Preview: Georgetown at Butler

Game 25: Georgetown Hoyas (14-10, 4-9) at Butler Bulldogs (17-9, 7-6)

When & Where: Tuesday 630pm, Hinkle Fieldhouse

Series: Hoyas lead 6-5

Last Meeting: Dec 27, 2017 - Butler 91, Georgetown 89 (2OT)

TV: CBS Sports Network (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas)

KenPom: Butler 81, Georgetown 69 (85 percent)

Line: Butler -11, o/u 149

Georgetown finally broke through over the weekend with its best win of the season against Seton Hall. In following the script from recent weeks it was anything but easy as the Hoyas nearly squandered a 17-point second half lead over the visiting Pirates before Marcus Derrickson drilled a deep 3-pointer to secure the first big win in coach Patrick Ewing’s inaugural season. Its was Georgetown’s first win over Seton Hall in six tries.

Derrickson bounced back from a subpar effort at Providence to finish the Seton Hall game with 22 points and a career high 18 rebounds. The Bowie native is second overall on the team with 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game but in league play Derrickson has upped his game to lead the Hoyas with 17.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Jamorko Pickett had 18 points and added two more 3-pointers to his team high total of 43 and on Monday was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Pickett joins Jahvon Blair as Hoyas to win the award this season.

Coach Ewing got a great combined effort at the point guard position against Seton Hall from Jonathan Mulmore and Trey Dickerson. The duo combined for 17 points, eight assists, and a manageable four turnovers in 40 minutes.

Although the coaches and players have changed over the past few years, Georgetown and Butler have continued to play close games, often needing more than the scheduled 40 minutes. Earlier this season the Hoyas probably played their best first half of the season in taking a 42-24 advantage into the halftime break of their opening BIG EAST game against the Bulldogs. The Hoyas were unable to stay in front of Kamar Baldwin and Butler the rest of the way and eventually fell in double overtime despite leading by as many as 20 at one point. Baldwin finished with 31 points, Kelan Martin had 27 while reserve guard Sean McDermott had a career high 12 rebounds.

While road wins are always difficult to come by in league play, Georgetown has had success at Hinkle Fieldhouse, going 3-1 at the historic venue since Butler joined the league in the 2013-14 season.

Georgetown has gone 21 straight games in BIG EAST play without posting back-to-back victories. The last time Georgetown didn’t win at least two consecutive league games in a season was in 2004.

Scouting Butler: Like most of the middle of the BIG EAST, Butler is in a meh position at the moment. The Bulldogs have lost two straight games and are 5-5 in their last 10 contests. Of course those two losses are to possible 1 Seeds in Villanova and Xavier so it’s not exactly a full blown crisis in Indianapolis. Martin and Baldwin lead the team in scoring at 20.7 and 16 points per game respectively. The Bulldogs are one of the better offensive teams in the country and the league. Butler is second in league at scoring at 83 points per game. The Bulldogs hit the mark from everywhere by coming in second at field goal percentage, fourth in three-point percentage, and third from the line.

BIG EAST Bottom: Up until last week it looked as though there was a clear bottom three in the league in Georgetown, DePaul, and St. John’s. Those three schools had a combined five league wins but they had all came in games against each other.

Last week those three schools combined to pick up four wins outside of their group including the Red Storm knocking off then No. 1 Villanova in Philadelphia. So last week’s results ,coupled with Marquette’s recent fade, has given hope that the seventh spot is now up for grabs.

Here’s a look at the updated standings, now with the Golden Eagles included:

7 Marquette 5-8

8 Georgetown 4-9

9 DePaul 3-9

10 St. John’s 2-11

Prediction: Butler 74, Georgetown 69