NEW YORK – The Georgetown men’s basketball team was a few good bounces away from being seeded much higher in the Big East Tournament.
The Hoyas came into the tournament as the No. 11 seed, but eight of their 14 league losses were decided by six points or less. So their run to the semifinal round – only the second time the No. 11 seed has ever made it that far (Villanova, 2004) – where they’ll meet No. 2 seed UConn on Friday night, wasn’t as surprising as it appears on the surface.
UConn was at the other end of two of those close losses, having beaten Georgetown 64-62 in Washington, D.C., and 79-75 in Storrs. Both games came down to free throws in the final minute.
Neither team left any doubt in their quarterfinal.
UConn returned to form in a 93-68 rout of No. 10 seed Xavier in its quarterfinal Thursday behind a complete performance that featured 51 combined points from Tarris Reed Jr., Alex Karaban and Solo Ball, and 24 points from the bench. The Huskies outscored the Musketeers 42-16 in the paint.
“We have played them twice, so we are pretty comfortable. We’re not content. (Reed is) one of the better bigs in the country,” Georgetown coach Ed Cooley said. “Last time I checked we had a couple of big guys too, the last time I looked at it, and one played incredible, and you heard his voice today. One of the smoothest voices in all of college basketball. When he talks I’m like, damn, I wish I had that voice.”
Cooley was referring to Julius Halaifonua, a 7-footer from New Zealand, who had a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double on 9-for-12 shooting as the Hoyas led No. 3 seed Villanova for 25 and a half minutes. The 78-64 win was essentially sealed after Kayvaun Mulready made back-to-back 3-pointers with about six minutes left.
UConn and Georgetown are tied for the most Big East Tournament championships all-time with eight.
“We’re going to play one of the best teams in America. They have earned that right. They’re national champions. Danny (Hurley) has done an incredible job building that program back to where it’s supposed to be. We’re just excited that we are here. I want our men to feel how special it is to play on a Friday night in Madison Square Garden,” Cooley said. “We’re going to give them that experience, and if we continue to do what we’ve been doing the last couple of days, we’re going to give ourselves an opportunity to advance. But Danny’s done an unbelievable job. I mean, to win the national champion not one, but two, you got to give him and his staff a ton of credit.”
With No. 4 seed Seton Hall set to play No. 1 seed St. John’s in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m., airing on FOX, it is the first time four charter members of the Big East advanced to the semifinals since 1994 (Providence, UConn, Georgetown, Seton Hall).
UConn has made the semifinal round every year with Hurley as head coach.
What to know
Site: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Time: 8 p.m. Friday.
Records: No. 2 seed UConn: 28-4 (17-3 Big East), No. 11 seed Georgetown: 16-17 (6-13).
Season series: UConn vs. Georgetown: 2-0 (64-62 win at Capital One Arena Jan. 17, 79-75 win in Gampel Pavilion Feb. 14).
Big East Tournament history: UConn leads, 6-2
TV: FS1
Radio: UConn Sports Network on FOX Sports Radio 97-9 – Mike Crispino, Wayne Norman
