clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Seton Hall vs. Georgetown: 3-Point Preview

The Pirates and Hoyas look to finish the regular season with a win and take some momentum into the Big East Tournament. Here are three storylines to watch out for on Saturday.

Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

1) Georgetown’s freshman are more confident than yours

As the season has gone on, the freshmen at Georgetown continue to look more confident on the court and it is starting to show in the box score, too. Isaac Copeland has taken huge steps this season and has improved his offensive game. He has scored in double figures in four of his last seven games and has had at least six rebounds in 10 of his last 12 outings. Based on the eye test alone, Copeland is oozing with confidence and is playing his best basketball of the season.

L.J. Peak leads the Hoya freshmen in scoring and looks like he can be a solid all-around player for Georgetown. His defense has been good for most of the year and do not be surprised if he picks up a few steals in this game against the Pirates. Along with Paul White and Tre Campbell, the Hoyas have a great crop of talented freshmen that look to help this team climb to the top of the conference this season. Their development this season has been impressive.

2) Pirates need to play a full game

It seems like Seton Hall cannot play a full 40 minute game of basketball, especially over the last few games. In their last loss to Providence on senior night, we saw the latest example. The Pirates came out ready to play and even took a nine point lead into the locker room. As well as The Hall played in this first half, they played that poorly in the second. The rebounding was nonexistent and so was the defense.

The Pirates have had this problem all season and we even saw it in the first matchup against the Hoyas. Georgetown began the game on a 22-7 run as the Pirates failed to guard players like Copeland and D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera. The Hall came back and took the lead at the beginning of the second half, but then the defense fell asleep again late in the game. Georgetown would go on to blow the Pirates out. For Seton Hall to have any chance they must get off to a fast start, but also play solid defense for 40 minutes. If they do not, the Pirates will finish the regular season with a 6-12 conference record for the second season in a row.

3) Hoyas battling for the two seed

We know that Villanova has locked up the number one seed in the Big East Tournament for the second running. Now the second seed is the top prize remaining and the Hoyas can grab it, but they need some help to do it. The Hoyas must win against Seton Hall, but they also need a loss from Providence against Butler if they want to get that bye to the quarterfinals. If Georgetown loses, that could open the door for Butler to ascend into that second spot if they defeat the Friars. The eyes of the Big East will be on the Hoyas, Bulldogs and Friars this weekend. Smile folks, it is Big East basketball in March. Does it get any better?