Just as it seemed Patrick Ewing’s squad had turned a definitive corner after drubbing Villanova, they fell flat on their face at Creighton. The Bluejays ran Georgetown out of Omaha, torching the Hoyas by a score of 82-69. These two performances continue to emphasize a theme that has developed throughout this season: it is close to impossible to predict which team will show up on a game-to-game basis. This is a true sign of a developing, young team. Some games will show flashes of greatness while others will display growing pains.
So what team will show up against the 10th place DePaul Blue Demons at Capital One Arena? Let’s find out.
On the surface, many Georgetown fans would expect this to be an easy game for the Hoyas. DePaul sits at 5-9 in the Big East and has lost its last three games all by double-digits. However, the Hoyas should not take the Blue Demons lightly as they have a plethora of long players who can cause all sorts of problems. I’m primarily talking about Max Strus and Paul Reed (both are very different types of players but can hurt Georgetown in different ways).
Strus averages 17.3 points per game, good for 6th in the Big East this season, and is the purest definition of a volume scorer. Standing at 6-foot-6, 215lbs, Strus obviously presents a threat on the wing for Georgetown. Strus is a dynamic player, but, as I said above, he’s not known for his efficiency. Strus only shoots 39.8% from the field and under 35% from beyond the arc. Strus will have his hands full with Jamorko Pickett from start to finish. Pickett’s lateral quickness and length make him a lethal defender on the perimeter. However, Strus is equally as dangerous once he sees the ball go through the hoop as he’s a streaky shooter. In the clip below, Strus casually buries back-to-back threes from the same spot in under a minute.
Paul Reed presents a unique challenge for Josh LeBlanc and Kaleb Johnson. Reed may not be the most polished scorer, but he burns opponents with his athleticism and hustle. Reed does a great job of attacking the offensive glass and creating second chance opportunities for the Blue Devils as he averages 2.6 offensive boards per game (5th in the Big East). In the clip below, Reed uses a strong pump fake to get his defender off his feet and viciously attacks the rim.
One area where Georgetown has a huge advantage is in transition. DePaul is certainly not known for its defensive prowess, as it ranks 8th in scoring defense in the Big East (granted Georgetown ranks 10th but we’re not going to talk about that). Ewing’s offense is built to play with speed as James Akinjo and Mac McClung can each utilize their strengths in transition to create opportunities for themselves and their teammates. James ranks 1st in the Big East in assists per game and his vision and decision-making is impeccable in open space. And everyone knows about Mac’s athleticism by now. In the clip below, DePaul turns the ball over in the half-court and Providence executes the full-court break to perfection for an easy bucket.
That being said, Georgetown’s defense has been the definition of a rollercoaster this season. While sporting the top scoring offense in the Big East, the Hoyas also rock the Big East’s worst scoring defense. The frustrating aspect of this is that we all saw how locked in Georgetown can be against ‘Nova. Creighton’s motion offense completely threw the Hoyas on their heels. I think Georgetown will find more success against DePaul considering the Blue Devils are a bottom four three-point shooting team in the Big East and rely heavily on ball penetration and inside-out movement. This slower offense should allow Georgetown’s defense to settle in and play more aggressively than it did against Creighton.
Lastly, this team will only go as far as Jessie Govan takes them. Jessie looked relatively out of sorts in Omaha this past weekend. Ewing’s offense needs to emphasize getting Jessie the ball down low in spots where he can do damage. Jessie will have his work cut out for him against the 6-foot-9, 258lbs Femi Olujobi down low. But Georgetown’s young guards will be tasked with providing Govan solid entry passes to give him the chance to attack down low.
At this point in time, Georgetown needs to eliminate the big picture, tune out the noise, and focus on each game at a time. It sounds simple, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in talks of sneaking into the big dance. If Ewing can regather his team’s attention and direct all of their energy into taking out DePaul, they should walk out with a victory. A win would bump the Hoyas up to 4th place in the Big East.
Look for the Hoyas to attack in transition early and often. They should have no issues controlling the defensive glass if Govan, LeBlanc, and Johnson are locked in. Keep an eye on Pickett; he has struggled to find his stroke from deep in the previous two games and could be due for a big game. Georgetown’s defense should do a better job of controlling the game, Georgetown could be in store for a big win.
Prediction: Georgetown 76, DePaul 70
