Xavier out to display more toughness when DePaul comes calling

Xavier and DePaul both hope to generate some momentum going into February when they battle Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati.

Xavier (11-10, 3-7 Big East) is on a three-game losing streak entering Saturday, including an 86-68 drubbing at Seton Hall Wednesday night.

It has been an up-and-down season for the Musketeers, with the list of highs including wins over rival Cincinnati and West Virginia.

But the reality of having 13 new players on the roster, combined with playing in the Big East, are both starting to catch up to Xavier, culminating in Wednesday night's loss. The Musketeers led 41-30 at halftime, but were outscored 56-27 and outrebounded 24-10 in the second half.

"They just took our spirit," head coach Richard Pitino said. "It's just effort and toughness. They showed a high level of toughness and we did not. We talked about defensive rebounding. We gave up 21 (offensive rebounds). That's what Big East toughness looks like. I told the guys, ‘I hope y'all play basketball for a long time. You can't let a team just physically punk you, and they did that.'"

Tre Carroll leads Xavier with 18.2 points per game, while Filip Borovicanin has team highs of 8.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest. Xavier paces the Big East with 18.7 assists per game.

DePaul (12-9, 4-6) has alternated wins and losses in each of its last six games, but is 4-3 since an 0-3 start to Big East play.

The Blue Demons are looking to bounce back from a 70-61 loss Wednesday night at Georgetown, a game in which they never led despite knocking down 11 three-pointers.

CJ Gunn leads the Blue Demons with 14.3 points per game, while NJ Benson leads DePaul with 7.0 rebounds per game and a 60.7 field goal percentage.

DePaul has already matched its Big East win total from last year.

"From the first day me and NJ got here, we (have) been trying to change the culture and the environment in Wintrust (Arena)," Gunn said earlier this month. "And we (are) finally starting to get some wins -- finally starting to get our rhythm and our momentum going."

Gunn and Benson were two of six Blue Demons in double figures in their 86-77 win over Xavier on Jan. 3 in Chicago.