Your Georgetown Hoyas moved to a promising 3-0 on the season with a hard-fought, yet perhaps slightly concerning, 83-70 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena. Now, the Hoyas face their first major home test of the Ed Cooley eras third season with a Saturday afternoon tilt against the Clemson Tigers.
The victory against Binghamton saw junior transfer guard KJ Lewis put up his first career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, leading the team in scoring.
Senior transfer center Vince Iwuchukwu was highly efficient, adding 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line, dominating the paint as the Hoyas outscored the Bearcats 46-20 inside. Sophomore guard Malik Mack pitched in 13 points, all in the second half, as the Hoyas pulled away.
However, the game was closer than many of the Georgetown faithful would have liked for a home matchup. The Hoyas struggled with defensive discipline at times, sending the Bearcats to the line frequently, though Binghamtons 92% free-throw shooting certainly played a part.
Ed Cooley was candid after the game, stating that he thought the team only played for 11 minutes and that the discipline defensively has to improve. The teams low turnover count (just four on the night) was a positive sign, but the defensive lapses and overall attention to detail will need to be rectified quickly before a major challenge on Saturday.
Clemson, like Georgetown, enters Saturdays matchup with an identical 3-0 record, having cruised through their first three home games with victories by 25 or more points, including an 83-56 win over Morehead State this week.
Head Coach Brad Brownell, in his 16th season with the Tigers, views this game as a major step up in class for his team, recognizing the tough, physical identity Cooley has instilled. Brownell brought in six transfers to rebuild his roster, and the new-look Tigers have shown excellent ball movement, committing only five turnovers against Morehead State, and balanced scoring, with three different players leading them in scoring across their three games.
In their last outing, the Tigers saw strong contributions from forward RJ Godfrey (13 points, 11 rebounds) and forward Jake Wahlin (14 points, including four three-pointers). Guard Ace Buckner also provided solid bench scoring with 12 points.
A potential concern for the Tigers is their rebounding, as they were out-rebounded by Morehead State, and Coach Brownell stressed the need for his team to become a little bit more physically tough.
This highlights a key potential matchup advantage for the Hoyas, whose frontcourt of Iwuchukwu and Julius Halaifonua (7-0) could look to exploit the paint and the glass, especially if Clemsons forwards get into foul trouble as they did against Morehead State.
For Hoyas fans, this game is truly a proving ground. Its the next step in the programs revitalization and a chance to show on a national broadcast (Peacock, noon tip-off) that this 3-0 startwhich includes an exhibition win over Kentucky and a true road win at Marylandis no fluke (SI).
Many of the Georgetown faithful have said that this is the best start since the 2018-19 campaign, and the toughness and physical play noted by Clemsons coach suggest that Cooleys efforts to revive the program are working.
A win here against a quality ACC opponent would be a tremendous boost to the teams resume and growing national perception.
Here are the links (be sure to visit and follow!):
Lewis, Iwuchukwu and Mack Combine for 50 as Georgetown Downs Binghamton 83-70 Georgetown University Athletics | GUHOYAS
Mens basketball battles in 83-70 loss at Georgetown Binghamton University Athletics | BINGHAMTONBEARCATS
Lewis 20 lead Georgetown past Binghamton 83-70 | CBSSPORTS
With second-half surge, Hoyas reach 3-0 for first time since 2018 | WASHINGTONPOST
Clemson Basketball Hits Proving Ground Saturday | SI
What weve learned about Clemson mens basketball early in the season | TIGERNET
Godfrey Double-Double; Wahlins 14 Help Lead Tigers Past Eagles 83-56 | CLEMSONTIGERS
Georgetown really pushing for a good crowd at Capital One | TIGERNET
Clemson vs. Georgetown mens basketball tickets still available for Saturday, Nov. 15 | CLEMSONWIRE.USATODAY
Mens Bracketology: Houston claims No. 1 overall seed, Georgetown cracks the field | ESPN
BIG EAST to Rename Presidents Award After John J. DeGioia Georgetown University Athletics | GUHOYAS
Clemson basketball vs. Morehead State highlights, Tigers rout Eagles to end homestand undefeated | GREENVILLEONLINE
Godfreys Double-Double Paces Clemson to Third Win of Season | THECLEMSONINSIDER
What We Learned From Clemson Basketballs Strong Win Over Morehead State | SI