Game 20: Xavier University (12-6)
Jan. 22, 6:30 pm (EST)
Cincinnati, OH
Cintas Center (10,224)
Tickets? Sellout expected
Media:
TV: Fox Sports 1
GU Radio: WTEM-980
XU Radio: WLW-700
About the Musketeers:
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Enrollment: 4,995
Conference: Big East
2018-19 Record: 19-16
Record vs. Georgetown: 14-5
Meet The Coach:
Travis Steele
(Butler '04)
2nd season, 31-22
Career: Same
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Expected Starters |
Name |
Ht. |
Pts. |
Quentin Goodin |
6-4 |
6.8 |
Paul Scruggs |
6-4 |
14.7 |
Jason Carter |
6-7 |
7.1 |
Naji Marshall |
6-7 |
16.7 |
Tyrique Jones |
6-9 |
13.6 |
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Team Stats : |
Points/Game: |
71.8 |
Points Allowed: |
67.1 |
FG Shooting: |
43.4 |
FG Defense |
40.1 |
3FG Shooting: |
29.4 |
FT Shooting: |
68.0 |
Rebounds/Game |
38.4 |
Assists/Game |
14.4 |
Turnovers/Game |
13.8 |
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Last 5 Games (1-4) |
01/01: Villanova 68, XU 62
01/05: XU 75, St. John's 67
01/08: Seton Hall 83, XU 71
01/11: Creighton 77, XU 65
01/15: Marquette 85, XU 65
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Game Notes
- This is the 19th meeting between the schools, with Xavier owing an 14-5 advantage, most among any of Gerogetown's Big East opponents. The Musketeers are 9-3 versus Georgetown since the Big East realignment in 2013 and are 7-1 versus Georgetown at Cintas Center.
- Xavier was picked 3rd in the Big East pre-season poll.
- Georgetown is just 6-16 in games played on January 22 in its history, 3-5 in the Big East era.
Preview
Saturday's loss to Marquette hurt the Georgetown Hoyas in more ways than one. Two games under .500 in Big East play, the Hoyas are trending off the first page for a league which could see as many as seven teams contend for NCAA consideration--but only if they have at least nine conference wins.
Such is also the issue Wednesday night at Xavier, struggling through a 1-4 start with a schedule front-loaded to home contests. After a week of rest following a loss to Marquette on Jan. 15, it's now or never for the Musketeers, picked third in the Big East pre-season poll, to turn around their season. A potential 1-5 start in Big East play would require Xavier to win eight of 12 to finish the season 9-9, with seven of the 12 on the road.
At front and center for the Musketeers' hopes will be senior guard Quentin Goodin, who is trying to erase one a troubling number for the Musketeers. The 6-4 guard is 0 for 20 from three point range in his last six games. If there was ever a turnaround game for Goodin, it may be against the Hoyas, who allowed eight threes from Marquette by halftime on Saturday, and almost 40 percent as a team in six Big East games to date.
The Musketeers are not a deep team--85 percent of its scoring comes from the starting five, which is why Goodin's shooting is so important--and why the X-men have slumped to open the season. Goodin had a season high 25 versus Western Carolina but has not combined for 25 points in the last six games. His career 7.9 point, 4.2 assist average undersells that he can be an effective offensive weapon when things turn his way. Across the court, Xavier has seen more productive results with 6-4 Paul Scruggs, who has scored in double figures in each Big East game this season with a season high 30 versus Wake Forest. Scruggs was held to just 10 point versus the Hoyas in Cincinnati last year, but has shown he can be an effective shooter in driving to the basket, which will put pressure on Georgetown's Mac McClung to avoid fouls when Scruggs heads to the hoop.
For Xavier to pick up its season, 6-7 Naji Marshall needs to take over. Marshall, an all-Big East candidate in the pre-season, continues to be ineffective from three point range (28.2%) despite leading the team in scoring much of the season. His strength is inside, and a likely defensive matchup with Georgetown's Jamorko Pickett will be a test for both. Pickett has raised his defensive efforts in the last three games while Marshall has averaged 18 points a game and 63 percent shooting from two point range in his last two games. Georgetown's risk is unnecessary foul trouble on Pickett, with George Muresan as the only realistic backup.
Alongside Marshall, 6-7 graduate transfer Jason Carter (7.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) has been a fourth or fifth option in the offense but may see additional looks depending on georgetown's defensive sets. For GU to lock down Marshall, Carter may prove to be a better shooting option in halfcourt sets.
Overlooked by some, center Tyrique Jones could give Georgetown some fits inside. Averaging 13.6 points and 9.6 rebounds this season, Jones is coming off a 16 point, six rebound effort versus Marquette in just 23 minutes of play. Platooning with the less effective Zach Freemantle (6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Jones had 19 points and 10 rebounds vs. Georgetown in the game last year in Cintas Center and had a 12 point, 12 rebound game versus Villanova earlier this month. Georgetown's Omer Yurtseven has been less effective when challenged inside and Jones fits the bill.
There's a reason why these teams are a combined 3-8 in conference play: defense. Xavier and Georgetown are ranked 9th and 10th, respectively, in points allowed in conference play with 76.0 and 77.3 points per game, respectively. To win this game, Xavier needs more offense, averaging just 67.6 per game. When Xavier can get above 72 points they can contend, but have been held under 72 points in each of its four losses. For its part Georgetown has allowed 80 or more in each of its last three games and if it allows Xavier 80, it's a bad sign. Georgetown has been particularly suspect on defense in Big East play, with a league worst 39.6% allowed from three and 45.0% overall. As long as Xavier continues to scattershoot from outside this may be enough, but if they get hot at home, the depleted Hoyas do not have many options.
Some additional keys to the game:
Leading Indicators: Xavier is 12-0 when leading at the half, 8-1. The teams are a combined 4-12 when trailing.
Rebounds:Xavier is not a good rebounding team. Georgetown must get a net +8 on the boards to win the game.
Sixth Man?: Neither team is getting sufficient production from its bench. Georgetown needs more out of Jahvon Blair in this game.
Home Court: Xavier is 267-43 (.861) at Cintas Center but is coming off back to back home losses. It has never lost three consecutive games at home.
But there's a first time for everything in 2019-20.