Bluejays Aim to Rebound Against Hoyas After Rare Home Loss

The Georgetown Hoyas are looking to bounce back against the Creighton Bluejays after a challenging season has left them struggling to maintain momentum. Under the leadership of head coach Ed Cooley, the Hoyas started the current season strong with a 5-0 record, including impressive victories over Maryland and Clemson, but have since faced a series of setbacks.

Georgetown’s Recent Struggles

Following a setback against Xavier in their Big East opener, where they lost 80-77, the Hoyas have experienced a three-game losing streak. This stretch included defeats against St. John’s, DePaul, and Seton Hall, with the loss to DePaul particularly alarming as the team managed only one field goal in the second half and ended the game with a scoring drought.

• Recent Losses:
  • St. John’s
  • DePaul (56-50)
  • Seton Hall (76-67)
• Stats:
  • Georgetown shot 1-of-23 in the second half against DePaul.
  • 36-46 record under Ed Cooley compared to Patrick Ewing’s starting record of 46-36.

Key Players for Georgetown

The Hoyas rely heavily on two backcourt transfers, KJ Lewis and Malik Mack. Lewis leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game, while Mack contributes significantly with 14.4 points and serves as a playmaker with 4.3 assists per game.

KJ Lewis

• Averages 15.1 points/game
• Shooting efficiency: 43.4% inside the arc, 28.9% from three
• Free throw percentage: 76.5%, with notable performances in Big East games hitting 28 of 32 free throws.
• Averages 2.1 steals per game, ranked third in the Big East.

Malik Mack

• Averages 14.4 points/game with 4.3 assists.
• Shooting efficiency: 39.3% from two, 33.0% from three.
• Draws 3.9 fouls per 40 minutes.

Other notable players include Vince Iwuchukwu, who has just returned from injury and contributes defensively with an average of 12 blocks in limited minutes, and Julius Halaifonua, who starts and averages 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Looking Ahead

The Hoyas aim to regain their winning form against Creighton, who is coming off a disappointing home loss to St. John’s. Historically, Creighton has fared well against Georgetown, boasting a 17-10 all-time record, with the Bluejays winning 14 of the last 18 encounters.

As Georgetown prepares to take on Creighton, they will focus on improving their shooting efficiency and reducing scoring droughts. Despite individual talents in their backcourt, their reliance on free throws and struggles in open play points to a need for tactical adjustments.

The upcoming game promises to be pivotal for both teams as they navigate their current challenges. Fans will be keen to see if Georgetown can regroup and present a formidable challenge to the Bluejays.

Overall, as the Hoyas aim to rebound against the Bluejays, their success will heavily depend on their ability to execute offensively and capitalize on the strengths of their key players.