Preview
If the 2013-14 season ended today, a struggling Georgetown team would be seeded near the bottom of the Big East tournament field with an NCAA tournament at-large bid well out of reach. But the season doesn't end today, of course. With DePaul, Butler, and Providence ahead of them on the schedule, the next seven days will go far into determining if the Hoyas have the ability to make a move upward.
First up: DePaul. When the Hoyas last met the Blue Demons, DePaul entered the Big East season winning four of five and with some legitimate hopes of ending a long held residence in the Big East cellar. fast forward to february, where the Blue Demons have lost four of five, and without its leading scorer. With Cleveland Melvin suspended indefinitely, a number of newcomers are hoping to energize the DePaul offense, and came within five of a big upset of Providence this past weekend.
Only two starters from the school's meeting on Dec. 31 remain in today's lineup for the Demons, with Brandon Young as the only consistent offensive threat. Young has been one of the more valuable players of the last 20 years of DePaul basketball, but has labored under the obscurity of the program's fall from the national spotlight. The senior guard from Baltimore, MD has started all but one game over his career, averages 14.4 points a game, primarily from two point range. Young is shooting 52 percent from two but a disappointing 14-64 (.219) from three. Some better accuracy is coming from 6-1 Durrell McDonald (16-35 from three) but the three newcomers to the starting lineup average just 7.6 points per game between them.
Georgetown should expect to see more of 6-4 freshman R.J. Curington. Averaging just three points a game in nine previous games, Curington's scored a career high 17 in Saturday's loss to PC, including eight straight late to rally the Blue Demons from a 16 point deficit to as close as 72-68. Much like Georgetown, DePaul is in desperate need of a third scoring option and if Curington can step up, the Blue Demons will be a much tougher opponent as a result.
Saturday's win raised the spirits of Georgetown fans who had seen their team lose leads in four of five losses. The deficiencies of the Hoyas remain, however--the bench remains limited, the front line scoring is inconsistent, and the Hoyas need more from D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who is still showing the effects from his rib injury but has shot a combined 4-24 over the last two games. Markel Starks has done MVP duty over the past week but he will need some help in this one.
Keys To The Game:
Force Turnovers: The big story out of Saturday's second half versus Michigan State was Georgetown's ability to cut down turnovers and thus limit Michigan State's opportunities to take over the game. Both teams are near the bottom of the conference in turnovers and the team that wins the turnover battle likely wins the game.
Offensive Rebounds:: Depaul was a +7 on the offensive boards versus Providence and +10 on second chance points. It kept the Blue Demons in the game, frankly, and Georgetown needs to use its height to prevent a repeat.
Nate Lubick: With one of his best games of the season Saturday, Georgetown needs another big game from Lubick, especially against a thin DePaul front line.
If the 2013-14 season ended today, a struggling Georgetown team would be seeded near the bottom of the Big East tournament field with an NCAA tournament at-large bid well out of reach. But the season doesn't end today, of course. With DePaul, Butler, and Providence ahead of them on the schedule, the next seven days will go far into determining if the Hoyas have the ability to make a move upward.
First up: DePaul. When the Hoyas last met the Blue Demons, DePaul entered the Big East season winning four of five and with some legitimate hopes of ending a long held residence in the Big East cellar. fast forward to february, where the Blue Demons have lost four of five, and without its leading scorer. With Cleveland Melvin suspended indefinitely, a number of newcomers are hoping to energize the DePaul offense, and came within five of a big upset of Providence this past weekend.
Only two starters from the school's meeting on Dec. 31 remain in today's lineup for the Demons, with Brandon Young as the only consistent offensive threat. Young has been one of the more valuable players of the last 20 years of DePaul basketball, but has labored under the obscurity of the program's fall from the national spotlight. The senior guard from Baltimore, MD has started all but one game over his career, averages 14.4 points a game, primarily from two point range. Young is shooting 52 percent from two but a disappointing 14-64 (.219) from three. Some better accuracy is coming from 6-1 Durrell McDonald (16-35 from three) but the three newcomers to the starting lineup average just 7.6 points per game between them.
Georgetown should expect to see more of 6-4 freshman R.J. Curington. Averaging just three points a game in nine previous games, Curington's scored a career high 17 in Saturday's loss to PC, including eight straight late to rally the Blue Demons from a 16 point deficit to as close as 72-68. Much like Georgetown, DePaul is in desperate need of a third scoring option and if Curington can step up, the Blue Demons will be a much tougher opponent as a result.
Saturday's win raised the spirits of Georgetown fans who had seen their team lose leads in four of five losses. The deficiencies of the Hoyas remain, however--the bench remains limited, the front line scoring is inconsistent, and the Hoyas need more from D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who is still showing the effects from his rib injury but has shot a combined 4-24 over the last two games. Markel Starks has done MVP duty over the past week but he will need some help in this one.
Keys To The Game:
Force Turnovers: The big story out of Saturday's second half versus Michigan State was Georgetown's ability to cut down turnovers and thus limit Michigan State's opportunities to take over the game. Both teams are near the bottom of the conference in turnovers and the team that wins the turnover battle likely wins the game.
Offensive Rebounds:: Depaul was a +7 on the offensive boards versus Providence and +10 on second chance points. It kept the Blue Demons in the game, frankly, and Georgetown needs to use its height to prevent a repeat.
Nate Lubick: With one of his best games of the season Saturday, Georgetown needs another big game from Lubick, especially against a thin DePaul front line.
