Xavier Musketeers

Xavier has a chance to play for a Big East regular-season title on its home court. The fourth-ranked Musketeers can take control of the league race by beating No. 3 Villanova on Saturday at the Cintas Center, where they’re unbeaten this season. It’s a showdown they’ve long awaited.

J.P. Macura scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half to get Xavier rolling, and Trevon Bluiett had 21 points as the fifth-ranked Musketeers won their 10th in a row, beating Butler 86-79 on Tuesday night.

Xavier guard Trevon Bluiett is facing a marijuana possession charge following a suburban Indianapolis traffic stop. Carmel police say the 22-year-old from Indianapolis was arrested Monday on one misdemeanor count of marijuana possession. He was released on bond Tuesday from the Hamilton County Jail. Police say Bluiett was pulled over for driving about 75 mph in a 55 mph zone after failing to signal a lane change. Police say officers smelled marijuana.

Chris Webber’s job was done as an analyst on TBS’ telecast of the Gonzaga-Xavier game. He quickly resumed just being a college basketball fan.

Zach Collins was his usual productive self Saturday but he wasn’t on the floor long.

J.P. Macura’s three-quarter court heave at the end of the half was a split second too late, meaning a shot that did not count overshadowed an ever rarer one that did.

On Friday, Xavier head coach Chris Mack said getting over 7-foot-1, 300-pound Przemek Karnowski wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. Gonzaga’s biggest advantage was depth in the post – the Zags had three other bigs who could also keep pressure at the rim.

When he saw the subs being sent to the scorer’s table – the basketball valedictory – the emotions finally burst inside of Nigel Williams-Goss. He sprinted to a corner where the sideline met the half-court line, squatted and rested his head in his hands.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few held up the West Region championship trophy with a big smile on his face.