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Game 30 - Georgetown (9-20) vs. Providence (18-11)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: March 5, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Capital One Arena - Washington, D.C.
How to Watch: FS1
Matchup History: Providence leads all-time series 19-17
Last Meeting: Providence def. Georgetown 84-76 on 1/27/24
Betting Lines: Via DraftKings
Spread: Georgetown +8
Over/Under: 149
Prediction: Georgetown 70, Providence 87
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Head Coach: Ed Cooley (1st season, 9-20 record at Georgetown)
Record: 9-20 (2-16, 10th in Big East)
Last Time Out: Lost vs. Xavier 98-93 on 3/2/24
Player to Watch: Supreme Cook
The Georgetown Hoyas had another monumental opportunity slip through its fingers on Saturday night as Ed Cooley’s team once again fell in heartbreaking fashion against Xavier, 98-93.
It’s the second time this year that Georgetown gave up 90+ to the Musketeers, losing in Cincinnati 92-91 earlier this season. On Saturday, just like the trip to Cincy, Georgetown held a double-digit lead in the second half before letting it slip away.
“I’m devastated for our players, but at the same time there’s got to be accountability across the board defensively,” Georgetown Head Coach Ed Cooley said postgame. “I’m tired of coming in here and repeating the same thing. So this has got to be personal with our men.”
With just over 8 minutes to go, Georgetown led Xavier 75-65, leading by as many as 15 in the game.
Over the final 8:15, Xavier scored 33 points, putting up points on 15 of its final 16 possessions of the game, as the Musketeers erupted for 61 second half points to come back and win.
“Give Xavier Credit…they played well enough to win,” Cooley said. “Totally disappointed in our defense. Absolutely horrific attention to detail in this game.”
The latest blemish for Georgetown sets the Hoyas back to 9-20 on the year, with its only two wins in the Big East remaining the two wins over DePaul, the only team below them in the standings.
The Hoyas were led by Rowan Brumbaugh, who finished with a career-high 24 points on 9-14 from the field. Forward Supreme Cook had a 15 points/14 rebounds performance, while Jayden Epps put in 20 points without ever exiting the game.
Some great individual efforts, but once again it’s not enough as Georgetown fell to 1-2 on the year when scoring 90+ and surrendered 90+ points defensively for the 6th time in Big East play.
On Tuesday night, the Hoyas will host its final game at Capital One Arena as Georgetown welcomes in Providence.
Ed Cooley will surely be looking to get a win over his former team, which could also pop the Friars’ NCAA Tournament bubble.
With just two regular season games to go, the Hoyas are locked into the 10 seed for the Big East Tournament. Tuesday against Providence and Saturday at MSG against St. John’s, it’s all for whatever pride there may be left.
Head Coach: Kim English (1st season, 18-11 record at Providence)
Record: 18-11 (9-9, 6th in Big East)
Last Time Out: Lost vs. Villanova 71-60 on 3/2/24
Player to Watch: Devin Carter
An up-and-down season from Providence in Kim English’s first season after replacing Ed Cooley as head coach has firmly planted the Friars on the NCAA Tournament bubble with two regular season games to go.
Currently, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Friars on the outside looking in, categorized as a “First Four Out” team.
For Providence, Tuesday night’s trip to Georgetown can only result in a win. If the Friars were to stumble, they’d likely have to win the Big East Tournament in order to make the Big Dance.
If Tuesday’s game in D.C. can only hurt Providence, Saturday’s game back in Rhode Island is the opposite as the Friars host #2 UConn on senior day.
Over the past week, the Friars have squandered back-to-back quality win opportunities, losing to Marquette on the road by 22 and falling at home on Saturday against Villanova 71-60.
Anything short of winning its last two regular season games will very likely mean that the Friars have to at least make the Big East Tournament title game in order to stay on the bubble for an at-large bid.
Either way, they certainly won’t be comfortable between now and Selection Sunday…unless they win the whole thing at MSG a week from Saturday.q