Game Preview: Georgetown vs Marquette

Game 13: Georgetown Hoyas (8-4) vs Marquette Golden Eagles (9-3)

Series: Hoyas lead 11-10

Where/When: Bradley Center, Wednesday 830 PM est

TV: FS1

Line: Marquette -5

KenPom: Marquette 85-79 win, 69 percent

Georgetown takes a six-game winning streak into Milwaukee as the Hoyas begin BIG EAST play against Marquette on Wednesday night. Yes, this is a league game in late December but it might be one of the bigger games in deciding whether the Hoyas end up in the NCAAs or the NIT. Georgetown needs to find a way to get 10 conference wins. Everyone’s favorite bracketologist Joe Lunardi has both Georgetown and Marquette in his NEXT FOUR OUT.

Jessie Govan joined Rodney Pryor and LJ Peak has Hoyas to make the BIG EAST honor roll this week after his second straight double-double against UNC Greensboro last week. Georgetown has seemed to settle down after losing Isaac Copeland as a mid year transfer. Marcus Derrickson, who started most of last season as a freshman, also had a big game against the Spartans and is now shooting 35 percent from 3-point range.

Getting to know the Golden Eagles: Yes, Henry Ellenson is gone after one season but coach Steve Wojciechowski has probably a deeper team this time around. Luke Fisher mans the middle for the third year in a row, averaging nearly 14 points and 6 rebounds per game. Jajuan Johnson and Hannif Cheatham also put up double-figure averages on a team that has seven players avearge at least nine points per game.

Much like the Hoyas, Marquette has benefited from new players. Freshmen Sam Hauser and Markus Howard have contributed right away, especially from long distance. UNC Asheville transfer Andrew Rowsey, who averaged 18 points per game in two seasons at the Big South school, is chipping in nearly 10 per game after sitting out last season while grad transfer Katin Reinhardt has been effective when healthy.

Road Woes: Georgetown has played Marquette on the road nine times since the Golden Eagles joined the BIG EAST in 2005. It hasn’t been pretty as the Hoyas have posted a 2-7 record over that span. One of the those wins required current special assistant coach Jonathan Wallace to hit three free throws near the death to just to force overtime. A win over Marquette would surely be a sign that this team is really clicking as it’s never been easy for the Hoyas to leave Milwaukee as happy campers.

Super Seven: Georgetown’s current six game winning streak is the best since the 2013-14 team rattled off that many early in the season before ultimately ending up in the NIT. Winning seven games in a row would be the best since Otto and the gang won 11 straight on their way to the school’s last BIG EAST regular season championship.

Reason to be delusional: Marcus Derrickson is just rounding into form and with a fourth scorer, Georgetown will be a handful for the BIG EAST. Marquette will be the first team to find this out firsthand.

Reason to be cynical: You’re worried that Pryor might have a few butterflies in his stomach with the start of league play.

Final Thoughts: Govan continues his recent form and the Hoyas get to lucky number seven as conference play begins. Georgetown 75, Marquette 69