova’s chief competition in the Big East, a title Georgetown had been expected to hold. With a game against the Wildcats looming, the X-men can’t afford a letdown and will seek revenge from an earlier 81-72 loss to the Hoyas.
Trevon Bluiett and Jalen Reynolds have had plenty of success this season, but struggles last week led to split results. Bluiett leads Xavier with an average of 15 points per game, but he combined for that number while shooting just 31.8 percent from the field as the Musketeers lost to Creighton before regrouping with a win over Butler.
Strong work from the bench led to a blowout win against the Bulldogs with reserves combining to score 36 points, led by 13 from J.P. Macura and Edmond Sumner’s 12. Sumner is the team’s second leading scorer while Macura is one of six players who average better than nine points.
While the bench has sparked a remarkable season for the Musketeeers, the play of Bluiett and Reynolds are keys to any success the team will have in the future.
HOW THE GEORGETOWN HOYAS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
With flickering NCAA tournament aspirations, the Hoyas must approach every game the rest of the way with desperation, particularly those that would fortify their RPI positioning. Georgetown defeated Xavier earlier this season, and another victory is crucial.
Georgetown can take advantage of a rare three-game homestand in the middle of its conference slate. After Wednesday’s contest with Seton Hall, the Hoyas finish up with Butler next weekend.
The Hoyas will have to navigate the remainder of the regular season without their leading rebounder and primary interior presence after Bradley Hayes suffered a hand injury that required surgery.
With Hayes out of the lineup, freshman Jessie Govan will start at center. Govan doesn’t provide the same presence as Hayes, but he is athletic and can play away from the rim, something Hayes wasn’t’ comfortable doing. More of the offensive burden will fall on the shoulders of D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who averages a team-high 16.2 points, and L.J. Peak.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Georgetown pulled off the upset of Xavier on the road in mid-January by reducing the game to its simplest form. The Hoyas shot 51 percent from the floor, pulled down more rebounds and held the Musketeers to 35.3 percent shooting. The players Georgetown relies on to be successful were the best on the court that day. Tre Campbell scored 21 and Smith-Rivera added 20 as the Hoyas backcourt outplayed Xavier’s. Govan, who will be in the lineup for the injured Hayes, had one of his better games of the season with 16 points and six rebounds while playing strong defense in his 17 minutes. Xavier may have been caught off guard in that game and it’s highly doubtful that it will happen again.
Xavier 85, Georgetown 78
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