Preview
The Big East schedulers would like to tell you it's all skill, but last summer's schedule probably didn't give much credence to the ninth and tenth place finishers in the upcoming pre-season poll to meet on the last Big Monday of the 2011-12 season with so much visibility and, for Georgetown, so much on the line.
Georgetown enters the home finale in search of a double-bye to the Big East tournament, something Notre Dame is all but assured already. The Irish, who stood at 11-8 just six weeks ago, scored a remarkable upset of Syracuse on Jan. 21 and won nine straight through Saturday's late loss to St. John's. Yes, the Irish shot dismally from three point range (4 of 31), but they still were one shot away at the buzzer, a three point loss. That statistics alone underscores that while ND likes the outside shot, they are especially dangerous inside, and with a cast of characters few knew much if anything about at the start of the season.
ND expected to returned two starters from last year's 27-7 team, but lost leading scorer Tim Abromaitis to a season ending injury. Mike Brey's use of his newcomers and bench has been nothing short of remarkable, and if Brey wins a fourth Big East Coach of the Year honor, this is the starting five that exceeded all expectations.
Freshman Eric Atkins has settled into the role of point guard exceedingly well, and has been a workhorse on the floor for an Irish team without a lot of depth in the position. Atkins has played 38 or more minutes in each of the last nine games and 15 of the last 16, where he fouled out in the Syracuse game. A 40 percent shooter, he is one of four starters with strong numbers from the perimeter, and a 1:85:1 assist to turnover ratio allowed Notre Dame to control possessions and avoid unnecessary turnovers. Atkins was held to 2-9 versus St. John's and Georgetown must contain Atkins on both ends of the court, particularly in defensive roles.
Another sophomore has stepped up at shooting guard, where guard Jerian Grant is averaging 37 minutes a game and scored in double figures in each of ND's nine straight wins but scored only two last weekend. Grant's 2.48:1 assist to turnover ratio is strong, but his shooting can run hot and cold--8 for 11, for example, versus West Virginia, but 1-8 versus St. John's. A key in Monday's game is whether St. John's style of defense was such an aberration that ND just had a bad day, or that GU has learned from the game to apply a similar constraint to limit ND's guard play, which would be a critical weapon in Georgetown's favor.
If there has been a spark to the ND turnaround, it has been the play of freshman Pat Connaughton. Stepping up after Abromaitis' injury, the 6-5 freshmen has been a capable shooter who can also run hot and cold. Connaughton's 1-9 versus St. John's was the second straight sub par game and it'll be worth watching to see if Connaughton can reestablish is long range shooting early in this one. Connaughton is also a skilled rebounder who can get inside and fight for the shot when needed.
Scott Martin is the returning starter for ND at power forward, a steady option inside, a capable rebounder, and a threat to step out and take the three. Martin had 11 points in the last meeting between the teams in Dec. 2010 playing guard. As a forward, he is not to be discounted.
ND's big weapon this season has been junior Jack Cooley. Once known as the bench player who seemed to look a lot like Luke Harangody, Cooley has become a star in his own right this season, and much like Henry Sims, has seen his stats nearly triple from 2010-11. Cooley has been all but unstoppable inside, hitting 62% of his shots and averaging 10.4 rebounds a game, highlighted by a 22 point, 18 rebound effort versus Rutgers and an 18 point, 11 rebound effort versus St. John's. Connecticut and marquette were the only teams to have limited him inside and Georgetown will be tested to avoid fouls while keeping Cooley from taking root inside.
Like Georgetown, ND is a strong defensive-minded team, but offensive accuracy will be the tale of the tape in this one. ND has taken 100 more three point attempts in Big East play than Georgetown after 16 games, but the Irish rank just 9th of 16 teams in shooting average, deflated further by the 4-31 scattershooting on Saturday. Georgetown's threes have been somewhat limited of late but the team that wins the perimeter figures to set the tone of the game.
Keys to the game:
Get Ahead Early: The Hoyas always seem to hit that first half lull, and it pays to have a lead while they're doing it.
Perimeter Defense: Limiting ND from outside gives Georgetown more opportunities with rebounds and transition possessions.
Offensive Rebounds: ND is among the lowest in the league in the category, but has been effective on second chance points all season. In a defensive minded game, offensive rebounds are the equivalent of defensive turnovers.
Foul Trouble: Georgetown needs its starters on the floor for Cooley and Martin inside. On ND's side, its bench does not have the firepower to lose starters for protracted periods in the game.
Pat Connaughton: St. John's caught a huge break with Connaughton's worst effort of the season Saturday. He's essential if ND wants to establish tempo early, as Georgetown has not been a comeback team of late.
Markel Starks?: Will he play? Odds are good, and he could respond in a big way.
Notre Dame has its two day free pass to the Garden all but sewn up, can Georgetown join them? While the game probably won't go the way of its defensive futility versus St. John's, Notre Dame needs to return to the roots of its sucess--good outside shooting, feed Cooley inside, and keep the game in the 60's. For its part, GU must be able to drive tempo, control the paint, and get good outside shooting of is own. ND is not a strong road team and the St. John's loss may have planted a seed of doubt that Georgetown can take advantage of early...and late.
