There are no easy stretches in the Big East. St. John’s comes off the loss to #1 Villanova on Saturday only to take a flight to play the Xavier Musketeers in Cincinnati on Wednesday, enjoying all of the loud hospitality of the Cintas Center.
The Musketeers’ on-campus home is loud. Chris Mack’s Xavier team is undefeated at home this year, have been ranked in the top 25 all season (a high of #5 in the AP poll) and are coming off of a season that ended in the Elite Eight last March.
The Johnnies, struggling in Big East play, have the tall task of sheathing the swords of the Musketeers.