Georgetown Basketball

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With eight games remaining in the Big East season, the Georgetown Hoyas are not playing for a regular season title. Instead, they are playing for an opportunity.

Saturday's game is the first of a critical three game stretch if the Hoyas want to make a serious run at that elusive fifth seed in the Big East Tournament, which would earn Georgetown a first round bye for only the second time in the past 12 years and a winning season for only the second time since 2015. Facing three sub-.500 opponents in the next 11 days, two at home, the opportunity to build some much needed momentum begins with Seton Hall.

The Pirates, a team decimated by injuries, have dropped eight straight since an overtime win at Prudential Center versus DePaul on January 8, and are winless on the road at 0-7. Georgetown is looking for its first win over Seton Hall at Capital One Arena in six years, and the lessons learned versus Xavier could be vital to that effort.

Three Seton Hall starters from the December 22 game versus Georgetown were out of action Wednesday in a humbling 84-54 home loss to Butler: Chaunce Jenkins (11.4 ppg), Dylan Addae-Wusu (9.8 ppg) and Scotty Middleton (6.0 ppg), who combined for 25 of the Pirates' 60 points against Georgetown that December evening. Middleton may be back Saturday but Seton Hall has not issued any report on Jenkins and Addae-Wusu, who are second and third in scoring for the Pirates behind Isaiah Coleman, who shot 1 for 10 from the field and finished with two points versus Butler.

Three point shooting continues to be a problem for the Hall, shooting 2 for 17 versus Butler, 10 for 56 in its last three, and 30 percent overall in Big East play. Without it, the Pirates need a big game from Coleman, who is in the midst of an extended slump. When he's on, such as a 10 for 19 effort versus Providence, the Pirates can contend, When he's 0 for 10 vs. PC, or 1 for 13 versus St. John's, or the aforementioned 1 for 10 vs. Butler, the Pirates don't have good options to help them dig out of that hole.

Two players to watch will be 6-5 Garvey Dual and 6-7 Prince Aligbe. Dual has struggled since transferring from Providence, with a season high 13 against PC but an average of less than five per game otherwise. Aligbe has shot well in his last five games (29 for 50) but nothing (0 for 4) from outside. That Butler won by 30 while committing 17 turnovers is a major concern, as Seton Hall's bench is not strong enough to carry the team through injury.

Georgetown's loss to Xavier was a teachable moment to a team that relies on Micah Peavy and Thomas Sorber to carry them. As such, the Hoyas are not generating enough offense at key stretches of the game, which befits a league-worst 64.4 points per game. Holding opponents to 66.58 points is notable, but, of course, not as much if you average 64.4. The Hoyas need better play from Malik Mack and point production from the trio of Fielder, Burks, and Curtis Williams that takes pressure off Sorber.

Defensively, Peavy defending Coleman is a likely scenario but the ability to limit offensive rebounds and second chances from the Pirates are tools for the Hoyas to establish itself early and avoid the five, six, or seven minute droughts which have hurt them this season.

Some keys to the game:

1. Remember Sorber: The Hoyas have not got the ball to Thomas Sorber in long stretches over the past three games. The offensive sets needs to get him touches.

2. Free Throws: Georgetown nearly lost the first game at the foul line, shooting 11 for 22. The Hoyas rank last in the Big East at the line and it can make the difference in a close game.

3. Don't Let Up: Seton Hall is visibly struggling down the stretch and Georgetown needs to make a statement that it is ready for the schedule as it climbs upward later this month.

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