Scouting report: No. 16 Xavier looks to protect home court against Villanova
Tuesday night's rematch between Xavier's men's basketball team and Villanova will look different than it did the first time they met earlier this season.
The Musketeers won't have Zach Freemantle, who scored 29 points in Xavier's 88-80 road win over the Wildcats on Jan. 7.
And Villanova will have Justin Moore, who wasn't available in the first meeting but has since returned and played in the last seven games since returning from a torn Achilles that he suffered in last season's NCAA Tournament.
Moore immediately jumped back into the starting lineup, giving Villanova five starters all averaging in double figures.
The new-look Wildcats will be a test for Xavier's recently improved defense that's held the last three opponents under 70 points.
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The question for Xavier is the same as it's been for the last week.
Who's healthy?
Freemantle remains out. Freshman Kam Craft is another two or three weeks away from returning from a knee injury.
Desmond Claude's the most likely candidate to return on Tuesday after missing Xavier's last two games with a non-COVID illness.
Xavier head coach Sean Miller said Monday during his pre-game press conference that he expects Claude to play against Villanova.
But in Saturday's win over DePaul, a few more question marks popped up when KyKy Tandy suffered a lower-body injury and Jerome Hunter turned his ankle, Miller said after the game.
Miller said Hunter's been getting better every day and they expect him to play against Villanova. Xavier's waiting on results from some x-rays on Tandy and there's not enough information to determine if he'll be able to play.
It's a big game for the Musketeers. Every game the rest of the way is big.
But it's a point in the season where Xavier's still in contention to try and win the Big East regular-season title, and they're playing for a first-round bye in the conference tournament, as well as a chance to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Game
Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Cintas Center
TV/Radio: FS1 with play-by-play from Jason Benetti and analysis from Bill Raftery. Byron Larkin and Joe Sunderman will have the radio call on WLW-AM (700).
Series info: Villanova leads the series 32-7.
Scouting report
Xavier Musketeers (20-7, 12-4 Big East)
Coach: Sean Miller, 18th season (442-163 overall)
Offense: 82.6 ppg
Defense: 75.2 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Adam Kunkel (G, 6'4", 10.2 ppg)
Jerome Hunter (F, 6'8", 6.8 ppg)
Colby Jones (G, 6'6", 14.9 ppg)
Souley Boum (G, 6'3", 16.2 ppg)
Jack Nunge (F, 7'0", 14.7 ppg)
Villanova Wildcats (13-14, 7-9 Big East)
Coach: Kyle Neptune, second season (29-30 overall)
Offense: 69.5 ppg
Defense: 67.8 ppgProjected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Caleb Daniels (G, 6'4", 15.9 ppg)
Eric Dixon (F, 6'8", 15.7 ppg)
Cam Whitmore (F, 6'7", 12.1 ppg)
Brandon Slater (F, 6'8", 10.1 ppg)
Justin Moore (G, 6'4", 11.0 ppg)
Players to watch
Justin Moore
Moore gives Villanova another guy on the floor who can heat up and change a game. It will be interesting to see how Xavier chooses to match up with the Wildcats. In the first meeting without Moore, Xavier put Colby Jones on Caleb Daniels and guarded Cam Whitmore with Zach Freemantle.
Colby Jones
Xavier needs another solid performance at both ends of the floor from Jones. He sets the tone defensively and his consistent offense is something the Musketeers value in a big way.
Keys to the game
Rebounding, turnovers, defending without fouling
Villanova's the best free-throw shooting team in the country and with Xavier battling depth issues, the Wildcats would love to get Xavier in foul trouble and do some damage at the line.
The other two keys are keys that accompany every game for Xavier. Take care of the ball and win the rebound battle. When Xavier keeps its turnovers low, it gives that high-powered offense a chance to work well and get in a rhythm.
The other way this game gets away from Xavier is if the Musketeers let the Wildcats get comfortable on the offensive glass.
Rankings
KenPom: Xavier (22), Villanova (72)
NET: Xavier (25), Villanova (84)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Can No. 16 Xavier protect home court against Villanova?
