Twenty games down, and Xavier's season remains both fine and undefined. The Musketeers remain in reach of either their highest NCAA Tournament seeding or another unwanted NIT bid. The next three games should provide answers.

        “It's like (Thomas Payne's) saying, "These are the times that try men's souls,'” XU radio analyst Byron Larkin said. “These three games are one of those times. We'll find out what they're made of.”

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Xavier's next three games are against its three competitors for the Atlantic 10 crown:   • Wednesday at St. Joseph's (17-4, 7-1 A-10): This ties the Hawks' best start in history. St.Joe's is the only A-10 team unbeaten at home (7-0) and is eager to avenge an 86-73 loss Jan.20 at XU.   • Saturday vs. Temple (13-10, 7-2): At 52nd in the RPI, Temple is in need of a big win. Beating XU would qualify.   • Feb. 14 at Massachusetts (10-10, 8-1): UMass has shut down teams in league play, leading the A-10 in scoring defense (60.3 ppg) and field-goal percentage defense (.373). UMass beat XU 75-64 Jan.9 in Cincinnati.

        Freshly minted with a No. 24 Associated Press ranking, XU (17-3, 8-1 Atlantic 10) must visit St. Joseph's (17-4, 7-1) Wednesday, play host to Temple (13-10, 7-2) Saturday and visit Massachusetts (10-10, 8-1) Feb.14.

        “I don't know that it's a make-or-break (stretch),” coach Skip Prosser said. “It's an opportunity.”

        XU could take a huge step toward its first outright A-10 title by sweeping these games or revisit the tournament bubble if it loses two or all of them.

        “I don't know if they're in the tournament yet,” Larkin said. “It's crazy. Things can happen.”

        If the season ended today, XU's No.27 RPI would wear well. RPI guru Jerry Palm projects XU as a No.6 seed, which would tie its highest ever — achieved in both 1990 and 1998.

        But its perch is shaky. XU stood 17th in the RPI on Jan.8 and has dropped despite going 6-1. What happens if XU goes, say, 5-2 down the stretch and 1-1 in the A-10 Tournament? Would 23-6 be an NCAA lock? Would 22-7?

        “For teams on the bubble, it always depends on what other teams do,” Palm said. “Teams with 23, 24 wins have been left out before. I would think Xavier could take another loss or two in-conference. The important thing is, if they can win or share the regular-season (A-10) title, they'll get special treatment.”

        XU has excelled largely because of strong defense — it allows only 40-percent shooting — and David West (18.4 ppg, 11.3 rebounds) inside.

        Yet securing its highest-ever NCAA seed wouldn't translate automatically to this being XU's best team.

        “I don't know if I'd start that talk, but they're definitely a team that plays well together,” Larkin said. “This team is clicking on all cylinders right now. The key ingredient is balance.”

        XU has had three or more double-figure scorers in 16 games, winning each time.

        “This stretch is an opportunity to do something special,” senior guard Maurice McAfee said. “But just as well, things could turn around if we slip up here.”

        Said senior center Reggie Butler: “We feel good, but we really have to stay cautious. The game Saturday (an overtime victory over George Washington) was a scare.”

        XU has bounced back successfully from each of its losses, a trait Prosser said was a hallmark of XU's better teams. From February 1996 to December 1998, XU answered each of its 17 losses with a victory.

        Should XU lose a game in this stretch, the key will be to keep it from becoming a slump. A four-game slide last year in midseason doomed XU to the NIT.

        “I don't know how (losing) would affect our psyche one way or another,” Prosser said. “You hope you're resilient enough to deal with whatever happens to you. To this point we have been.”
       

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