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According to TeamRankings.com, the Xavier Musketeers have just an 18% chance to make the NCAA Tournament following another close defeat.
Xavier has dropped six of its last nine games following a 6-0 start to the year. The Musketeers let another close game slip away over the weekend in Georgetown and have now lost five games by six points or less over the last month.
Xavier returns to Cintas Center Tuesday to host Rick Pitino and the St. John’s Red Storm. While there are still 16 games left in the regular season, Xavier’s season will likely be decided in the next month.
There are six Big East teams currently .500 or better in league play. Xavier will play eight of its next nine games against those squads, beginning Tuesday against St. John’s.
That stretch will see Xavier complete its regular season series against UConn, Marquette and Georgetown. The Musketeers will play St. John’s and Villanova twice and visit Creighton in Omaha Jan. 29.
Xavier vs. St. John’s
Tip: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Cintas Center (10,212)
TV/Radio: FS1/55 KRC
Ratings: Xavier is No. 55 in KenPom while St. John’s is No. 23. KenPom gives Xavier a 44% chance to win. St. John’s is No. 38 in the NCAA’s NET Rankings and Xavier is No. 62. That makes Tuesday is a Quadrant 2 opportunity for Xavier.
History: Xavier leads the all-time series 17-7 but the two programs have split eight contests over the last four seasons. In Pitino’s return to the Big East last season, St. John’s smashed Xavier in Queens, New York, 81-66. Xavier returned the favor with an 88-77 win at home.
St. John’s is 12-3 overall and 3-1 in Big East play so far in the second season of the Rick Pitino era.
St. John’s Red Storm Scouting Report
Record: 12-3 (3-1 Big East)
Head coach: Rick Pitino (32-16 at St. John’s, second season)
Offense: 81.9 ppg
Defense: 67.1 ppg
Overview: One year after being snubbed from the NCAA Tournament, St. John’s looks like a March Madness squad in year 2 of the Pitino era. Each of the Red Storm’s three losses have been by three points…
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Author : Cincinnati.com | The Enquirer
Publish date : 2025-01-06 21:00:00
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