CINCINNATI -- After his team was beaten by 25 points at Villanova in January, Xavier head coach Chris Mack dubbed it "the annual Villanova (butt) kicking." The Musketeers also lost by 31 points at the Pavilion last season.
The all-time series has been dominated by Villanova, but at a raucous Cintas Center last February, Xavier turned the tables, knocking off the eventual national champions for its first victory over the Wildcats since 1961.
No. 2 Villanova (23-2, 10-2 Big East) returns to Cintas Center on Saturday afternoon when it'll face the No. 24 Musketeers (18-6, 8-3) before what's expected to be a standing-room only crowd.