After Georgetown picked up their biggest win of the season against Butler on Saturday, senior leader Jagan Mosely was quick to put it in perspective. “I told the team in the locker room, ‘If we don’t beat Providence, the win against Butler doesn’t mean anything.’”
That’s exactly the mindset that Mosely and the rest of the Hoyas will need if they are to continue to survive the gauntlet of Big East play.
Georgetown’s next potential roadblock comes Wednesday night, as the Hoyas host the Providence Friars for an 8:30 p.m. tip. At 7-6 in the Big East, the Friars are by no means a pushover, as they showed in a victory over conference leader Seton Hall on Saturday. The two teams have already met once this season on New Year’s Eve. In the Big East opener for both teams, Providence jumped out to a 31-point halftime lead and cruised to a 76-60 victory.
For Wednesday’s contest, Georgetown may once again be without one or both of their leading scorers. Talking to the media Tuesday afternoon, Coach Patrick Ewing offered no medical update on either Mac McClung (foot) or Omer Yurtseven (ankle). With Ewing’s unwillingness to commit to a timetable for McClung or Yurtseven to return, I’m not particularly confident that either will suit up on Wednesday night.
That would once again leave Georgetown with a rotation of six scholarship players and senior walk-on George Muresan. It has worked thus far, but can the Hoyas’ bare bones roster continue to find success?
As for Providence, depth issues are the last thing on the Friars’ minds. Ed Cooley’s squad regularly goes nine deep, with a handful of bench players capable of contributing. However, the heartbeat of the Friars team is senior wing Alpha Diallo. “I would say he’s probably one of the most complete players in the conference,” commented Mosely. Diallo has certainly shown that thus far this season, leading Providence in points (14.0 per game) and rebounds (8.2 per game). Diallo is also more than capable of taking over a game, as he showed in a 35-point outing against Seton Hall on Saturday.
Providence’s backcourt is anchored by David Duke and Luwane Pipkins. Duke is the bigger threat of the two, shooting 44% from three-point range and also having the length to be a factor at the rim. While the grad-transfer Pipkins is shooting an abysmal 31.5% from the field, he certainly does not lack confidence. I, for one, am hoping McClung returns from injury and shows Pipkins up, especially after the trash-talking incident at Big East media day.
While the Friars boast a lot of length on the wing, they also have a bruiser inside in Nate Watson. Yurtseven was not too bothered by Watson in the first meeting, posting a double-double, though most of that damage came in the second half with Georgetown already trailing big. If Yurtseven is unable to play, Qudus Wahab is more than capable of stepping in, as he has already shown.
Georgetown and Providence play contrasting styles. While the Hoyas try to get up-and-down, the Friars are rather deliberate, preferring to force their opponents into half-court sets. According to KenPom, Providence ranks 181st in the country in adjusted tempo.
“They’re more of an inside-out team, so, you know, wanna force them to make tough shots from the perimeter,” Georgetown’s Terrell Allen said Tuesday. Ranking seventh in the Big East in three-point shooting, Providence is by no means a lights-out shooting team. Preventing the Friars from getting easy buckets at the rim will go a long way in giving Georgetown the upper hand.
Despite the Hoyas’ poor showing against Providence in the conference opener, Ewing oozed confidence in lead-up to Wednesday’s game. “From the (first) Providence game, I think we’ve grown significantly,” Ewing said. “To me, the best is still yet to come.” Let’s hope he’s right on that.
Jacob’s Prediction (18-7 on the year): Georgetown 79, Providence 71
It feels like it has been years since Georgetown’s visit to Providence on New Year’s Eve. Since that embarrassing loss, the Hoyas have undergone triumphs and tragedy, and overall just become a better team. Talking with Jagan Mosely and Terrell Allen on Tuesday, the Hoyas’ senior leaders certainly seem locked in and focused on doing whatever has to be done to continue getting W’s. Here’s to hoping Georgetown gives the home crowd something to cheer for!
Will’s Prediction (16-9 on the year): Georgetown 73, Providence 69
I barely recognize the Hoyas from two months ago when they lost at Providence in humiliating fashion. The team has grown leaps and bounds since then, and it’s paid off, as they’re knocking on the door of a NCAA tourney bid.
I have no clue what’s up with Mac McClung nor do I know when Omer Yurtseven is going to come back. I do know one thing: the Hoyas are going to keep fighting. If they can take advantage of Providence’s propensity to shoot bad shots and overpower the Friars with superior guard play, I like the chances that the Hoyas will notch their third straight win. Georgetown stock is rising. It’s time to invest.
