CBB - Wednesday 12/5

A balanced offense helped propel Xavier into the Top 25. The Musketeers will likely need to continue their high-scoring ways in order to remain there as they try to avoid a fourth straight loss to Creighton on Wednesday night. The No. 21 Musketeers (6-1) have six players averaging in double figures, paced by junior swingman junior B.J. Raymond (13.3 ppg.), senior Josh Duncan (13.0 ppg.), junior C.J. Anderson (12.7 ppg.), senior Stanley Burrell (11.7 ppg.), sophomore Derrick Brown (10.9 ppg.) and senior Drew Lavender (10.4 ppg.). Xavier has never had six players average in double figures in scoring for an entire season. This would be the first time all five starters have averaged double figures since the 1994-95 season."Same old deal," said guard Stanley Burrell, who averages 11.7 points and had a season-high 18 in Xavier's 90-49 win over Belmont on Saturday. "We go out and do it. We do the same thing every night."

The Musketeers hope for more of the same Wednesday night at home against Creighton (5-0), which is off to its best start since winning its first seven games of 2004-05. No player on the Musketeers roster has ever beaten Creighton, and senior starters Burrell and forward Josh Duncan have been part of the three straight defeats to the Bluejays.

"We didn't forget," said Burrell, who had 12 points in a 73-67 loss at Creighton on Dec. 9. "We're definitely looking forward to this game. I can't wait for them to get here. We're 0-3 against them since I've been here."

Xavier won 75-73 at home on Dec. 31, 2002 for its most recent victory over Creighton. The Bluejays have taken two of the last three meetings on the Musketeers' home court, including 73-72 on Nov. 30, 2004 in the most recent meeting in Cincinnati. Last season, the Bluejays shot 42.9 percent and forced then-No. 24 Xavier to commit 17 turnovers.

"They've physically beat us up," Xavier coach Sean Miller said. "We play them on their terms and we lose. That absolutely can't happen on Wednesday. It's as big of a game as we'll play all season." Which means Miller needs his team to be at its best defensively again. The Musketeers matched a season low for points allowed against Belmont - 10 fewer than the 59.1 they are giving up per game.

Xavier held Belmont to 26.6 percent shooting. Opponents are shooting 38.1 percent versus the Musketeers this season.

"We take pride in our defense," said Raymond, who had 15 points Saturday and is the only Xavier player to score in double figures in each game. "Our intensity is what we key on. We get a stop and then another stop."

Stopping Creighton for a 13th straight home win won't be easy for Xavier, but while the Bluejays have beat the likes of DePaul and Nebraska, Wednesday is expected to be their toughest test so far.

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