Preview
Winners of its last two, the Georgetown Hoyas will seek its first three game win streak in Big East play in two years Tuesday in its final appearance at DePaul's Allstate Arena.
When the Rosemont Horizon opened in 1980, the "House that Ray Meyer Built" foreshadowed Georgetown's own move from an on-campus gym to a spacious suburban arena. After all, it was #1 Georgetown and #2 DePaul which met on national TV in December 1984. But as the Horizon aged and declined, so did the DePaul program. DePaul's last appearance in the AP Top 25 was November 20, 2001. Over the last 10 seasons, DePaul is 20-132 (.131) in Big East play.
With DePaul reportedly having turned down a rent-free deal at the United Center to pay $70 million in university funds for a 10,000 seat city-financed arena to open next fall, the Blue Demons look to jump start its future as its time in Rosemont comes to an end.
The Demons are off to another rocky start. Despite a win over Providence and a near miss versus Butler last week, DePaul is 1-7 in conference play. it ranked near the bottom in many conference statistics, and rely on two guards to carry the load. Then again, so does Georgetown, which is why this is no sure thing for the Hoyas.
For DePaul to contend, and they have in many games this season, it begins in the backcourt. Veteran guard Billy Garrett has averaged 15.2 points per game over his three years vs. Georgetown and is averaging 15.1 this season. His 91% free throw shooting is sterling, but a 37% mark from the field has been a point of frustration. Equally frustrating is fellow guard Eli Cain, whose numbers have decreased in conference play to 33% shooting. The two combined for 48 points in a one point loss to Butler last week, but scored just 27 in a 18 point loss to a struggling Creighton team. Controlling Garrett and Cain is vital to Georgetown's ability to control this game early.
DePaul lost much of its front line in the off season. Junior college forward Tre'Darius McCallum had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Butler game and a team leading seven rebounds per game overall, but the Blue Demons play only two players taller than 6-7 and have been outrebounded by an average of 3.4 per game. A 38-20 advantage by Creighton was illustrative of the trouble DePaul has if it cannot elevate its defense.
In last year's game at Rosemont, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Isaac Copeland combined for 29 points as the Hoyas scored 10 threes in a 70-58 win. Ten threes was the mark Saturday at Butler as well. But would that be enough?
Keys to the game:
Zone Defense: A matchup zone could give DePaul fits in its frontcourt sets.
Go-Go-Govan: Georgetown needs another strong game inside from Jessie Govan. Relying on another big game from Peak and Pryor may not be enough.
Pick Up The Pace: DePaul has scored more than 65 points just once in Big East play this season.
Stay Off the Line: The key to Georgetown's win at Butler? It kept the Bulldogs off the free throw line. GU needs to do the same Tuesday.
Winners of its last two, the Georgetown Hoyas will seek its first three game win streak in Big East play in two years Tuesday in its final appearance at DePaul's Allstate Arena.
When the Rosemont Horizon opened in 1980, the "House that Ray Meyer Built" foreshadowed Georgetown's own move from an on-campus gym to a spacious suburban arena. After all, it was #1 Georgetown and #2 DePaul which met on national TV in December 1984. But as the Horizon aged and declined, so did the DePaul program. DePaul's last appearance in the AP Top 25 was November 20, 2001. Over the last 10 seasons, DePaul is 20-132 (.131) in Big East play.
With DePaul reportedly having turned down a rent-free deal at the United Center to pay $70 million in university funds for a 10,000 seat city-financed arena to open next fall, the Blue Demons look to jump start its future as its time in Rosemont comes to an end.
The Demons are off to another rocky start. Despite a win over Providence and a near miss versus Butler last week, DePaul is 1-7 in conference play. it ranked near the bottom in many conference statistics, and rely on two guards to carry the load. Then again, so does Georgetown, which is why this is no sure thing for the Hoyas.
For DePaul to contend, and they have in many games this season, it begins in the backcourt. Veteran guard Billy Garrett has averaged 15.2 points per game over his three years vs. Georgetown and is averaging 15.1 this season. His 91% free throw shooting is sterling, but a 37% mark from the field has been a point of frustration. Equally frustrating is fellow guard Eli Cain, whose numbers have decreased in conference play to 33% shooting. The two combined for 48 points in a one point loss to Butler last week, but scored just 27 in a 18 point loss to a struggling Creighton team. Controlling Garrett and Cain is vital to Georgetown's ability to control this game early.
DePaul lost much of its front line in the off season. Junior college forward Tre'Darius McCallum had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Butler game and a team leading seven rebounds per game overall, but the Blue Demons play only two players taller than 6-7 and have been outrebounded by an average of 3.4 per game. A 38-20 advantage by Creighton was illustrative of the trouble DePaul has if it cannot elevate its defense.
In last year's game at Rosemont, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Isaac Copeland combined for 29 points as the Hoyas scored 10 threes in a 70-58 win. Ten threes was the mark Saturday at Butler as well. But would that be enough?
Keys to the game:
Zone Defense: A matchup zone could give DePaul fits in its frontcourt sets.
Go-Go-Govan: Georgetown needs another strong game inside from Jessie Govan. Relying on another big game from Peak and Pryor may not be enough.
Pick Up The Pace: DePaul has scored more than 65 points just once in Big East play this season.
Stay Off the Line: The key to Georgetown's win at Butler? It kept the Bulldogs off the free throw line. GU needs to do the same Tuesday.
