Game 13: Marquette University (9-4)
Dec. 30, 4:30 pm (EST)
Milwaukee, WI
Bradley Center (18,850)
Tickets? Limited
Media:
TV: Fox Sports 1
MU radio: WAUK-540
Game Notes: Georgetown
Game Notes: Marquette
About the Warriors:
Location: Milwaukee WI
Enrollment: 8,400
Conference: Big East
2016-17 Record: 19-13
Record vs. Georgetown: 11-12
Meet The Coach:
Steve Wojciechowski
(Duke '98)
4th season, 61-49
Career: 21-27
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Expected Starters |
Name |
Ht. |
Pts. |
Markus Howard |
5-11 |
21.1 |
Andrew Rowsey |
5-11 |
21.5 |
Sacar Anim |
6-5 |
5.8 |
Sam Hauser |
6-8 |
14.9 |
Matt Heldt |
6-10 |
4.8 |
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Team Stats: |
Points/Game: |
83.3 |
Points Allowed: |
74.8 |
FG Shooting: |
48.0 |
FG Defense |
46.5 |
3FG Shooting: |
40.0 |
FT Shooting: |
77.1 |
Rebounds/Game |
32.1 |
Assists/Game |
16.3 |
Turnovers/Game |
11.6 |
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Last 5 Games (4-1) |
12/05: MU 91, Vermont 81
12/09: MU 82, Wisconsin 63
12/18: MU 79, N. Illinois 70
12/21: MU 92, American 51
12/27: Xavier 91, MU 87
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Preview
Out with the old, in with the new.
The arrival of 2018 heralds Georgetown's first true road trip of the 2017-18 season, with its last ever appearance at the Bradley Center to meet the Marquette Warriors and a first ever trip to Chicago's Wintrust Arena to face DePaul. The Bradley Center has not been kind to the Hoyas, with the G-men winning just 2 of 10 appearances, both in overtime.
Georgetown learned a hard lesson Wednesday that it is vulnerable to guard play, and guard play is what Marquette is all about. With two of the Big East's highest scoring guards, the Warriors and their hostile home crowd figure to test an inexperienced Georgetown team.
First up is 5-11 guard Markus Howard, with 13 double figure scoring appearances in as many games, shooting 65% from inside the arc and 38 percent from outside. Much like Butler's Kamar Baldwin, Howard will test Georgetown with drives inside, and hopes to improve on a 23 point effort last year in Milwaukee against the Blue and Gray.
The Hoyas will also see one of the Big East's scoring surprises in senior Andrew Rowsey. The 5-11 senior transfer has nearly doubled his point performance from 2016-17 to 21 points a game and is coming off a career high 31 versus Xavier, with a team best 31 points. Rowsey is also a capable assist man, with a team high 57 assists to date and a 87 percent average at the foul line--he contributes in every facet of the game.
The Warriors are neither strong nor deep up front. Sophomore Sam Hauser is the best of a three man front line which ranks last in the Big East in rebounds. Any help marquette can get out of junior center Matt heldt and SMU transfer Harry Froling to contain jessie Govan would be a big plus to what is generally considered a porous defense in games to date this year--Xavier scored 91 on the Warriors on Wednesday, and that was within regulation, not two overtimes.
Georgetown's tasks are three: get some outside shooting, rebuild its perimeter defense, and feed Govan and Derrickson at every reasonable opportunity. Notwithstanding, Georgetown needs a third scoring option when the inevitable cloud of foul trouble envelope Govan, Derrickson, or both. Kaleb Johnson and Jagan Mosely would be two candidates in a game like this, bur each showed comparatively little in the Butler game.
Also worth watching: playing in the blue jerseys. Georgetown will need to play with composure on these next two road games and that is driven by senior leadership, something none of the seniors on this team (a junior college transfer, a fifth year senior from South Dakota, and an season-injured center on the bench) can provide. The mantle falls on Govan, Derrickson, and Johnson to lead by example.
Keys to the game:
1. Pickett's Charge: Jamarko Pickett has all the tools but hasn't had that breakout game. He will hold a nine inch height advantage on Rowsey in this one.
2. Third Act: MU also needs a third option in this game. Hauser can contribute, but scored seven points combined in two games versus the Hoyas last season.
3. Turnovers: Georgetown cannot continue to throw the ball away, especially late.