The Big East schedulers would like to tell you it's all skill, but last summer's schedule probably didn't give much credence to the ninth and tenth place finishers in the upcoming pre-season poll to meet on the last Big Monday of the 2011-12 season with so much visibility and, for Georgetown, so much on the line.
Georgetown enters the home finale in search of a double-bye to the Big East tournament, something Notre Dame is all but assured already. The Irish, who stood at 11-8 just six weeks ago, scored a remarkable upset of Syracuse on Jan. 21 and won nine straight through Saturday's late loss to St. John's. Yes, the Irish shot dismally from three point range (4 of 31), but they still were one shot away at the buzzer, a three point loss. That statistics alone underscores that while ND likes the outside shot, they are especially dangerous inside, and with a cast of characters few knew much if anything about at the start of the season.
ND expected to returned two starters from last year's 27-7 team, but lost leading scorer Tim Abromaitis to a season ending injury. Mike Brey's use of his newcomers and bench has been nothing short of remarkable, and if Brey wins a fourth Big East Coach of the Year honor, this is the starting five that exceeded all expectations.
Freshman Eric Atkins has settled into the role of point guard exceedingly well, and has been a workhorse on the floor for an Irish team without a lot of depth in the position. Atkins has played 38 or more minutes in each of the last nine games and 15 of the last 16, where he fouled out in the Syracuse game. A 40 percent shooter, he is one of four starters with strong numbers from the perimeter, and a 1:85:1 assist to turnover ratio allowed Notre Dame to control possessions and avoid unnecessary turnovers. Atkins was held to 2-9 versus St. John's and Georgetown must contain Atkins on both ends of the court, particularly in defensive roles.
Another sophomore has stepped up at shooting guard, where guard Jerian Grant is averaging 37 minutes a game and scored in double figures in each of ND's nine straight wins but scored only two last weekend. Grant's 2.48:1 assist to turnover ratio is strong, but his shooting can run hot and cold--8 for 11, for example, versus West Virginia, but 1-8 versus St. John's. A key in Monday's game is whether St. John's style of defense was such an aberration that ND just had a bad day, or that GU has learned from the game to apply a similar constraint to limit ND's guard play, which would be a critical weapon in Georgetown's favor.
If there has been a spark to the ND turnaround, it has been the play of freshman Pat Connaughton. Stepping up after Abromaitis' injury, the 6-5 freshmen has been a capable shooter who can also run hot and cold. Connaughton's 1-9 versus St. John's was the second straight sub par game and it'll be worth watching to see if Connaughton can reestablish is long range shooting early in this one. Connaughton is also a skilled rebounder who can get inside and fight for the shot when needed.
Scott Martin is the returning starter for ND at power forward, a steady option inside, a capable rebounder, and a threat to step out and take the three. Martin had 11 points in the last meeting between the teams in Dec. 2010 playing guard. As a forward, he is not to be discounted.
ND's big weapon this season has been junior Jack Cooley. Once known as the bench player who seemed to look a lot like Luke Harangody, Cooley has become a star in his own right this season, and much like Henry Sims, has seen his stats nearly triple from 2010-11. Cooley has been all but unstoppable inside, hitting 62% of his shots and averaging 10.4 rebounds a game, highlighted by a 22 point, 18 rebound effort versus Rutgers and an 18 point, 11 rebound effort versus St. John's. Connecticut and marquette were the only teams to have limited him inside and Georgetown will be tested to avoid fouls while keeping Cooley from taking root inside.
Like Georgetown, ND is a strong defensive-minded team, but offensive accuracy will be the tale of the tape in this one. ND has taken 100 more three point attempts in Big East play than Georgetown after 16 games, but the Irish rank just 9th of 16 teams in shooting average, deflated further by the 4-31 scattershooting on Saturday. Georgetown's threes have been somewhat limited of late but the team that wins the perimeter figures to set the tone of the game.
Keys to the game:
Get Ahead Early: The Hoyas always seem to hit that first half lull, and it pays to have a lead while they're doing it.
Perimeter Defense: Limiting ND from outside gives Georgetown more opportunities with rebounds and transition possessions.
Offensive Rebounds: ND is among the lowest in the league in the category, but has been effective on second chance points all season. In a defensive minded game, offensive rebounds are the equivalent of defensive turnovers.
Foul Trouble: Georgetown needs its starters on the floor for Cooley and Martin inside. On ND's side, its bench does not have the firepower to lose starters for protracted periods in the game.
Pat Connaughton: St. John's caught a huge break with Connaughton's worst effort of the season Saturday. He's essential if ND wants to establish tempo early, as Georgetown has not been a comeback team of late.
Markel Starks?: Will he play? Odds are good, and he could respond in a big way.
Notre Dame has its two day free pass to the Garden all but sewn up, can Georgetown join them? While the game probably won't go the way of its defensive futility versus St. John's, Notre Dame needs to return to the roots of its sucess--good outside shooting, feed Cooley inside, and keep the game in the 60's. For its part, GU must be able to drive tempo, control the paint, and get good outside shooting of is own. ND is not a strong road team and the St. John's loss may have planted a seed of doubt that Georgetown can take advantage of early...and late.
