Preview
After an 0-2 start in the Big East, and the loss of its second leading scorer, the thought of Georgetown sitting atop the Big East in mid-February would have been a fanciful one. But thanks to a remarkable team effort and a well managed schedule, the Hoyas have been able to rebuild and move into the top tier, in part because many of the teams over its six game win streak had more bark than bite within its interior game, where Georgetown is more vulnerable.
Not so for Cincinnati. The inside game has traditionally been one of UC's main weapons against Georgetown in recent years, where names like Rashad Bishop, Sean Kilpatrick, and Yancy Gates have taken apart the Hoyas at home, on the road, and at the Big East tournament. This season, the names have changed up front, but Cincinnati's backcourt starters figure to pose Georgetown's toughest test since its six game streak began.
At a glance, UC might remind some Hoya fans of St. John's--a three guard offense struggling through fits of poor shooting and a thin front line. Such comparisons end quickly, because Cincinnati is more experienced, and thus more dangerous.
Cincinnati enters the game as one of the best defensive teams in the nation, along with Georgetown. The intensity begins with senior Cashmere Wright, who after Friday's game will be the school's all time steals leader and third in assists, with 92 starts in his last 95 games. Wright's scoring, however, has waned as injuries have limited his effectiveness, averaging just half his 13.4 season average over the last five games. Wright has shot just 20 percent (7-35) in the last three games and a better effort is required for Cincinnati to contend, especially if UC do not catch fire from three. The Bearcats, among the conference's weaker three point shooting teams, needed 12 threes to defeat Villanova, but cannot expect a similar gold rush against the taller Georgetown defenses.
The cats may see more production from senior JaQuon Parker, who turned in his best game of the season versus Villanova, shooting 60 percent from the field and 3-3 from three point range. Parker shoots 42% from three point range and 46 percent over his last five, and is second on the team in rebounding despite being only 6-3. If Wright struggles, Parker can and will step up, although his 54 percent free throw shooting is a cause for concern.
6-4 junior Sean Kilpatrick figures to be the center of attention in this game. As to the earlier comparison with St. John's, Kilkpatrick performs a scoring role much like SJ's D'Angelo Harrison, as Kilpatrick is among the conference leaders in points scored (4th, 18.2) and thee pointers (2.68/game). Defensively, Kilpatrick is much more effective than Harrison and is a threat on both sides of the court. But as befalls a 7-5 Big East record, UC has struggled when Kilpatrick has. Despite shooting in double figures for all but one game this season, Kilpatrick is shooting under 40 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range. For Cincinnati to prevail, Kilpatrick needs to return to the 45% shooting range that served him well earlier in the season, and to avoid turnovers.
UC's front line is, for the most part, ineffective offensively but a formidable defensive unit. 6-7 junior transfer Titus Rubles is shooting just 25 percent from the field but makes up for it on the boards, while 6-10 center Cheikh Mbodj (5.3 pts, 28 blocks) will platoon with 6-8 junior Justin Jackson (4.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) in the middle. The points it gets up front are a bonus, given that Wright, Parker, and Kilpatrick account for 60 percent of UC's scoring load this season.
Georgetown has three defensive challenges in the game:
1) Limit points per possession and avoid the rebound disparity that would give UC a formidable advantage. The Bearcats are averaging 41 rebounds a game versus just 33.4 for Georgetown, but GU has a height advantage it needs to enforce inside.
2) Limit Wright and Kilpatrick from establishing a rhythm that will feed into its man to man and zone defenses.
3) Keep Mikael Hopkins and Nate Lubick in the game by staying out of foul trouble. Other than Syracuse, Cincinnati's strength on perimeter defense will be among the toughest tests of GU's ability to getting the ball inside. Georgetown stands a much better chance in this game with Lubick and Hopkins rather than relying on Moses Ayegba or Aaron Bowen in matchups.
Other keys to the game:
A Good Start: Georgetown is not a play from behind team, and in a game expected to be low scoring, GU needs ti establish itself at the start.
Turnovers: Cincinnati forced 19 on Villanova and needs to get 15 or more against Georgetown.
Cheikh Mbodj: A shot blocker by trade, look for UC to feed him inside to test Georgetown's mettle with Hopkins on defense.
The Rule of 62...Or 63: Cincinnati is 7-0 in the Big East scoring 62 or more, and Georgetown is 7-0 when scoring 63 points or more.
