:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51803109/usa_today_9087988.0.jpg)
History didn’t repeat itself after Georgetown’s disastrous 2OT loss to Radford a year ago.
Instead, the Hoyas handled their business with effectiveness and ease, as they pasted the USC Upstate Spartans 105-61 en route to their first victory of the season.
Newcomer Rodney Pryor led the way with 32 points in his first game as a Hoya. The former Robert Morris Colonial shot 13-for-16 from the field and a stunning 6-for-7 from the 3-point line. L.J. Peak, Jessie Govan, and Tre Campbell joined Pryor in double figures with 14, 11, and 12 points respectively.
It’s the first time that Georgetown has scored 100 points or more since 2010, when they did so against Villanova in a 103-90 victory. It’s also the first time they’ve dropped 105 since they scored 110 against... you guessed it: Radford!
3 things we learned
1. Rodney Pryor is a stud: The RMU transfer was sensational in his debut with the Hoyas and even that’s putting it mildly. Pryor started off hot, making eight of his first eight attempts from the field. USC Upstate couldn’t put the clamps on him at all and was objectively the best player on the floor today for both sides. He’ll be facing tougher competition when Tuesday night rolls around and the Maryland Terrapins come to town, but Hoya fans have to be pleased with the early returns.
2. Georgetown forced a whale of turnovers: You should probably expect the Hoyas’ Turnover% to be pretty high on the defensive end. USC Upstate committed 21 turnovers on the day and Georgetown’s pressure defense likely did lots to cause that. This was certainly a step in the right direction for a team, largely composed of the same group, who had a Defensive Turnover% of only 16.3 percent last year (per KenPom). We should probably expect them to employ this strategy again going forward.
3. The Hoyas look ready for Maryland: It was imperative that the Hoyas pass this first test. Especially so after the missteps last year getting out of the gate. Now, since that’s been accomplished, the focus shifts over to Maryland who will be visiting D.C. on Tuesday night. Georgetown is currently favored to win that matchup on KenPom, and if they play anything close to how they did Saturday against USC Upstate, then they’ll have a mighty big victory under their belts.