Georgetown @ Providence preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 6, 2019 ) Georgetown 76, Providence 67

Already short-handed, Georgetown could be without one of its top scorers when it begins Big East Conference play Tuesday at Providence. Mac McClung suffered an injury to his right eye in a victory over American on Saturday and is questionable for the Hoyas' matchup with the Friars.

McClung has easily been the team's most improved player during the second month of the season, going from averaging 11.9 points in November to 22.2 points in five December games prior to the contest against American, which the Hoyas still won easily 80-60 for their sixth straight victory. "Hopefully it's not going to be too bad and he won't be out very long," coach Patrick Ewing told the media of McClung, who is the No. 8 scorer in the Big East at 15.5 points per game. "That is what I am hopeful for." Jahvon Blair, who was forced to play a season-high 34 minutes against American, will likely be inserted into the starting lineup should McClung be unable to play and like many of the Hoyas, he has been a different player during the win streak, posting four games in double figures after having none prior. Alpha Diallo - despite shooting problems - managed his third straight double-double and sixth of the season as the Friars, who dropped both games to the Hoyas last season after winning eight straight in the series, throttled Texas Dec. 21 at home.

TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT GEORGETOWN (10-3): Jamorko Pickett could be a candidate to pick up some of the scoring slack caused by a potential McClung absence. The junior has been more of a secondary option for the Hoyas over the last two seasons, topping out at 18 points, but showed some big game potential as a freshman and is shooting for a much higher percentage this season at 48.3 percent. Blair staying hot from 3-point territory, where he has made 43.2 percent in the last five games with seven 3s against SMU, could also be critical for the Hoyas.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (7-6): The matchup between Diallo and Georgetown's Omer Yurtseven for rebounds will be one to watch, especially the battle for offensive boards. Both teams hit the offensive glass with authority, ranking in the top 20 in Division I with better than 13.5 per game, but the 7-foot Yurtseven, who is second in the country, holds a slight edge over the 6-7 Diallo in that department. Diallo spearheads the Providence defense as he is tied for first in the Big East in steals per game (2.08) for a team that gets 9.8 per contest, which is the 11th best rate nationally, and forces 17.5 turnovers per game, also among the nation's best.

TIP-INS

1. Providence's David Duke is No. 1 in the Big East in 3-point shooting (48.8 percent).

2. Georgetown owns a 45-27 edge in the series, but is just 13-18 at Providence, with the win there last season its first since 2012.

3. McClung is second in the Big East and was tied for 27th nationally in free throw shooting (90 percent).

PREDICTION: Georgetown 75, Providence 70