Xavier's bespectacled center Matt Stainbrook is still battling the MCL strain that kept him out against Villanova and will not be in action until at least Saturday. The Stain Train went for 7/8/3 the first time the teams met in an 86-79 Xavier win. In the second meeting between the teams, Stainbrook played 27 minutes (five more than the first meeting) and went for 12/5/1.
This undoubtedly means that Jalen Reynolds will start on Thursday against Marquette. Whether the Musketeers can now guard Davante Gardner, Chris Otule, and Jamil Wilson without the anchor of the defense remains to be seen. Worst case scenario for the Musketeers is approaching rapidly. The team needs at least one win, and possibly two, to be safe come Selection Sunday. With Marquette on Thursday and, most likely, Creighton looming after that, Xavier is in serious trouble if Stainbrook is unable to return.