PREVIEW
It can't be understated that a pair of home games this week are pivotal to Georgetown's chances of an post-season NCAA bid. Win two at home, and the Hoyas are firmly planted in the first division of the Big East. Anything less, and trouble awaits.
To take that first step, the Hoyas will have to improve on late-game possessions which sank them Saturday against Connecticut, and was similarly poor in the Jan. 12 loss at Creighton. In the former, Georgetown failed to score over the last eight possessions of the game, and in the latter, GU failed to convert on 11 of its final 13 possessions of the game.
All eyes will be on how Georgetown can respond to guard Maurice Watson Jr., who torched Georgetown for 27 points in the game in Omaha. Watson is invaluable to the creighton offense, and when he is contained (as was the case with a 3-16 effort in a loss versus Providence) opponents can be much more effective on defense. Watson isn't the only backcourt threat, however.
Guard Isaiah Zierden leads the conference in three points and while he was limited to 11 points in the earlier game, he dropped 31 points on DePaul last week and remains a legitimate threat inside and outside. The Bluejays should also see support from senior James Milliken, with 12 in the earlier Georgetown game.
Creighton has made some adjustments to its frontcourt since the game two weeks ago. 6-10 sophomore Toby Hegner has been elevated to the starting lineup, where he has shared rebounding and scoring duties with 6-8 sophomore Cole Huff. Creighton continues to get strong results inside from 7-0 center Geoffrey groselle, though his numbers have been down in recent games. But make no mistake--the recent run of the Bluejays in backcourt driven, as Watson and Zierden are averaging a combined 32 points a game between them, or about 44 percent of the Creighton offense. Stop the guards, and Creighton is beatable.
The same can be said for Georgetown. Despite the up and down efforts over the past two weeks, the Hoyas remain well positioned in conference statistical rankings, ranking in the top three in field goal percentage (3rd), field goal defense (1st), three point shooting (1st), and blocked shots (2nd). Fouls and turnovers continue to put the Hoyas in post-season peril and both are keys a successful outcome Tuesday. Georgetown gave up 10 more fouls than Creighton on jan. 12 which resulted in an extra 18 points via free throw in a 12 point loss. Add in 15 turnovers and the Hoyas' worst enemy that evening was itself. Have they learned the lesson?
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Free Throws: Limit Creighton at the line.
DSR In The First Half: D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera continues to be inconsistent early in games. In the last five games, he has scored five or less by halftime in three of them.
Option Two: Tre Campbell's career game against Xavier opened the door for Georgetown to rely less on D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera to drive the offense, but it hasn't been replicated. Who steps up against Creighton?
Slump-Breaker: Isaac Copeland and Marcus Derrickson are in the deep freeze in the past two games, combining for just two points between them in a combined 71 minutes.
Limit Geoffrey Groselle: A big game inside by Groselle will test the Hoyas' defense and open doors for Watson to excel. If the inside is contained, a zone defense could give Creighton trouble in the perimeter.
--hoyasaxa
It can't be understated that a pair of home games this week are pivotal to Georgetown's chances of an post-season NCAA bid. Win two at home, and the Hoyas are firmly planted in the first division of the Big East. Anything less, and trouble awaits.
To take that first step, the Hoyas will have to improve on late-game possessions which sank them Saturday against Connecticut, and was similarly poor in the Jan. 12 loss at Creighton. In the former, Georgetown failed to score over the last eight possessions of the game, and in the latter, GU failed to convert on 11 of its final 13 possessions of the game.
All eyes will be on how Georgetown can respond to guard Maurice Watson Jr., who torched Georgetown for 27 points in the game in Omaha. Watson is invaluable to the creighton offense, and when he is contained (as was the case with a 3-16 effort in a loss versus Providence) opponents can be much more effective on defense. Watson isn't the only backcourt threat, however.
Guard Isaiah Zierden leads the conference in three points and while he was limited to 11 points in the earlier game, he dropped 31 points on DePaul last week and remains a legitimate threat inside and outside. The Bluejays should also see support from senior James Milliken, with 12 in the earlier Georgetown game.
Creighton has made some adjustments to its frontcourt since the game two weeks ago. 6-10 sophomore Toby Hegner has been elevated to the starting lineup, where he has shared rebounding and scoring duties with 6-8 sophomore Cole Huff. Creighton continues to get strong results inside from 7-0 center Geoffrey groselle, though his numbers have been down in recent games. But make no mistake--the recent run of the Bluejays in backcourt driven, as Watson and Zierden are averaging a combined 32 points a game between them, or about 44 percent of the Creighton offense. Stop the guards, and Creighton is beatable.
The same can be said for Georgetown. Despite the up and down efforts over the past two weeks, the Hoyas remain well positioned in conference statistical rankings, ranking in the top three in field goal percentage (3rd), field goal defense (1st), three point shooting (1st), and blocked shots (2nd). Fouls and turnovers continue to put the Hoyas in post-season peril and both are keys a successful outcome Tuesday. Georgetown gave up 10 more fouls than Creighton on jan. 12 which resulted in an extra 18 points via free throw in a 12 point loss. Add in 15 turnovers and the Hoyas' worst enemy that evening was itself. Have they learned the lesson?
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Free Throws: Limit Creighton at the line.
DSR In The First Half: D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera continues to be inconsistent early in games. In the last five games, he has scored five or less by halftime in three of them.
Option Two: Tre Campbell's career game against Xavier opened the door for Georgetown to rely less on D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera to drive the offense, but it hasn't been replicated. Who steps up against Creighton?
Slump-Breaker: Isaac Copeland and Marcus Derrickson are in the deep freeze in the past two games, combining for just two points between them in a combined 71 minutes.
Limit Geoffrey Groselle: A big game inside by Groselle will test the Hoyas' defense and open doors for Watson to excel. If the inside is contained, a zone defense could give Creighton trouble in the perimeter.
--hoyasaxa
