Georgetown Basketball

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After a three game run against the top teams in the Big East, Georgetown pivots to three competitive opponents which well test the Hoyas in different ways. For the first time in a while, we can add DePaul to that "competitive" list.

Don't let the Demons' 0-7 Big East record fool you. DePaul has lost three of these games in overtime, including Thursday's loss to #7 Marquette where it held a four point lead heading into the final minute of regulation and had 22 assists on the evening. With no returning players from last year's 3-29, 0-20 in the Big East team, this season is to DePaul what last season was at Georgetown: learning to walk before it can run.

DePaul has not won a road game in nearly three years: a 68-65 win over Georgetown at Capital One Arena on February 24, 2022 was its last. The Blue Demons need to do three things well to put themselves in contention to end that streak, each of which Georgetown must address.

First, DePaul is an aggressive team from beyond the three point line, averaging 27 attempts per game with a 32 percent average. The average alone isn't remarkable but when they get volume shooting, such as its 12 for 32 effort versus Marquette, they can stay close. Georgetown, by comparison, is last in the Big East in three point attempts and averages about six per game.

DePaul's starting guards, Conor Enright and Jacob Meyer, have not been effective from the outside and shot a combined 3 for 11 in the Marquette game. The same would not be said for reserve guard Isaiah Rivera, a transfer from Illinois-Chicago who shot six for eight from three in the Marquette game and averages 46 percent from three point range this season. Rivera has nine double figure games this season and has height that its other two regular guards do not, which will test a GU backcourt that is still wobbly without Jayden Epps. Of the starters, Enright is the superior ball handler, coming off an 11 point, 11 assist game and will be the most likely to get an extended run.

Second, DePaul wins, or more to the Big East, competes when the score is in the 70's and 80's. Georgetown's defense has kept the scoring down, but offensively it hasn't cracked 70 in any of its last four games. DePaul's front line has a shooting touch but has been too inconsistent to drive the Demons forward. Senior transfer Troy D'Amico is a good example of this: 18 points versus Seton Hall, but just two against Marquette. Despite shooting 40 percent from the field and 38 [percent from three, D'Amico can disappear in games on the offensive side of the floor and needs the pace to allow him to go inside and take advantage on the foul line (shooting 93 percent this season). A similar pace favors 6-6 forward C.J. Gunn, averaging 19.3 points in his last three games but just 3 for 10 in the Marquette game from outside. He's a volume shooter (15.3 attempts across his last three games) but only if Georgetown allows DePaul to get up and down the court.

Third, DePaul must exert influence inside, where for the first time in a number of years they have a serviceable center in N.J. Benson, late of Missouri State. A 22 point, 17 rebound effort versus Loyola-MD was a season's best, but he is prone to turnovers down low. DePaul also needs some on-court time from Davidson transfer David Skogman, who averaged 11.1 points and 9.0 rebounds to open the season but has just two field goals over his last three games since returning from injury. A sixth year veteran, Skogman could make things difficult inside for Drew Fielder if Thomas Sorber is out of action for any sustained time.

Some other keys to the game:

1. The Second Half: Georgetown has visibly lost momentum in the second half of the past three games. DePaul's hope for an upset lies in making a late run.

2. Offensive Rebounds: St. John's shredded the Hoyas on the offensive rebounds after halftime. Eliminating second chance points and hitting the boards against a DePaul team ranked 10th in the Big East in rebounds allowed is a must.

3. Turnovers: DePaul is 9th in the conference in turnovers, Georgetown last. This could be a rock fight.

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