Georgetown : Pre-Game Report

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Preview

John Thompson III has proven himself to be an impressive coach, and his mastery of the art of non-conference scheduling is worth noting. With a home game scheduled between road trips to Missouri and Temple, Thompson passed on a chance for an easier win and instead brings to Verizon Center one of the nation's more compelling mid-major teams, not unlike the Old Dominion team that fought the Hoyas to the wire in the season opener.

Only three schools in Division I have won 23 or more games for 11 consecutive seasons: Kansas, Gonzaga, and Utah State. If coach Stew Morrill doesn't get the attention of the national media for his play in the Western Athletic Conference, he certainly has the attention of Thompson and his coaching staff, who know Morrill is one of the best game-day coaches anywhere.

The game is a test for Utah State as well. The Aggies are nearly unbeatable at home, with a 178-13 (.932) record in Morrill's 13 seasons and play only two games outside the state until Jan. 8, but haven't historically fared as strong out of state. Saturday's game offers the Aggies a battle with a nationally ranked foe, a solid RPI addition that the WAC can't provide, and to test its mettle with one of the nation's strongest perimeter shooters.

Utah State returns four starters from a 27-8 team in 2009-10 and start an excellent group of shooters. Junior college transfer Brockeith Pane is adjusting to the USU offense, and after a 23 point opening effort against Weber State, his shooting numbers (33% FG, 21% from three) reflect this transition. Pane is a solid free throw shooter and a capable rebounder, but leads the team in turnovers to date and must protect the ball to avoid transition points for the Hoyas. Senior guard Pooh Williams is a four year starter who also excels from the line (82%) and contributes in ways beyond the stat sheet, but is averaging less than three field goals per game this season.

Coach Morrill is waiting for a run of bad luck for senior shooting guard Tyler Newbold to end: specifically, a fitful run of outside shooting. Newbold, who has started 102 consecutive games for the Aggies and shot 42% from three point range last season, is suffering through a brutal 1 for 15 run to start the season. Newbold was second on the team last season in threes (59-140, 42%) and his return to form will not only be crucial for this game but the Aggies' ability to keep opponents from packing the middle. Newbold has an assist to turnover ratio of 4.5 to 1, so he doesn't make many mistakes, and a few more long range baskets makes him a formidable opponent in the game.

A pair of 6-7 forwards figure to be major scoring options. Junior Brady Jardine averaged 57% from the floor last season and 58% through the first five games of this season--an expert rebounder, he has doubled his 4.6 rebound average from 2009-10 and his averaging 9.5 rebounds in a 27 minute per game average, down from a double-double average earlier in the season. His 15 points and 13 rebounds saved the day in a narrow win over Northeastern. Jardine is joined by another scoring and rebounding threat in senior Tai Wesley, a likely candidate for WAC Player of the Year. Shooting a dangerous 67% from the field, Wesley is especially tough on the defensive boards, where he averages 6.8 rebounds a game and is fourth all time at the school in blocks. Wesley must avoid foul trouble, as inside options off the Aggies' bench are limited. Utah State lists four players over 6-8, but two have seen no action and the remaining two have combined for just 11 points through six games this season, with senior Matt Formisano (1.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg) averaging just 8 minutes a game this season.

The five Aggie starters plus reserve guard Brian Green (10.0 ppg, 50% FG) account for 85% of the team's offense this season, and have fought through lulls in games this season. USU struggled to get past Northeastern last week and fought until the last minutes with an outmatched Denver team. Morrill knows his team is capable of competing with a lot of teams but really needs a better effort Saturday than the last two games have shown to stay with the Hoyas, especially on the road.

Georgetown enters Saturday's game off of one of its best non-conference efforts of the last 15 years. The Hoyas' 111-102 win over #9 Missouri must be put aside, however, and there is no room for a breather in its preparation for Utah State. Georgetown's inside game continued to show progress from Henry Sims and Nate Lubick versus Missouri during a relatively down game from Julian Vaughn, but Vaughn will need to be back on the floor to counter Utah State's presence inside. From the guards, Freeman, Clark, and Wright were superlative against Mizzou, but coach Thompson wants to make sure that the Hoyas maintain a scoring balance in the game, mindful that Morrill's defenses can force opponents into runs of poor shooting.

Some other keys to the game:

* Defense: Don't expect a three digit score by either team Saturday. Utah State is holding opponents to 38% shooting compared to 42% for the Hoyas, so for the Aggies to stay close, they have to contest every shot from the Hoyas and limit Georgetown to eight offensive rebounds or fewer, its average thus far this season.
* Tyler Newbold: Watch for Newbold to be switching between Freeman and Clark in defensive sets. If Newbold can disrupt outside shooting, it opens up rebounding in transition.
* Hollis Thompson: Steadily making progress, Thompson's quickness to the hoop is an asset which could give the Hoyas a real plus in this game.



For Utah State to win, the Aggies quiets the Hoyas' three point artillery and works to limit second chance points, and needs a combined 30 point/15 rebound effort from Wesley and Jardine. Georgetown's quickness on the perimeter poses a major problem for the Aggies, however, and Georgetown's ability not only to score from the perimeter but feed the ball inside may put too much pressure on the Aggies to keep up the pace. A deeper and quicker Hoya offense provides its best opportunity for the win Saturday, but it won't be easy.

