Game 27: DePaul University (13-13)
Feb. 22, 9:00 pm (EST)
Chicago, IL
Wintrust Arena (10,387)
Tickets? Available
Media:
TV: Fox Sports 1
GU Radio: WTEM-980
DU Radio: WIND-560
About the Blue Demons:
Location: Chicago, IL
Enrollment: 15,407
Conference: Big East
2018-19 Record: 19-17
Record vs. Georgetown: 10-32
Meet The Coach:
Dave Leitao
(Northeastern '82)
8th season, 122-129
Career: 207-224
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Expected Starters |
Name |
Ht. |
Pts. |
Charlie Moore |
5-11 |
15.8 |
J. Coleman-Lands |
6-4 |
12.2 |
Romeo Weems |
6-7 |
7.4 |
Jaylen Butz |
6-9 |
10.3 |
Paul Reed |
6-9 |
15.0 |
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Team Stats: |
Points/Game: |
72.5 |
Points Allowed: |
70.8 |
FG Shooting: |
44.6 |
FG Defense |
41.1 |
3FG Shooting: |
32.3 |
FT Shooting: |
69.2 |
Rebounds/Game |
64.4 |
Assists/Game |
14.2 |
Turnovers/Game |
14.7 |
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Last 5 Games (0-5) |
02/01: Marquette 76, DU 67
02/04: Xavier 74, DU 59
02/08: Georgetown 76, DU 72
02/15: Creighton 93, DU 64
02/19: Villanova 91, DU 71
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Game Notes
- This is the 43nd meeting between the schools.
After Georgetown won 19 of 20 from 1994 to 2016, the teams have split their last seven meetings.
- Georgetown is 20-12 in games played on February 22 in its history. The two teams have met once on this date, with DePaul winning 67-65 on Feb. 22, 2017.
Preview
How can one game matter so much? Think about the Georgetown Hoyas at DePaul one year ago.
If Georgetown wins that game, they enter the Big East tournament 20-11 and the third seed, not 19-12 and the sixth seed, avoiding the scoring buzz saw that was Myles Powell, who torched the Hoyas with 27 in the first half of the Big East quarterfinal. Win or lose, they're a likely NCAA team.
Instead, the Hoyas lost a key game that stung at selection time. Now in 2020, with its road into March increasingly narrow, it's a must-win if Georgetown is to earn any at-large consideration. Depaul started the season 12-1, and is now 1-12 in their last 13 games. But as fans saw at Capital One Arena just two weeks ago, DePaul may be down, but they won't go easily.
Four DePaul starters account for the majority of points. The DePaul offense continues to drive through guard Charlie Moore, who leads the team in scoring. Moore was held in check by the Hoyas during the second half of their last meeting in Washington, and DePaul can't go very far if he has an off night. Moore was just 2 for 10 in their 91-71 loss to Villanova earlier this week after a season high 29 against the Wildcats in their earlier meeting. His shooting continues to be down in Big East play and that, as much as any factor, continues to keep DePaul struggling.
DePaul will get consistent scoring from guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (12.2 ppg), coming off 17 points in three of his past four games, including Georgetown, but he is just 3 for 15 from three in his past three games. Similar numbers from forwards Romeo Weems (7.4 ppg) and Jaylen Butz (10.3 ppg) haven't stemmed the DePaul losing streak, and instead the Demons will look to center Paul Reed for more effort inside. Reed has scored only about half his season average over the past two games and will seek to challenge the Hoyas' rotation inside.
If DePaul needs more inside, Georgetown is increasingly dependent on its guards, particularly from three point range, where the Hoyas are 9th of 10 teams in there pointers made with an average of six per game. DePaul is 10th of 10, but averages only 1.4 fewer threes a game. Defensive sets and zone reads on Terrell Allen and Jahvon Blair will be a priority for the Blue Demons, who are last in the conference in defense.
Given where both teams are, this game could go either way. The margin of error is slight for both teams, and that's not good for Gerogetown. Some keys to the game:
The Rule of 71: Georgetown is 15-2 when scoring 71 or more points. Under 71? 0-9. DePaul has allowed 71 or more in 11 of 13 Big East games this season.
Bench: Yes, the GU bench is thin, but is providing next to no scoring offense.
Paul Reed: DePaul's best player figures to a force inside. Can he avoid early fouls?
Jamorko Pickett: Pickett must also avoid fouls as his position has no backup beyond walk-on senior George Muresan. He can't got 2-12 again as he did two weeks ago and give the Hoyas the margin he needs.