Preview: Richmond at Georgetown

Game 7: Richmond Spiders (2-4) at Georgetown Hoyas (5-1)

When: Wednesday, 7pm

Where: Capital One Arena

Series: Hoyas lead 7-2, Last meeting in 2017 (Georgetown 82-76 win)

TV: CBS Sports Network (Tom McCarthy & Steve Lappas)

Radio: Team 980 (Rich Chvotkin)

KenPom Prediction: Georgetown 79, Richmond 69 (82 percent)

Line: Georgetown -12.5

Georgetown continues a three game homestand when they host the Richmond Spiders tonight at Capital One Arena.

Despite Richmond’s early struggles for the second year in a row, the match-up between Jessie Govan and Grant Golden should be a good one. Govan leads Georgetown in scoring (18.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) while Golden (20 ppg & 5.7 rpg) does the same for the Spiders.

Even in last season’s loss, Golden had his way with 24 points and 10 rebounds while connecting on 4 of 8 three-pointers. Tonight’s match-up will be one of the best tests for Govan before league play begins.

In a bit of fortuitous scheduling, the Hoyas will be facing their second straight opponent that runs most of its offense out of Princeton sets although Richmond has no one on its roster like Campbell’s Chris Clemons – not many do.

In what looked like one of the tougher tests on the Hoyas home non-conference schedule, the Spiders are off to another bad start after already suffering home defeats to lowly Longwood and Hampton.

In the loss to Hampton, Richmond suffered a huge loss as guard Nick Sherod injured his knee and will be out for the rest of the season. Point guard and defensive specialist Jacob Gilyard sat out the Richmond game with an injured groin and is listed as day-to-day.

Coach Chris Mooney, now in his 14^th season, was able to overcome a 2-10 start last season to finish 9-9 in the Atlantic 10 but this is now looking like another losing campaign in Richmond if things don’t get better fast. Mooney guided the Spiders to back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids in 2010 and 2011, which included a trip to the Sweet 16. Usually a solid program, last season’s 12-20 mark for Richmond was their first losing season since 2007.

NOTABLE

Balance – Through six games the Hoyas have three different players – Josh LeBlanc, Jessie Govan, and Trey Mourning – with double-doubles on the season. While Govan was expected to have such games – he averaged a double-double last season – LeBlanc and Mourning are pleasant surprises so far. Mourning earned a spot on the BIG EAST Honor Roll after posting career highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds as his Hall of Fame father watched courtside.

Pickett Struggles? – Although coach Patrick Ewing wouldn’t consider the sophomore in a slump after the win over Campbell last Saturday, Jamorko sits sixth on Georgetown in both scoring average and field goal attempts. After opening the season by scoring in double figures in wins over UMES and CCSU, Pickett has scored a combined 12 points in the last four games including a scoreless performance in the loss to Loyola Marymount in Jamaica. Pickett has as many field goals on the season as turnovers with 13. With the trip to Syracuse getting closer, Georgetown needs Pickett to find his form from last season.

Season Best - Georgetown committed a season low eight turnovers in the win over Campbell. Freshmen starting guards James Akinjo and Mac McClung combined for just one turnover while reserve guards Jagan Mosely and Jahvon Blair combined for six assists and zero turnovers. Campbell coach Kevin McGeehan admitted afterwards that he was disappointed in his team’s inability to turn the Hoyas over particularly with the second half pressure his team was applying. If Georgetown can keep their turnovers to 13 or less they will give themselves a shot in most games in BIG EAST play.

Prediction: Georgetown 75, Richmond 68