PREVIEW
It's Senior Night at Marquette Tuesday, but seniors are the last thing on the home team's mind.
Year two of the Steve Wojciechowski era has just one senior, a former manager who scored his first two points last week versus Villanova. With youth on its side, Marquette has continued its move up the standings, and hopes to pass a Georgetown team in a state of free fall.
Four starters average in double figures for the Warriors, and despite its 7-9 record, it stands competitively in most conference-wide measurements. Two emerging stars, 6-5 Haanif Cheatham and 6-10 Henry Ellenson, figure to take center stage. Cheatham has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, including 19 in a 10 point loss to #3 Villanova. Ellenson, a likely selection as Big East Freshman of the year, is coming off a rougher effort versus Villanova but is a consistent scorer and rebounder that gives Marquette options across the lineup. This will be a more dangerous team once the Warriors improve on some spotty three point shooting, just 33% in Big East play.With a chance to finish 9-9 in Big East play, Marquette has something to play for in this one.
Anyone who has a prediction on the Hoyas is probably fooling themselves. Thirty minutes of bad basketball against Butler was washed over with a late run that forced overtime, but in the end the Hoyas dropped further off the national radar and must sweep both games this week, a near impossibility, just to be NIT eligible. Georgetown's sub.500 record will not sit well with critics, but the team of late has done nothing to persuade them otherwise, as turnovers and fouls outnumber baskets in nearly every game.
Aside from the usual suspects, one key in this game will be how freshmen Jessie Govan and Henry Ellenson fare. In the meeting at Verizon Center, Govan scored 11 points off the bench as Ellenson was held to 4-15 shooting, near his season low. Ellenson is much improved and Georgetown has to do better if they can control the boards, which was vital in the earlier win, one of just three wins in conference play to teams not named "St. John's" or "DePaul".
There will be plenty of time to ask what killed the 2015-16 Georgetown Hoyas--chemistry, coaching, talent, or something hidden in the locker room. Until then, fans have (at least) three games to see which players are giving it their all in advance of 2016-17 and which are probably working on updating their passport.
It's Senior Night at Marquette Tuesday, but seniors are the last thing on the home team's mind.
Year two of the Steve Wojciechowski era has just one senior, a former manager who scored his first two points last week versus Villanova. With youth on its side, Marquette has continued its move up the standings, and hopes to pass a Georgetown team in a state of free fall.
Four starters average in double figures for the Warriors, and despite its 7-9 record, it stands competitively in most conference-wide measurements. Two emerging stars, 6-5 Haanif Cheatham and 6-10 Henry Ellenson, figure to take center stage. Cheatham has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, including 19 in a 10 point loss to #3 Villanova. Ellenson, a likely selection as Big East Freshman of the year, is coming off a rougher effort versus Villanova but is a consistent scorer and rebounder that gives Marquette options across the lineup. This will be a more dangerous team once the Warriors improve on some spotty three point shooting, just 33% in Big East play.With a chance to finish 9-9 in Big East play, Marquette has something to play for in this one.
Anyone who has a prediction on the Hoyas is probably fooling themselves. Thirty minutes of bad basketball against Butler was washed over with a late run that forced overtime, but in the end the Hoyas dropped further off the national radar and must sweep both games this week, a near impossibility, just to be NIT eligible. Georgetown's sub.500 record will not sit well with critics, but the team of late has done nothing to persuade them otherwise, as turnovers and fouls outnumber baskets in nearly every game.
Aside from the usual suspects, one key in this game will be how freshmen Jessie Govan and Henry Ellenson fare. In the meeting at Verizon Center, Govan scored 11 points off the bench as Ellenson was held to 4-15 shooting, near his season low. Ellenson is much improved and Georgetown has to do better if they can control the boards, which was vital in the earlier win, one of just three wins in conference play to teams not named "St. John's" or "DePaul".
There will be plenty of time to ask what killed the 2015-16 Georgetown Hoyas--chemistry, coaching, talent, or something hidden in the locker room. Until then, fans have (at least) three games to see which players are giving it their all in advance of 2016-17 and which are probably working on updating their passport.
