Preview
Two games in three days close out the 2017-18 home schedule for the Georgetown Hoyas, beginning with Providence Saturday at noon. Both teams need a win, for different reasons.
The Hoyas continue to stay in range of its opponents, often to fall short, as they did with #4 Xavier. By contrast, PC has lost two straight and is approaching a point of no return when it comes to its NCAA tournament plans. The friars probably need to win two of three to secure a bid and Georgetown stands in its way.
Providence has won the last seven in this series and eight of nine since the Big East reorganization, five by six points or less.
The prior game with the Friars was lost at the line and off the turnover. PC was a +9 at the line and +8 on points of turnovers. Georgetown has been doing a better job with the latter, and also needs to avoid the fouls on driving guards that resulted in easy points in the last meeting.
Guard play has been inconsistent for the Friars in recent games. While Kyron Cartwright continues to lead the way in the backcourt, Jalen Lindsay has struggled in recent games, putting pressure on the team to compensate. The remaining starting five combined for just 34 points in PC's abbreviated loss to Seton Hall Thursday, despite seven threes between them. Providence was unable to stop Seton Hall inside, with a combined 45 from the Pirates' starting guards leading the way. By contrast, given Georgetown's weakness at guard, the Friars are best in the league in defending the three, which GU will test early via the hot hand of freshman Jamarko Pickett.
A strong second half start is vital for both teams. Georgetown stalled in the second half of the Xavier game and never recovered, while PC went cold at Butler, shooting just 15 percent after the break. Sophomore Alpha Diallo will be counted upon in this game to convert inside, and his matchup with Marcus Derrickson bears watching.
At this point of the season, very little that is new will be revealed Saturday, but it may be a time to determine if the Hoyas have any gas in the tank to carry them into the Big East tournament, where GU appears locked in to the 8 seed and a rematch with either DePaul or St. John's, both of which have stung the Hoyas in recent years in March.
The keys to the game Saturday will be echoed next week as well:
1. Three Point Margin: The hoyas like the threes early but have been poor in connecting late. Does Georgetown have the discipline to go inside when the outside shots aren't falling?
2. Govan's Will To Win: Jessie Govan hasn't been at his best over the last three games, thanks to early foul trouble and late game defensive inattention. Is he ready to step forward?
3. The Last Four Minutes: before the first game with PC, we asked, "How many times has Georgetown slumped to end the first half and saw it make the difference late in the second?" PC's 11-1 run to end the first half at the Civic Center kept the Friars close when it counted.
Two games in three days close out the 2017-18 home schedule for the Georgetown Hoyas, beginning with Providence Saturday at noon. Both teams need a win, for different reasons.
The Hoyas continue to stay in range of its opponents, often to fall short, as they did with #4 Xavier. By contrast, PC has lost two straight and is approaching a point of no return when it comes to its NCAA tournament plans. The friars probably need to win two of three to secure a bid and Georgetown stands in its way.
Providence has won the last seven in this series and eight of nine since the Big East reorganization, five by six points or less.
The prior game with the Friars was lost at the line and off the turnover. PC was a +9 at the line and +8 on points of turnovers. Georgetown has been doing a better job with the latter, and also needs to avoid the fouls on driving guards that resulted in easy points in the last meeting.
Guard play has been inconsistent for the Friars in recent games. While Kyron Cartwright continues to lead the way in the backcourt, Jalen Lindsay has struggled in recent games, putting pressure on the team to compensate. The remaining starting five combined for just 34 points in PC's abbreviated loss to Seton Hall Thursday, despite seven threes between them. Providence was unable to stop Seton Hall inside, with a combined 45 from the Pirates' starting guards leading the way. By contrast, given Georgetown's weakness at guard, the Friars are best in the league in defending the three, which GU will test early via the hot hand of freshman Jamarko Pickett.
A strong second half start is vital for both teams. Georgetown stalled in the second half of the Xavier game and never recovered, while PC went cold at Butler, shooting just 15 percent after the break. Sophomore Alpha Diallo will be counted upon in this game to convert inside, and his matchup with Marcus Derrickson bears watching.
At this point of the season, very little that is new will be revealed Saturday, but it may be a time to determine if the Hoyas have any gas in the tank to carry them into the Big East tournament, where GU appears locked in to the 8 seed and a rematch with either DePaul or St. John's, both of which have stung the Hoyas in recent years in March.
The keys to the game Saturday will be echoed next week as well:
1. Three Point Margin: The hoyas like the threes early but have been poor in connecting late. Does Georgetown have the discipline to go inside when the outside shots aren't falling?
2. Govan's Will To Win: Jessie Govan hasn't been at his best over the last three games, thanks to early foul trouble and late game defensive inattention. Is he ready to step forward?
3. The Last Four Minutes: before the first game with PC, we asked, "How many times has Georgetown slumped to end the first half and saw it make the difference late in the second?" PC's 11-1 run to end the first half at the Civic Center kept the Friars close when it counted.
