Preview: 3 keys for Xavier Musketeers to get Senior Day win over Providence Friars

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After picking up a pair of important Quad 2 wins over a five-day span, the Xavier Musketeers will wrap up the regular season Saturday at sold-out Cintas Center against the Providence Friars.

Xavier is “in the mix” as head coach Sean Miller said Wednesday following the Musketeers’ 91-78 road win over Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Winner of six straight games for the second time this season, Xavier has moved into the “Last Four In” category of several bracketologists. According to TeamRankings.com, Xavier has a 76.4% chance of making the NCAA Tournament (69% of an at-large bid).

Sean Miller’s Musketeers are 14-2 at Cintas Center this season heading into Saturday’s clash against Providence.

More: What we learned from Xavier Musketeers win over Butler Bulldogs

‘We’re in the mix.’: What is Xavier Musketeers’ path to making the NCAA Tournament?

Since losing to Villanova on Super Bowl Sunday, Xavier has controlled what it can control with all the uncertainty of the NCAA Tournament bubble. It can’t stop now.

From a single-game perspective, a win over Providence doesn’t quite move the needle. However, it would give Xavier 21 wins heading into next week’s Big East Tournament, a number that has held weight in the past when it comes to awarding at-large bids.

“It’s up to us to make that seven (wins in a row) and keep moving on,” Miller said.

3 keys to a Xavier Musketeers win’ over Providence Friars

1. Xavier must set the tone early against Providence

A strong start is going to be imperative for every college basketball team in America. For Xavier specifically, the Musketeers have enjoyed leads of 14, 17 and 15 points in their last three home games.

More importantly, Xavier’s been able to hold those double-digit cushions late in the game over its winning streak. Xavier has had all the pressure on it in recent games against the lower half of the Big East.

They’ve passed those tests. Saturday has to be the same against a Providence team that has nothing to lose and would love to pop a rival’s bubble…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/preview-3-keys-xavier-musketeers-162949148.html

Author : Cincinnati.com | The Enquirer

Publish date : 2025-03-07 16:29:00

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