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Game 32 - Georgetown (9-22) vs. Providence (19-12)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: March 13, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden - New York City, New York
How to Watch: FS1
Matchup History: Providence leads all-time series 20-17
Last Meeting: Providence def. Georgetown 71-58 on 3/5/24
Betting Lines: Via DraftKings
Spread: Georgetown +11
Over/Under: 143
Prediction: Georgetown 63, Providence 81
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Head Coach: Ed Cooley (1st season, 9-22 record at Georgetown)
Record: 9-22 (2-18, 10th in Big East)
Last Time Out: Lost @ St. John’s 86-78 on 3/9/24
Player to Watch: Jayden Epps
The Georgetown Hoyas have been locked into the 10 seed for the Big East Tournament for weeks. The only question was who the opponent would be for the 6:30 p.m. slot during Wednesday’s opening round.
Well, we have the answer to that question, it’s the Providence Friars, of course.
It’ll be Ed Cooley’s former team with the opportunity to end Georgetown’s season once and for all. On the flipside, it’ll be one final chance this year for Cooley to break Providence hearts and send the Friars packing with no chance at making the NCAA Tournament.
The two teams played just eight days ago, with Providence coming out on top 71-58, pulling away in the closing minutes.
On Saturday, the Hoyas closed out the regular season at MSG against St. John’s, falling 86-78 in yet another close battle.
“You gotta give St. John’s a lot of credit. They made a lot of timely baskets,” Cooley said after the loss. “I think Coach Pitino has done a great job rallying his guys…they’re playing their best basketball coming down the stretch.”
Georgetown now enters the Big East Tournament having lost four consecutive games, but playing in three straight competitive losses.
Of course, there are no moral victories, especially this time of year. Now, it’s win or go home for Georgetown, who surely won’t play any postseason basketball unless it miraculously wins the whole tournament at MSG.
Whenever the season finally does come to a close, whether it’s Wednesday, or shortly thereafter, Cooley and company can finally turn its attention to next season and the upcoming transfer portal opening.
Head Coach: Kim English (1st season, 19-12 record at Providence)
Record: 19-12 (9-9, 7th in Big East)
Last Time Out: Lost vs. #2 UConn 74-60 on 3/9/24
Player to Watch: Devin Carter
Providence has two wins over its former coach, which it despises, this year.
The Friars beat Ed Cooley in his highly-anticipated return to the AMP on January 27 and won the reverse fixture in D.C. just eight days ago, a 71-58 win in which the teams best player, Devin Carter, shined. The former Cooley recruit scored 24 points, secured 12 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, and snagged 4 steals to go along with a block.
That win, however, is Providence’s only victory in its last four games. The Friars lost @ Marquette by 22, and at home to Villanova by 11 and #2 UConn by 14 this past weekend.
Is it sweet to have beaten Cooley’s Georgetown twice this season? Yes. BUT, the Friars cannot afford to drop this one.
As of Wednesday, Providence sits firmly on the bubble for a bid to the NCAA Tournament. A loss to Georgetown would surely burst that bubble, while a win would mean the Friars can breathe easy for 24 hours until they lace it up again in the tournament quarterfinals.
Anything short of a Big East Tournament Championship will have Providence sweating on Selection Sunday. However, the Friars SHOULD be in if they can advance to the tournament semis, which would mean a win over Creighton occurred in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Regardless, it’s a season that first-year Head Coach Kim English can look at fondly. He replaced a great former coach, and lost Bryce Hopkins to an ACL injury early in the conference season, and still has his team on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament conversation.
The only thing that might undo all the good that’s been done? A loss to Ed Cooley in the Big East Tournament.
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