Game Preview: Georgetown Hoyas vs Xavier Musketeers

Game 20: Georgetown Hoyas (10-9, 1-5) vs No. 22 Xavier Musketeers (13-5, 3-3)

Series: Musketeers lead 10-4

Where/When: Cintas Center, Sunday 2pm

TV: CBS

KenPom: Xavier 80-69, 83 percent

Line: Xavier -9

“We need to do a better job this time around of defending their Princeton type of actions. I thought our zone helped up but we need to be better in man when we play.” - Xavier coach Chris Mack

The Hoyas will attempt to snap a seven game conference road losing streak by returning to the scene of their last BIG EAST away victory over 365 days ago.

In the first meeting between these two teams earlier this season, Georgetown had every opportunity to win a game in which neither team led by more than six but failed to capitalize on a poor shooting night by the Musketeers. Georgetown, as Mack mentioned in the above quote, shot 50 percent from the field while holding Xavier to just 39 percent. Trevon Bluiett, a 17 point per game scorer, managed just one point on 0-for-10 shooting but Xavier made 29 free throws to Georgetown’s 14.

If there was ever a good time to catch Xavier it might be right now as the Musketeers have lost three straight and are likely on their way out of the rankings altogether after spending three weeks this season in the Top 10.

Just when I was getting sucked into thinking that the Hoyas had a bit of a run in them they went out and played possibly their worst game in the continental United States this season in a lifeless drubbing at the hands of Providence last Monday.

From game to game, even half to half, it’s hard to decipher what the Hoyas are trying to do most of the time. Georgetown has seemingly moved back to more of the Princeton offense while also abandoning the press. This has all happened at a time where Rodney Pryor and LJ Peak have struggled shooting the ball. Georgetown has become too easy to guard in the halfcourt while still struggling to consistently defend as a team. That’s how you approach a .500 record twenty games into the season.

Reason to be cynical: Georgetown has lost 15 straight league games against teams not named St. John’s or DePaul. This is an unbelievable streak. I mean, I can’t believe it.

Reason to be delusional: Xavier isn’t all that great. In fact they are about to be a bubble team if they don’t watch out. If Georgetown can shoot well and get a few stops, you never know....

Prediction: The pain continues. Xavier 83, Hoyas 68