Preview
With the Syracuse series concluding in March, a couple of schools with some orange of its own hope to make an impact upon the 2012-13 Georgetown schedule.
First up: Tennessee, where the second year of Cuonzo Martin's tenure at Knoxville continues the priorities of team defense and blue-collar play that has carried Tennessee out of the depths of the recruiting scandal which forced out Bruce Pearl in 2011. The Vols return four starters from last season's 19-15 rebuilding effort, with two of the SEC's best in guard Trae Golden and forward Jarnell Stokes.
Golden enters the game as one of the SEC's top point guards, averaging 5.2 assists per game and 40 percent from the field. Golden was the leading scorer for the Vols last season but needs to be more of a distributor this season, getting the ball inside and, when open, to fellow guard Skylar McBee. McBee's numbers are erratic but when he's hot, that's a good sign for UT--the Vols are 14-2 when McBee scores in double figures. At 41 percent, McBee is the Vols' best three point option for a team that averages just under six per game.
Up front, Tennessee will look for 6-6 sophomore Josh Richardson to contribute in Friday's matchup. From a 3.4 average as a freshman, Richardson has been a productive addition to the starting lineup, including an 11 point, nine rebound effort versus UMass in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament and can present defensive challenges to Otto Porter or Greg Whittington on the perimeter. Inside, the Vols look to sophomore Jarnell Stokes, a National Player of the year candidate, for muscle down low. Stokes has been the focal point for the Volunteer offense this season, averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds in its four wins but held to just two field goals and four rebounds in a 17 point loss to Oklahoma State. For his shooting proficiency (57 percent from the field), Stokes averages less than 10 shots from the field and his free throw shooting (54%) is no guarantee. Georgetown's defensive sets to keep Stokes from establishing position will be one to watch, as well as the contributions Tennessee gets from 6-9 Kenny Hall (8.2 points, 7.0 rebounds), whose shooting numbers have been down over the past three games but turned in an 11 rebound effort against Oakland on Monday evening. An off season injury to forward Jeronne Maymon has set back the Volunteers early in the season, relying on Hall to protect the middle in his absence.
Tenneseee's bench goes ten deep, with contributions from junior guard Jordan McRae (10.0 ppg) and junior swingman D'Montre Edwards (3.6 ppg). In the midst of Maymon's injury, the Vols are thin up front and cannot afford significant foul trouble to Stokes or Hall.
Through its first five games, the Hoyas have seen consistent play from its starter, particularly Otto Porter and Greg Whittington. The Tennessee game will post some different defensive challenges for the Hoyas, however. Tennessee plays a tight defense which has held opponents under 40 percent from the field, which will require Markel Starks to be more patient on cross-court passes. Tenneseee's interior sets will test Nate Lubick and Mikael Hopkins on both ends of the court, while Porter may be double-teamed in man to man sets. The Vols are not afraid of tough defensive play and figure to give the Hoyas a solid effort on both sides of the ball.
Rebounding figures to be a critical statistic in the game--Tennessee has owned a sizeable rebound advantage in each of its four wins and must control the defensive glass as best as possible, something they were unable to do in its loss to Oklahoma State.
Other keys to the game:
Georgetown has been able to chart a course for victory for games this season by setting the tempo and limiting runs of its opponents. If the Hoyas can get contributions early in this game and avoid foul trouble, it can lock down the kind of national TV win that eluded them against #1-ranked Indiana.
With the Syracuse series concluding in March, a couple of schools with some orange of its own hope to make an impact upon the 2012-13 Georgetown schedule.
First up: Tennessee, where the second year of Cuonzo Martin's tenure at Knoxville continues the priorities of team defense and blue-collar play that has carried Tennessee out of the depths of the recruiting scandal which forced out Bruce Pearl in 2011. The Vols return four starters from last season's 19-15 rebuilding effort, with two of the SEC's best in guard Trae Golden and forward Jarnell Stokes.
Golden enters the game as one of the SEC's top point guards, averaging 5.2 assists per game and 40 percent from the field. Golden was the leading scorer for the Vols last season but needs to be more of a distributor this season, getting the ball inside and, when open, to fellow guard Skylar McBee. McBee's numbers are erratic but when he's hot, that's a good sign for UT--the Vols are 14-2 when McBee scores in double figures. At 41 percent, McBee is the Vols' best three point option for a team that averages just under six per game.
Up front, Tennessee will look for 6-6 sophomore Josh Richardson to contribute in Friday's matchup. From a 3.4 average as a freshman, Richardson has been a productive addition to the starting lineup, including an 11 point, nine rebound effort versus UMass in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament and can present defensive challenges to Otto Porter or Greg Whittington on the perimeter. Inside, the Vols look to sophomore Jarnell Stokes, a National Player of the year candidate, for muscle down low. Stokes has been the focal point for the Volunteer offense this season, averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds in its four wins but held to just two field goals and four rebounds in a 17 point loss to Oklahoma State. For his shooting proficiency (57 percent from the field), Stokes averages less than 10 shots from the field and his free throw shooting (54%) is no guarantee. Georgetown's defensive sets to keep Stokes from establishing position will be one to watch, as well as the contributions Tennessee gets from 6-9 Kenny Hall (8.2 points, 7.0 rebounds), whose shooting numbers have been down over the past three games but turned in an 11 rebound effort against Oakland on Monday evening. An off season injury to forward Jeronne Maymon has set back the Volunteers early in the season, relying on Hall to protect the middle in his absence.
Tenneseee's bench goes ten deep, with contributions from junior guard Jordan McRae (10.0 ppg) and junior swingman D'Montre Edwards (3.6 ppg). In the midst of Maymon's injury, the Vols are thin up front and cannot afford significant foul trouble to Stokes or Hall.
Through its first five games, the Hoyas have seen consistent play from its starter, particularly Otto Porter and Greg Whittington. The Tennessee game will post some different defensive challenges for the Hoyas, however. Tennessee plays a tight defense which has held opponents under 40 percent from the field, which will require Markel Starks to be more patient on cross-court passes. Tenneseee's interior sets will test Nate Lubick and Mikael Hopkins on both ends of the court, while Porter may be double-teamed in man to man sets. The Vols are not afraid of tough defensive play and figure to give the Hoyas a solid effort on both sides of the ball.
Rebounding figures to be a critical statistic in the game--Tennessee has owned a sizeable rebound advantage in each of its four wins and must control the defensive glass as best as possible, something they were unable to do in its loss to Oklahoma State.
Other keys to the game:
- Ball Control: Despite its defensive focus, UT averages just four steals per game to Georgetown's .
- Points In The Paint: If Georgetown can limit Stokes inside, and returns the favor with good interior passing, the Hoyas should own a significant advantage on the interior.
- Second Act For DSR?: Since his 17 point debut versus Duquesne, freshman d'Vauntes Smith Rivera has been somewhat quiet on the floor over the past two weeks. The taller Tennessee guards may allow Smith-Rivera an opportunity to regain his court time with a stronger defensive effort.
- Rediscover The Three: Despite holding opponents just over 25 percent from three, Georgetown's height on the perimeter should be able to test the Vols' three point defense, especially Otto Porter, 6-8 from three so far this season.
Georgetown has been able to chart a course for victory for games this season by setting the tempo and limiting runs of its opponents. If the Hoyas can get contributions early in this game and avoid foul trouble, it can lock down the kind of national TV win that eluded them against #1-ranked Indiana.
