Game Preview: Georgetown vs Coppin State

Game 8: Georgetown Hoyas (3-4) vs Coppin State Eagles (0-8)

Series: First Meting

Where/When: Verizon Center, Wednesday 630PM EST

TV: Fox Sports Networks (MASN2 in DC)

Line: N/A

KenPom: Hoyas 85-61, 99 percent

Georgetown will be able to complete its MEAC Bingo card on Wednesday night when they face Coppin State for the first time. Up until now the Eagles had been the lone MEAC school to never face the Hoyas.

This is the third of five 6:30 PM home starts this season and the first to allow fans into the Verizon Center for simply retweeting something from the University. Unless Coppin State travels exceptionally well this might be one of the lowest reported attendances of all-time at the Verizon Center for a Georgetown game.

On the surface this game seems like it will be no contest but St. John’s loss to Delaware State on Tuesday should serve as a reminder – as if Georgetown needed one – that every team can be dangerous over forty minutes.

After beating Howard on Sunday, Coach John Thompson III said that Isaac Copeland would probably miss the Coppin State game. If that holds true this will be the eighth straight game to start the season in which the Hoyas will be without a starter or expected rotational player (Hayes, Derrickson, Cameron, Copeland).

Getting to know the Eagles

Fang Mitchell no longer coaches Coppin State, a fact that was extremely disappointing to learn on Wikipedia.

Coppin State dropped its last home game to Division II Chestnut Hill on Monday night. The most interesting thing I’ve found in looking up Coppin State info is that Chestnut Hill competes in a college sport that I didn’t know existed - Sprint Football. I fell down the Sprint Football rabbit hole Tuesday night rather than getting worried about which Coppin State guard could go for 30 on Wednesday night.

Dejuan Clayton and Tre Thomas are the most likely guys to give the Hoyas fits.

Hoyas

Why to Watch:

Is Derrickson back? Marcus hit his first two 3-pointers of the season against Howard in a season high 21 minutes. With Copeland likely to be out for the second straight game, Derrickson will get another chance to shake off the rust as he continues to come back from his own injuries.

Will Reggie Cameron play? After not being with the team for a few games, Cameron was back on the sidelines against Howard. The next time the Hoyas lone fourth year senior checks in this season will be the first time. Cameron shot a career high 36 percent from 3-point range last season and could provide a spark off the bench should his number be called.

Ron Thompson: After his interesting analysis during the Arkansas State game, Ron has proven that he will be worth the listen going forward during Georgetown games.

Reason to be delusional: If Georgetown is ever going to get on a roll this season, it has to be now. For a team that still hasn’t won consecutive games this season, this is the second of three very winnable home games.

Reason to be cynical: We’ve made it to game No. 8 there still isn’t a set rotation.

Final Thoughts: Coppin State lost by 33 to Grand Canyon and Dan Majerle didn’t even play. Georgetown needs this game to be more like USC-Upstate than Howard as it’s the final layup on the schedule. Hoyas 80, Eagles 55