Preview
Well, that about sums it up, with hours to go before Georgetown's next NCAA opening round game.
OK, so maybe Davidson was a surprise. Or maybe the Hoyas were unprepared for Ohio. Or Virginia Commonwealth. Maybe they didn't take Florida Gulf Coast seriously--after all, two seeds don't lose in opening round games, do they?
No such excuses this time. Because there are no surprises on Eastern Washington, a team making its second NCAA appearance ever, but whom millions of amateur bracketologists have pegged their tournament fortunes on, largely for one reason: they're playing Georgetown. If St. Leo's had the 13th seed, many would do the same thing.
The Eagles hold few secrets: an up-tempo team that loves the three point shot and doesn't play much defense. Threes beat twos in its book, and EWU averages nearly 10 threes on 34 attempts per game--that's almost one every 1:15 on the clock. In games where EWU scores 71 or more points, they are 27-3 this season. Under 71, they're under .500.
And amidst a roster with names that will make Rich Chvotkin do some extra homework--Frederik J?rg, Ognjen Miljkovic, Venkatesha Jois, and Bogdan Bliznyuk, to name a few--there's one name to start with: Tyler Harvey.
Harvey did not have a scholarship offer in high school, walking on to the Eagles in the 2012-13 season. Over the past two seasons he has scored nearly 1,500 points from nearly every point of the court. His 42 points against Idaho State in the big Sky quarterfinal as a career high, and has been held under double figures just once, coming the next night in the semifinal when he fouled out versus Sacramento State. An expert free throw shooter, he once hit 20 for 20 in a game last season.
So what does Georgetown do?
The Hoyas' taller defense represents the best defense Harvey will have faced this season, and narrowing his three point shooting is key. Harvey was held to just 2 of 12 from three over his last two games, and was just 4 for 14 in an earlier loss to SMU. Fortunately for the eagles, he's not the only scoring option. 6-8 forward Venky Jois, a pre-med major, has been an effective option inside, with back to back 38 point efforts earlier this season and a 16 point, seven rebound average. Guard Drew Brandon is equally effective on all ends of the court, averaging nine points, seven rebounds, and nearly five assists per game.
Georgetown fans should pay attention to a pair of Eagles off the bench, where forward Bogdan Bliznyuk picked up 290 points over the last two Big Sky tournament games, and streaky shooter Felix Von Hofe put up 23 in the semifinal when Harvey was held to a season low nine points.
But this isn't VCU en route to the Final Four, either. The Eagles struggle to play defense and often need Harvey's big numbers to prevail in games. The Eagles have rallied from double-digit deficits three times in the last 11 games. If Georgetown can play solid defense on the perimeter and get solid efforts from Mikael Hopkins and Josh Smith inside, EWU's ability to take over the game from outside is sharply reduced. As past NCAA foes go, Eastern Washington bears passing resemblance to Ohio, whose 13 threes and a combined 55 points from its backcourt took over that game in 2010.
For its part, Georgetown's defense can control this game. EWU has no option for Smith inside, assuming, of course, Smith can avoid the phantom fouls replete throughout his two years at Georgetown. The Eagles win by forcing the tempo and taking quick shots, where Georgetown can, if it holds an early lead, afford to be more deliberate. The clear and present danger for Georgetown fans is that GU is not a comeback team and its three point shooting ranks 225th nationally among 347 teams.
Some keys to the game:
--hoyasaxa
Well, that about sums it up, with hours to go before Georgetown's next NCAA opening round game.
OK, so maybe Davidson was a surprise. Or maybe the Hoyas were unprepared for Ohio. Or Virginia Commonwealth. Maybe they didn't take Florida Gulf Coast seriously--after all, two seeds don't lose in opening round games, do they?
No such excuses this time. Because there are no surprises on Eastern Washington, a team making its second NCAA appearance ever, but whom millions of amateur bracketologists have pegged their tournament fortunes on, largely for one reason: they're playing Georgetown. If St. Leo's had the 13th seed, many would do the same thing.
