Water Cooler Takes: Victory at Verizon

Xavier is developing a fun in conference rivalry with Georgetown, but yesterday wasn't the best day for that to be on display. When Tre Campbell isn't shooting 7-5 from behind the arc, the Hoyas aren't nearly on the same level as the Musketeers. According to Ken Pomeroy, Georgetown hasn't been this bad since the final year of Craig Esherick's tenure. John Thompson III probably has more rope to play with than Esherick, but he must surely use it up soon. Yesterday his team was rather comprehensively pounded in a game that they absolutely had to win to have any chance of an at large bid. Now, the only way the Hoyas go dancing is if they win the Big East tournament. On this evidence, that isn't happening.

1. Edmond Sumner is great because of Myles Davis

That seems an odd point to make on a day when Myles was something less than his best, but bear with me. Since returning from injury, Sumner has had more opportunities to play off the ball and not handle the pressure of initiating offense. While Ed remains the teams primary point guard, it's been Myles Davis' ability to occasionally bring the ball up against pressure, start the offense, or just generally run things that has given Sumner a chance to at least ease the strain on freshman legs. Coach Mack knows he has another rock solid option at the point now, and that means Edmond can stay fresh and do things like 22/2/3 on 6-9 from the floor.

2. This team is almost laughably deep

Quick quiz: Which two players had at least a double double against Providence? The answer to that is Myles Davis and Jalen Reynolds. Now, who were the only two players with offensive efficiency marks under 100 against Georgetown? Yes, Myles Davis and Jalen Reynolds. Xavier has such incredible depth that the stars of a midweek win can be the least effective players come Saturday and the team still wins by 18. Rather than come apart, Xavier simply had four different guys score in double figures this game.

3. When Xavier moves the offense is unstoppable

Joel mentioned in his takes after the game that this offense is bet when not settling for jumpers, but going into attack mode. To further bear that point out consider that Georgetown came into the game 21st in the nation in inside the arc defense, allowing opponents to shoot just under 43%. Xavier cut that defense to ribbons and shot 71% inside the arc and also managed to get to the line 31 times. The Musketeers averaged 1.29 points per possession despite shooting only 3-17 from deep. Imagine, if you will, a game in which the Musketeers move the offense like that and knock down even just their season average from behind the arc. Does anyone beat that team?

4. Georgetown looks rudderless

It's hard to imagine what might be happening in Washington DC now if the coach were named anything other than John Thompson. The Hoyas actually fought briefly in this game, more than can be said for their Seton Hall loss, but as soon as Xavier hit them with a real hammer in the second half, the game was over. Like a couple other teams before them, Georgetown looked confused by the 1-3-1 and never really figured out how to adjust to the shifting defenses. That comes down to a coaching staff not installing a game plan that they team can quickly implement in the face of adversity. It looks an awful lot like the Hoyas, and certainly their coaches, have quit on this season.