On Dec. 14, Xavier (15-6, 5-3) beat #7 (then unranked) Cincinnati (21-2, 9-0), 64-47. That win came two games after a three game losing streak to Iowa, Tennessee, and USC. Currently in the middle of a two game losing streak, the Musketeers play a vulnerable #6 Villanova (19-2, 7-1) team tonight at 7:00 pm EST on the official station of the Big East, FS1. It's not the perfect ingredients to a perfect storm, but it must mean something. My gut tells me it's a positive for Xavier.

Lucky for the Wildcats, they're at home. Also, they're the better, more talented team. But they haven't been playing quite as well lately, or at least not what you'd expect of the #6 team in the country. Winning at Marquette is never easy, and their five point win at Georgetown is looking more impressive given the Hoyas' subsequent upset over #9 Michigan State (19-3, 8-1); watching them, however, it's evident they're not playing as well as they had been earlier in the year. The offense isn't quite as seamless and the defense is still struggling to guard one-on-one. That's why tonight's game against Xavier won't be easy, even if the Musketeers have had struggles of their own.

'Nova head coach Jay Wright has been slightly less harsh on his assessment of his team's offense. Backing up a few steps, I'll mostly agree. They're frequently in the paint and possess a legion of three point shooters (speaking of which, can Darrun Hillard heat up already?)

"We can score," Wright told ESPN. "Defense, rebounding -- I don't know yet. But we can definitely score."

The oddsmakers are slightly more confident than me tonight. They're giving Xavier ten points. That's too much for this Villanova fan. Wildcat nation (or at I do) has too much respect for Xavier's program to bank on a convincing win of that nature. If Darrun Hillard finally has a big game, perhaps it will be a big night for the Cats. Otherwise, expect a battle.

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Regular season: 11-11

Picking Schedule:

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)

St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)

Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)

Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)

Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)

Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)

Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)