That was quite satisfying. Georgetown defeated St. John's 77-52 in the most impressive performance since Big East play started. Austin Freeman, Jason Clark, and Chris Wright each played spectacularly, and were supported by new super 6th man Hollis Thompson. Clark scored 16 points on 5-5 from the field, including 3-3 from three point land. Thompson, who has improved dramatically since the beginning of the year, came off the bench for the first time this year and scored 15 points, including a ferocious dunk and foul in the first half.
Georgetown looked like a completely different team than the one that lost three straight games in early January. Nate Lubick started alongside Clark, Freeman, Wright and Julian Vaughn for the first time this season. The defensive intensity exhibited tonight was far superior to anything we've seen in a while. The Hoyas outrebounded St. John's 39-28, and made 26 baskets on 21 assists.
After The Jump, more thoughts.
Everything tonight was awesome. The fans were loud and braved a severe snowstorm to bring a ton of energy. The Hoyas played hard, knocked down shots, and looked completely re-energized by their eight day layoff. Georgetown is now 4-4 in conference play and on a three game winning streak. In a conference that looks much more muddled in the past week, the Hoyas now control their own destiny with 10 games remaining on their Big East slate. With Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Villanova looking vulnerable, the Hoyas can re-enter the discussion for top teams in the conference if the effort we saw tonight is sustained.
Georgetown travels to Philadelphia on Saturday to face a reeling Villanova squad that got waxed by Providence tonight. Between Villanova going down tonight to a team who hadn't won a conference game in a year as of last Friday and Syracuse losing by 22 at home against Seton Hall last night, I'm not sure what is up and what is down. The conference has been more talented in previous years, but it has never been this competitive top to bottom. Every single win is one to be cherished, and Hoya fans should really enjoy the beatdown we gave St. John's tonight.
As Jay-Z and Swizz Beats say in their banger track, it's On To The Next One. Villanova on Saturday and then home against Louisville on Monday. Let's stay focused boys.