Xavier Men’s Basketball Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong

Look, if you’re trying to keep up with the Xavier men’s basketball schedule, you know it’s been a wild ride this year. This isn't the same Musketeers team from two years ago. Not even close. We’re deep into the Richard Pitino era now, and honestly, the way this schedule is playing out has been a total gauntlet.

You’ve got the Cintas Center rocking one night and then the team flying out to Madison Square Garden or Omaha the next. It’s exhausting just looking at the travel. But if you want to know where they’re heading next or why that December slump happened, we need to look at the actual grind of the Big East.

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The Big East Grind: Xavier Men’s Basketball Schedule Highlights

Basically, the conference play is where things get real. January has been a brutal month for the Musketeers, and it doesn't get any easier from here. We just saw them wrap up a home stand against Providence and Butler, which, let's be real, were absolutely mandatory wins if they want to stay in the conversation for March.

Here is what the immediate future looks like for the rest of the 2025-26 regular season:

• January 21: At Creighton (Omaha, NE) – 7:00 P.M.
• January 24: St. John’s (Cintas Center) – 2:30 P.M.
• January 28: At Seton Hall (Newark, NJ) – 7:30 P.M.
• January 31: DePaul (Cintas Center) – 1:00 P.M.
• February 3: At UConn (Hartford, CT) – 7:00 P.M.
• February 9: At St. John’s (Madison Square Garden) – 6:30 P.M.
• February 14: Marquette (Cintas Center) – 3:00 P.M.
• February 17: Villanova (Cintas Center) – 6:30 P.M.

The February 3rd game against UConn is the one everyone has circled. Playing the Huskies in Hartford is basically entering a lion's den. If Xavier can even keep that within single digits, it’s a massive statement for Pitino’s squad.

Why the Non-Conference Start Matters Now

A lot of fans sort of gloss over the early games once the Big East starts, but Xavier's performance back in November is why their NET ranking is so jumpy right now. They had that tough loss to Iowa on the road and a heartbreaker against Georgia in Charleston. Those are the games that come back to haunt you when the selection committee starts looking at "Quality Losses" vs. "Quality Wins."

Winning the Crosstown Shootout against Cincinnati (79-74) on December 5th was huge for morale. Honestly, if they hadn't won that, the vibes around the program would be way more stressed than they are right now.

The Pitino Effect and This Year’s Roster

It’s weird seeing Richard Pitino on the sidelines at Cintas, isn't it? He’s brought a different energy. The roster is a mix-and-match of transfers that shouldn't work on paper but somehow does. Malik Messina-Moore has been a revelation. The guy just hit the 1,000-point mark for his career during the Providence game, and he’s clearly the "alpha" when things get tight late in the second half.

Then you have guys like Jovan Milicevic and Tre Carroll. They’ve been carrying a lot of the weight in the paint. When the Xavier men’s basketball schedule hits these three-game road stretches, you really see if these guys have the legs to keep up with Pitino’s pace.

Key Matchups to Watch

The end of February is going to be a sprint.

1. The road trip to Butler on February 21st. Hinkle Fieldhouse is never easy.
2. The regular-season finale at Villanova on March 7th.

If Xavier is sitting on the bubble, that March 7th game in Pennsylvania becomes a "win or go home" scenario before the Big East Tournament even starts.

How to Actually Watch the Games

It’s 2026, and yet finding the right channel is still a headache. Most of the remaining games are split between FS1 and the FOX sports app. A couple of the big ones, like the Marquette game on Valentine’s Day, are slated for TNT or truTV because of the Big East’s latest media deal.

If you're heading to the Cintas Center, keep an eye on the promotions. They’ve been doing some cool stuff—like the Xavier Car Magnet giveaway for the Creighton game. It’s those little things that keep the arena packed even when the team is hovering around .500 in conference play.

Actionable Next Steps for Fans

If you're planning on following the rest of the season, don't just wait for the highlights.

• Check the NET Rankings: Keep an eye on where Xavier sits every Monday. A top-50 ranking is the "safe zone."
• Download the GoXavier App: It’s the only place where the tip-off times don't suddenly change without you knowing.
• Watch the St. John's Double-Header: They play the Red Storm twice in about two weeks (Jan 24 and Feb 9). That's a rare chance to see how Pitino adjusts his game plan against the same coach in a short window.

The Musketeers have the talent to make a deep run. The Xavier men’s basketball schedule is designed to test them, and so far, they’re still standing. It’s going to be a long February, but that’s exactly why we love Big East basketball. Get your tickets now for the Georgetown game on February 28th before the student section gobbles them all up.