Georgetown vs. Seton Hall: 2019-20 college basketball preview, TV schedule
The Georgetown Hoyas and Seton Hall Pirates likely feel wildly different about how their respective Big East openers went this week.
TV Schedule: Friday, January 3, 2020 at 9:00 PM ET, FS1
Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
The Big East openers for Georgetown and Seton Hall were doozies.
For the latter, it became a chance to get their groove back. Myles Powell returned from a two-week absence (concussion) and was triumphant, dropping 27 points in a 74-66 win over DePaul.
Seton Hall won all three games they played without Powell, including a big upset victory over the Maryland Terrapins. It was an enlightening stretch for a team that lost its luster with four losses in the non-conference schedule, including a crushing defeat at the hands of state rival Rutgers.
The victory over DePaul didn’t come without adversity, as the Pirates trailed by six at the half in a hostile environment. But Powell stepped up in the second half, scoring 18 points in the latter half of the game as he grew more comfortable and fearless. Additionally, junior guard Myles Cale scored 16, a season-high; getting that output from him on a consistent basis would be a big boon for Seton Hall.
With Powell back in the fold, it’s easier to manage expectations day in and day out for the Pirates. The same can’t be said for Georgetown this year.
January has only just begun, but the Hoyas’ season has already been filled with extreme highs and lows, sometimes in the same 24-hour stretch.
On the plus side, they went 10-3 in non-conference play, including wins over SMU, Syracuse, Texas and Oklahoma State. Additionally, one of those three losses was a close defeat at the hands of Duke, a loss that may have actually helped legitimize Georgetown.
On the negative side, one of those three losses was to UNC Greensboro. There has also been too much noise off the court, ranging from serious allegations burglary and assault to transfers to a recent commitment defection by Terrance Williams (who just committed to Michigan instead).
Georgetown hit another low in their Big East opener against Providence on Tuesday, trailing the Friars by a whopping 31 points at the half. Omer Yurtseven and the defense managed to step up in the second half, but the Hoyas still ultimately lost 76-60. The defeat snapped a six-game winning streak.
Mac McClung missed Tuesday’s game after suffering an eye poke in Georgetown’s previous contest. Georgetown has the best offense in the Big East (80.3 points per game), but it clearly suffers without their sophomore guard and it’s unclear if he’ll be returning to play on Friday night.
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The matchup on the inside should be one to watch as well. Romaro Gill and Ike Obiagu – who both stand tall at 7-foot-2 – combined to block five shots against DePaul while committing just four fouls between the two of them. The Hoyas’ only 7-footer is Yurtseven, who brings down 10.1 rebounds per game, but also averages 2.9 fouls and can get physical in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Prediction: Seton Hall 78, Georgetown 67