Preview
Tonight's number? Three.
If the Georgetown Hoyas have any realistic hope of an NCAA at-large bid, it must win three times over the next 12 days, either with upsets over two nationally ranked teams, or by winning three at the Big East tournament and playing in the finals Saturday night. Its next opponent knows all about the three, however.
Creighton enters Georgetown's home finale as one of the nation's top three point shooting teams, at 41% from behind the arc and 24 attempts per game. But three point shooting was its undoing over the weekend with a loss at Xavier, missing on 24 of 34 attempts. Perimeter defense is key for the Hoyas, but it will take a better effort on offense to keep the Bluejays away.
Georgetown fans are well aware of the impact that Doug McDermott will have on the Creighton offense. The National Player of the Year candidate is without peer in the Big East this season, and is arguably the best one-year player the conference has seen since Caramel Anthony in 2002-03. Shooting 52 percent from the field, 44 percent from three, and 88 percent from the line, McDermott makes his 138th consecutive start Tuesday night and the Hoyas can expect another strong effort. To its credit, however, Georgetown played McDermott fairly well when the two teams met in Omaha, and struggled against the other starters who control their own share of the stat sheets. McDermott will get his points, but controlling the #2 and #3 options for Creighton, specifically forward Ethan Wrasse and guard Jahenns Manigat and are vital to Georgetown's upset bid.
Wrasse enters the game leading the conference from three point range at 49 percent completion, ten points better than Georgetown's leading outside shooter in D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera at 39 percent. Wrasse was held to 12 points, nine from outside, in the Jan. 25 game in Omaha and must be kept in check on the boards as well. A more telling sign may be the play of Manigat. The Bluejays have won 25 straight games over the past two seasons when manigat has three or more three pointers in a game. The 6-1 guard was 1-7 Sunday against Xavier, a game where the Bluejays shot 10 for 34 from three point range and lost by only six.
Georgetown's defensive effort versus the Bluejays fell short with fouls, giving the Bluejays a +12 at the line in a 13 point win. Bench play was also weak, as Creighton scored 25 points from the bench versus just two for Georgetown. While both stats have been frequent for the Hoyas down the stretch, getting more from the bench is vital to giving the Hoyas the legs it needs for a late run.
Keys to the game:
Be Quick, But Don't Hurry: Georgetown has to increase its tempo to match Creighton's propensity for outside scoring, but avoid turnovers.
The Third Man: Jabril Trawick missed the earlier game due to injury. If Georgetown ever needed a big game from the 6-5 guard, now is the time.
Outside Or Else: Creighton is the top ranked there point shooting team in the conference--Wrasse, McDermott and Manigat are 1-2-3 in the conference rankings. Georgetown is 8th in the league in three point shooting and has never found a rhythm from outside this season.
Interior Defense: Staying out of foul trouble must be a priority. Can Georgetown actually do it?
It comes down to three players who will determine the game: McDermott for Creighton, Starks and Trawick for Georgetown. If there is a March run for the Hoyas, it starts now.
Tonight's number? Three.
If the Georgetown Hoyas have any realistic hope of an NCAA at-large bid, it must win three times over the next 12 days, either with upsets over two nationally ranked teams, or by winning three at the Big East tournament and playing in the finals Saturday night. Its next opponent knows all about the three, however.
Creighton enters Georgetown's home finale as one of the nation's top three point shooting teams, at 41% from behind the arc and 24 attempts per game. But three point shooting was its undoing over the weekend with a loss at Xavier, missing on 24 of 34 attempts. Perimeter defense is key for the Hoyas, but it will take a better effort on offense to keep the Bluejays away.
Georgetown fans are well aware of the impact that Doug McDermott will have on the Creighton offense. The National Player of the Year candidate is without peer in the Big East this season, and is arguably the best one-year player the conference has seen since Caramel Anthony in 2002-03. Shooting 52 percent from the field, 44 percent from three, and 88 percent from the line, McDermott makes his 138th consecutive start Tuesday night and the Hoyas can expect another strong effort. To its credit, however, Georgetown played McDermott fairly well when the two teams met in Omaha, and struggled against the other starters who control their own share of the stat sheets. McDermott will get his points, but controlling the #2 and #3 options for Creighton, specifically forward Ethan Wrasse and guard Jahenns Manigat and are vital to Georgetown's upset bid.
Wrasse enters the game leading the conference from three point range at 49 percent completion, ten points better than Georgetown's leading outside shooter in D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera at 39 percent. Wrasse was held to 12 points, nine from outside, in the Jan. 25 game in Omaha and must be kept in check on the boards as well. A more telling sign may be the play of Manigat. The Bluejays have won 25 straight games over the past two seasons when manigat has three or more three pointers in a game. The 6-1 guard was 1-7 Sunday against Xavier, a game where the Bluejays shot 10 for 34 from three point range and lost by only six.
Georgetown's defensive effort versus the Bluejays fell short with fouls, giving the Bluejays a +12 at the line in a 13 point win. Bench play was also weak, as Creighton scored 25 points from the bench versus just two for Georgetown. While both stats have been frequent for the Hoyas down the stretch, getting more from the bench is vital to giving the Hoyas the legs it needs for a late run.
Keys to the game:
Be Quick, But Don't Hurry: Georgetown has to increase its tempo to match Creighton's propensity for outside scoring, but avoid turnovers.
The Third Man: Jabril Trawick missed the earlier game due to injury. If Georgetown ever needed a big game from the 6-5 guard, now is the time.
Outside Or Else: Creighton is the top ranked there point shooting team in the conference--Wrasse, McDermott and Manigat are 1-2-3 in the conference rankings. Georgetown is 8th in the league in three point shooting and has never found a rhythm from outside this season.
Interior Defense: Staying out of foul trouble must be a priority. Can Georgetown actually do it?
It comes down to three players who will determine the game: McDermott for Creighton, Starks and Trawick for Georgetown. If there is a March run for the Hoyas, it starts now.
