When looking at Georgetown this year, the numbers indicate that their pace has been dictated by the opponent they are playing. During their Big East schedule, 6 of the 7 teams that GT has played with a pace rating of 68.0 possessions or less per game went under tonight's total (only game that didn't was vs ND who has the 2nd worst adj. def. eff. rating in the conference). West Virginia comes into tonight's game ranked in the bottom 20% nationally in terms of pace at #282, averaging only 64.8 possessions per game.

Just to complete the argument, of the 8 games they played in the Big East vs teams with pace ratings 68.0 possession or more, 7 of them went over tonight's total. This is a very strong correlation in my opinion.

But it is not all about pace tonight. Both teams come into tonight's game in the upper half of the Big East with respect to adjusted defensive efficiency, and top 50 nationally. Georgetown is only allowing 0.922 pts per possession, while West Virginia is even stingier, only allowing 0.911 pts per possession.

Situational speaking, I also believe we are catching both teams coming off of a game where their defensive intensity was questioned by their coach. Huggins was so disappointed in Saturday's game vs Cincinnati that he pulled every starter after falling behind by 13. Georgetown is coming off a similarily disappointing effort on the defensive end allowing a Harangody-less ND squad to shoot 57.1% from the floor. I expect both teams to come out with their A-game tonight with respect to defense.

In a game that should see limited possessions with respect to pace (kenpom predicts 64), and both teams bringing a defensive intensity to the table, I can't see either team getting to the 70 point plateau, which should keep tonight's total under 136.5.

As always, BOL tonight to everyone