2018 NCAA Basketball Villanova at Xavier: Preview and Prediction

The game of the year in the Big East is upon as the Xavier Musketeers battle the Villanova Wildcats in a game that could be for supremacy in the conference. Villanova beat the Musketeers 89-65 earlier in the year and Xavier has not lost since. The Wildcats have lost twice since their dominating performance against the Muskies at home. Both of these teams are ranked in the top four by everybody, so this game takes on the added importance of possibly helping to determine a number one seed for the NCAA Tournament. Let’s take a look at this monumental matchup!

What’s wrong with Villanova?

In the first two Villanova losses, the Wildcats had excuses. That was not the case in the Wildcats’ loss at Providence earlier this week. They turned the ball over, they shot poorly, and defensively they just weren’t very good. Now with that all being said, the Wildcats are a great team and a win at Xavier destroys all of those questions. But the Musketeers are a great team, as well, and playing quality basketball at Xavier most times is easier said than done.

Xavier been unbeatable in close games?

Xavier is 9-0 in games decided by single digits and is undefeated in overtime games, why is that? It’s very simple Chris Mack is an outstanding coach and the Musketeers have a very experienced team. Maybe the Muskies are just lucky, but I think that it goes much deeper with this team, I think they really believe that this is their year at Xavier and it’s not luck, they are just that good.

Prediction: The Musketeers are a disciplined, aggressive team, but so is Villanova. I really could see either one of these teams winning it all. The biggest advantage in this game goes to Xavier because the game is at Xavier, and Xavier is almost unbeatable in their own house. I like Bluiett and Macura to both go off in this game and beat the Wildcats fairly comfortably.

Xavier 77  Villanova 67