By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Two days after Lionel Chalmers returned, something else that Xavier's basketball team had been missing also came back - its ranking.

The Musketeers (15-4, 6-1 Atlantic 10 Conference) re-entered the Associated Press Top 25 poll on Monday at No. 20. They spent three weeks out of the poll following consecutive losses to Alabama and Richmond in their first two games without Chalmers. The Musketeers are 19th in the ESPN/USA Today poll.

Now, Chalmers is back from foot surgery and Xavier has won six straight games. The Musketeers enter tonight's game against George Washington (8-10, 2-5) with their highest AP ranking since Jan. 6, when they were 19th.

Xavier coach Thad Matta said he's more concerned about winning tonight - which would position the Musketeers to play Dayton for first place in the A-10 on Saturday at Cintas Center - than rankings.

The Flyers (15-3, 7-0) will enter Saturday's game with at least a share of first place regardless of the outcome Wednesday at Duquesne.

"There's still a team that's undefeated in the league," Matta said. "So we're not the best team in the league right now. We still have a lot to prove."

The best way to do that is with a tough road win.

For a team like George Washington, which struggled to find wins early in the season but has won its last two games, a victory over the Musketeers could jump-start the season.

With his players running on two days' rest, Matta is likely to go deeper into his bench tonight. He used only Chalmers and Will Caudle as reserves against Richmond. Freshman guard Keenan Christiansen and freshman forward Angelo Smith may play tonight.

While senior Chris Monroe leads the A-10 with 21.4 points per game, the rest of the Colonials' starting lineup consists of freshmen and sophomores, which contributed to the team losing its first five A-10 games.

"Our young guys don't know any better," said George Washington coach Karl Hobbs. "Anytime you see us play, we play with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy."

Four of the Colonials' losses came by six points or less, and Matta isn't expecting an easy night.

"They just play with great energy and passion, and they're such a good offensive rebounding team," Matta said of GW.

Xavier senior David West is seven rebounds short of setting the all-time A-10 record. He currently has 1,160 rebounds, trailing George Washington's Mike Brown (1982-85).

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com

Xavier at GW

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. today, Smith Center (5,000), Washington, D.C.

Records: XU 15-4 (6-1 Atlantic 10), George Washington 8-10 (2-5).

TV: Fox Sports Ohio.

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

Series: Xavier leads 12-7.

Line: XU by 8 1/2.

XAVIER

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Keith Jackson	So.	6-5	6.4
Romain Sato	Jr.	6-5	16.7
Dedrick Finn	Fr.	6-1	7.4
David West	Sr.	6-9	19.1
Anthony Myles	Jr.	6-9	10.2

Coach: Thad Matta (41-10, second season; 65-18 overall).

GEORGE WASHINGTON

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Mike Hall	Fr.	6-6	9.9
P.Mensah-Bonsu	Fr.	6-7	9.6
Tamal Forchion	So.	6-6	1.9
T.J. Thompson	So.	5-11	12.8
Chris Monroe	Sr.	6-3	21.4

Coach: Karl Hobbs (20-26,

second season; 20-26 overall).