When Georgetown’s non-conference was announced, there was a sense of excitement around the opportunities the Hoyas would have for signature wins.
The games that were highlighted were: Penn State (home), Texas (neutral), Duke (neutral), Oklahoma State (road), SMU (road) and Syracuse (home).
The Hoyas are 2-2 in the first four games with two SMU (8-0) and Syracuse (4-4) remaining.
The two wins have come against Big XII teams that are projected to be in the upper half of the conference. The neutral court win over a Texas team that was ranked at the time should carry over well. The 82-66 win was dominating. The Oklahoma State (7-1) win could be the difference between getting in the tournament and not getting in. If the Cowboys finish where projected, a true road win by the Hoyas will be a massive feather in their cap.
In the losses, the Duke loss will be viewed as a “good loss”. It was a neutral court loss a team that will probably finish in the top 5 by the end of the season. The Penn State (7-1) loss falls in the “bad loss” category. Though the Nittany Lions have been better than most thought, the optics were bad for the Hoyas. They played a lackluster game at home, losing by 15 points. It was a 15 point loss that felt more like a 25 point loss because Georgetown was never truly in the game.
Add that to the UNCG (7-2) loss, and the two remaining non-conference games are critical to the Hoyas tournament hopes.
Like Oklahoma State, SMU will come into the game undefeated. It will be a great chance for the Hoyas to get another true road win. Unlike Oklahama State, SMU’s schedule has left them void of a signature win. The best win the Mustangs have came against UNLV. The Running Rebels (4-6) are ranked 154th per KenPom.
Georgetown will get Syracuse at home as the former Big East mates renew their rivalry. The Orange are losers of three in a row heading into their conference game with Georgia Tech.
Georgetown 81 Oklahoma State 74
A short-handed Georgetown team went to Stillwater and grabbed one of their best wins of the season. The Hoyas were led by Mac McClung’s 33 points. “Mac stepped up and played, to me, one of his best games as a Hoya,” said head coach Patrick Ewing.
Omer Yurtseven chipped in with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
Georgetown had a four point lead at halftime that would grow to eight. But a 21-8 run in the second half gave the Cowboys a five point lead.
The Hoyas would grab the lead back went McClung would hit back-to-back-to-back three pointers spurring a personal 9-0 run. Georgetown would never lose the lead after that.
Patrick Ewing Postgame Quotes
“Terrell has been in big games. He was in big games last year playing for Johnny Dawkins.”
“Key to winning was we picked it up defensively. Everyone not just one person.”
