Preview
One team is playing for a title, the other is playing for its post-season lives.
Georgetown needs a win in either of its next two games to clinch a share of the Big East regular season championship for the first time in five years, and frankly, better to get it Wednesday than to need it on Saturday. With 11 straight wins, the Hoyas have stepped it up when necessary (Louisville, Syracuse), and struggled past the games that could otherwise have tripped them up. Such was the case Saturday with Rutgers, a 13 point win that was a lot closer for much of the game.
A similar story line could be at play Wednesday in Philadelphia, where a Villanova team that always plays the Hoyas tough at home will seek to stop Otto Porter and get the Wildcats a much needed win for NCAA tournament purposes.
Despite big wins over Syracuse and Louisville, this is a Villanova team that lost to Columbia, Providence, and Seton Hall, and remains one game short in the RPI for scheduling Division II UDC in November, which doesn't help their argument for an at-large bid. A 9-9 record won't be enough on its own, and following two deflating losses last week, it's now or (almost) never for Villanova to make its case.
Villanova enters the game towards the middle in most Big East statistics, but its shooting in conference play has been undistingushed. A jolt of offense has come from unheralded freshman guard Ryan Arcidiacano, who scored 23 in the game with Pitt, including 5 for 8 from three point range, and has led the team in scoring in four of its last five games. Arcidiacano's overall numbers are understated (36% from two, 37% from three) but he can get hot and that will wind up the Cats' home court advantage.
A defensive blanket on Arcidiacano will hurt Villanova, because the Cats need more from 6-6 swingmen James Bell and Darren Hillard. The two combined for 2-15 shooting in the Pitt game and 5-17 in the loss to Seton Hall. Both will see 28 to 29 minutes a game, both will shoot in the 40 percent range, and both will be effective handling the ball. One of the two needs to be in double figures if Villanova is taking this game over.
Inside, Georgetown must be wary of 6-7 sophomore JayVaughn Pinkston. As a freshman, Pinkston did not play in last year's Georgetown game at Verizon after suffering an ankle sprain during pre-game warm-ups and Nova was dispatched early, 67-46. At 12.7 points a game, he has struggled at times but is capable of a big game if left to establish his shooting. Rebounding has been a problem for Pinkston this season, but 6-10 center Mouphtaou Yarou is averaging 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in conference play.
Georgetown must continue the formula that has led them on this streak: get the ball to Otto Porter, establish an outside shooting attack, and solid perimeter and interior defense. In a real sense, this is the game plan for Villanova: get the ball to Arcidiacano, improve on its 3-point shooting, and do a better job of forcing Georgetown out of its passing lanes, perhaps with more matchup zone.
Some additional keys to the game:
Otto and Ryan: Porter and Arcidiacano figure to lead their teams. The team that can exert the best defense against them, particularly on Arcidiacano, will prevail. Georgetown has been especially effective on defending guards and this is where Villanova is vulnerable.
Time & Distance: Villanova can play a slowdown game, but the Wildcats need a faster pace and a better hand on its outside shooting to establish themselves in this game. Look for Arcidiacano to be a key player outside and some additional play by Achraf Yacoubou, shooting 9-19 (.474) in Big East play from outside the arc.
Jabril Trawick: On both sides of the ball, Georgetown needs a big effort from Philadelphia's own Jabril Trawick, and his shooting touch may be an underutilized weapon against Villanova's style of play.
Yarou For Two: Teams have found it difficult during this streak to get good interior passing against Georgetown. Mouphtaou Yarou may prove a tough out if he can establish a presence inside.
Turnover Margin: Villanova enters the game 12th of 15 Big East schools in turnover margin, with an average of 2.8 more turnovers per game than assists. Averaging 15.2 turnovers per game, the Wildcats must keep the turnovers under 12 to be in this one at the end.
One team is playing for a title, the other is playing for its post-season lives.
Georgetown needs a win in either of its next two games to clinch a share of the Big East regular season championship for the first time in five years, and frankly, better to get it Wednesday than to need it on Saturday. With 11 straight wins, the Hoyas have stepped it up when necessary (Louisville, Syracuse), and struggled past the games that could otherwise have tripped them up. Such was the case Saturday with Rutgers, a 13 point win that was a lot closer for much of the game.
A similar story line could be at play Wednesday in Philadelphia, where a Villanova team that always plays the Hoyas tough at home will seek to stop Otto Porter and get the Wildcats a much needed win for NCAA tournament purposes.
Despite big wins over Syracuse and Louisville, this is a Villanova team that lost to Columbia, Providence, and Seton Hall, and remains one game short in the RPI for scheduling Division II UDC in November, which doesn't help their argument for an at-large bid. A 9-9 record won't be enough on its own, and following two deflating losses last week, it's now or (almost) never for Villanova to make its case.
Villanova enters the game towards the middle in most Big East statistics, but its shooting in conference play has been undistingushed. A jolt of offense has come from unheralded freshman guard Ryan Arcidiacano, who scored 23 in the game with Pitt, including 5 for 8 from three point range, and has led the team in scoring in four of its last five games. Arcidiacano's overall numbers are understated (36% from two, 37% from three) but he can get hot and that will wind up the Cats' home court advantage.
A defensive blanket on Arcidiacano will hurt Villanova, because the Cats need more from 6-6 swingmen James Bell and Darren Hillard. The two combined for 2-15 shooting in the Pitt game and 5-17 in the loss to Seton Hall. Both will see 28 to 29 minutes a game, both will shoot in the 40 percent range, and both will be effective handling the ball. One of the two needs to be in double figures if Villanova is taking this game over.
Inside, Georgetown must be wary of 6-7 sophomore JayVaughn Pinkston. As a freshman, Pinkston did not play in last year's Georgetown game at Verizon after suffering an ankle sprain during pre-game warm-ups and Nova was dispatched early, 67-46. At 12.7 points a game, he has struggled at times but is capable of a big game if left to establish his shooting. Rebounding has been a problem for Pinkston this season, but 6-10 center Mouphtaou Yarou is averaging 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in conference play.
Georgetown must continue the formula that has led them on this streak: get the ball to Otto Porter, establish an outside shooting attack, and solid perimeter and interior defense. In a real sense, this is the game plan for Villanova: get the ball to Arcidiacano, improve on its 3-point shooting, and do a better job of forcing Georgetown out of its passing lanes, perhaps with more matchup zone.
Some additional keys to the game:
Otto and Ryan: Porter and Arcidiacano figure to lead their teams. The team that can exert the best defense against them, particularly on Arcidiacano, will prevail. Georgetown has been especially effective on defending guards and this is where Villanova is vulnerable.
Time & Distance: Villanova can play a slowdown game, but the Wildcats need a faster pace and a better hand on its outside shooting to establish themselves in this game. Look for Arcidiacano to be a key player outside and some additional play by Achraf Yacoubou, shooting 9-19 (.474) in Big East play from outside the arc.
Jabril Trawick: On both sides of the ball, Georgetown needs a big effort from Philadelphia's own Jabril Trawick, and his shooting touch may be an underutilized weapon against Villanova's style of play.
Yarou For Two: Teams have found it difficult during this streak to get good interior passing against Georgetown. Mouphtaou Yarou may prove a tough out if he can establish a presence inside.
Turnover Margin: Villanova enters the game 12th of 15 Big East schools in turnover margin, with an average of 2.8 more turnovers per game than assists. Averaging 15.2 turnovers per game, the Wildcats must keep the turnovers under 12 to be in this one at the end.
