Big East showdown pits Panthers against Hoyas

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

01/03/2009 - Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the Big East's best teams collide in our nation's capital this afternoon, as the third-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers come calling on the 11th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas. This game is a rematch of the last two Big East Tournament Championship games, as Pittsburgh claimed the 2008 title, while the Hoyas were crowned 2007 champs.

Jamie Dixon's Panthers are a flawless 13-0 this season, and kept their perfect mark intact with a 78-72 victory over Rutgers on Wednesday in the team's Big East opener.

John Thompson III has guided his Hoyas to a 10-1 start this year, with the lone loss coming in late November against Tennessee (90-78). Since then, the team has reeled off seven straight wins, including perhaps the team's most impressive victory of the year, knocking off second-ranked and previously unbeaten Connecticut in Big East action on Monday, 74-63.

This is the 72nd all-time meeting between these two teams on the hardwood. The Panthers have won the last two matchups to close Georgetown's gap in the overall series to 39-32.

The Panthers struggled against Rutgers last time out and actually trailed by five points halfway through the second half, before going on a 9-0 run and taking control of the game late, en route to a six-point victory. Pittsburgh was able to spread the wealth offensively in the game, as five players finished in double figures, led by Sam Young's 18 points. Brad Wanamaker had a strong game off the bench, tallying 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes of work. Levance Fields and Gilbert Brown chipped in 11 points apiece, while Jermaine Dixon finished with 10. It was certainly a yeoman's effort for Pittsburgh, which was without standout center DeJuan Blair for much of the game due to early foul trouble. The Panthers were able to continue to perform without their man in the middle thanks to great scoring depth and outstanding defense. That has been the case all season long, as the team is averaging 77.9 ppg, while limiting the opposition to a mere 58.2. Young has been outstanding, shooting .521 from the floor, en route to 19.9 ppg. Blair has been a monster in the paint, averaging a double-double with 13.7 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Fields has the ability to score as well (10.4 ppg), but he is much better when getting others involved in the offense, leading the way with 6.4 apg.

The Hoyas got off to a fast start and held the hometown Huskies to a mere 37.5 percent shooting in the first half, taking a nine-point lead into the break. Georgetown was able to convert 50 percent from the floor over the first 20 minutes, and despite shooting just 42.9 percent in the second half, the team was able to hold off UConn in the second stanza. Forcing 17 turnovers certainly helped along the way, as the Hoyas capitalized, scoring 26 points off those miscues. Forward DaJuan Summers led four players in double figures in the victory, as he poured in 18 points. Center Greg Monroe and guard Chris Wright added 16 points apiece, while Austin Freeman chipped in with 13 points. The Hoyas are a dangerous team at both ends of the court, but it is stingy defense which sets the tone, with Georgetown holding foes to a mere 56.3 ppg, on an anemic .343 shooting. Scoring depth is apparent, as four players come into this game averaging double digits. Summers paces the team with 14.6 ppg and is followed closely by Freeman (13.6 ppg), Wright (13.5 ppg) and Monroe (12.7 ppg).

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