Xavier will strive to close the Big East regular season with a conference-best seventh straight victory on Saturday when it welcomes Providence to Cincinnati.
The Musketeers (20-10, 12-7) are coming off a 91-78 triumph Wednesday at Butler, marking their second Quad 2 win in a week’s time. The current winning run, longest active in the Big East, began with a 91-82 decision on Feb. 12 at Providence.
“What we’ve done a good job of is learning from each game, leaving it, being prepared, working together, being focused on the next game and the things we can control,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said. “That continues for us.”
Graduate Zach Freemantle enjoyed another team-leading effort against Butler, scoring 24 points and adding eight rebounds. He is the fifth-leading scorer (17.1 points per game) and rebounder (7.1) in the conference.
The win helped keep Xavier alive for a NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
“We’re in the mix,” Miller said. “What we do have in front of us is Providence at home. It’s up to us to make that seven (straight wins) and keep moving on.”
When the Musketeers and Friars last met, Freemantle again nearly had a double-double with 23 points and nine rebounds. Dante Maddox scored 26 points in that game.
The Friars (12-18, 6-13) are on their third losing streak of at least four games following Wednesday’s 80-77 setback to DePaul, which had lost six straight and nine of 10.
Providence let an early 16-point lead slip and gave up 11-0, 8-0 and 6-0 second-half runs in the loss, wasting career-high scoring nights from Corey Floyd Jr. (25 points, eight rebounds) and freshman Ryan Mela (18 points, six rebounds, four steals).
Coach Kim English’s team let plenty of opportunities slip away, losing despite shooting 50 percent from the field and Bensley Joseph getting fouled on a potential game-tying 3-pointer.
“It’s different every game,” English said. “It’s different. Some games it’s rebounding. Some games it’s transition defense. Some games it’s shot quality.”
While fifth-place Xavier will receive a Big East Tournament bye, Providence is set to play in Wednesday’s first round in New York.
