Coppin St. @ Georgetown preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 30, 2016 ) Coppin St. 44, Georgetown 96

Another confidence-building game is on tap for Georgetown on Sunday when it hosts Coppin State in the BB&T Classic. The Hoyas have feasted on lesser opponents thus far in Patrick Ewing's first season as coach, and that trend should continue against the winless Eagles.

While the Hoyas' schedule, which up to Sunday includes six teams with a combined record of 9-34, has been a good thing for the likes of Kaleb Johnson and Jonathan Mulmore, big man Jessie Govan may be thirsting for more after failing to record a double-double for the second straight game. " I've just got to hype myself up before every game because I know if I don't take these games serious, then how am I going to take games against Villanova and Seton Hall serious?" the 6-10 junior told the media after a 21-point victory over Maine. "I've got to come out every game with the same mentality, just try to dominate." In contrast, the Eagles have scheduled up in the non-conference, losing to the Power 5 conference teams such as Oregon, No. 13 Cincinnati and Rutgers, and still have games with the Hoyas, Connecticut and West Virginia to come. Coppin State is coming off its second 43-point loss of the season, 80-37 to Ohio on Friday.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT COPPIN STATE (0-7): While their schedule certainly has something to do with it, the Eagles find themselves at or near the bottom of Division I in several statistical categories, including field goal percentage, 3-point shooting and assists per game. Playing without Dejuan Clayton, who leads the team in scoring with 10.2 points per game, the Eagles and first-year coach Juan Dixon were soundly beaten Friday by Ohio. Blake Simpson and Cedric Council, Jr., who have combined to average 9.6 points and 6.9 rebounds, will likely draw the task of accounting for Govan, who was the No. 10 rebounder in the country entering Saturday at 11.4 per game.

ABOUT GEORGETOWN (5-0): While it remains to be seen how he will play in two weeks against the likes of Syracuse, Johnson has given Ewing another option on offense. The junior, who is currently shooting 64.9 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from beyond the arc, scored 18 points in the win over Maine to bring his average to 13.8 for the season. Jahvon Blair hasn't been able to repeat the success he enjoyed in the season's second and third game, but the freshman averages 11 points for the Hoyas.

TIP-INS

1. The Hoyas, who are 57-0 against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, defeated the Eagles 96-44 last season in the first meeting.

2. Govan is one of 24 players in the country averaging double figures in points and rebounds.

3. Dixon won a national title and was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and ACC Player of the Year for Maryland in 2002.

PREDICTION: Georgetown 89, Coppin State 46