Preview
With potentially as few as five games remaining in the 2017-18 season, a three game homestand offers a unique opportunity for Georgetown to assert itself late in the season. Each of its next three opponents is making its case for NCAA seeding and its performance against Georgetown, ranked just 127th in the RPI, could be something that could make or break a favorable seed.
In its highest ranking in school history, #4 Xavier was given a jolt Saturday a home, as the X-men were clobbered by Villanova on its home court, 95-79. The Musketeers are playing for a top seed and cannot afford another stumble, but face a Georgetown team that took them to the wire, and then some, just three weeks ago.
Three pointers were the order of the day in Saturday's game, as Villanova sank 16 on the shell-shocked Muskies. While Georgetown may not be as proficient, the Hoyas did put 11 on the board against Xavier in its feb. 3 game, and defensive sets to limit the three is a priority on Chris Mack's agenda.
Sophomore Quentin Goodin was stung repeatedly by the outside shooting of Villanova's Donte DiVincenzo and Georgetown may test him again. Offensively, Goodin averages nearly 10 per game in Big East play but his defensive execution figures to be a point of emphasis. Both Goodin and Trevon Bluiett shut out guards Jonathan Mulmore and Kaleb Johnson in the Feb. 3 game, and Goodin is coming off 12 assists versus Villanova, which accounted but all of the three for the entire team.
Bluiett continues to be the go-to man on Xavier's lineup. He scored a game high 26 on Villanova Saturday, and 37 the week before versus Seton Hall. He carried the Musketeers to victory Feb. 3 versus Georgetown. Villanova held Bluiett to eight points at the break en route to the 26, but a big first half from Bluiett spells trouble for the Hoyas to climb back in.
J.P. Macura was held to just seven points earlier this month versus the Hoyas, a notable defensive improvement since his 20+ point efforts in two games last season. Third on the team in scoring, Macura is especially capable at the free throw line, where he posted career highs versus GU last season.
A start for Kaiser Gates versus Villanova went poorly, as gates missed all seven three point shots and finished 1 for 8. Xavier is seeing some better late-season results from freshman Naji Marshall. "Naji is the next in a line of do-everything wings that have helped make Xavier great,' wrote a Xavier columnist at SB Nation. He is consistently capable of making a mess of opponents' offensive plans both at the point of the 1-3-1 and in man." Not a three point shooter by trade, Marshall is averaging 53 percent from the field and 62 percent from two point range and scored 11 points and eight rebounds versus Villanova last week. A similar output would be expected Wednesday versus the Hoyas.
A point of emphasis for Xavier will be to keep center Kerem Kanter active. Georgetown got a combined 42 points and 21 rebounds inside on Feb. 3 versus Xavier, where Kanter played only 17 minutes. Fifth year senior Sean O'Mara can and will see time, but Kanter's on-court time is increasingly for Xavier down the stretch.
Despite a 2-2 record since its last meeting with Xavier, the hoyas are seeing some signs of old fashioned momentum With two straight wins in Big East play for the first time in over a year, Georgetown is getting solid efforts up front from Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson, a growing confidence from Jamarko Pickett outside, and a downturn in turnovers from its guards. Each of these forms the keys to Wednesday's game:
Keys to the game:
1. Derrickson's Delivery: Marcus Derrickson has stepped up over his last two games, and a 19 point, 15 rebound effort versus Xavier in Cincinnati is a promising number to follow. Xavier can shut down one man inside but not two, and this is the dilemma facing Chris Mack.
2. Pickett's Charge: Jamarko Pickett's three point numbers are not great at this point of the season but his confidence is trending upward. Pickett was just 3-12 versus Xavier on Feb. 3 and just 5-15 in his last three, but is due for a big game sometime in this homestand. A matchup with J.P. Macura will be worth watching.
3. Turnovers: How did GU stay so close with Xavier before? Just 10 turnovers. In its last two games, Georgetown has averaged 13.5 turnovers per game and probably cannot afford more than 12 in this game.
