Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Hoyas Must Go on the Offensive at Big East Tournament

The good news? Georgetown gets another crack at 13th-seeded St. John’s. It will be a chance to exact revenge for last week’s pitiful loss to the Red Storm and an opportunity to begin what must be a lengthy run through the Big East tournament if the Hoyas harbor any remaining hopes of a trip to the Big Dance.

The bad? The Hoyas enter the Big East tournament in a serious offensive slump.

Over its past four games, Georgetown has averaged just 55 points per game, not able to crack 60 points even once. The Hoyas have connected on just 42 percent from the field, including a dismal 23.9 percent from beyond the arc (16-of-67). Most recently, Georgetown made just four of 20 threes against DePaul.

And just as assists are down (approximately 11 per game over the past four), turnovers are up. The Hoyas have turned the ball over 70 times in the past four games, leading to an assist to turnover ratio of .64.

Numbers aside, the Hoyas have shown an unwillingness or an inability to get the ball inside to freshman center Greg Monroe (2-for-2 against DePaul) and have instead taken to loafing around the three-point line, tossing up errant three after errant three. Georgetown has not moved effectively without the ball and has been careless with it.

On paper, beating St. John’s should not be terribly difficult, but that is what was said a week ago as well. Since beating the Hoyas last Tuesday, the Red Storm lost 74-55 at Notre Dame. They come into tomorrow’s affair 15-16 on the season and with a win, they may have a chance at an NIT berth.

“Playing in the Madison Square Garden, every chance you get to play in Madison Square Garden is really special,” Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III said last week. “It’s good because we have a lot of alums there. We usually get pretty good support when we go to New York. Obviously . I think its just good because we have a strong fan base there.”

Georgetown better hope last week’s game was a fluke, and there may be reason to do so. For one, St. John’s received six clutch free throws, on six attempts, from forward Rob Thomas, who normally hits at just better than 50 percent. For another, the Red Storm received a key timeout with time winding down in regulation, though it appeared as if Thomas was suspended in midair when calling the timeout. If he was indeed not set on the ground, the timeout should not have counted.

And finally, Georgetown shot just 41.2 percent in that game. Theoretically, performances like that should be few and far between. But after the Hoyas ended the season with a 39.5 shooting effort against lowly DePaul, nothing is certain.

Should Georgetown get past St. John’s, the Hoyas will meet fifth-seeded Marquette on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles appeared for much of the season to be on track four a top-four seed and a double bye, but after losing senior guard Dominic James to injury, they have fallen in four straight, albeit against four of the top six teams in the league.

And if the Hoyas can somehow manage to topple Marquette, to whom they have already lost twice this season, they will oppose Villanova on Thursday.

That game is most intriguing because Georgetown has already beaten the Wildcats this season, and a win would be the Hoyas’ 19th of the season. At that point, Georgetown would at least creep back into the NCAA conversation, even if the Hoyas would not quite be into the tournament yet.

But first, Georgetown must contend with St. John’s. Tip off on the Red Storm’s home court is set for 2 p.m. Following the game, the league will announce its most prestigious regular season awards, including player, coach and rookie of the year. Monroe stands a good chance of garnering the rookie honors.

He will be hoping it is his second win of the day.

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