It’s been a remarkable run for DePaul (12-8, 4-5). Since head coach Chris Holtmann joined last season, this program has gone from afterthought to above-average. The Blue Demons enter Wednesday having won four of their last six games. They’ll look to keep the good times rolling on the road tonight vs. Georgetown. The Hoyas (10-10, 2-7), despite their lackluster record, have gone toe-to-toe against some elite competition.
Which Big East squad will emerge victorious this evening? Georgetown enters as 3.5-point favorites (-108) over DePaul. The total is set at 139.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Wednesday’s game between the Blue Demons and Hoyas.
DePaul vs. Georgetown prediction, preview
The biggest difference pre-and-post Holtmann is DePaul’s effort on defense. The Blue Demons rank 54th on KenPom with a 102.1 adjusted defensive efficiency margin. However, they often struggles on the glass. DePaul is hauling in just 34.0 rebounds per game, the worst mark among all Big East schools. The secret for this group is that they don’t give up easy looks. Teams have posted a 48% effective field goal percentage vs. the Blue Demons, 29th-best among all high-major programs.
On offense, Holtmann wields a fairly balanced attack. Leading the charge is CJ Gunn; the senior is averaging 14.8 points per game. He’s joined by fellow upperclassmen Layden Blocker (11.9 PPG, 3.8 AST) and N.J. Benson (10.3 PPG, 7.1 REB). Those three do most of the heavy lifting for DePaul when it comes to scoring. As a unit, the Blue Demons are averaging just 73.3 points per game, 259th among 365 Division I schools. Per KenPom, this offense ranks 170th in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency (109.3).
Despite middling metrics, the Blue Demons keep finding ways to win. The exact opposite is true for the Hoyas, who have fallen short countless times already. Georgetown has lost by five or fewer points on four different occasions this season. It’s cold comfort for a fanbase that is starved for sustained success. Head coach Ed Cooley, now in year three at The Hilltop, has disappointed so far. The most troubling sign for this group is that they don’t do anything particularly well. Georgetown sits at 94th in offensive rating and 109th in defensive rating on KenPom.
The Hoyas broke a miserable six-game losing streak last weekend, taking down Providence. Perhaps an emotional win on the road will be what this team needs to turn things around. It’s not as if the program is bereft of talent. Guards KJ Lewis and Malik Mack have combined for 29.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. Up front, there’s some promise with big men Julius Halaifonua and Caleb Williams. This roster should have an advantage on the glass against DePaul. As previously mentioned, the Blue Demons struggle when it comes to rebounding.
DePaul vs. Georgetown pick, best bet
Going by the numbers, neither of these two teams do anything exceptionally well. However, DePaul tends to play with far more effort on both ends of the floor. The biggest compliment for the Blue Demons is that they take care of business against similar or even worse opponents. They’ve gone 10-1 this season against Quad 3 and 4 opponents. That includes a 56-50 victory over Georgetown on January 6th. Even at home, it’s difficult to trust the inconsistent Hoyas. Back the visitors tonight as slight underdogs.
