PREVIEW
Georgetown wraps up its tour of the North Carolina public university system Tuesday in Charlotte against a rebuilding 49ers team that struggles mightily on defense. On paper, it should be an easy win, but such is not the case for a Georgetown team suffering through its worst non-conference record in 41 years.
In games against UNC Wilmington and UNC-Asheville, Georgetown's inattention to defense was a serious issue - Wilmington erased a 20 point lead down to just three, while Asheville attacked early and controlled the flow of the game. Coming off its best effort of the season in a win over Appalachian State, Charlotte will look to a guard oriented attack to provide a similar result on the Hoyas.
First year coach Mark Price has started 11 different players in 10 games this season but may have found its guard lineup in Braxton Ogubueze and Andrien White. Ogubeuze is the 49ers' strongest scoring option, with a 25 point effort against Appalachian State and a perfect 7 for 7 from behind the line. White has been solid through the season and has five double digit scoring effort this season. The front court is more unsettled, where Bernard Sullivan (10.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg) has been most consistent despite a 56 percent effort from the line. Charlotte ranks in the bottom 15 nationally in scoring defense and field goal defense, primarily with teams feasting inside. A pair of 6-10 centers, Cameron Blakely and Pitt transfer Joseph Uchebo must do better in this regard.
Charlotte was able to hold Appalachian State to just 40 percent shooting and took home 11 threes in its win, and a similar formula holds if they are to control the game with Georgetown. The Hoyas have struggled to provide consistent defense in the past five games and have not shown to be a comeback team. Of similar concern is that the team has lost big leads versus Syracuse and UNC-Wilmington as a result of inattention to defense.
Georgetown will continue to sink or swim on backcourt play. While D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera has been remarkably ineffective in the first half of recent games, foul troubles have rendered L.J. Peak as a bystander while Tre Campbell has not demonstrated he is back to form after an early season illness. Given the relative inexperience of a front line that features a freshman, a sophomore, and a senior center that saw next to no action in his first three seasons, Georgetown's ability to pull itself up must be led from guard play.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Watch The Clock: Has Georgetown fully adjusted to the 30 second clock? Recent games suggest Georgetown is rushing its shots as a result.
Turnovers:Charlotte averages about 12 turnovers a game, Georgetown 14. Both must keep this number under check.
Jon Davis:UNCC's streakiest shooter, Davis was 7 for 11 versus Campbell and 1 for 9 versus App State. He could be a factor if UNC goes to a three guard lineup.
Leadership: Someone needs to take the reins on the floor and be the leader to keep this Georgetown team focused in games. If not DSR, who steps up?
Charlotte played Georgetown very tough last season at Verizon Center and a similar effort awaits Tuesday night. A 2-8 record means nothing to a rebuilding team in its biggest spotlight game of their non-conference slate.
--hoyasaxa
http://ninertimes.com/2015/12/preview-charlotte-hosts-georgetown-at-twc-arena/
http://georgetownvoice.com/2015/12/...-hoyas-look-to-bounce-back-against-charlotte/
Georgetown wraps up its tour of the North Carolina public university system Tuesday in Charlotte against a rebuilding 49ers team that struggles mightily on defense. On paper, it should be an easy win, but such is not the case for a Georgetown team suffering through its worst non-conference record in 41 years.
In games against UNC Wilmington and UNC-Asheville, Georgetown's inattention to defense was a serious issue - Wilmington erased a 20 point lead down to just three, while Asheville attacked early and controlled the flow of the game. Coming off its best effort of the season in a win over Appalachian State, Charlotte will look to a guard oriented attack to provide a similar result on the Hoyas.
First year coach Mark Price has started 11 different players in 10 games this season but may have found its guard lineup in Braxton Ogubueze and Andrien White. Ogubeuze is the 49ers' strongest scoring option, with a 25 point effort against Appalachian State and a perfect 7 for 7 from behind the line. White has been solid through the season and has five double digit scoring effort this season. The front court is more unsettled, where Bernard Sullivan (10.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg) has been most consistent despite a 56 percent effort from the line. Charlotte ranks in the bottom 15 nationally in scoring defense and field goal defense, primarily with teams feasting inside. A pair of 6-10 centers, Cameron Blakely and Pitt transfer Joseph Uchebo must do better in this regard.
Charlotte was able to hold Appalachian State to just 40 percent shooting and took home 11 threes in its win, and a similar formula holds if they are to control the game with Georgetown. The Hoyas have struggled to provide consistent defense in the past five games and have not shown to be a comeback team. Of similar concern is that the team has lost big leads versus Syracuse and UNC-Wilmington as a result of inattention to defense.
Georgetown will continue to sink or swim on backcourt play. While D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera has been remarkably ineffective in the first half of recent games, foul troubles have rendered L.J. Peak as a bystander while Tre Campbell has not demonstrated he is back to form after an early season illness. Given the relative inexperience of a front line that features a freshman, a sophomore, and a senior center that saw next to no action in his first three seasons, Georgetown's ability to pull itself up must be led from guard play.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Watch The Clock: Has Georgetown fully adjusted to the 30 second clock? Recent games suggest Georgetown is rushing its shots as a result.
Turnovers:Charlotte averages about 12 turnovers a game, Georgetown 14. Both must keep this number under check.
Jon Davis:UNCC's streakiest shooter, Davis was 7 for 11 versus Campbell and 1 for 9 versus App State. He could be a factor if UNC goes to a three guard lineup.
Leadership: Someone needs to take the reins on the floor and be the leader to keep this Georgetown team focused in games. If not DSR, who steps up?
Charlotte played Georgetown very tough last season at Verizon Center and a similar effort awaits Tuesday night. A 2-8 record means nothing to a rebuilding team in its biggest spotlight game of their non-conference slate.
--hoyasaxa
http://ninertimes.com/2015/12/preview-charlotte-hosts-georgetown-at-twc-arena/
http://georgetownvoice.com/2015/12/...-hoyas-look-to-bounce-back-against-charlotte/
