This is it. After an incredible, improbable run, our beloved Hoyas are in the Big East Tournament finals. To get there, they had to win three games in three days, dispatching Marquette, #14 Villanova (who was also the tournament’s top seed), and Seton Hall. If the Hoyas win today, they’re in the Big Dance. There’s a lot at stake.
Scouting Creighton
- The major story that’s been dominating the headlines about the Bluejays has been off the court. After a loss, McDermott made an analogy using the word “plantation” twice, exhorting his players to “stay on the plantation.” After coaching in the team’s loss to Villanova, he was suspended for their game against Butler before being reinstated for the Big East Tournament. Following McDermott’s comments, Creighton lost the commitment of 4-star recruit TyTy Washington.
- In the Big East Tournament, the player to watch for Creighton has predictably been the Bluejays’ leading scorer and All-Big East First team selection Marcus Zegarowski. He dropped 18 points against Butler while shooting an efficient 7 of 10 from the floor and 4 of 5 from three-point range. Zegarowski was slightly less effective against UConn, but he scored 8 of his 13 points in the second half, including two huge buckets in Creighton’s decisive 9-0 run to give the Bluejays the lead in the final minutes.
- Their most recent game against UConn was a rock fight, with both teams shooting under 28% from three and under 38% from the field. Creighton got the win by playing stout defense, holding UConn without a made field goal over the last six minutes of the game, in addition to dominating the battle of the boards, out-rebounding the Huskies 50-33, which included 17 offensive rebounds.
Keys to the Game
- Can Dante Harris keep it up? He’s been a revelation in the past two games, scoring 18 against Villanova and 15 against Seton Hall, while making clutch free throws in both contests. If Harris can continue to perform as a scorer while acting as a facilitator, that adds a new dimension to Georgetown’s game and offense. Harris will also be challenged on the other end of the floor, as he will draw a matchup with Marcus Zegarowski. In the previous two matchups between the Hoyas and Bluejays, Zegarowski had two of his worst games of the season. There’s no doubt Harris will come out energized and looking to turn in another stellar defensive performance on Zegarowski.
- Jamorko Pickett’s defense. Jamorko Pickett shut down Sandro Mamukelashivili, the co-Big East Player of the Year, in yesterday’s win over Seton Hall. Pickett held Mamu to just 8 points on 3-16 shooting from the field. WIth Creighton, Pickett will likely be tasked with guarding either Denzel Mahoney or Damien Jefferson. While Zegarowski is Creighton’s motor, both Mahoney and Jefferson are versatile players who are crucial to the Bluejays’ success. If Pickett can take one of Creighton’s major contributors out of the picture, the Hoyas will have a much better chance of slowing down the Bluejays’ multidimensional offensive attack.
- Maintain the energy: Across the Hoyas’ three Big East Tournament wins, one thing that has remained constant has been Georgetown’s high energy. When they faced a double-digit deficit in the second half against Villanova, the Hoyas never stopped fighting and clawed their way back. They brought that same energy from the opening tip against Seton Hall. Playing four games in four days would leave practically any team gassed. But this is the Big East Championship. The Hoyas need to embrace the moment and leave it all on the court for 40 more minutes.
Interesting Tidbits
- Georgetown is the first team in the history of the Big East to be picked last in the preseason coaches’ poll and then make the championship game.
- This is Georgetown’s first appearance in the championship game since 2010, when they fell to West Virginia.
- With a win tonight, Georgetown would be the sole holder of the record for most Big East Championships won with eight.
- The brother of Creigthon point guard and All-Big East First Team selection Marcus Zegarowski is none other than former Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams. If you needed another reason to dislike Creighton, there you go.
Predictions
Note: These are our reasoned predictions for what we think the outcome of the game will be. It doesn’t mean we’re rooting against the team. We want you to be able to trust what you’re reading, and that means we’ll give our honest analysis rather than what you might want to hear.
Will’s Prediction (18-6 on the season): Georgetown 72, Creighton 69
I cannot believe it. I’ve picked us for each game of the Big East Tournament so far, and I figure I should let it ride. Creighton poses a tough matchup, but we know they’re winnable, since the Hoyas won one already. The Hoyas have been able to contain Zegarowski this season, as he’s scored a combined 23 points in the two matchups so far, which is reason for optimism. That being said, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the Hoyas to win, as they’ll be battling fatigue from playing four games in four days, in addition to the skill gap. If they are to win, Georgetown will need to improve their shooting from the last time they faced Creighton (27.6% from the field), especially as Creighton held UConn to just 32.8% shooting from the field.
This pick isn’t based in any logic, because if it was, I’d pick Creighton to win, since on paper they’re the better team. However, Georgetown’s performance the past three days hasn’t been quantifiable, and I have a pretty good feeling. No matter the result, it’s been an incredible run.
Jacob’s Prediction (16-8 on the season): Georgetown 68, Creighton 64
F*** it. I’m all in.
I’ve tried to remain level-headed throughout this Big East Tournament and consequently picked against the Hoyas each of the last two games. But as Will said, this Georgetown team defies logic. Almost no one was predicting the Hoyas to make it to this point. Why not finish the job and win it all?
In all honesty, I feel pretty good about how the Hoyas matchup with Creighton. Dante Harris has already proven he can shut down Zegarowski, and if the last two games have taught us anything, it’s that Harris comes to play when the lights are at their brightest.
Additionally, the Bluejays’ frontcourt doesn’t scare me in the slightest; Christian Bishop is Creighton’s tallest starter at 6’7”. While the Bluejays’ bring a seven-footer off the bench in Ryan Kalkbrenner, he is built like a twig at just 235 pounds (which honestly seems like a generous measurement). All this is to say that I expect Qudus Wahab to feast down low. He’s been good so far this tournament. Tonight, Wahab will be great.
Let’s do this.
