GAME THREAD: Georgetown at UConn

Game 21: Georgetown Hoyas (9-11, 7-8) at UConn Huskies (13-6, 10-6)

Where: Gampell Pavilion

When: Saturday Noon

Series: Hoyas lead 36-31

Last meeting: Georgetown lost to UConn 70-57 at McDonough less than two weeks ago. Qudus Wahab had 18 points and 10 rebounds but the Hoyas were dominated down low ending up on the wrong end of a 50-24 tally in points in the paint.

TV: CBS (Carter Blackburn & Clark Kellog)

Radio: The Team 980, SiriusXM 383, Radio.com (Rich Chvotkin, 47th season)

KenPom Ranking: UConn 26, Georgetown 85

KenPom Projection: UConn 73, Georgetown 63 (80 percent)

Line: UConn -10, o/u 137

PREVIEW

Hey we can all pretty much agree that Patrick Ewing getting this team to a 7-8 conference record is rather impressive and the rest is gravy. Well the first chance at gravy comes Saturday afternoon as the Hoyas look to even their season score with UConn.

Georgetown has played five BIG EAST schools twice this season and only Villanova has earned a sweep. The Hoyas split with St. John’s, Seton Hall, Creighton, and Butler with a shot at adding UConn to that list.

Even though James Bouknight and RJ Cole combined for 37 of UConn’s 70 points in their win at Georgetown, it was down low where the Hoyas were dominated. As mentioned above, UConn more than doubled up the Hoyas in points in the paint (50-24).

Ewing needs Chudier Bile to stay out of foul trouble. This is no secret. Bile has been a force during Georgetown’s 6-3 run following the covid pause but he was a complete non-factor due to foul trouble in the first meeting. His line - 5 points, 5 fouls - has to change for Georgetown to have a shot at spoiling Senior Day.

If Georgetown finishes .500 in the league and then gets their first win in the BET since 2016, well, just wow.

DOING THE DOUBLE

Since 2000, Georgetown has had a chance to both win and spoil a Senior Day in the same season 17 times. The Hoyas have pulled it off four times, most recently under Ewing in 2019 when the Hoyas won Senior Day vs Seton Hall and then beat Marquette in their home finale. They actually played another Senior Day that season in losing at DePaul.

Hey, nobody’s perfect.

Here are the years and opponents for doing the double:

2019 - Seton Hall (H), Marquette (a)

2015 - Seton Hall (H), Butler (a)

2002 - Rutgers (H), West Virginia (a)

2001 - Rutgers (H), Notre Dame (a)

The Hoyas are 4-15 as visitors on Senior Days since 2000 proving it’s not easy to score the away win on an emotional occasion even when you have a solid tournament team!

In researching this I was certain that 2008 was a year where the Hoyas ruined Marquette’s senior festivities in that game where Jonathan Wallace saved them with three ridiculously high pressure free throws but believe it or not Tom Crean scheduled the rare non-conference home finale. I won’t share who the opponent was as it will hurt and I’m not here for that.

LAST TIME AWAY (IN THE BIG EAST)

Does anyone remember the last time Georgetown played at UConn in a Big East conference game?

Well if you don’t, sit back and enjoy. Otto Porter was everything and even more.

Otto and Markel Starts each played 49 mins. Jabril Trawick played 44 while Nate Lubick went an even 40. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera got in 37 bench minutes. Ah, the good ol days.

The Hoyas trailed 78-71 with 2 mins left and ended the game on an 8-0 run to win their 10th game in a row.

BET SEEDING

Georgetown can still finish anywhere between 5 and 9 in terms of seeding for the conference tournament. The path to fifth involves winning and also both Seton Hall and Marquette coming up with wins of their own.

If Georgetown loses at UConn the best they can do is finish 7th depending on other results but a spot in the dreaded 8/9 game is more likely.

Bobby’s Prediction

Hoyas 72, UConn 69

The Huskies are going to find out what others already know, it’s difficult to sweep the 2020-21 Hoyas.

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

HOYA SAXA!