South Bend, IN (My Sportsbook) - A pair of Big East Conference powers fresh off disappointing losses will meet in South Bend this evening, as the 13th- ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish host the ninth-rated Georgetown Hoyas.
Georgetown carried a seven-game win streak and a wealth of confidence into Saturday's showdown with Pittsburgh. Despite playing in front of the home crowd, the Hoyas were no match for the mighty Panthers, as they lost that game by a 70-54 final. Georgetown is now 10-2 overall and is set to play just its second true road game of the season.
As for Notre Dame, it was shocked by St. John's on Saturday, 71-65. That loss halted a four-game win streak for the Fighting Irish, who figure to fall in the national poll regardless of the outcome of tonight's tilt. They are now 10-3 overall and 1-1 in conference action.
The Hoyas have won their last five meetings with the Irish to take a 14-10 lead in the all-time series.
Georgetown is scoring 74.0 ppg this season, but it isn't the team's offensive ability that scares opponents. The Hoyas are capable of playing smothering defense, as they are only allowing 57.4 ppg on 35.6 percent shooting from the floor. DaJuan Summers continues to pace Georgetown in scoring 15.3 ppg on 54.7 percent shooting from the field, including 46.7 percent efficiency from three- point range. Austin Freeman provides 13.1 ppg, and freshman center Greg Monroe checks in with 12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 23 blocks. The fourth and final double- digit scorer on the roster is Chris Wright with his 12.8 ppg. Summers did all he could against Pittsburgh on Saturday, as he finished with 22 points, as he knocked down 4-of-5 three-pointers in the tilt. Monroe added 15 points and eight boards for the Hoyas, who only shot 35.3 percent from the floor and were outrebounded by a staggering 48-23 margin, including 20-7 on the offensive boards.
There are a couple of obvious reasons that Notre Dame fell short against St. John's on Saturday. The Fighting Irish suffered a 41-30 rebounding disadvantage in the tilt, and they were also outscored 16-7 from the foul line. Luke Harangody led the way in the loss with 28 points and 14 rebounds, and the big forward dominated the interior as usual. Tory Jackson pitched in 14 points for the Irish, who got only 10 points from Kyle McAlarney. Harangody, the reigning Big East Player of the Year, has led his team in both scoring and rebounding in each of the last six games. He is averaging 23.5 ppg and 12.5 rpg while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor. McAlarney, a 45.3 percent shooter from three-point range, checks in with 16.3 ppg, and Ryan Ayers provides 12.2 ppg. As for Jackson, who leads the club with 74 assists and 22 steals, he rounds out a foursome of double-digit scorers with 11.5 ppg. Notre Dame is generating 82.5 ppg while permitting 66.7 ppg to the opposition.