 

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USU Hoops: A Georgetown scouting report


Well, now that Denver's out of the way, we can finally start to speak on Utah State's matchup with Georgetown. It goes without saying that this is a huge opportunity for the Aggies and for Stew Morrill's program. It's a chance for Utah State to go out and prove that it belongs on a national level. Morrill took this game because he felt he had the team to get this done. We'll find out in a little less than 48 hours.

As for Georgetown, the Hoyas have one of the three best backcourts in the country. Only Duke and Michigan State compare, although the Hoyas have played exceedingly well in the first month of the season. Aggie fans should be encouraged that Tyler Newbold, Brockeith Pane and Pooh Williams are all excellent defenders. They'll need to be on Saturday.

However, as good as the Hoyas have been shooting the ball, they have proven to have depth and length up front and that's led to them being unbeaten thus far, with wins over Old Dominion, North Carolina State and Missouri.

Here is what the Hoyas are expected to do with their starting lineup, and with their five coming off the bench.

Point Guard: Chris Wright - Is one of the best point guards in the country, and has been playing the best basketball of his career. He's always had the talent. He's hard to defend off the dribble, has a great upper body that creates space and finishes at the rim. But he can also shoot the ball and that makes him a hard cover. Wright's greatest improvement this season has been his decision making and his ability to pass the ball. He's averaging over seven assists per game, and has stopped his tendency of driving wildly into traffic. He can be a terrific defender when he desires, and he's shown leadership this season that hasn't always come in the past.

Shooting Guard: Austin Freeman - Like Wright, Freeman is playing the best basketball of his career. Has always been a great shooter, and is proving that again this season. Is the pre-season Big East Player of the Year. Is 6-3, 220 pounds and is lethal from midrange and from three-point land. Freeman was diagnosed with diabetes and as unfortunate as that was, it probably has helped him as a basketball player. He's always carried a little extra weight, but he's been forced to take care of his body, he's lost weight and he's quicker than he was in the past. Can get into the lane and finish and is as complete an offensive player as one will find in the country. He's very efficient with what he does, and doesn't need alot of shots to score a bundle of points. If I were an Aggie fan, I would want Tyler Newbold to guard Freeman because he's the only USU player that has a hope of matching his strength. Plus, Freeman is so technically sound that Newbold makes sense because he's the most technically sound defender that the Aggies' have.

Shooting Guard: Jason Clark - As good as Freeman and Wright have been, Clark is the reason the Hoyas' backcourt has gone from very good to great, from one of the best in the Big East to one of the best in the country. Clark has improved his offensive game tremendously from his sophomore season to his junior year. He was much more of a spot up shooter last year. This year, he's making brilliant plays off the dribble. As good as a shooter as he was last year, he's been better this season. He's got abnormally long arms that help him on both sides of the floor. He's developed a midrange game as well, using one dribble to his right and pulling up for jumpers. Pooh Williams is a good matchup for Clark because to shut him down, you need athleticism. But Clark has made a leap from a role player to a player that can be featured. He was Georgetown's best player in the overtime in the win over Missouri, hitting three three's and putting the game out of reach.

Power Forward: Hollis Thompson - Thompson is 6-8, and isn't a four. He's a small forward and the Hoyas have been down that road before, playing a three at the four spot. Two years ago, Georgetown tried it with DaJuan Summers, now with the Pistons, and got terrible results. Summers clearly didn't want to play at that spot and team chemistry greatly suffered as a result. Thompson, a sophomore, just wants to play, and that makes a huge difference. He knows that he won't start this year at any of the perimeter positions, so he's willingly doing whatever it takes. He's rebounded well, played good defense, and he's the only real "Length" guy of Georgetown's perimeter players. Offensively, he's alot like Khris Middleton from Texas A&M, whom Aggie fans know too well. He can make shots and he's the fourth option in the lineup, maybe even the fifth, but will make teams pay for overlooking him. Thompson is more athletic than Middleton, however.

Center: Julian Vaughn - Has improved a lot over three years. Is 6-9, has really long arms, can score in the paint with a nice jump hook, rebounds and can block shots. He can also be turnover prone, a little soft at times and agile big men like Brady Jardine give him fits. Him and Tai Wesley may be a better matchup from a Hoya perspective.

Bench: Henry Sims - Hoya fans were universally ready to run him off the team after two years of doing nothing. Now, he's probably Georgetown's best big man. No joke. Sims is 6-11, athletic, long arms, very good shotblocker and good passer. You would've been able to say none of that for the past two years. But something has really clicked with Sims. He's been a revelation for Georgetown fans this season, and is a huge reason, along with Clark, that the Hoyas have gone from good to potentially great.

Markel Starks - Primary back-up point guard, freshman, playmaker of the future, 6-2, fast, can shoot, athletic....almost a mirror image of James Walker.

Vee Sanford - 6-3, very athletic combo guard. Can play either guard position, can shoot the ball well, play good defense. Doesn't get alot of time, but when he does play, always does something to make Hoya fans wish he would get more time.

Nate Lubick - 6-8 freshman, good rebounder, long arms, pretty athletic. Played his best game of the season against Missouri, and will probably see more action as the season moves on.

Jerrelle Bennimon - 6-6, reminds this blog alot of New Mexico State's Tyrone Watson, or a poor man's Wendell McKines, without the big mouth. Scraps, hustles, gets rebounds, selfless, does what it takes. Can't score, though, so if he's in the game, whomever's guarding him should clog the middle to take away back door cuts.