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Defiant Hoyas Come to Providence Hot

McClung Washington Post Washington Post

Prior to last season, Providence had enjoyed unprecedented success against Georgetown. The Friars entered a mid-January matchup with the Hoyas riding an eight game winning streak in the series. PC came into the Jan. 12 contest in D.C. in desperate need for a win after starting 0-2 in conference play, but saw the Hoyas twice knock down last second three point shots to extend the game. Georgetown eventually won, 96-90, in double overtime.

It was a crushing loss for Providence, but a big step forward for a young Georgetown team starting a pair of freshmen in the backcourt. Both of those freshmen knocked down game-tying threes late.

Losing to Providence was not something Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing was accustomed to as a player. Ewing’s Hoyas were perhaps the best team of the 1980s, winning a national championship and making it to the title game on three occasions. During his four year college career Ewing won three Big East Tournament championships and was a three time All American. Ewing lost in his first ever game against Providence (on 1/23/82) before ripping off eight straight wins — including twice in the conference tourney.

Due to graduations, transfers, and disciplinary action, the Georgetown team Friar fans saw last winter will look very little like the group that takes to the Dunkin Donuts Center floor on New Year’s Eve.

Center Jessie Govan (who scored 33 points in the win in D.C.) graduated last spring, while last season’s Big East Rookie of the Year, point guard James Akinjo, transferred in-season. Akinjo and fellow sophomore Mac McClung were thought to be one of the best backcourt tandems in the Big East heading into this season. 

Also gone is Josh LeBlanc, a springy sophomore who was the best player on the floor in Georgetown’s win at Providence last year. LeBlanc was kicked out of the program after being accused with assault and battery and theft of personal property by a female student on campus.

The in-season departures of Akinjo and LeBlanc (as well as two other role players facing disciplinary action) looked like it could have sent Georgetown’s season into a tailspin, but Ewing’s group hasn’t lost a game since losing two key players. The Hoyas come into Providence winners of six in a row. That includes wins over Oklahoma State, SMU, and Syracuse.

Key to their strong play has been the continued emergence of McClung, an all rookie team selection in the Big East a year ago. McClung has taken his game to another level, averaging over 15 points per game, while shooting 90% at the free throw line and 38% from deep. 

The loss of Govan has been more than offset by North Carolina State transfer Omer Yurtseven. A native of Turkey, Yurtseven has been dominant offensively through 13 games. He’s averaging over 18 points and 10 rebounds per game, and is second in the country in offensive rebounds. He’s doing all that while shooting 58% from the field in 25 minutes per game.

Yurtseven’s journey to Georgetown has been an interesting one. He played in an NBA preseason game at just 17 years old, scoring eight points and grabbing seven boards against Brooklyn. He was suspended the first nine games of his college career after playing professionally, but was named All ACC two years ago and twice flirted with the NBA Draft before transferring to Georgetown. It would be shocking if Georgetown got more than a year out of him, but Ewing will gladly take a year of this type of production. Yurtseven scored 19 points against Duke and Oklahoma State, and added 17 versus Syracuse.

While McClung and Yurtseven are the marquee names, Ewing has surrounded with them steady talent. They will rely heavily on a three guard lineup that includes senior Jagan Mosley and graduate transfer Terrell Allen. Allen is a game managing point guard who piles up assists, while keeping turnovers down, and Mosely (a St. Anthony product) is a steady hand who shoots with great efficiency (.522 from 3, .565 from the field, 85% FTs). 

Jamorko Pickett is a long, veteran forward who should also see big minutes. 

How well Kalif Young and Nate Watson fare against Yurtseven could well determine if Providence starts the Big East 1-0.

Georgetown enters tonight with a NET rating of 30. They were predicted to finish 6th in the Big East, but that is a bit misleading. Providence was chosen to finish in a tie for fourth, but PC received 50 votes to Georgetown’s 49 from the league’s coaches.

Since the losses of Akinjo and LeBlanc, Georgetown has played with defiance. Wednesday marks a fresh start for a Providence group that hopes a week and a half away from the floor can help them reset and rebound from a disappointing 7-6 start to the season.

4 Comments

  1. Irish Spectre

    December 31, 2019 at 4:55 pm

    – Energy
    – Shooting
    – Diallo
    – Someone Else

  2. Wally

    December 31, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    GOFRIARS!!! Senior’s need sense of urgency!!!

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