Game 14: Villanova University (11-2)
Feb. 7, 2:30 pm (EST)
Villanova, PA
Finneran Pavilion (6,500)
No Public Seating Available
Media:
TV: Fox Broadcast
GU Radio: WTEM-980
VU Radio: WBEN-95.7
Game Notes: Georgetown
Game Notes: Villanova
About the Wildcats:
Location: Villanova, PA
Enrollment: 6,500
Conference: Big East
2019-20 Record: 24-7
Record vs. Georgetown: 43-44
Meet The Coach:
Jay Wright
(Bucknell '83)
20th season, 486-185
Career: 608-270
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| Expected Starters |
| Name |
Ht. |
Pts. |
| Collin Gillespie |
6-3 |
14.6 |
| Justin Moore |
6-4 |
13.2 |
| Caleb Daniels |
6-4 |
11.4 |
| Jermaine Samuels |
6-7 |
9.2 |
| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |
6-9 |
15.4 |
| |
| Team Stats: |
| Points/Game: |
77.5 |
| Points Allowed: |
67.4 |
| FG Shooting: |
45.6 |
| FG Defense |
45.0 |
| 3FG Shooting: |
36.5 |
| FT Shooting: |
76.5 |
| Rebounds/Game |
35.0 |
| Assists/Game |
15.2 |
| Turnovers/Game |
8.9 |
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| Last 5 Games (3-2) |
12/23: VU 85, Marquette 68
01/19: VU 76, Seton Hall 74
01/23: VU 71, Providence 56
01/30: VU 80, Seton Hall 72
02/03: St. John's 70, VU 59
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Game Notes
- This is only the second appearance for Georgetown in Finneran Pavilion. The teams previously played in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons at the gym, and split the two games.
- Villanova is 8-0 in home games versus Georgetown since the realignment of the Big East in the 2013-14 season.
- Georgetown is 2-13 in its last l4 games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 10, 0-4 under Patrick Ewing. Its last win came over a top 10 team came against #4-ranked Villanova at Verizon Center in 2015.
- Villanova was picked first in the 2020-21 Big East pre-season poll.
- Georgetown is 18-11 all time in games played on February 7, 7-4 in the Big East era.
Preview
As series go in the Big East, this has been a painful one.
Since 2013, Villanova is 13-2 against Georgetown and 8-0 at home, the Hoyas' worst run against a conference foe since it dropped 13 of 14 versus Connecticut from 1997 through 2006. This Sunday, there is renewed hope among players and fans that the improved play seen over the past week will make this a closer affair than recent Georgetown-Villanova games in Philadelphia, where the Wildcats have won seven of the eight by 10 or more points.
When Villanova's guards are on, they are an extremely tough out. Senior Colin Gillespie scored 18 in the Wildcats' win in Washington, but needs to improve on recent games, where he was an abysmal 2 for 12 (0-8 from three range) versus St. John's. Gillespie is a combined 4 of 19 in his last two games, both on the road, and will need a better effort at home to give the Wildcats some room. The same can be said for Justin Moore, a big contributor in December's game at McDonough who shot just 3 for 11 versus St. John's. The third guard in the set, Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels, has also struggled over his past five games, averaging 32 percent with a healthy dose of free throw shooting to maintain his 11 point average.
So how have the Wildcats been able to stay at the top of the Big East and national race? Inside. Senior Jermaine Samuels stepped up with 37 points in two games versus Seton Hall, only to go 1 for 6 in the St. John's loss. He is capable of doing what Providence and Creighton did not, namely, cut off the lane for Chudier Bile to get easy baskets. Similarly, neither Providence and Creighton had an answer inside and Villanova has that in a big way in sophomore Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, coming off a 14 point, 17 rebound effort against St. John's. He is the best all around player inside Georgetown has faced this season and his nine points in December versus GU was just short of a season low. Don't expect a replay of those numbers Sunday.
Off the bench, Cole Swider and Eric Dixon form the bulk of Villanova's reserve contributions. Swider's 10 points versus the Hoyas was a season high, and his eight and versatility seem to match up better against Georgetown than many Big East opponents.
Georgetown's turnaround over the past two games can be traced to three players: the outside shot of Jahvon Blair, the inside play of Chudier Bile, and smarter play from the inconsistent Jamorko Pickett. Each will be tested, in that their strengths over the past two games are strengths of Villanova defensively. The Wildcats allow opponents just 7.7 threes a game, versus the 10 Georgetown sailed over the shorter Creighton defenses. When Villanova out-shoots its opponents from three, they are 8-0 this season.
Another really big stat to follow: turnovers. Villanova has a +5.29 turnover margin in Big East play, Georgetown -3.50. The Hoyas won its past two games by cutting its season averages in turnovers in half. They'll need to hold to fewer than ten turnovers in this one.
Keys to the game follow that from the first game between the schools:
1. Perimeter Defense: Can Villanova cut off Jahvon Blair's scoring sets from three, especially in spot-up threes?
2. Ball Screens: Is Georgetown better prepared against Villanova set-ups to Samuels and Robinson-Earl?
3. Net Rebounds: Georgetown leads the Big East with a net 4.4 more rebounds than its opponent. Villanova's rebound numbers are even but they are 10th in defensive rebounds (23.8) versus Georgetown's 11.6, third in the conference. Who hits the boards off a Georgetown miss? In a close game, second chance points will prove critical.