Villanova-Xavier Preview

2:00 PM ET, February 28, 2015

Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

Points Rebounds Assists

VILL Hillia... 14.7 Ochefu 8.3 Arcidi... 3.6

XAV Bluiett 12.3 Stainb... 6.7 Davis 6.1

Villanova is on the verge of repeating as outright Big East regular-season champions. Wrapping it up as quickly as possible might be tough against an opponent that also has plenty to play for.

Xavier already has four wins over Top 25 foes but earning one Saturday over the sixth-ranked Wildcats would certainly be the most meaningful to its NCAA tournament hopes, not to mention a great way to celebrate senior day at the Cintas Center.

Villanova (26-2, 13-2) has won nine straight -- the last three by an average of 21.6 points -- to claim a piece of the Big East regular-season crown. The Wildcats won't have to share it if they win one of their final three games or if Butler and Georgetown each lose once, so it seems a foregone conclusion that the outright title is theirs.

However, they don't want any slip-ups with a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament on their radar.

"I think we have a chance (of being a No. 1), but we still have a lot of basketball to play to do that," coach Jay Wright said. "... We are still trying to concentrate on our regular season. It is hard but that is what we are trying to do."

Wright isn't taking the Musketeers (18-11, 8-8) lightly even though Villanova beat them 88-75 on Jan. 14. Xavier coach Chris Mack called the Wildcats "a Final Four quality team" after the matchup, but that was in Philadelphia whereas this one is in a building where the Musketeers have won nine of 11 against ranked teams -- including all three this season.

Villanova also was ranked sixth at the Cintas Center last year and struggled to win 77-70.

While the Wildcats appear headed for the Big East tournament's top seed, the Musketeers can earn a first-round bye by winning one of their next two games. Clinching it Saturday, though, would make the NCAA tournament committee take notice and give senior starters Matt Stainbrook and Dee Davis a memorable home finale.

Wright feels Stainbrook and Jalen Reynolds, both 6-foot-10, could be key. That duo combined for 31 points in the first meeting and helped Xavier make it a game in the second half, at one point trimming a 23-point deficit to 10.

"I don't know if we've had to go against a team with two efficient post players like Reynolds and Stainbrook," Wright told Villanova's official website.

The Wildcats have been riding hot perimeter shooting, hitting 48.5 percent from 3-point range over the last four games and making at least 11 in each.

During that span, Darrun Hilliard has gone 21 of 38 (55.3 percent) from beyond the arc. He's led the team in scoring each time, averaging 22.5 points.

"I am always locked in," Hilliard said after scoring 24 in Tuesday's 89-61 win over No. 25 Providence. "I am always in that mindset."

The Musketeers also have been solid from 3-point range, hitting 50.0 percent in the last three games. That stretch included wins over rival Cincinnati and then-No. 19 Butler before an 58-57 loss at St. John's on Monday.

Myles Davis missed a last-second jumper to finish 2 of 11 for five points, and his production may be vital Saturday. Over the last 10 games, he's averaging 16.3 points on 52.7 percent shooting in six wins compared to 8.8 points on 26.3 percent shooting in four losses. Xavier is 9-1 when the sophomore hits at least three 3-pointers.

"(Xavier) has a lot of weapons, a lot of choices when you prepare for them. They play extremely well at home," Wright said. "... We'll have a tough matchup Saturday."

The Musketeers are 0-3 against the Wildcats since joining the Big East as Myles and Dee Davis combined to shoot 26.7 percent.