After an 0-2 start in the Big East, and the loss of its second leading scorer, the thought of Georgetown sitting atop the Big East in mid-February would have been a fanciful one. But thanks to a remarkable team effort and a well managed schedule, the Hoyas have been able to rebuild and move into the top tier, in part because many of the teams over its six game win streak had more bark than bite within its interior game, where Georgetown is more vulnerable.
Not so for Cincinnati. The inside game has traditionally been one of UC's main weapons against Georgetown in recent years, where names like Rashad Bishop, Sean Kilpatrick, and Yancy Gates have taken apart the Hoyas at home, on the road, and at the Big East tournament. This season, the names have changed up front, but Cincinnati's backcourt starters figure to pose Georgetown's toughest test since its six game streak began.
At a glance, UC might remind some Hoya fans of St. John's--a three guard offense struggling through fits of poor shooting and a thin front line. Such comparisons end quickly, because Cincinnati is more experienced, and thus more dangerous.
Cincinnati enters the game as one of the best defensive teams in the nation, along with Georgetown. The intensity begins with senior Cashmere Wright, who after Friday's game will be the school's all time steals leader and third in assists, with 92 starts in his last 95 games. Wright's scoring, however, has waned as injuries have limited his effectiveness, averaging just half his 13.4 season average over the last five games. Wright has shot just 20 percent (7-35) in the last three games and a better effort is required for Cincinnati to contend, especially if UC do not catch fire from three. The Bearcats, among the conference's weaker three point shooting teams, needed 12 threes to defeat Villanova, but cannot expect a similar gold rush against the taller Georgetown defenses.
The cats may see more production from senior JaQuon Parker, who turned in his best game of the season versus Villanova, shooting 60 percent from the field and 3-3 from three point range. Parker shoots 42% from three point range and 46 percent over his last five, and is second on the team in rebounding despite being only 6-3. If Wright struggles, Parker can and will step up, although his 54 percent free throw shooting is a cause for concern.
6-4 junior Sean Kilpatrick figures to be the center of attention in this game. As to the earlier comparison with St. John's, Kilkpatrick performs a scoring role much like SJ's D'Angelo Harrison, as Kilpatrick is among the conference leaders in points scored (4th, 18.2) and thee pointers (2.68/game). Defensively, Kilpatrick is much more effective than Harrison and is a threat on both sides of the court. But as befalls a 7-5 Big East record, UC has struggled when Kilpatrick has. Despite shooting in double figures for all but one game this season, Kilpatrick is shooting under 40 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range. For Cincinnati to prevail, Kilpatrick needs to return to the 45% shooting range that served him well earlier in the season, and to avoid turnovers.
UC's front line is, for the most part, ineffective offensively but a formidable defensive unit. 6-7 junior transfer Titus Rubles is shooting just 25 percent from the field but makes up for it on the boards, while 6-10 center Cheikh Mbodj (5.3 pts, 28 blocks) will platoon with 6-8 junior Justin Jackson (4.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) in the middle. The points it gets up front are a bonus, given that Wright, Parker, and Kilpatrick account for 60 percent of UC's scoring load this season.
Georgetown has three defensive challenges in the game:
1) Limit points per possession and avoid the rebound disparity that would give UC a formidable advantage. The Bearcats are averaging 41 rebounds a game versus just 33.4 for Georgetown, but GU has a height advantage it needs to enforce inside.
2) Limit Wright and Kilpatrick from establishing a rhythm that will feed into its man to man and zone defenses.
3) Keep Mikael Hopkins and Nate Lubick in the game by staying out of foul trouble. Other than Syracuse, Cincinnati's strength on perimeter defense will be among the toughest tests of GU's ability to getting the ball inside. Georgetown stands a much better chance in this game with Lubick and Hopkins rather than relying on Moses Ayegba or Aaron Bowen in matchups.
Other keys to the game:
A Good Start: Georgetown is not a play from behind team, and in a game expected to be low scoring, GU needs ti establish itself at the start.
Turnovers: Cincinnati forced 19 on Villanova and needs to get 15 or more against Georgetown.
Cheikh Mbodj: A shot blocker by trade, look for UC to feed him inside to test Georgetown's mettle with Hopkins on defense.
The Rule of 62...Or 63: Cincinnati is 7-0 in the Big East scoring 62 or more, and Georgetown is 7-0 when scoring 63 points or more.
