Preview
Two winless teams in Big East play meet Wednesday. Providence hasn't stared out 0-3 since 2013. Georgetown has never started a Big East season 0-3, but could be headed in that direction.
From a 10-3 start, the Friars dropped its first two Big East games on the road, falling behind as many as 30 points to Xavier and 20 to Butler. A home court has been more favorable to PC, undefeated in its last nine and having won 22 of its last 26 at the former Providence Civic Center.
Many of its wins last season came at the hands of Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, both of which left to pursue NBA dreams. Dunn made the roster at Minneapolis, while Bentil was cut by the Boston Celtics and now plays in China. The Friars have struggled in the backcourt of ate and this is where guard Kyron Cartwright will be called upon. Cartwright led the Friars with 26 in its loss at Butler, accounting for nearly half the Friars' offense. His 111 assists against 44 turnovers makes him an effective ball handler, and with the relative quiet from guard Isaiah Jackson and inconsistent play from guard Jalen Lindsey, Cartwright hopes to follow in a recent line of junior guards that caught fire with the Friars, from Marshon Brooks to Vincent Council, Bryce Cotton to Kris Dunn.
The loss of Bentil is felt up front, where 6-8 Rodney Bullock and 6-7 junior college transfer Rodney Holt lead the effort. With only one other player taller than 6-8, PC struggles on the boards and has been outrebounded by an average of 11 per game in Big East play. Bullock leads the friars in scoring and rebounding, and is second in three point shots. If Holt can establish position down low, Bullock will test the Georgetown defense from outside.
A 10-5 record notwithstanding, the Friars have just one win in the RPI top 50 in 9-4 Rhode Island and rank above only two other Big East teams in the RPI, Unfortunately, one of those two is Georgetown, which is a combined 1-6 against teams in the RPI top 100, with its only win versus Oregon. The Hoyas have been unremarkable in its two Big East games to date, failing to show much energy or spark as they were worn down late by opponents. On paper, anyway, GU owns a edge on talent and scoring options, but the Civic Center has always been a tough place for Georgetown teams and the "Fri-ahs" and their fans always get up for the "Hoy-ers" from Washington DC.
Keys To The Game:
P&P: Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak need to combine for at least 40 between them.
Stay Out of Foul Trouble: jessie Govan has an advantage inside, if he can stay on the court and avoid early fouls.
Point Ahead: The Hoyas are getting very little from a trio of point guards in Jagan Mosely, Jonathan Mulmore, and Tre Campbell. One of these me need to assert themselves in this game.
Last Five Minutes: PC is 10-0 when leading into the last five minutes.
A loss at Providence doesn't end Georgetown's season but it wouldn't be far off, either. An 0-3 Georgetown team would need to win 10 of its final 15 just to finish above .500 in conference play, and that's with eight games against top 25 opponents. The good news is that Georgetown could win this game with ease. The bad news is they could lose it just as easily.
Two winless teams in Big East play meet Wednesday. Providence hasn't stared out 0-3 since 2013. Georgetown has never started a Big East season 0-3, but could be headed in that direction.
From a 10-3 start, the Friars dropped its first two Big East games on the road, falling behind as many as 30 points to Xavier and 20 to Butler. A home court has been more favorable to PC, undefeated in its last nine and having won 22 of its last 26 at the former Providence Civic Center.
Many of its wins last season came at the hands of Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, both of which left to pursue NBA dreams. Dunn made the roster at Minneapolis, while Bentil was cut by the Boston Celtics and now plays in China. The Friars have struggled in the backcourt of ate and this is where guard Kyron Cartwright will be called upon. Cartwright led the Friars with 26 in its loss at Butler, accounting for nearly half the Friars' offense. His 111 assists against 44 turnovers makes him an effective ball handler, and with the relative quiet from guard Isaiah Jackson and inconsistent play from guard Jalen Lindsey, Cartwright hopes to follow in a recent line of junior guards that caught fire with the Friars, from Marshon Brooks to Vincent Council, Bryce Cotton to Kris Dunn.
The loss of Bentil is felt up front, where 6-8 Rodney Bullock and 6-7 junior college transfer Rodney Holt lead the effort. With only one other player taller than 6-8, PC struggles on the boards and has been outrebounded by an average of 11 per game in Big East play. Bullock leads the friars in scoring and rebounding, and is second in three point shots. If Holt can establish position down low, Bullock will test the Georgetown defense from outside.
A 10-5 record notwithstanding, the Friars have just one win in the RPI top 50 in 9-4 Rhode Island and rank above only two other Big East teams in the RPI, Unfortunately, one of those two is Georgetown, which is a combined 1-6 against teams in the RPI top 100, with its only win versus Oregon. The Hoyas have been unremarkable in its two Big East games to date, failing to show much energy or spark as they were worn down late by opponents. On paper, anyway, GU owns a edge on talent and scoring options, but the Civic Center has always been a tough place for Georgetown teams and the "Fri-ahs" and their fans always get up for the "Hoy-ers" from Washington DC.
Keys To The Game:
P&P: Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak need to combine for at least 40 between them.
Stay Out of Foul Trouble: jessie Govan has an advantage inside, if he can stay on the court and avoid early fouls.
Point Ahead: The Hoyas are getting very little from a trio of point guards in Jagan Mosely, Jonathan Mulmore, and Tre Campbell. One of these me need to assert themselves in this game.
Last Five Minutes: PC is 10-0 when leading into the last five minutes.
A loss at Providence doesn't end Georgetown's season but it wouldn't be far off, either. An 0-3 Georgetown team would need to win 10 of its final 15 just to finish above .500 in conference play, and that's with eight games against top 25 opponents. The good news is that Georgetown could win this game with ease. The bad news is they could lose it just as easily.
