GAME THREAD: Georgetown at DePaul

Game 19: Georgetown Hoyas (7-11, 5-8) at DePaul Blue Demons (4-11, 2-11)

When: Saturday noon

Where: Wintrust Arena

Series: Hoyas lead 32-11

Last meeting: Georgetown fell at DePaul 74-68 on Feb. 22 despite 19 points from Jamorko Pickett. The Hoyas won the earlier meeting at home to earn the split of the season series for the third year in a row under coach Patrick Ewing.

TV: FS1 (Eric Collins & Dickey Simpkins)

Radio: The Team 980, SiriusXM 384, Radio.com (Rich Chvotkin, 47th season)

KenPom Ranking: Georgetown 96, DePaul 123

KenPom Projection: Georgetown 70, DePaul 69 (51 percent)

Line: Georgetown -2.5, o/u 142

PREVIEW

After a disappointing home loss to UConn during the week in which Georgetown came out flat offensively and never quite recovered, the Hoyas travel to Chicago looking to get back on track. It’s also the Hoyas last chance at putting together their first 3-game winning streak in conference play since 2016-17.

If you think I’m making too much of this, you’re wrong. Do you know the other BIG EAST school that hasn’t won at least three consecutive conference games since 2016-17? I’ll give you a hint, it’s also the only other school that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in that stretch.

Yep, you guessed it. It’s DePaul.

Look Connecticut has been back in the league for five minutes and they have a 4-game streak under their belts. (Now if you look at the teams the Huskies knocked off to do it, it’s not super impressive but it is what it is and it counts.)

So what needs to happen later today for Georgetown to surpass last season’s conference win total?

Well I’d go with:

1. Starting stronger and not forcing Ewing take an early timeout. Look sometimes the early timeout works but why is it needed?
2. Jahvon Blair needs to get out of his slump despite teams have been focusing on him. Blair is the Hoyas leading scorer at 16 per game but has just a total of 12 the past two outings. Georgetown needs a strong Blair and Pickett to win. This is no trade secret.
3. Chudier Bile must avoid foul trouble. Hoyas are 1-8 when they shoot fewer FTs than their opponents and Bile can get to the line among his other recent good qualities.

Right or wrong, the result of this game will likely go shape the perception of this season for Georgetown. And that’s even more true if it’s a loss. The Hoyas have already equaled last season’s conference win total in fewer games played but another loss to DePaul would do some damage to the aesthetics of the campaign.

NOTES

Georgetown was a perfect 14-0 against DePaul in BIG EAST regular season games before the 2016-17 season. Since then the series has been split right down the middle at 4-4...Georgetown has shot 15 of 21 from the line in each of the past two games and it’s also the first time this season the Hoyas have shot more FTs than 3-pointers in consecutive outings...DePaul is 0-6 at home in BE play...DePaul freshman Kobe Elvis has - in my opinion - one of the coolest names in the conference and shoots 40 percent from deep....

Bobby’s Prediction

Hoyas 81, Blue Demons 77

I can’t pick against the Hoyas in this spot while also keeping what’s left of my sanity.

Leave your witty (and non-witty) in-game comments here!

HOYA SAXA!