Villanova vs. Georgetown: 5 biggest storylines for first 2020-21 matchup

4. Last year’s regular-season finale between the Wildcats and Hoyas was entertaining from start-to-finish, but also featured a controversial ending

Finally, we can talk about last season’s showdown.  The Wildcats and Hoyas met on Mar. 7, in what would be the final weekend of basketball games for the 2019-20 season before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NCAA to cancel the remainder of the season.

Both teams entered that game on different trajectories.  Georgetown entered on a five-game losing streak, their last win coming at Butler on Feb. 15.  Villanova, meanwhile, had just picked up a huge win at Seton Hall a few days prior, rebounding after a disappointing home loss to Providence at the end of February.

The final score alone – a Villanova win, 70-69 – already indicates that this game was a nail-biter, but this game was nothing short of absurd.  The Wildcats began the game on a 14-0 run before the Hoyas recorded their first field goal nearly five minutes in.  The Hoyas would lead by as much as 16 before heading into halftime with a 39-30 advantage.

To say the Hoyas fought in the second half is an understatement.  Georgetown began the second with a 13-2 run to take a two-point edge, and the two went back-and-forth throughout the rest of the tilt.  The Hoyas appeared primed to claim the upset, maintaining a four-point edge with a minute left – and a two-point advantage with 45 seconds left.

Heartbreak struck for Georgetown before they could claim the upset, however.  They were called for a foul on a goaltend with 5.6 seconds left, giving Villanova a one-point edge.  With time to spare, Georgetown’s Terrell Allen went coast-to-coast, and just barely missed a game-winning layup – on a shot that very much could have been called a foul on Villanova.

That loss was nothing short of disastrous for Georgetown, who – entering the game with a 15-15 record – were guaranteed a losing record for the regular season.  Likewise, it gave Ewing his first losing record ever while at the helm of the Hoyas.

For a few Hoyas, they enter this game with a chip on their shoulder.  Ewing, obviously, has much to want revenge for – but Pickett will also come into this game wanting revenge.  With Ewing having limited numbers on his roster, he was only able to play seven players in this game, with four playing the full 40 minutes.  Pickett led the way, tallying a game-high 20 points (7-9 FG, 4-5 3PT, 2-4 FT).

Villanova returns substantial scoring from the tilt, including Robinson-Earl (13 points), Samuels (13), and Gillespie (11), but they will have to fill the hole left by Bey, who scored a team-high 18 points.  But for Georgetown, this game is all about redemption.