Public embarrassment and desperate NCAA hopes weren’t enough for Georgetown to will itself to victory Saturday. Instead, the Hoyas let a second-half lead slip through their fingers and fell to #17 Xavier, 81-76. The loss dropped Georgetown to 0-2 in conference play, a disappointing start for a team that began the Big East slate on a 6-game winning streak that now seems like ancient history.
The main reason Georgetown lost today was its defense. Don’t let Xavier’s 39 percent shooting from the field fool you: the Hoyas played atrocious defense, allowing 76 points on 68 possessions before Georgetown began fouling intentionally.