There was much speculation before the season began about how good this year’s Georgetown team would be. Many discussed ad nauseum the role Jeff Green played in the Hoyas’ Final Four run last year and wondered how the Hoyas would fill the void. But the consensus was still that the team had the pieces in place to return to the Final Four. The question was: could the Hoyas put all the pieces of the puzzle together?

To start the season, the Hoyas looked strong in almost all aspects. Good early season performances, a high ranking, and an 8-0 record - it looked like all the pieces were there for a championship run. But, they had not been truly tested. Then in the Memphis game, everything seemed to fall apart in the second half. The Hoyas were outrebounded and outhustled, struggled mightily from the free throw line, and endured a poor showing from Roy Hibbert. The game led some to question whether Georgetown even had the right pieces, much less the ability to solve the puzzle.

In recent games, the Hoyas had continued to struggle in certain areas. Rebounding was still the biggest area of concern, as evidenced by the much smaller American side holding its own against the Hoyas on the boards. The culmination of these woes was the game at Rutgers, in which all the flaws of the Memphis game resurfaced. Hibbert was a non-factor, the free throw shooting was abysmal, and the rebounding was unacceptable. Even the defense, which held Rutgers to 31% shooting, was not perfect, as the Scarlet Knights missed some wide open attempts. The saving grace was the team’s ability to make shots from downtown, but we know that the three-point shot is a fickle friend and should not be relied upon to win games. While winning despite playing poorly is encouraging - and an important trait for a contender - the game still left questions. Despite the win, one got the feeling that performances of this nature would not bode well for the rest of conference play.

Then came the DePaul game. All the previous troubles seemed to be a distant memory, as the Hoyas came out of the gate and looked unbeatable. Hibbert established his dominance in one of his best career performances: 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. The Hoyas were 9-11 from the free throw line and won the battle of the boards. The defense closed down the opposition, and on offense, Georgetown got back cuts to the rim for high percentage shots.

While the DePaul game was a good sign, there is still work to be done. One game does not always mean a team has turned the corner. Also, it is easy to let one’s guard down after a big win. Consider last year, when a tour-de-force pounding of Notre Dame was followed by a lackluster showing in a loss at home to Villanova. The Big East does not allow a team to let its guard down. The Hoyas need another strong, team effort if they wish to start 3-0 in the Big East for the first time under Coach Thompson. Connecticut has size, so Georgetown will again need strong rebounding, and if the game is close, free throw shooting will be key. It will be a hard-fought game, and the Hoyas will have to put all the pieces together in order to get the win. But, if the game against DePaul is any indication, at least the Hoyas have the pieces.