NCAAB | Marquette @ Xavier

By Don Phillips

NO. 6/5 XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (20-2, 8-2 BIG EAST)
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (15-8, 4-6 BIG EAST)
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at 12 PM ET
Cintas Center (10,250) at Xavier University

Marquette leads the series 47-20, although Xavier has won the last four meetings. Xavier is 5-1 vs. Marquette since the two teams became BIG EAST Conference rivals. Xavier, 20-2, has clinched its third straight 20-win season, its 10th in 11 years and its 18th in 20 years.

Xavier, 20-2 overall and ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is 8-2 and in second place in the BIG EAST Conference. They are coming off its fourth straight win, a 90-83 victory over St. John’s on Wednesday at Cintas Center.

Junior Myles Davis led five Xavier double-figure scorers with 16 points to go with five rebounds. Davis scored all 16 of his points in the second half as he helped Xavier overcome a four-point, 44-40, deficit early in the second half. Sophomore Trevon Bluiett contributed 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Xavier is third in the BIG EAST Conference in scoring offense at 80.4 ppg and second in the BIG EAST and 25th in the nation scoring margin at +12.4 ppg. Xavier has won 13 games this season by double figures. All 20 of Xavier’s wins have been by at least seven points.

Xavier is ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (68.0 ppg.), fifth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage defense (.407) and first in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage defense (23rd in the nation at .305). By comparison, for the 2014-15 season Xavier was ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (67.4 ppg.), eighth in field goal percentage defense (.435) and seventh in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.345).

Xavier has four players with double-figure scoring averages and two more at 8.9 ppg or more. Sophomore Trevon Bluiett (ninth in the BIG EAST at 15.4 ppg.) leads the way followed by junior Myles Davis (23rd in the BIG EAST at 11.2 ppg.), senior James Farr (27th in the BIG EAST at 10.6 ppg.), freshman Edmond Sumner (30th in the BIG EAST at 10.4 ppg.), junior Jalen Reynolds (9.6 ppg.) and sophomore J.P. Macura (8.9 ppg.). Xavier is 14-0 this season when at least four players score in double figures in scoring.

Last season, Marquette was forced to rely on just two players, Matt Carlino and Duane Wilson, to handle the majority of the scoring load. This year’s lineup features multiple offensive options. In the Dec. 21 victory over Chicago State, Marquette had six players finish with double figures for the first time facing Morgan State on Dec. 28, 2014.

Through 23 games, the Golden Eagles have had at least five players net 10‐or‐more points on seven occasions (Belmont, Arizona St., Grambling St., Maine, Chicago St., Presbyterian, Stetson). In the team’s 32 games last season, Marquette had five‐or‐more players net at least 10 points just twice. In 15 of the team’s 23 contests this season, Marquette has had at least four players finish with 10‐or‐more points.

The best offshore sportsbook has Xavier a 12-point home favorite with the number set at 149½. Go to America’s Bookie for this and all the NCAAB action leading up to and including March Madness.

Selection: Xavier