Georgetown Basketball

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The 2024-25 Big East regular season concludes with five games Saturday, four of which have a lot on the line in terms of scheduling and post-season momentum. One of these games is not like the rest, however.

For the first time in 26 years, (barring a statistically improbable win by Seton Hall at Connecticut) Georgetown meets an opponent in the midst of back-to-back scheduling in the upcoming Big East Tournament. Both coaches want to win, of course, but not at the expense of a loss five days later. As such, it's a matchup that may not follow the traditional formula for either team.

Coming off the worst season in Big East history and the loss of the entire team to the transfer portal, Chris Holtmann's first season at Lincoln Park was a qualified success. This is not the DePaul club that was routinely routed by opponents en route to its 3-29 record last season, and its 12-18 record (with three wins in Big East play) is a sign of hope.

Much as was the case last year for Ed Cooley, Holtmann is looking for continued growth into 2025-26. Ten different Blue Demons have started this season, only five have started more than half its games. Veterans Conor Enright and David Skogman, who started in the Jan. 17 game at Washington, are out for the season due to injury. Point guard Layden Blocker enters Saturday's game off an eight point, three assist effort versus Providence, with a season high 23 two weeks ago at home versus Butler. Blocker is not an outside shooter and relies on inside drives to get points; his defense, particularly against Malik Mack, will be an emphasis. Outside shooting is more of an option from 6-5 guard Isaiah Rivera, who is coming off four consecutive double figure games and a 40 percent average from deep. Foul trouble can be problem with Rivera, and Jayden Epps may take advantage.

Senior Troy D'Amico has also battled this season through injuries, and his numbers reflect getting fewer shooting opportunities, though he can be a capable defender. The Blue Demons need a big game from leading scorer C.J. Gunn, coming off 23 points and seven rebounds versus PC, to set the tone; Georgetown, most likely, will drop Micah Peavy into coverage to limit Gunn's chances.

After five games where the Georgetown defense has been shredded inside, the injury to Skogman limits the Blue Demons' ability to take over this game from the pivot. J.J. Traynor had a career best 21 points on the Friars on 9 for 11 shooting, but it's a complete outlier: he was scoreless in six minutes against the Hoyas on Jan. 17, where reserve center NJ Benson (12 points seven rebounds) was more effective. Benson did not play versus PC with a hand injury that may keep him out of action Saturday. Beyond those two, DePaul has no active player taller than Gunn at 6-7.

As statistics go, DePaul is where one would think they are: a 9th or 10th place team in many statistical categories. Two bear watching, however: DePaul is last in the Big East in allowing rebounds (37.3) and last in points allowed (77.5), a test for a Georgetown team near the bottom in scoring offense at 68.8.

Some other keys to the game:

1. Perimeter Shooting: Neither team has an inside presence and will need outside offense. DePaul had eight second half threes to beat Providence, and that seems their best option in this one.

2. Offensive Rebounds: Both teams struggle in this category. Georgetown has been underwater on rebounding in every game since Sorber's injury but could take advantage in this game.

3. Under 70: In its last 12 games, DePaul has scored above 70 just four times, and won three of them. Limiting second chances, as Georgetown did down the stretch versus Villanova, keeps that number down.

Saturday's game will be an interesting matchup of two experienced coaches testing the other, as a prelude to Wednesday's matchup in New York. Nothing seen on Saturday is guaranteed for the Garden, but building on the momentum of the Villanova win can be to Georgetown's advantage moving forward.

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