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Georgetown finds it still has long way to go in blowout loss to No. 1 Villanova
- Updated: January 18, 2018
Mikal Bridges was part of the three parade that rained down on the Hoyas on Wednesday night. (Photo: USA Today Sports)
Villanova absolutely demolished Georgetown on Wednesday night, embarrassing the Hoyas, 88-56.
‘Nova led by as many as 44 points and by the double-take-forcing scores of 73-31 and 80-48. It was the worst loss for Georgetown in more than 40 years.
The Wildcats went on an 18-0 run to burst out to a 31-8 lead. The box score is incredible, as five players scored in double figures, led by Jalen Brunson with 18 and Mikal Bridges with 17.
‘Nova was just on fire from deep, knocking down 17 threes, and shooting them at a 51% clip (17-for-33).
A blowout loss to Villanova in itself isn’t anything to be ashamed of–the Hoyas can join the club, which includes Xavier and Gonzaga, as well as a host of other teams this season.
But a loss like this certainly is disheartening for a squad that has played hard for first-year head coach Patrick Ewing.
Ewing has some talent in big men Jessie Govan (17.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg) and Marcus Derrickson (14.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg), but guard play has been subpar, and the team just hasn’t found its sea legs yet.
The Hoyas (12-6, 2-5/Big East) have been competitive in most conference games and endured a tough, double-overtime loss to Butler to go along with a heartbreaking loss to Syracuse earlier this year. They’ve also beaten St. John’s and DePaul in conference play, and were blown out by Creighton and outclassed by Seton Hall.
Ewing’s squad has the Johnnies and Blue Demons on the schedule again before a tough three game road trip to Omaha, Cincinnati (for Xavier) and Providence.
It’s make-or-break time for this young squad under its first-year coach, and although this season doesn’t appear likely to end with an NCAA bid (especially given the fact that the non-conference schedule was lined with more cupcakes than a kids’ birthday party), any postseason tournament appearance should be considered a success.
Ewing’s team plays hard, they’re organized, and they’re coached up. Those mic’d up segments have proven that.
It’s just going to take time for Big Pat to build it up. Let’s hope the fans and media give him the chance he deserves.
For Villanova, the beat goes on, and this group looks like the No. 1 team in the country. They’re tough, disciplined and scrappy defensively, they force turnovers (17 on Wednesday), move the ball exquisitely, and knock down open shots.
They’re always capable of another early-round exit (last year’s loss to Wisconsin was baffling), but this is an experienced group filled with a bunch of gamers. We’re betting on another 1-seed and a deep tournament run.
