Teams

Georgetown:
Once again, the Hoyas showed that this team is different from last year’s, bouncing back after a tough loss to Villanova to ensure there would be no losing streak. Everyone contributed, with four Hoyas in double figures, and the team committed a season-low eight turnovers to help ensure the victory.

The Hoyas opened up an eight point lead midway through the first half, but you got the sense that the Panthers were not going to back away. The score was tied nine times and there were 11 lead changes, and you would expect nothing less from a Pitt-Georgetown game. The Hoyas were able to open up the game down the stretch by playing pressure defense on one end, making key baskets on the other, and out-hustling the Panthers for rebounds and loose balls, and that made the difference.

Pittsburgh:
The Panthers lost a lot of production from last year’s side that made it to the Elite Eight, but Jamie Dixon has done a good job of putting together a quality squad. A staple of all Pittsburgh teams is their hustle. They will play tough defense for 40 minutes, get rebounds, and make you work, and they will be competitive in every game. With that being said, I don’t think this team is as good as the rankings say. They don’t have enough inside presence with the loss of DeJuan Blair, and their outside shooting can be shaky at times.

Players

Georgetown:
It has been surprisingly easy to find the player of the game for the Hoyas this season, and it seems every game someone raises their level of play to help the team. This time it was Chris Wright. He had 27 points and was 3-3 from beyond the arc, including a catch-and-shoot make off a pass from Julian Vaughn to give the Hoyas the lead for good with six minutes to play in the game.

Speaking of Julian Vaughn, it is easy to overlook his role on this team, since his scoring ability is not on par with the other four starters. But, in comparing the Villanova game, in which he played sparingly, to the Pitt game, you can see what an impact he can have. Even if he is not scoring, he blocks shots and alters others (which is why my friend Peter in the student section calls him “Doc Block”). Vaughn also gets key rebounds and he can pass the basketball, as evidenced by his six assists last night.

Pittsburgh:
Junior reserve Gilbert Brown came off the bench to have a career-high 20 point night, connecting on all eight of his attempts from inside the three-point line. Panther leading scorer Ashton Gibbs was at the opposite end of the spectrum, as the Hoyas held him to just eight points and a poor 3-16 from the field.

Fans

The Petersen Events Center is one of the toughest places to play in the Big East. The fans are always very loud, and they have a large student section. Georgetown did a great job of keeping the crowd quiet in the last part of the game, using a 14-4 to take an eight point lead with under two minutes to go. Unlike their game against Louisville at “The Pete” four days earlier, there would be no comeback for the Panthers.

Number of the Game

70: Three point percentage for the Hoyas. Georgetown hit seven of 10 three pointers in this game, with Wright, Austin Freeman, and Jason Clark connecting on all seven of their combined attempts. This Hoya team can shoot the basketball, and there is no better example of that then this game.

An Upsetting Phrase

A lot of articles about this game are describing the result as an “upset.” I don’t agree. Granted Pitt was 5-0 and Georgetown was 4-2, but they were only three slots apart in the rankings, and if Georgetown can beat Rutgers on Saturday, the next ranking will have the Hoyas ahead of the Panthers. So, I find it strange to call a game an “upset” when if the two teams were to play again the following week, the same result would not be.

Image via NBEBasketball.com