There are games early in the season you expect to be a true hard fought matchup. I expect that tonight between Santa Clara and Xavier. For Xavier they are learning on the fly under new Coach Richard Pitino and several transfers. While Santa Clara has maintained a program identity under Herb Sendek since 2016. That is the difference even with the long travel to Xavier as Santa Clara covers as road underdogs.

Herb Sendek has his Santa Clara shooting lots of three-balls as in recent seasons, but it remains to be seen if he has similar marksmen on the roster. In Friday's 79-67 win over McNeese, the Broncos hit 12 of 31 triples, though it took 5 of 8 from Villanova transfer G Sash Gavalyugov to up the percentage. While SCU not quite a well-oiled machine yet, the X surely isn't for its new HC Richard Pitino (whose dad Rick once had Sendek on his staff). Case in point labored wins over Marist and LeMoyne last week when the Musketeers could only hit a tepid 38% from the floor. It might be asking a lot of these two sides to ramp up the scoreline. Play SCU-Xavier Under

Two potential NCAA Tournament teams and it is a true home game for Xavier, which KenPom ranks nine spots higher. Our model has the Musketeers by six and ESPN BPI by 4. Xavier has five players averaging in double figures in scoring through two games: Malik Messina-Moore (16.5 ppg.), Tre Carroll (11.0 ppg.), Roddie Anderson III (11.0 ppg.), Jovan Milićević (10.0 ppg.) and All Wright (10.0 ppg.). Milicevic is one of a couple of guys who followed new coach Richard Pitino from New Mexico in the offseason. Pitino eyes career win No. 250 in this one. Xavier has won 10 in a row when favored. First time leaving home for Santa Clara, which is 1-5 SU in its past six as a dog.