7 Takeaways From the Big East Schedule Release
With the Big East releasing the full 2021-22 conference schedule last week, we take a look at what it means for the Hoyas.
The Big East released the full 2021-22 conference schedule for all 11 teams last week, as the 2021-22 college basketball season draws near. With just 46 days left until the Georgetown Hoyas begin their quest to defend their Big East crown, here’s seven takeaways from the Big East schedule for Georgetown.
Starting and ending with two-game road trips
The young Hoyas are going to be tested from start to finish this season, starting with an away matchup at the Dunk against Providence, followed by a long trip out to Omaha, Nebraska to take on a young but talented Creighton Bluejays team.
To close out the season, Georgetown will have to face two of the better teams in the Big East with only two days off between these games. Will they be jockeying for postseason seeding with Seton Hall and Xavier? Or will the Hoyas be left to play the role of spoiler once again to close out a regular season?
Winning either of the two road games to start the season would be a good boost for Georgetown, and would help propel them into a key four-game homestand after returning from Creighton.
Early four-game homestand could be pivotal
If Georgetown is going to contend in the Big East this year, it will need a strong showing during its four-game homestand early on in its conference schedule.
A New Year’s Day showdown with St. John’s should prove to be a bonkers game with the way recent Hoyas vs. Johnnies matchups have gone in the Ewing Era. Win that one and you then welcome a loaded Xavier team that has lofty expectations heading into a big year for Travis Steele. After that, you have two winnable games against Marquette and Butler.
If Georgetown can go 3-1 in this homestand, it would really set them up well for the rest of the conference schedule, and would be a promising sign for the Hoyas’ chances at finishing in the upper half of the Big East this season. That Xavier game at home stands out as a big early test, however.
Brutal end-of-season stretch
Georgetown is going to have their work cut out for them at the end of the season, which is why racking up wins early in the schedule will be crucial for this team getting a decent seed in the Big East Tournament.
The Hoyas kick off the second half with a road game against Marquette, and then have only two days off in between a road game at Villanova, in their on-campus arena, which could prove to be a very difficult game for the Hoyas if the Wildcats perform the way many expect them to this season.
After a brief respite with a home game against DePaul (lol), the Hoyas will then face the other Big East contenders in UConn, Seton Hall, and Xavier. With those last two games coming on the road at the Pirates and at the Musketeers, even going 1-2 in that final stretch would have to be considered a net positive for Georgetown.
The Hoyas will come into the final regular season game at Xavier having played a road game against a physical Seton Hall Pirates team, with just two days off again. Conditioning will be key in order to recover in time for what will be an important final regular season game in Cincinnati.
Great home games for Villanova and UConn matchups
Georgetown fans will want to mark down their calendars for Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, February 27, when Villanova and UConn come to town, respectively. Those should be two of the best games of the season for Georgetown, and Capital One Arena will be rocking for both games.
As a plus, Georgetown students will be on campus for both games. Get there early for these matchups, and get rowdy.
No weekend games with students on campus for a while
The Hoyas won’t have its students at a Big East game until the January 22 game against Villanova, because of winter break. That means Georgetown’s home games against St. John’s, Xavier, Marquette, and Butler will be missing the extra juice that the Hoya Blue faithful help bring on gameday at Capital One Arena.
While that’s a bummer, it only promises to add more buzz in the building for the home game against Villanova. That will be a chance for the young Hoyas to get a marquee win against a tough opponent, in front of a fired-up crowd. Giddy up.
Early February stretch critical to postseason chances
The four-game homestand in January could be the most critical stretch of the season when it comes to picking up some early key wins for the postseason resume, but don’t overlook that early February part of the schedule with home against Seton Hall, Providence, and Creighton, and a road game at DePaul. Those should be winnable games for this Georgetown team, and ones they will need on their resume if they want a shot at the NCAA Tournament.
That Seton Hall game will be the fourth game in 11 days for Georgetown, and should be a hard-fought battle. Certainly one to circle on the schedule right off the bat.
Time to develop before taking on the top dogs
If you consider the Big East contenders this year to be Villanova, UConn, Seton Hall, and Xavier, like we do, then the Hoyas will face only one contender in the first month of the conference schedule, with Xavier coming to town on January 4.
While Georgetown will certainly be tested in other ways early on, it will help the inexperienced Hoyas to have time to work on their on-court chemistry a bit before taking on the top dogs later on in the season. Of course, this also gives the top dogs more time to work on their game too, so it is a bit of double-edged sword, but you want an inexperienced, yet talented, team like Georgetown to have some time before it takes on a tough opponent.