The Eagles hold few secrets: an up-tempo team that loves the three point shot and doesn't play much defense. Threes beat twos in its book, and EWU averages nearly 10 threes on 34 attempts per game--that's almost one every 1:15 on the clock. In games where EWU scores 71 or more points, they are 27-3 this season. Under 71, they're under .500.
And amidst a roster with names that will make Rich Chvotkin do some extra homework--Frederik J?rg, Ognjen Miljkovic, Venkatesha Jois, and Bogdan Bliznyuk, to name a few--there's one name to start with: Tyler Harvey.
Harvey did not have a scholarship offer in high school, walking on to the Eagles in the 2012-13 season. Over the past two seasons he has scored nearly 1,500 points from nearly every point of the court. His 42 points against Idaho State in the big Sky quarterfinal as a career high, and has been held under double figures just once, coming the next night in the semifinal when he fouled out versus Sacramento State. An expert free throw shooter, he once hit 20 for 20 in a game last season.
So what does Georgetown do?
The Hoyas' taller defense represents the best defense Harvey will have faced this season, and narrowing his three point shooting is key. Harvey was held to just 2 of 12 from three over his last two games, and was just 4 for 14 in an earlier loss to SMU. Fortunately for the eagles, he's not the only scoring option. 6-8 forward Venky Jois, a pre-med major, has been an effective option inside, with back to back 38 point efforts earlier this season and a 16 point, seven rebound average. Guard Drew Brandon is equally effective on all ends of the court, averaging nine points, seven rebounds, and nearly five assists per game.
Georgetown fans should pay attention to a pair of Eagles off the bench, where forward Bogdan Bliznyuk picked up 290 points over the last two Big Sky tournament games, and streaky shooter Felix Von Hofe put up 23 in the semifinal when Harvey was held to a season low nine points.
But this isn't VCU en route to the Final Four, either. The Eagles struggle to play defense and often need Harvey's big numbers to prevail in games. The Eagles have rallied from double-digit deficits three times in the last 11 games. If Georgetown can play solid defense on the perimeter and get solid efforts from Mikael Hopkins and Josh Smith inside, EWU's ability to take over the game from outside is sharply reduced. As past NCAA foes go, Eastern Washington bears passing resemblance to Ohio, whose 13 threes and a combined 55 points from its backcourt took over that game in 2010.
For its part, Georgetown's defense can control this game. EWU has no option for Smith inside, assuming, of course, Smith can avoid the phantom fouls replete throughout his two years at Georgetown. The Eagles win by forcing the tempo and taking quick shots, where Georgetown can, if it holds an early lead, afford to be more deliberate. The clear and present danger for Georgetown fans is that GU is not a comeback team and its three point shooting ranks 225th nationally among 347 teams.
Some keys to the game:
- Don't Fall Behind: Georgetown does not have the firepower to get into a three point contest An early start is essential. The Eagles are 18-4 when leading at the half, Georgetown 2-9 when trailing after 20 minutes.
- Don't Give Up The Ball: In its wins this season, EWU is allowing less than 11 turnovers a game, averaging 6.4 steals. Georgetown must do a better job on ball possession early in this game. Georgetown is just about unbeatable this season if it can stay under 12 turnovers.
- Stand Tall: Height is georgetown's friend in this one--use it.
- Use Time Outs : Thompson's aversion to time outs will be tested in this one if EWU begins to get hot.
- Freshmen No More: L.J. Peak and Paul White have stalled as the season draws to a close. Both need to step up, particularly on defense.
- For all the talk of Georgetown's NCAA ghosts, just three members of this year's team even played in the Florida Gulf Coast game. it's time to make some history of its own. A second round matchup (and yes, technically it's the third) is favorable for the Hoyas, if only it could show a nation of doubters it can get out of the first. With a solid game plan and some help for DSR, this is a winnable game, but it's time to make that happen.
--hoyasaxa
