Georgetown : Pre-Game Report

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Preview

Thirty years ago, they closed a field house. Sixty-four games later, every game in this rivalry seems big, and Monday's matchup with #5 Syracuse is no exception.

The Orangemen have been extremely successful as a team --this is not the Jonny Flynn Show or (Gerry) McNamara's Band. With five players in double figures, a team leading the league in field goal shooting and assists, and closing games as well as anyone, Syracuse presents a real challenge to Georgetown's ability to control the pace of the game and to maintain defensive stops on a fast-moving offense.

That's not to say Syracuse doesn't have a star, albeit an unlikely one. A junior transfer from Iowa State, 6-7 forward Wes Johnson has a made a very good Syracuse team a great one.

Johnson has done it all and then some this year--averaging 56 percent from the field, 44 percent from three, and nine rebounds a game--he has added a new dimension to a classic inside-outside team. Only the fifth inbound transfer in the Boeheim era, Johnson is as efficient a player as Syracuse has had in many years and his ability to get the mid-range jumpers has been key to Syracuse's play this season, and to what faces them Monday.

Syracuse's two guards could easily be point-forwards in other team's sets. With Scoop Jardine coming off the bench, Jim Boeheim has gone with a rotation including Andy Rautins (10.4 ppg, leads the team in steals) and Brandon Triche (10.2 ppg, 54% FG), providing Syracuse good outside and inside support. Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku form the core of the Orangemen front line, each having been effective in recent play against the Hoyas. Jackson was 6-7 last season at the Dome against Georgetown, while Onuaku had 15 points and 13 rebounds.

A key to stopping Syracuse is interior defense. The Orangemen lead the league in field goal shooting (53.4%) and most of it comes from two-point range, where Onuaku, Jackson, Johnson, and reserve Kris Joseph can rotate in and out of the perimeter. Absent foul trouble, this puts pressure on Georgetown's forward rotation (largely Julian Vaughn and Hollis Thompson) to be able to defend from 5 to 20 feet out. less effective is free throw shooting, where Syracuse is shooting just 64 percent and has let some opponents climb back into games late.

Georgetown's ability to rotate is scoring load among three players will be watched closely in Monday's game, and the ability to engage a fourth option, either Jason Clark or Julian Vaughn, would be a major asset.


Some other keys to the game:

1. 74 Points. 19 Syracuse opponents have been held under 74 points--its only loss was an 82-72 loss to Pitt.
2. 32 Minutes . Georgetown needs 34 minutes from Greg Monroe in this game.
3. Offensive Rebounds. The Orangemen are allowing 14.5 offensive rebounds a game. Anything close to this would be devastating to Syracuse's chances against the Georgetown interior.
4. Rick Jackson. If Georgetown contains Johnson, the Orangemen will get opportunities diverted to Jackson at the power forward. An able shooter, Jackson's ability to get points inside could be pivotal.
5. Jason Clark. Clark's ability to stay with Wes Johnson may be the story of this game. Dane Miller was held scoreless Saturday in Clark's shadow, but Wes Johnson isn't Dane Miller.
6. Free Throws. Neither team has distinguished itself on the line this year. Monday night's game may well be decided there.





For Syracuse to win, Johnson steps up with a Flynn-like performance, recalling last year's 15-16 effort from the line and 25 points in SU's overtime win. The Orangemen benefit by an up-tempo effort with plenty of fouls, owing to a deeper bench. If georgetown can control the pace of play and get the midrange jumper, it offers GU the opportunity to clear the middle for an increasingly confident Greg Monroe.

Either way, expect an outstanding games, because when it comes to Big East rivalries, "six overtimes" doesn't compare to 30 years.
 

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Breaking Down Georgetown at Syracuse



Georgetown will travel to Syracuse for what could be a top-10 battle (we?ll know when the rankings come out on Monday), and will definitely have an impact on the Big East race. The Hoyas have used the same starting lineup all season, while the Orange has had the same starting five in 19 of their 20 games. Here?s how the two teams match up.

Chris Wright vs. Brandon Triche (10.2 ppg, 3.3 apg) and Scoop Jardine (8.3 ppg, 5.0 apg)

The freshman starter Triche (22.2 minutes per game) and the sophomore Jardine (21.1 minutes) split time, while Wright (33.4 minutes) has played over 35 minutes in 10 games today. After a rough outing against Villanova, Wright has been deadly from long range, shooting 7-of-8 against Pittsburgh and Rutgers. Wright?s shooting and quick ballhandling will be one of the keys for Georgetown?s offense as they try to bust Syracuse?s zone.

Edge: Georgetown

Austin Freeman (15.6 ppg, 2.5 apg) vs. Andy Rautins (10.4 ppg, 5.2 apg)

After posting 20-point games against Rutgers and Notre Dame earlier in Big East play, Ruatins did not score against Marquette on Saturday. Freeman, meanwhile, has scored at least 13 points in every league game and has 20+ points three times this month, including 33 in a comeback win over Connecticut.

Edge: Georgetown

Jason Clark (10.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg) vs. Wes Johnson (17.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg)

The 6-foot-7 Johnson is Syracuse?s top rebounder and scorer ? by a lot ? in his first season after transferring. Clark gives up five inches in height and will need his lengthy wingspan to keep Johnson from dominating the glass. Clark has been held under double digits and to just two rebounds and assists in each of the last two games.

Edge: Syracuse

Greg Monroe (15.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg) vs. Rick Jackson (9.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg)

Monroe has dominated in two of the Hoyas? last three, scoring at will against Villanova and Rutgers. He has also come up with timely rebounds in the second half of close Big East games and is quickly turning into a double-double machine. Despite a 5-of-5 shooting day against Marquette, Jackson has been erratic in Big East play, averaging 7.3 points per game.

Edge: Georgetown

Julian Vaughn (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) vs. Arinze Onuaku (10.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Onuaku starts for Syracuse, but the senior?s minutes are way down from his sophomore and junior seasons. He plays just a bit more than backup Kris Joseph (10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), who relieves both Onuaku and Jackson off the bench. Vaughn has bounced back after fouling out with no points at Villanova, but a rough and tumble foul-fest has to be a concern for the big man with Syracuse?s deep bench.

Edge: Syracuse
 
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