Xavier at Providence: College basketball game preview, TV schedule
The No. 5 ranked Xavier Musketeers will face a tough road test at Providence. Can the Friars pull off the upset on their home court?
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 6
TV Listing: FOX
Arena: The Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, RI.
The Xavier Musketeers are off to a 3-0 start in Big East play but will face a tough test against the Providence Friars. Xavier knocked off a good Butler team earlier this week and received major contributions from their two stars: Trevon Bluiett and JP Macura.
Xavier Musketeers Basketball
Bluiett is sharpshooting combo-forward who can score from anywhere on the court. He tallied 21 points and 7 rebounds against Butler and is averaging 19.8 ppg on the season. Macura is known as a shooter, but he is much more well-rounded than he is given credit for. The 6’5’’ senior can put the ball on the floor to create for himself and for his teammates and is a strong defender at the top of Xavier’s 1-3-1 zone. He is averaging 13.3 ppg and 3.1 apg on the season and scored 20 points versus Butler.
Macura and Blueitt are two of the best players in the Big East and are the main reason for Xavier’s top-5 ranking, but their supporting cast should not be overlooked. Both Kaiser Gates and Tyrique Jones have made significant improvements and have increased their production in bigger roles. Gates is a junior stretch four who provides necessary floor spacing while Jones is a physical center who makes an impact around the basket. Their transformation from role players to solid starters has been crucial.
At this time last year, Quentin Goodin was really struggling. He was thrust into the starting lineup as a freshman because Edmond Sumner suffered a season-ending injury. However, being thrown into the fire helped Goodin immensely and by the end of last season he was a totally different player. Goodin has continued to play at a high level and has brought stability to the PG position. The 6’4’’ guard excels at attacking the basket and has good court vision which more than compensates for his ineffective long-range shooting.
Goodin will be tasked with shutting down Providence’s best player, Kyron Cartwright. Cartwright has struggled with a recurring ankle injury, but still managed 29 points in a loss to Marquette. The crafty lefty has developed into an excellent shooter, but is at his best when he attacks the rim and elevates for a short jumper. Cartwright is an excellent passer as his 6.1 apg leads the Big East.
Providence has a collection of long wings who will hope to disrupt Bluiett and Macura. Alpha Diallo is a 6’7’’ sophomore and is arguably Providence’s second best player. Diallo is at his best when he is attacking the basket and using his size to finish over small players. His long-range shooting is unreliable, but his mid-range game is very effective. Diallo is often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player, but he was torched by the much smaller and quicker Markus Howard who scored 52 points against the Friars.
Senior wing Jalen Lindsey and junior wing Isaiah Jackson will also see major minutes in this game. Lindsey is mainly a spot-up shooter on offense but is a versatile defender who can guard 2-4. Jackson has been wildly inconsistent this season but had a season-high 19 points against Marquette. Both players have good size and can guard multiple positions which will come in handy against a team like Xavier.
Rodney Bullock, Providence’s leading scorer and rebounder, did not play against Marquette due to illness and the Friars will hope to have him back in the lineup for Saturday. Bullock is a streaky player who can score from anywhere on the court. The Friars will need a big game from Bullock to pull off the upset.
Providence’s weakness is at the center position where the duo of Kalif Young and Nate Watson is extremely flawed. Watson is a great interior scorer, but does not rebound and lacks defensive awareness. Young played his best game of the season against Marquette but has generally struggled to finish around the basket and shoot free throws this season. Xavier’s backup center Sean O’Mara can score with his back to the basket and could have a big game against the Providence frontline.
Xavier is the more talented team, but their tendency to fall behind early in games will catch up with them at some point. Against East Tennessee State and DePaul most notably, the Musketeers were on the ropes against inferior teams and had to make an improbable comeback to win the game. Freshman Naji Marshall is the X-factor for Xavier as his length and activity could really disrupt Providence.
I expect Xavier to win a close game. Providence will likely struggle with the 1-3-1 zone as Xavier has great length at each position and Providence has not shot the ball well of late. The Friars were just 2-for-12 from three against Marquette and will need to hit at least 10 three pointers to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Xavier 80 Providence 75