PHILADELPHIA _ Considering the Big East Conference schedule has just begun, it would have been ridiculous to put a "must-win" label on No. 10 Xavier in its game Wednesday at top-ranked Villanova.
The teams aren't even halfway through the first round of home-and-homes, so there are plenty of games left to make up for an early stumble.
There is, however, that little issue that Villanova hasn't lost more than three Big East games since the conference realigned to its current 10-team format in 2013-14.
Perceptions of deficits can get a bit out of line under conditions like that.
"It's a long conference season," Xavier coach Chris Mack had said going into the game. "It's not going to be decided in six to eight games. There are 18 conference games.
"They all count the same, but when you're playing the defending champion going on four years now, you know that they're going to be in the thick of it, if not at the top."
Well, despite having just one conference loss, the Wildcats still aren't currently at the top of the Big East. Having played one fewer league game than Creighton the Wildcats are still a half-game out of first place after beating Xavier, 89-65, at the Wells Fargo Center.
Paced by 21 points from Phil Booth and 17 from Jalen Brunson, Villanova (15-1, 3-1 Big East) beat Xavier for the third straight time and ninth time in 10 Big East encounters.
After riding a 10-game winning streak, the Musketeers (15-3, 3-2) have now lost consecutive games.
Whatever juice Xavier came in with to play the No. 1 team, Villanova quickly drained it out.
Booth scored the opening baskets and the Wildcats were off and running. 'Nova was quickly up by double-digits and Xavier was in the unenviable position of trying to chase down a team that had scored at least 90 in its four previous games.
That wasn't going to happen.
Brunson and Booth combined for 23 and Villanova led 40-28 at the half. The 'Cats' defense forced seven turnovers and limited Xavier to 34.4 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes; it was 15 turnovers and 41.4 percent shooting for the game, while Villanova had eight turnovers and shot 55.2 percent overall.
