At season's end, we may well regard Georgetown's overtime win over Butler as a remarkable moment. A team that finished with John Caprio and Aaron Bowen in the frontcourt was able to hold its own in a hostile environment against taller opponents.
Butler made some strategic errors with Georgetown's depleted lineup, but don't expect Xavier to do the same.
The Musketeers have won eight of its last nine, are undefeated at home, lead the Big East in rebound margin, hit 12 threes Sunday at Creighton, and possess a valuable trait that Georgetown is lacking into mid-January: late-game depth. In its four Big East games to date, only one Xavier player has fouled out.
Chief among Georgetown's concerns is guard Semaj Christon, whose 21.3 ppg average leads the team and is among the leaders in the conference. When GU has been successful shutting down scoring guards, it can fare well, but Xavier presents a number of scoring options, including point guard Dee Davis (12 ppg, 4.8 assists per game in conference play), small forward Justin Martin (16.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg over the last four games) and center Matt Stainbrook, who has ben effective on both sides of the floor and whose numbers (11.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg) pose a threat to Georgetown's ability to control its inside game.
In 17 games to date this season, Xavier has a an +7.3 advantage on rebounds per game; in Big East play it's +8.5. In terms of defensive rebounds, it's an extra 6.5 per game that goes to Xavier and does not become offensive rebound opportunities. Georgetown enters the game ninth in the league in rebounds, even without Josh Smith, and its rotation in the middle must balance its ability to be aggressive with foul trouble that nearly sank its chances at Butler.
Xavier has favored an up-tempo style over the first quarter of conference play, and have scored 79 or more points in each of its last three games. Defensively, it allows 75 points per game, but are capable of a slower style of play. But as noted above, the Musketeers can go ten deep, with a mix of options off the bench such as 6-2 freshman Myles Davis, averaging 41% from three point range, or 6-9 sophomore James Farr, shooting 60 percent from the floor in inside situations. One to watch: freshman forward Jalen Reynolds, who can be a valuable add in rebounds if depth demands it.
This is not a game for Georgetown fans to panic over. The Hoyas are battered and short-handed entering this game, and no Big East team is running the table. However, there are some opportunities for georgetown to challenge in this game:
Some keys to the game:
Butler made some strategic errors with Georgetown's depleted lineup, but don't expect Xavier to do the same.
The Musketeers have won eight of its last nine, are undefeated at home, lead the Big East in rebound margin, hit 12 threes Sunday at Creighton, and possess a valuable trait that Georgetown is lacking into mid-January: late-game depth. In its four Big East games to date, only one Xavier player has fouled out.
Chief among Georgetown's concerns is guard Semaj Christon, whose 21.3 ppg average leads the team and is among the leaders in the conference. When GU has been successful shutting down scoring guards, it can fare well, but Xavier presents a number of scoring options, including point guard Dee Davis (12 ppg, 4.8 assists per game in conference play), small forward Justin Martin (16.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg over the last four games) and center Matt Stainbrook, who has ben effective on both sides of the floor and whose numbers (11.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg) pose a threat to Georgetown's ability to control its inside game.
In 17 games to date this season, Xavier has a an +7.3 advantage on rebounds per game; in Big East play it's +8.5. In terms of defensive rebounds, it's an extra 6.5 per game that goes to Xavier and does not become offensive rebound opportunities. Georgetown enters the game ninth in the league in rebounds, even without Josh Smith, and its rotation in the middle must balance its ability to be aggressive with foul trouble that nearly sank its chances at Butler.
Xavier has favored an up-tempo style over the first quarter of conference play, and have scored 79 or more points in each of its last three games. Defensively, it allows 75 points per game, but are capable of a slower style of play. But as noted above, the Musketeers can go ten deep, with a mix of options off the bench such as 6-2 freshman Myles Davis, averaging 41% from three point range, or 6-9 sophomore James Farr, shooting 60 percent from the floor in inside situations. One to watch: freshman forward Jalen Reynolds, who can be a valuable add in rebounds if depth demands it.
This is not a game for Georgetown fans to panic over. The Hoyas are battered and short-handed entering this game, and no Big East team is running the table. However, there are some opportunities for georgetown to challenge in this game:
Some keys to the game:
- Slow Down The Game: A slower pace keeps the Hoyas closer and probably keeps players out of serious foul trouble.
- Perimeter Defense: It's just not inside play that Georgetown needs to watch for. Xavier his 12 threes against Creighton, and Xavier coach Chris Mack will test Georgetown's ability to move from man to man to zone reads on Davis and Christon, who combined for 6 of 9 three point shooting versus Creighton's tough defense.
- 14 Or Fewer: Georgetown can't afford foul trouble from its resultant front line of Lubick, Hopkins and Ayegba, but the fouls will come. A key for Georgetown: having two of them to rotate down the stretch.
