Preview
While the rest of the sports world watches Alabama and Clemson settle a title for 2017, Monday's game at Verizon Center is the only game scheduled for nationwide broasdcast. A small crowd at Verizon Center and an equally small sample on Fox Sports 1 will see two teams which have combined for a astounding record of 5-25 in Big East games over the last 365 days.
Over/under on the FS1 broadcasters' references to John Thompson, Lou Carnesecca, or the Sweater Game? One too many, but it beats talking too much about the present for these teams.
The revolving door that is St. John's basketball continues in 2016-17. The Redmen lost 11 players off its 2014-15 team and a grueling 8-24 season followed. Five more left in 2015-16. But St. John's has already matched its win total from 2015-16, and is 2-2 in Big East play to date. Georgetown, not so much
Georgetown has struggled with teams that dominate via their guard play. Kamar Baldwin (Butler, 16 points), Jalen Lindsey (Providence, 19 points), Edmond Sumner (Xavier, 28 points) and Jajuan Johnson (Marquette, 20 points) have all enjoyed Georgetown's indifferent perimeter defense and a lack of a consistent defensive effort, especially late. That will be trouble in Monday's game, given the fast-paced nature of guards Marcus Lovett and Shamorie Ponds. Lovett is averaging 25.7 points in his last three Big East games, with a 32 point efforts against Xavier, no small feat given the Xavier defense. Ponds went for 21 in the Xavier game and has scored in double figures in 16 straight games. The two guards represent nearly half of the offense for the Redmen, which gives teams an opportunity to shut down Chris Mullin's plans if the two guards can be contained.
St. John's has not maintained a consistent front court in a number of years, and its forwards and centers are still a work in progress. The tallest starter is 6-7, although 6-11 Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens is starting to see more time. Owens has seven blocks in his four Big East games, the best on the team. Forward Bashir Ahmed (12.4 ppg) is shooting 24 percent from the field in his last two games and needs a much more focused effort to take pressure off Lovett and Ponds.
Georgetown's crisis of confidence continues to manifest itself in late game lineups, but it really comes down to what it is getting out of the first 39 minutes. When the duo of Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak combine for 35 ot more points, Georgetown is 7-1; less than that, 1-7. Saturday's combined total versus Butler was 21, given a season-low 0 points for Pryor and a confused John Thompson III on what got into him.
Where the Hoyas really need a statement is up front. Georgetown owns opportunities inside that it has heretofore been unable to exploit-- in last season's games with St. John's the center position (Hayes, Govan) combined for six points. As long as the Hoyas are lambs in the pivot, losses will follow.
Other keys to the game:
Command Performance: Georgetown fans have seen big games from the likes of Tre Campbell and Jessie Govan, only to see it evaporate in later games. All eyes will be on Jagan Mosely to continue the progress made to date.
Three Pointers: St. John's stayed close versus Xavier with ten threes. Last year, just four in 17 attempts versus GU.
First Half Matters: St. John's is not a comeback team: 1-7 this season when trailing at the half and 1-23 last season.
This team needs a win, Coach Thompson really needs a win. If not St. John's, when?
While the rest of the sports world watches Alabama and Clemson settle a title for 2017, Monday's game at Verizon Center is the only game scheduled for nationwide broasdcast. A small crowd at Verizon Center and an equally small sample on Fox Sports 1 will see two teams which have combined for a astounding record of 5-25 in Big East games over the last 365 days.
Over/under on the FS1 broadcasters' references to John Thompson, Lou Carnesecca, or the Sweater Game? One too many, but it beats talking too much about the present for these teams.
The revolving door that is St. John's basketball continues in 2016-17. The Redmen lost 11 players off its 2014-15 team and a grueling 8-24 season followed. Five more left in 2015-16. But St. John's has already matched its win total from 2015-16, and is 2-2 in Big East play to date. Georgetown, not so much
Georgetown has struggled with teams that dominate via their guard play. Kamar Baldwin (Butler, 16 points), Jalen Lindsey (Providence, 19 points), Edmond Sumner (Xavier, 28 points) and Jajuan Johnson (Marquette, 20 points) have all enjoyed Georgetown's indifferent perimeter defense and a lack of a consistent defensive effort, especially late. That will be trouble in Monday's game, given the fast-paced nature of guards Marcus Lovett and Shamorie Ponds. Lovett is averaging 25.7 points in his last three Big East games, with a 32 point efforts against Xavier, no small feat given the Xavier defense. Ponds went for 21 in the Xavier game and has scored in double figures in 16 straight games. The two guards represent nearly half of the offense for the Redmen, which gives teams an opportunity to shut down Chris Mullin's plans if the two guards can be contained.
St. John's has not maintained a consistent front court in a number of years, and its forwards and centers are still a work in progress. The tallest starter is 6-7, although 6-11 Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens is starting to see more time. Owens has seven blocks in his four Big East games, the best on the team. Forward Bashir Ahmed (12.4 ppg) is shooting 24 percent from the field in his last two games and needs a much more focused effort to take pressure off Lovett and Ponds.
Georgetown's crisis of confidence continues to manifest itself in late game lineups, but it really comes down to what it is getting out of the first 39 minutes. When the duo of Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak combine for 35 ot more points, Georgetown is 7-1; less than that, 1-7. Saturday's combined total versus Butler was 21, given a season-low 0 points for Pryor and a confused John Thompson III on what got into him.
Where the Hoyas really need a statement is up front. Georgetown owns opportunities inside that it has heretofore been unable to exploit-- in last season's games with St. John's the center position (Hayes, Govan) combined for six points. As long as the Hoyas are lambs in the pivot, losses will follow.
Other keys to the game:
Command Performance: Georgetown fans have seen big games from the likes of Tre Campbell and Jessie Govan, only to see it evaporate in later games. All eyes will be on Jagan Mosely to continue the progress made to date.
Three Pointers: St. John's stayed close versus Xavier with ten threes. Last year, just four in 17 attempts versus GU.
First Half Matters: St. John's is not a comeback team: 1-7 this season when trailing at the half and 1-23 last season.
This team needs a win, Coach Thompson really needs a win. If not St. John's, when?
