Preview
The road to March starts in Omaha.
However tenuous Georgetown's path to a late NCAA berth may be, a win Sunday with #20 Creighton would provide significant momentum. Without it, hopes are sent back to next season.
Creighton is 3-2 since Georgetown's upset win in January; two of these have come against DePaul but Creighton remains a formidable opponent at home. The Bluejays' guard play has improved following the transition of replacing the injured Maurice Watson, Jr., specifically in the team leadership of guard Marcus Foster. Averaging 16.5 points over his last five games, and coming off a 23 point game versus Seton Hall, Foster's point production is vital to Creighton's success. The guard was just 5-15 from the field in the Jan. 25 game versus the Hoyas.
The Bluejays are among the nation's leaders in shooting, particularly with Justin patton inside, but need a strong three point effort to which they have lacked consistency. It's likely that Georgetown will look to defend Cole Huff (45 percent from three in Big East play) and reserve guard Isaiah Zierden, whose 16 field goals in conference play have all come from outside. The one to watch, however, may be guard Khyri Thomas,. Despite a meager 29 percent from the field from outside, Thomas is shooting 50 percent overall and was 4-5 in Creighton's win at Butler on Jan. 1. Creighton was a season low 1 for 18 in its loss to Georgetown and that won't be repeated before the home crowd Sunday.
Both teams need to take care of needless fouls. Seton Hall went to the line 39 times in its 87-81 win over the Bluejays last week, and Georgetown is all to aware of the impact of cheap fouls on the box score. Another area to watch: offensive rebounds--the Bluejays are last in the conference in offensive rebounding, Georgetown seventh. Whoever owns this statistics may tell the story at game's end.
Some Keys To The Game:
A Quick Start: Creighton has reached a double digit lead in the first seven minutes of 19 games this year, but in the three where it did not, it was 0-3.
The First Half Matters: Creighton is 20-1 leading at the half, Georgetown 10-2. When trailing, Creighton is 1-4, Georgetown 2-9.
Govan's Encore?: Jessie Govan has struggled to establish consistent play game to game over his two years in a Georgetown uniform. Justin Patton will be a challenge inside, but Georgetown absolutely needs Govan down the stretch if it is to contend.
The road to March starts in Omaha.
However tenuous Georgetown's path to a late NCAA berth may be, a win Sunday with #20 Creighton would provide significant momentum. Without it, hopes are sent back to next season.
Creighton is 3-2 since Georgetown's upset win in January; two of these have come against DePaul but Creighton remains a formidable opponent at home. The Bluejays' guard play has improved following the transition of replacing the injured Maurice Watson, Jr., specifically in the team leadership of guard Marcus Foster. Averaging 16.5 points over his last five games, and coming off a 23 point game versus Seton Hall, Foster's point production is vital to Creighton's success. The guard was just 5-15 from the field in the Jan. 25 game versus the Hoyas.
The Bluejays are among the nation's leaders in shooting, particularly with Justin patton inside, but need a strong three point effort to which they have lacked consistency. It's likely that Georgetown will look to defend Cole Huff (45 percent from three in Big East play) and reserve guard Isaiah Zierden, whose 16 field goals in conference play have all come from outside. The one to watch, however, may be guard Khyri Thomas,. Despite a meager 29 percent from the field from outside, Thomas is shooting 50 percent overall and was 4-5 in Creighton's win at Butler on Jan. 1. Creighton was a season low 1 for 18 in its loss to Georgetown and that won't be repeated before the home crowd Sunday.
Both teams need to take care of needless fouls. Seton Hall went to the line 39 times in its 87-81 win over the Bluejays last week, and Georgetown is all to aware of the impact of cheap fouls on the box score. Another area to watch: offensive rebounds--the Bluejays are last in the conference in offensive rebounding, Georgetown seventh. Whoever owns this statistics may tell the story at game's end.
Some Keys To The Game:
A Quick Start: Creighton has reached a double digit lead in the first seven minutes of 19 games this year, but in the three where it did not, it was 0-3.
The First Half Matters: Creighton is 20-1 leading at the half, Georgetown 10-2. When trailing, Creighton is 1-4, Georgetown 2-9.
Govan's Encore?: Jessie Govan has struggled to establish consistent play game to game over his two years in a Georgetown uniform. Justin Patton will be a challenge inside, but Georgetown absolutely needs Govan down the stretch if it is to contend.
