Once again, Georgetown comes into a game where both, the Hoyas and their opponent is desperate for a win. In this case, it’s high octane Marquette that is coming to town.
The Hoyas are coming off an impressive 83-80 home win against 25th ranked Creighton. The win got the Georgetown to 2-3 in the conference. “We showed a lot of character,” said head coach Patrick Ewing after the win.
Omer Yurtseven led Georgetown win 20 points and 13 rebounds. Creighton head coach, Greg McDermott said “We just couldn’t stop him (Yurtseven).”
Yurtseven’s play was key but it was Georgetown’s balanced scoring that help them prevail. It isn’t a secret that Mac McClung has struggled with his shooting in Big East play, in part, because of the load he’s had to carry. His 7-14 performance against the Blue Jays was his best in conference play.
Marquette (12-5, 2-3) is led by one of the most explosive guards in the country in Markus Howard. The senior is averaging 27.3 points per game. That rises to 29.6 points per game in conference play. In his last outing, Howard lit up Xavier for 35 points.
Keys
Jagan Mosely – After with win over Creighton, Ewing said “He’s (Mosely) our MVP”. Coach isn’t that far off. As much as Mosely’s defense will be key on Saturday, he will also need to be a factor on offense. He certainly has his coach’s support on the offensive end. “If you’re open, take your shot,” said Ewing.
Balance Scoring – When James Akinjo left, Mac McClung exploded offensively. But, the other coaches get paid to. The Hoyas limited depth and lack of perimeter forwards, allows team to scheme for McClung on the perimeter. That has produced some tough shooting nights for the sophomore. The main reason was his rise in efficiency against Creighton was because his teammates had ample number of touches and made plays when they had the opportunity. The Hoyas will need to have, at least, four players score in double-digits if they want to keep up with high-powered Marquette.
Defense Must Show Up – It’s baffling that this team is so bad defensively. In conference play, they are last in field goal percentage defense, 3-point field goal percentage, and tied for last in scoring defense. They aren’t going to shut anyone down but they have to limit penetration against the Golden Eagles. Marquette’s aggressive offensive style opens the perimeter up for their shooters. With the Hoyas being so thin, they have to defend without getting in foul trouble.
