:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44289944/usa-today-6068128.0.jpg)
PROGRAM SCHEDULE PROPAGANDA: PRESS RELEASE
THIS IS WHY WE FIGHT: THE SCHEDULE
Here are some schedule highlights and games of note:
The Struggle is Real
February 14: at Notre Dame; February 21: Towson; February 28: Hofstra; March 14: Duke; March 18 at Loyola; March 28: at Denver; April 11: Villanova; April 18: at Virginia; April 25: St. John's
Over half of Georgetown's schedule this coming spring -- 9 of 14 regular season games -- are against opponents that have been stronger than the Hoyas over the last three seasons according to LaxPower's three-year computer rating analysis (Georgetown ranks 36th nationally). That fact creates a sense of urgency for Georgetown going into 2015, seeking to close the gap on programs that have passed the Hoyas in the program's recent history, but it also creates a potential sense of dread for Georgetown as the sunrise of the season approaches: The Hoyas have not been exemplary against eight of these nine teams since 2012 (the only team from this particular subset of opponents that Georgetown hasn't seen at least once since 2012 is Virginia).
The details are somewhat gruesome:
| OPPONENT | LAXPOWER 3Y RANKING | 2014 RESULT | 2013 RESULT | 2012 RESULT | TOTAL |
| Notre Dame | 8 | 8-10 (L) | 7-9 (L) | 15-19 (0-2) | |
| Towson | 34 | 7-8 (L) | 7-8 (0-1) | ||
| Hofstra | 21 | 8-9 (OT) (L) | 8-9 (0-1) | ||
| Duke | 1 | 7-19 (L) | 11-13 (L) | 18-32 (0-2) | |
| Loyola | 2 | 9-10 (L) | 8-13 (L) | 6-11 (L) | 23-34 (0-3) |
| Denver | 4 | 9-17 (L) | 9-17 (0-1) | ||
| Villanova | 23 | 8-13 (L) | 12-15 (L); 6-8 (L) | 7-15 (L) | 33-51 (0-4) |
| St. John's | 28 | 7-13 (L) | 14-13 (OT) (W) | 12-13 (OT) (L) | 33-39 (1-2) |
| TOTAL | 48-70 (0-6) | 55-78 (1-5) | 43-61 (0-5) | 146-209 (1-16) | |
| AVERAGE | 15.13 | 8.00-11.67 | 9.17-13.00 | 8.60-12.20 | 8.59-12.29 |
1-16. There are four one-goal losses in these 17 games and nine losses of three goals or less, but the Hoyas still have struggled to topple opponents that are ahead of Georgetown in overall strength over the last three seasons (which helps explain the situation Georgetown is in). What the Hoyas accomplish against these teams in 2015 -- even if those teams pivot from their blended position over the last three seasons -- will help define the team's ceiling and the developmental arc that the Hoyas are currently riding.
Combustion
March 4: at Mount St. Mary's; March 7: Hobart; March 10: Vermont; March 21: Marquette; April 4: at Providence
The flip side for Georgetown is its three-year performance against opponents ranked lower than the Hoyas in LaxPower's three-year rating analysis. Of the five programs that have finished under the Hoyas in that study, Georgetown has faced three of those opponents -- Mount St. Mary's, Marquette, and Providence -- at least once in the last three seasons. Here are Georgetown's details against those teams:
| OPPONENT | LAXPOWER 3Y RANKING | 2014 RESULT | 2013 RESULT | 2012 RESULT | TOTAL |
| Mount St. Mary's | 54 | 10-4 (W) | 6-14 (L) | 9-8 (W) | 25-26 (2-1) |
| Marquette | 45 | 10-11 (OT) (L) | 17-12 (W) | 27-23 (1-1) | |
| Providence | 47 | 10-8 (W) | 16-8 (W) | 7-6 (W) | 33-22 (3-0) |
| TOTAL | 30-23 (2-1) | 39-34 (2-1) | 16-14 2-0) | 85-71 (6-2) | |
| AVERAGE | 48.67 | 10.00-7.67 | 13-11.33 | 9.00-7.00 | 10.63-8.88 |
These games don't have the cache of the Hoyas' more prominent opponents, but these dates are foundational blocks that support an overall record. Shakiness here would take some shine off of whatever Georgetown is able to pull from the more difficult piece of the team's slate.