Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
MBB Minute: Saturday's FOX Doubleheader Includes Xavier, Villanova
Xavier and Villanova, the BIG EAST’s two top 10 teams, will be in action as part of a FOX doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The No. T8/7 Musketeers want to avenge a defeat against Georgetown, while the No. 1/1 Wildcats want to maintain their momentum toward a third-straight regular-season title against Butler. A third BIG EAST contest also has a payback theme when Marquette visits DePaul on FOX Sports Networks at 2 p.m. ET.
Xavier carries a 23-3 overall record and an 11-3 BIG EAST mark into Georgetown for a noon tipoff, but one of those losses came against the Hoyas, who won 81-72 at the Cintas Center on Jan. 19. Guard Tre Campbell led GU with 21 points. Georgetown is the only team to beat Xavier at home this season. Xavier’s Myles Davis had a triple-double in Wednesday’s 85-74 win over Providence with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
Top-ranked Villanova hosts Butler at The Pavilion at 2:30 p.m. The Wildcats edged the Bulldogs 60-55 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Jan. 10. Josh Hart led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Butler has won four of its last five games and is in a three-way tie for fifth place with a 7-7 league mark with Georgetown and Providence. BU’s Kelan Martin is averaging 23.2 points over the last six games.
Marquette also wants to turn the tables after a home loss. The Golden Eagles meet DePaul at Allstate Arena. On Jan. 20, the Blue Demons grabbed a 57-56 win in Milwaukee behind Myke Henry’s 17 points and 12 rebounds. Marquette’s Henry Ellenson ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring (16.6) and first in rebounding (10.0).
Seton Hall and St. John’s will wait until Sunday to battle at Madison Square Garden. FS1 has the game at noon. The Pirates have won five of their last six games and are coming off a 72-64 win at Georgetown on Wednesday. On the same night, St. John’s got its first conference victory of the season with an 80-65 win over DePaul. Durand Johnson led four players in double figures with 18 points.