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Villanova-Xavier preview: No. 1 vs. No. 10

Xavier Providence NCAA Basketball
Camera icon Stephan Savoia / AP
Trevon Bluiett (5) leads Xavier in scoring.
by , STAFF COLUMNIST @SmallTerp | smallwj@phillynews.com
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John Smallwood

STAFF COLUMNIST

John Smallwood has been on our staff since 1994. He began as the beat writer for Villanova University basketball and was promoted to columnist in 1995. He has won several awards while covering almost every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, Final Four, World Cup and Olympics. His focus now is on writing Philly.com's Sports Tonight columns.

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Xavier at Villanova

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Wednesday, 8 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center

TV: FS1

Radio: 610 WTEL-AM

Livestream: villanova.com/collegesportslive/

Coaches: Jay Wright, 18th year at Villanova (522-247, 400-162 at VU); Chris Mack, ninth year at Xavier (201-93).

Series: Villanova leads, 22-5.

Last meeting:  Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo each scored 17 as the Wildcats won, 73-57, last season in Cincinnati. Xavier shot just 35 percent in the game.

The latest: After a one-week stay at No. 3, the Wildcats (14-1, 2-1) moved back to the top of the rankings after beating Marquette, 100-90. Brunson had 27 points and eight assists. He’s averaged 26.7 points and six assists in three Big East games. Eric Paschall matched his career high with 19 points and freshman Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree scored 10 on 5-for-5 shooting.  Xavier (15-2, 3-1) dropped from fifth to 10th after losing at Providence. The Musketeers had won 10 straight before falling, 81-72. Senior all-America candidate Trevon Bluiett leads the Musketeers with 19.4 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.

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