NCAA Basketball: Purdue, Virginia falls, Marquette and Gonzaga rise in top 25 power rankings

14. Xavier Musketeers – 21-8 (13-5 Big East)

The injury to star forward Zach Freemantle seems to have taken its toll on the Musketeers, who have essentially fallen out of the Big East title race with two games to go. They were on a losing skid of 3 of 4 games, including Tuesday’s home loss to Villanova.

Xavier managed just 27 second-half points in the last second-loss, 64-63. Souley Boum led the team with 17 points, while Jack Nunge pulled down a double-double. Colby Jones only had four points total but did chip in with seven rebounds and seven assists.

The game on Friday against Seton Hall had the potential to be tricky, as the Pirates were at home and in desperate need of a win since they’re on the bubble. But the absence of Kadary Richmond proved to be both their demise and the benefit of the Musketeers. The game got away from Seton Hall early, with Xavier getting the 82-60 win. Four players were in double figures, led by Boum with 23 and Jones with 19 points.

Xavier has a key road game at Providence in a battle of ranked teams while ending the regular season with a home game against Butler. But all eyes will be on the continued recovery of Freemantle, who the team needs if they’re to make some noise in March.