Georgetown Travels to DePaul for a Must-Not-Lose Saturday Night Special

Game 27: Georgetown Hoyas (15-11, 5-8) at DePaul Blue Demons (13-13, 1-12)

When: Saturday 9 PM

Where: Winturst Arena

Series: Hoyas lead 32-10

Last Meeting: Georgetown won 76-72 two weeks ago at home

TV: FS1 (Chris Vosters & Stephen Bardo)

Radio: The Team 980 (Rich Chvotkin)

KenPom Rankings: Georgetown 51, DePaul 85

KenPom Prediction: DePaul 75, Georgetown 74 (52 percent)

NET Rankings: Georgetown 52, Providence 74

Line: DePaul -2, o/u 147.5

We’ve hit the home stretch and after a disappointing loss to Providence during the week, Georgetown has to figure out a way to close out the season 3-2 in order to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament.

Simply put, sweeping a DePaul squad that has absolutely collapsed in league play is an absolute must for Georgetown.

Mac McClung (foot injury) tried to comeback against Providence but only lasted eight minutes before signaling to a ref to stop play so he could exit. The sophomore never returned to the bench and looks to be done for the season although coach Patrick Ewing still has hopes for his return.

The other big injury news on Omer Yurtseven is that he’s been cleared to play but is still experiencing pain in his left ankle/foot. The NC State transfer was injured in Georgetown’s earlier win over DePaul on Feb. 8. He warmed up at Butler before coming up as a late scratch. Yursteven didn’t dress against Providence.

An active Yurtseven would provide Ewing and the Hoyas a big boost as the season winds down. Qudus Wahab and Tim Ighoefe have stepped up in his absence but the lack of available options has become cruel at this point.

Jahvon Blair, Terrell Allen, Jagan Mosely, and Jamorko Pickett basically have to play all game at this point. To their credit, they have done a great job of staying out of foul trouble and playing smart.

Mosely seems banged up a bit – something Ewing admitted after Providence – but he’s rarely come out as he’s trying to help Georgetown get across the finish line and make the NCAA Tournament in his final season.

Allen, who is playing his one and only season at Georgetown, has quickly become a fan favorite in his return to the area. Mosely and Allen are in the Top 10 in the conference in assists and Top 6 when you only include Big East games.

Pickett stepped it up last game with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds but the team could still use a bit more. It’s probably his turn to put in a big offensive night.

One thing that really hurt the Hoyas last game was a lack of perimeter shooting. With the current options, Georgetown needs to find a way to both get and make more 3-pointers. They were a ridiculously efficient 10 for 15 from deep in winning at Butler but went just 4 for 12 last game. Pickett is at his best as a catch and shoot 3-point shooter, something that could be useful down the stretch.

BLAIR SWISH PROJECT

Since becoming a starter five games ago, Blair is averaging a team-best 21.4 ppg and has set his career-high twice. Obviously, it’s a short sample size but that average would be good for second in the conference over an entire season. The junior guard went for a career-high 30 in the first meeting with DePaul. Blair has played 196 of a possible 200 minutes, which includes four complete games. This has been a pretty good stretch for a guy that got a DNP-Coaches Decision against Texas in November.

SCOUTING DEPAUL

After putting together a really impressive non-conference resume, DePaul has lost 12 of 13 to start league play. Now the good news for everyone else in the league – Georgetown included – is that Dave Leitao’s 12-1 start has made DePaul a solid opponent by the numbers even after an awful 2020 to date.

Charlie Moore, Paul Reed, Jalen Coleman-Lands, and Jaylen Butz all score in double-figures for DePaul. Reed averages a double-double while leading the Blue Demons in rebounding.

So, for as bad as DePaul has been recently, this is probably a game they are circling on their calendar as a way to get back into the win column. After being blown out twice since losing at Georgetown, a quick start for the Hoyas might be enough to bury DePaul.

Last year’s meeting was a complete house of horrors for Georgetown, losing 101-69 in a game that I wouldn’t have believed happened had I not watched from start to finish.

Prediction: Georgetown 72, DePaul 66 – Another under 80 points win for Ewing and the Hoyas who will stay on the bubble.