Providence takes on Xavier in Big East’s lone game Sunday

Make sure to get settled on the couch a little earlier this Sunday! The Xavier Musketeers (9-2, 2-2) are hosting the Providence Friars (7-4, 3-2) at 11 a.m. ET on FOX.

Ed Cooley’s Friars will enter Sunday on an extended break. They have not played since last Saturday, a 67-65 loss at home to Creighton. Providence lost starting guard Jared Bynum to a groin injury in the first half. Bynum is listed as day-to-day. David Duke and Nate Watson led the way, scoring 13 points apiece. Noah Horchler added a season-high 12 points off the bench, and A.J. Reeves contributed 10 points as well in the loss.

Duke and Watson have been the top scorers for the Friars all season. The duo has combined for over half of Providence’s points scored. Both players have scored in double-figures in every game this season. A.J. Reeves has been a presence recently as well, adding at least 10 points in each of the last three games.

The Musketeers will be playing on shorter rest. Xavier last played on Wednesday, beating St. John’s 69-61 at the Cintas Center. Freshman Colby Jones scored a career-high 16 points in the winning effort, and fellow freshman Dwon Odom had 11 points off the bench. Seniors Jason Carter and Paul Scruggs also scored in double-figures, with 11 and 10 points respectively.

Zach Freemantle, Scruggs, and Nate Johnson have all averaged more than 10 points per game for Xavier. Freemantle scored a season-low 5 points last time out, and Nate Johnson has scored just 2 points over the last two games. Jason Carter averages 8.2 rebounds per game, fourth best in the Big East. Xavier will be without junior forward Ben Stanley who suffered a torn ACL.

Xavier is 8-1 this season at home, including a 2-1 home record in Big East play. Providence is 2-1 on the road and 1-1 away from Alumni Hall in conference play. Xavier is 8-1 at home against Providence all-time.

The Friars took the last meeting between these two teams, winning a nail-biter 80-74 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center last season. That split the season series after Xavier won 64-58 at the Cintas Center four weeks prior.

Providence and Xavier were scheduled to play at Alumni Hall on December 12, but COVID issues with Xavier’s program forced that game to be rescheduled for February 24.

THE FACTS

Time and Date: Sunday, January 10 @ 11:00 A.M. ET

Records: Providence (7-4, 3-2) | Xavier (9-2, 2-2)

Rankings: Providence (#58 KenPom) | Xavier (#51 KenPom)

TV Channel: FOX