Villanova aims at statement win against Georgetown

Thursday, March 13, 2008
12 PM - Madison Square Garden

#1 Georgetown vs. #8 Villanova

Scottie Reynolds and Villanova enter the quarterfinal round of the Big East tournament fresh off their 82-63 victory over Syracuse in the opening round on Wednesday. The Wildcats shattered Syracuse’s tournament hopes, while keeping theirs alive. Standing in Villanova’s way, is Roy Hibbert and the No. 9 Georgetown Hoyas.

Georgetown will see their first game action in the Big East tournament after earning the top seed and a first round bye. The Hoyas defeated Louisville in their regular season finale 55-52 to earn Big East regular season champ honors. Georgetown has been atop the Big East from start to finish all season, and the Hoyas enter on a five-game winning streak, and winners of 12 of their last 14. Georgetown boasts first-team All-Big East senior center Roy Hibbert, who leads the Hoyas in scoring and rebounding (13.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Hibbert leads a Georgetown defense that ranks first in three defense categories in the Big East : scoring defense (57.3 ppg), field goal percentage defense (36.4) and rebounding defense (32.5). In games decided by five points or less, Georgetown is a perfect 6-0 this season.

Villanova will out for redemption and respect, looking to avenge a controversial and questionable foul call in the last seconds of a 55-53 loss at Georgetown on Feb. 11th. Villanova was whistled for a late foul on Jonathan Wallace, who walked the length of the floor and sunk two free throws to avoid overtime and pull out a win for Georgetown. While the Villanova’s tournament hopes are still hanging on, this is a statement type win, a resume win that Villanova badly needs. The Wildcats have not beaten Georgetown in the Big East tournament since their magical, championship year in 1985; Villanova is 0-4 since then against Georgetown in the Big East tournament. The Wildcats shot the lights out of Madison Square Garden against Syracuse in the opening round, hitting 8-of-10 3-pointers in the second half, and 11 for the game. But if the Wildcats hot shooting continues from beyond the arc, they’ll have to do it against the best team defending the 3-point line. Georgetown only allows the opposition to shoot 29 percent from downtown.

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It’ll be a clash of momentum versus fresh and rested legs in the quarterfinals, with the winner advancing to Friday night’s semifinal round.

by Frank Minniti
BigEast-fans.com Director of Content

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