With potentially as few as five games remaining in the 2017-18 season, a three game homestand offers a unique opportunity for Georgetown to assert itself late in the season. Each of its next three opponents is making its case for NCAA seeding and its performance against Georgetown, ranked just 127th in the RPI, could be something that could make or break a favorable seed.
In its highest ranking in school history, #4 Xavier was given a jolt Saturday a home, as the X-men were clobbered by Villanova on its home court, 95-79. The Musketeers are playing for a top seed and cannot afford another stumble, but face a Georgetown team that took them to the wire, and then some, just three weeks ago.
Three pointers were the order of the day in Saturday's game, as Villanova sank 16 on the shell-shocked Muskies. While Georgetown may not be as proficient, the Hoyas did put 11 on the board against Xavier in its feb. 3 game, and defensive sets to limit the three is a priority on Chris Mack's agenda.
Sophomore Quentin Goodin was stung repeatedly by the outside shooting of Villanova's Donte DiVincenzo and Georgetown may test him again. Offensively, Goodin averages nearly 10 per game in Big East play but his defensive execution figures to be a point of emphasis. Both Goodin and Trevon Bluiett shut out guards Jonathan Mulmore and Kaleb Johnson in the Feb. 3 game, and Goodin is coming off 12 assists versus Villanova, which accounted but all of the three for the entire team.
Bluiett continues to be the go-to man on Xavier's lineup. He scored a game high 26 on Villanova Saturday, and 37 the week before versus Seton Hall. He carried the Musketeers to victory Feb. 3 versus Georgetown. Villanova held Bluiett to eight points at the break en route to the 26, but a big first half from Bluiett spells trouble for the Hoyas to climb back in.
J.P. Macura was held to just seven points earlier this month versus the Hoyas, a notable defensive improvement since his 20+ point efforts in two games last season. Third on the team in scoring, Macura is especially capable at the free throw line, where he posted career highs versus GU last season.
A start for Kaiser Gates versus Villanova went poorly, as gates missed all seven three point shots and finished 1 for 8. Xavier is seeing some better late-season results from freshman Naji Marshall. "Naji is the next in a line of do-everything wings that have helped make Xavier great,' wrote a Xavier columnist at SB Nation. He is consistently capable of making a mess of opponents' offensive plans both at the point of the 1-3-1 and in man." Not a three point shooter by trade, Marshall is averaging 53 percent from the field and 62 percent from two point range and scored 11 points and eight rebounds versus Villanova last week. A similar output would be expected Wednesday versus the Hoyas.
A point of emphasis for Xavier will be to keep center Kerem Kanter active. Georgetown got a combined 42 points and 21 rebounds inside on Feb. 3 versus Xavier, where Kanter played only 17 minutes. Fifth year senior Sean O'Mara can and will see time, but Kanter's on-court time is increasingly for Xavier down the stretch.
Despite a 2-2 record since its last meeting with Xavier, the hoyas are seeing some signs of old fashioned momentum With two straight wins in Big East play for the first time in over a year, Georgetown is getting solid efforts up front from Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson, a growing confidence from Jamarko Pickett outside, and a downturn in turnovers from its guards. Each of these forms the keys to Wednesday's game:
Keys to the game:
1. Derrickson's Delivery: Marcus Derrickson has stepped up over his last two games, and a 19 point, 15 rebound effort versus Xavier in Cincinnati is a promising number to follow. Xavier can shut down one man inside but not two, and this is the dilemma facing Chris Mack.
2. Pickett's Charge: Jamarko Pickett's three point numbers are not great at this point of the season but his confidence is trending upward. Pickett was just 3-12 versus Xavier on Feb. 3 and just 5-15 in his last three, but is due for a big game sometime in this homestand. A matchup with J.P. Macura will be worth watching.
3. Turnovers: How did GU stay so close with Xavier before? Just 10 turnovers. In its last two games, Georgetown has averaged 13.5 turnovers per game and probably cannot afford more than 12 in this game.
