EXORCISE TIME: Hoyas Have to Dominate Blue Demons, Maybe Twice

Peavey, Epps, and Mack need to play possessed on Saturday

Your Georgetown Hoyas (17-13, 8-11 Big East) head to Chicago this weekend for a matchup with DePaul (12-18, 3-16 Big East) to close out the regular season. Tip at Wintrust Arena is scheduled for 1PM CT (2 PM ET) on FS1 with Chris Vosters and LaPhonso Ellis. These two teams are very likely to meet again next Wednesday in the middle game of the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden (on Peacock!). Hoyas have an opportunity to set the tone in the matchup on Saturday with a confidence boost to carry them into New York.

The Hoyas are coming off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Villanova on Tuesday, winning 75-73. Jayden Epps led the Hoyas with 20 points, including the game-winning layup with five seconds remaining. Micah Peavy was right behind him with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. This win marked the first time Georgetown swept Villanova in the regular season since 1992-93, when they won 66-56 on the road and 61-52 at home. In the first matchup this season, Georgetown defeated Villanova 64-63 at Finneran Pavilion, with Peavy leading the way with 24 points.

Despite the recent success against Villanova, Georgetown has faced some challenges this season. They have been playing without freshman center Thomas Sorber, who underwent season-ending surgery on his left foot. Sorber was a significant contributor, averaging 14.5 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game. In his absence, Georgetown has shifted to a more guard-focused offense, relying on the trio of Epps, Malik Mack, and Peavy.

Adding to the challenges of a normal year, Jayden Epps has been battling injuries and sickness throughout the season, which has seemingly affected his explosiveness and scoring consistency. However, his performance against Villanova down the stretch, including the game-winning shot, shows his resilience and ability to step up in crucial moments. If there is room for another Georgetown surprise this year, it could be Epps showing that extra gear that fans saw last year.

Drew Fielder, who has been dealing with back issues, played a full 40-minute game in the win over Villanova, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists. His presence in the paint will be crucial for Georgetown, especially with Sorber out. Even the announcers recognized his efforts on defense to go more straight-up and stay out of foul trouble.

DePaul has struggled this season, particularly in Big East play, holding a 3-16 record in the conference. They snapped their 39-game conference losing streak with a win over Georgetown in January. This victory marked their first regular-season conference win since January 18, 2023, and their first road conference win since February 24, 2022. However, they have since lost eight of their last 10 games, beating Seton Hall in early January and Providence at home last week (ouch).

DePaul’s leading scorer is junior guard CJ Gunn, averaging 12.6 points per game. Other key contributors include senior guard Isaiah Rivera (10.3 points per game) and sophomore guard Jacob Meyer (10.1 points per game).

DePaul is also dealing with a number of injuries. Conor Enright, their starting point guard, is out for the season with a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Troy D’Amico and David Skogman are also out with undisclosed injuries. These injuries will significantly impact DePaul’s depth and ability to compete against Georgetown’s guard-heavy lineup.

Georgetown and DePaul already met once this season, and things did not go as planned with DePaul pulling off a 73-68 upset at Capital One Arena. In that game, DePaul shot 50% from the field and 46.7% from beyond the arc, while Georgetown struggled offensively, shooting just 41.5%. That can’t happen again.

Georgetown Advantages

• Guard Play: Georgetown’s strength lies in its guard play. Epps, Mack, and Peavy are all capable scorers and playmakers. They will need to be aggressive and efficient to exploit DePaul’s defense, which is weakened by the absence of Enright. With DePaul’s starting point guard out, Georgetown’s guards should have an advantage in creating scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates.
• Defensive Intensity: Georgetown has a strong defense, ranking fourth in the Big East in scoring defense (68.1 points per game allowed). They will need to pressure DePaul’s guards and limit their scoring opportunities. DePaul’s offense relies heavily on their guards, so disrupting their rhythm and forcing turnovers will be key for Georgetown.
• Drew Fielder’s Health: Drew Fielder has been dealing with back issues but played a full game in the win over Villanova. His presence in the paint will be crucial for Georgetown, especially with Sorber out. Fielder’s ability to rebound and defend inside will be vital in limiting DePaul’s second-chance opportunities. Jordan Burks has played well, but neither player is a center.
• Dominance in the Paint: In their previous matchup, Georgetown outscored DePaul 34-22 in the paint. With DePaul missing key players in the frontcourt, Georgetown should look to exploit this advantage again by feeding the ball inside to Fielder and attacking the basket with their guards. Get to the line.

