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Consistency was a major issue for the Georgetown Hoyas last year. If D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera did not drive the offense and create opportunities either for him or another Hoya, then the offense seemed to be stagnant. Joshua Smith could not stay on the court for more than 15 minutes at a time, and was a liability on defense when in the game. With Louisville transfer, Akoy Agau, and freshmen Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson in the fold, Georgetown looks to return to its roots of brutalizing post play. Sophomores L.J Peak, Isaac Copeland, and Paul White all look to build upon solid freshman seasons. Georgetown has the potential to be a top 25 team and these five games will help validate the level of talent.
With that said, here are the top five games you should be looking forward to this coming season:
1. Georgetown Vs. Syracuse, Saturday, December 5th
At first glance, this game is a reminder of the great rivalry between the two dominating schools of the old Big East. Beginning in 1980 when John Thompson Jr. told the media that Manley Field House was "officially closed" when Georgetown defeated Syracuse, one of college basketball’s most infamous rivalries was almost always compelling, no matter how well each team was performing that year. Most of the original Big East schools were rivals throughout the end of the 20th century, but Orange and Hoya fans have a different hatred towards each other. The feud between the two schools became a hallmark of not just the Big East Conference, but college basketball itself. This will be the first meeting since Syracuse abandoned the faltering Big East for the ACC, but it sure will be interesting to see how Jim Boeheim reacts in his final game against his long time nemesis.
2. Georgetown @ Maryland, Tuesday, November 17th
Those who did not grow up in the DMV area do not understand the excitement around this game. Basketball is so special to those around Washington D.C., and these two teams are at the heart of it. In the 1980's, Thompson embodied the optimistically empowered citizens of the district’s southwest quadrant. Even through their recent struggles, Maryland was always a fan favorite of the Capital area. College Park will be the setting for the renewal of a long lost rivalry in college basketball.
3. Georgetown Vs. Villanova, Saturday, January 16th
Much like Syracuse, this rivalry needs no explanation. Nostalgia is ever-present for both sides in this rivalry, like the 1985 National Championship game that has since haunted the Georgetown faithful. As both teams have retained the majority of their core for the upcoming year, both Villanova and Georgetown seem primed for dominant seasons once again.
4. Georgetown @ UConn, Saturday January 23rd
These two do not have the storied past like the Syracuse and Georgetown rivalry, but the two have their fair share of history. With a retooled roster, UConn will look to reverse their fortune of last year and return to the NCAA Tournament. The guard matchup between former Seton Hall guard Sterling Gibbs and Smith-Rivera will be one of the more intriguing all year and may have implications on NCAA Tournament seeding.
5. Georgetown @ Xavier, Tuesday, January 19th
Unlike the other rivalries on this list, these two do not have much history prior to the reformation of the Big East in 2013. The Musketeers proved to be John Thompson III’s kryptonite last year, beating them all three times they faced each other. The Hoyas will assuredly look for revenge this time around.