Butler and Xavier Clash Sunday

THE FACTS

Time and Date: Sunday, February 21 @ 7:00 pm ET

Records: Butler (7-12, 6-10 BIG EAST) | Xavier (11-4, 4-4 BIG EAST)

Rankings: Butler (#124 KenPom) | Xavier (#60 KenPom)

TV Channel: FS1 – stream online at FOX Sports GO

ODDS AND ENDS (via OddsShark)

Spread: Xavier (-8.5)

O/U: 134.0

GAME PREVIEW

The Xavier Musketeers and the Butler Bulldogs face off on Sunday in their second meeting of the season. Both teams come into the game riding two-game losing streaks and hoping to turn it around.

On January 30, Xavier beat Butler 68-55 with a combination of stingy defense and dominant play from Paul Scruggs. Scruggs scored 24 and the Musketeers held Butler to just 55 points on just 34.3% shooting. Since then it’s been a rough road for both teams. Xavier missed two games due to COVID-related issues and has lost both games since returning. Butler has lost three out of five in the month of February.

It’s been an especially poor stretch for Butler. Coach Jordan’s squad has been pummeled twice in a row by some of the conference’s weaker teams – Georgetown and Marquette. The Bulldogs are reeling and, on top of that, injured. It’s still a bit of a mystery who will be suiting up to face Xavier.

Meanwhile, the Musketeers have faced a couple of tough teams in UConn and St. John’s and played them somewhat close. Despite the two losses, Zach Freemantle has been a real bright spot, averaging 26 points and 12.5 rebounds across the two games.

Xavier is heavily favored and justifiably so. Unless Butler shows up as a completely different team than it’s been the last couple weeks, the Musketeers will cruise.