Game Notes
The last two meetings between Butler and Georgetown at what is now Capital One Arena went to overtime, with Butler winning each.
Georgetown has lost its last six Big East games dating to last season.
Georgetown has split each of its last eight Big East openers, alternating between wins and losses each year.
Preview
Remember those last eleven games? Forget about it. The season begins Wednesday.
None of the remaining nine teams on Georgetown's Big East calendar are anything like the soft-serve opponents which make up its 10 wins to date. Every game is the kind of battle Patrick Ewing frankly sought to avoid in the pre-conference season. There are no more MEAC's left. It's Big East time.
If Georgetown learned anything about the veracity of scheduling the worst non-conference slate in Division I, they are likely to see its effects in the first two weeks of the Big East season. Its first three games features three teams expected to finish in seventh, eighth, and tenth place in the pre-season poll. If GU exceeds expectations, it will start with these opponents.
By contrast, Butler's opener with Georgetown may be its best chance for a win in the next two weeks, as the Bulldogs see games with the conference's three top teams--Villanova, Xavier and Seton Hall-- on its calendar.
Butler will go small versus the Hoyas, employing a three guard lineup that features sophomore Kamar Baldwin (12.9 ppg) but could pose particular problems with a strong effort from two Big East newcomers, each with DC-area ties. Freshman Aaron Thompson, from Paul VI HS, enters the conference season averaging 44 percent shooting but scoreless from the field in his last two games. He's taken only one three point attempt all season (missed it) and will be looked upon to feed baldwin and get redshirt junior paul Jorgensen in the flow. Jorgensen, a transfer from George Washington, has scored in double figures in eight straight games and is coming off a career 18 in the Bulldogs' win over Western Illinois. Jorgensen's 55 percent shooting over the last three games must not be ignored and is vital if Baldwin is not able to get going early, owing to a taller GU guard lineup than the Bulldogs have faced to date.
Up front, the Bulldogs rely on junior Kelan Martin, BU's best scoring option. martin scored a career high 35 on the Hoyas as a freshman and poses matchup problems to Marcus Derrickson and Kaleb Johnson owing to his size and versatility. Senior Tyler Wideman has been less effective versus GU over his career but is and up and down scorer, failing to string together back to back double figure games this season. Wideman's 4.8 rebounds a game is a liability for the Bulldogs, whose 34 rebounds a game is near the bottom of the Big East teams to date.
The Bulldogs do not go deep on its bench. First year coach Lavall Jordan figures to provide time to 6-10 junior Nate Fowler and 6-6 sophomore Sean McDermott, but the lineup is not built for a foul-plagued game.
Butler likes to play up-tempo, going 7-0 when scoring 70 or more points this season and 3-3 when below 70. Opponents average 16.2 turnovers per game, a repeat of which would be extremely damaging to Georgetown, who has not shown any ability to manage the ball to date.
An early zone defense may prove some clues as to how Butler seeks to keep Jessie Govan in check. The Hoyas' guard play has seen various players step to the forefront but no clear leader has emerged in the backcourt. With four players seeing Big East action for the first time, fans may look to see if Jamarko Pickett can take advantage of his size against Jorgensen and play with more consistency. This is also a game where good shooting from Jahvon Blair can pay dividends.
Keys to the game:
1. Perimeter defense: Neither team has demonstrated consistent three point shooting. A strong effort on the perimeter limits both teams from packing it inside.
2. Kamar Baldwin: Baldwin has been a tough matchup for the Hoyas in prior games. He will be a point of emphasis all evening.
3. Fouls: Butler opponents average 20.6 fouls per game. Georgetown's frontcourt must seek to avoid easy fouls which can expose its lack of depth inside.
4. Second chance points: Can Georgetown limit second chance points from Butler's outside shooting? If so, they stand a good chance at the upset. If not, it's an early lesson in a season which figures to have plenty of them waiting.
The last two meetings between Butler and Georgetown at what is now Capital One Arena went to overtime, with Butler winning each.
Georgetown has lost its last six Big East games dating to last season.
Georgetown has split each of its last eight Big East openers, alternating between wins and losses each year.
Preview
Remember those last eleven games? Forget about it. The season begins Wednesday.
None of the remaining nine teams on Georgetown's Big East calendar are anything like the soft-serve opponents which make up its 10 wins to date. Every game is the kind of battle Patrick Ewing frankly sought to avoid in the pre-conference season. There are no more MEAC's left. It's Big East time.
If Georgetown learned anything about the veracity of scheduling the worst non-conference slate in Division I, they are likely to see its effects in the first two weeks of the Big East season. Its first three games features three teams expected to finish in seventh, eighth, and tenth place in the pre-season poll. If GU exceeds expectations, it will start with these opponents.
By contrast, Butler's opener with Georgetown may be its best chance for a win in the next two weeks, as the Bulldogs see games with the conference's three top teams--Villanova, Xavier and Seton Hall-- on its calendar.
Butler will go small versus the Hoyas, employing a three guard lineup that features sophomore Kamar Baldwin (12.9 ppg) but could pose particular problems with a strong effort from two Big East newcomers, each with DC-area ties. Freshman Aaron Thompson, from Paul VI HS, enters the conference season averaging 44 percent shooting but scoreless from the field in his last two games. He's taken only one three point attempt all season (missed it) and will be looked upon to feed baldwin and get redshirt junior paul Jorgensen in the flow. Jorgensen, a transfer from George Washington, has scored in double figures in eight straight games and is coming off a career 18 in the Bulldogs' win over Western Illinois. Jorgensen's 55 percent shooting over the last three games must not be ignored and is vital if Baldwin is not able to get going early, owing to a taller GU guard lineup than the Bulldogs have faced to date.
Up front, the Bulldogs rely on junior Kelan Martin, BU's best scoring option. martin scored a career high 35 on the Hoyas as a freshman and poses matchup problems to Marcus Derrickson and Kaleb Johnson owing to his size and versatility. Senior Tyler Wideman has been less effective versus GU over his career but is and up and down scorer, failing to string together back to back double figure games this season. Wideman's 4.8 rebounds a game is a liability for the Bulldogs, whose 34 rebounds a game is near the bottom of the Big East teams to date.
The Bulldogs do not go deep on its bench. First year coach Lavall Jordan figures to provide time to 6-10 junior Nate Fowler and 6-6 sophomore Sean McDermott, but the lineup is not built for a foul-plagued game.
Butler likes to play up-tempo, going 7-0 when scoring 70 or more points this season and 3-3 when below 70. Opponents average 16.2 turnovers per game, a repeat of which would be extremely damaging to Georgetown, who has not shown any ability to manage the ball to date.
An early zone defense may prove some clues as to how Butler seeks to keep Jessie Govan in check. The Hoyas' guard play has seen various players step to the forefront but no clear leader has emerged in the backcourt. With four players seeing Big East action for the first time, fans may look to see if Jamarko Pickett can take advantage of his size against Jorgensen and play with more consistency. This is also a game where good shooting from Jahvon Blair can pay dividends.
Keys to the game:
1. Perimeter defense: Neither team has demonstrated consistent three point shooting. A strong effort on the perimeter limits both teams from packing it inside.
2. Kamar Baldwin: Baldwin has been a tough matchup for the Hoyas in prior games. He will be a point of emphasis all evening.
3. Fouls: Butler opponents average 20.6 fouls per game. Georgetown's frontcourt must seek to avoid easy fouls which can expose its lack of depth inside.
4. Second chance points: Can Georgetown limit second chance points from Butler's outside shooting? If so, they stand a good chance at the upset. If not, it's an early lesson in a season which figures to have plenty of them waiting.
