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| When Fox Sports 1 helped set the TV schedules for its inaugural Big East season, Jan. 20, it matched the four best teams in the conference entering the 2013-14 season. Little did anyone suggest at the time that Georgetown-Marquette was going to be the undercard. Villanova and Creighton open Monday's doubleheader, a match of the two best teams to date. The follow-up features two teams adrift in the standings, with questions raised about the post-season viability of the loser in this matchup. If the loss of three potential starters is shadowing Georgetown's poor performances of late, the struggles of Marquette are much different. In some ways, it's a mirror image of the Hoyas: Georgetown is strong in the backcourt and can't get production inside, while Marquette is struggling from the perimeter and is strong as ever inside. The Warriors rank first in the league in scoring defense but last in scoring offense--in a game like this, something has to give, and the team that gives figures to be on the outside looking in as the Big East approaches the halfway mark of the season. Many of the problems suffered by the Warriors this season have begin in the backcourt. The graduation of stalwart Marquette defender Junior Cadougan and an unforeseen exit for the pros by Vander Blue left 6-1 Derrick Wilson to pick up the scoring load and he has struggled to do so. Wilson enters Monday's game shooting 38 percent from the field and just 1-11 (.091) from three point range. Wilson was 6 for 13 in the Butler game, one of his better efforts. For Marquette to take command early, Wilson will have to step up. Some better numbers emanate from 6-4 Jake Thomas, who leads the team in three point shooting with a 38 percent average. But like many things with the Warriors this season, Thomas can be wildly inconsistent, and was 1 for 12 in his last two games against Butler and Seton Hall. 6-11 Jamil Wilson has combined for 29 points and 19 rebounds over these last two games, but has been foul prone. If Marquette figures to make an impact, it may come from inside. 6-8 Devante Gardner has been effective against Georgetown in the past coming off the bench, but as a starter he must be mindful of foul trouble. A matchup with the 290 lb. Gardner and 350 lb. Josh Smith would have been interesting, but in Smith's absence, Georgetown must find a ways to keep Gardner off the blocks inside. Marquette's nominative center, 6-11 Chris Otule, has under-performed in recent games and will also be counted upon to improve his numbers against a weak Georgetown inside game. If Georgetown is to turn things around, it must start in the backcourt. Markel Starks and D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera have not turned in two halves of consistent play between them since early December: one steps up, the other seems missing. John Thompson III talks about readjusting the lineup, but with literally half his eight man rotation largely incapable of inflicting much damage on the scoring sheet, Georgetown now needs a big game every night from Starks and DSR--roughly 40 points between them, 7-10 points a game from Bowen and Hopkins, and the balance from Cameron, Lubick, Ayegba, and Caprio. Teams that lock down the guards will run a weakened Georgetown offense off the floor, and that's the pressing issue facing the Georgetown staff. Marquette is among the Big East's best defensive teams, and turnovers may prove decisive. Some other keys:
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