Georgetown Disadvantages

• Worries About Size: Without Sorber, Georgetown lacks size in the paint. They will need to find ways to compensate for his absence on the boards and defensively. DePaul still has some size with Benson and Skogman, so Georgetown will need to box out effectively and prevent them from dominating the boards.
• DePaul’s Outside Shooting: DePaul is a good 3-point shooting team, ranking third in the Big East in 3-point percentage (34%). Georgetown will need to defend the perimeter effectively to prevent DePaul from getting hot from beyond the arc. Rivera and Meyer are both capable 3-point shooters, and Georgetown cannot afford to leave them open.
• Momentum: DePaul won the last matchup between these two teams, and it undoubtedly hurt Georgetown’s trajectory. Conference games are never easy, but the Hoyas need to cruise. Getting to 9 conference wins—with a potential to reach 19+ total— would be a nice note for this building Hoyas program.

Looking Ahead to the Big East Tournament

With a 97% chance of facing DePaul again in the Big East Tournament, the Saturday game takes on added importance. A win for Georgetown would not only boost their confidence but also give them valuable insights into DePaul’s tendencies and weaknesses.

If things go right, the Hoyas can use this game to experiment with different lineups and defensive strategies to see what works best against DePaul’s depleted roster. On the other hand, a loss could give DePaul the psychological edge heading into the rematch and potentially disrupt Georgetown’s momentum.

The Big East Tournament always provides excitement and upsets (this time, to Peacock viewers). While Georgetown is the higher seed for the first time in a long time, they cannot afford to overlook DePaul. The Blue Demons have shown they can compete with the Hoyas, and they will be eager to prove that they are a new, different program now.

The result of the Saturday game could definitely have an impact on the potential second rematch. If Georgetown wins convincingly on Saturday, it could demoralize DePaul and give the Hoyas a significant advantage in the tournament. However, if DePaul wins or keeps the game close, it could give them the belief that they can upset Georgetown again.

That said, there aren’t really any surprises in the scouting reports in March. Even without Sorber, Georgetown appears to have a slight advantage heading into Saturday’s game. Their strong guard play and defensive intensity should give them the edge, especially with DePaul missing key players due to injuries. However, DePaul’s outside shooting and recent head-to-head victory cannot be ignored. Ultimately, the outcome will likely depend on which team can impose its style of play and execute more effectively.

Solid Hoya defense should beat even the best iteration of this year’s DePaul offense—in Chicago or in New York City.

Here are some links:

Georgetown Men’s Basketball Travels to Chicago to Close the Regular Season at DePaul | GUHoyas

The Georgetown University men’s basketball team will travel to Chicago, Illinois to face the DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday, March 8. Tipoff at Wintrust Arena is slated for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on FS1 with Chris Vosters calling the play-by-play and LaPhonso Ellis providing analysis. Georgetown enters Saturday’s contest with a 17-13 record and a 8-11 mark in league action following a 75-73 victory over Villanova on Tuesday…

Saturday’s matchup will be the second meeting this season and the 52nd all-time meeting between the two sides dating back to the 1941-42 season. Georgetown leads the all-time series 36-15.

In the matchup earlier this season, GU fell to the Blue Demons 73-68 at Capital One Arena. Mack and Fielder led a quartet of Hoyas in double figures with 19 points apiece. Mack was 8-for-15 from the field, draining 3-of-6 3-pointers, to go along with a squad-best six assists. Caleb Williams and Curtis Williams Jr. rounded out the Hoyas in double figures with 10 points each.

Georgetown vs DePaul: Hoyas Look to Avenge Earlier Loss and End Season Strong BVM Sports

Georgetown Men’s Basketball is set to face DePaul in Chicago on March 8, aiming to close the regular season strongly. The Hoyas, currently at 17-13 overall and 8-11 in the BIG EAST, are coming off a notable 75-73 victory against Villanova, marking their first season sweep of the Wildcats since the early ‘90s. With the match kicking off at 2 p.m. ET, fans can catch the action on FS1 and local radio. Notably, Georgetown aims to bounce back from their previous loss to DePaul earlier this season…

Georgetown is currently fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring defense, allowing an average of 68.3 points per game.

DePaul recently secured an 80-77 victory over Providence, showcasing strong team offense with 53.6% shooting from the field.

Georgetown faces DePaul after Epps’ 20-point game | abc7 Chicago

LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Demons: 2-8, averaging 65.4 points, 28.0 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 6.4 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.5 points per game.

Hoyas: 4-6, averaging 70.6 points, 29.0 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 8.1 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.7 points.