Game Notes
--St. John's is ineligible for the 2005 Big East tournament due to a self-imposed ban on post-season competition.
--Seven of the last 11 games for St. John's have been decided by six or fewer points.
--Georgetown and St. John's rank 10th and 12th, respectively, of 12 Big East teams in assist to turnover ratio.
Preview
A must win?
One year and a day removed from the nadir of modern Georgetown basketball, the Georgetown Hoyas need a statement against a still struggling St. John's Redmen (aka Red Storm) team at Madison Square Garden. With Villanova and Notre Dame catching a second wind in the Big East race, Georgetown needs to stake its claim now for a Big East bye and an NCAA berth, not in the first week of March.
Since the two teams last met, St. John's has lost a number of close games, including last second losses to Seton Hall and West Virginia. Daryl Hill continues to impress fans with his play, and while the efforts of Lamont Hamilton and Eugene Lawrence have made the Redmen a more competitive team, the pieces aren't in place yet for Norm Roberts. Still, St. John's can challenge Georgetown in this game with good shooting, holding down the turnovers, and doing that it do in last season's Waterloo--staying close. St. John's is not a comeback team in 2004-05. In 13 games the Redmen have trailed entering in the final five minutes. Its record in those games is 0-13. Tied or leading entering the final minutes? St. John's is 8-1.
Fouls may also play a factor. St. John's cannot afford foul trouble with its starters, as its bench is even thinner than the Hoyas. AFter a series of struggles from the outside, the Hoyas need to revert to its patient passing game and get players like Jeff Green and Brandon Bowman to the line. Roy Hibbert will also be called upon to continue his encouraging play of late. Hibbert scored only four points in last month's game at MCI Center, and a second strong game could really help the hoyas' efforts inside.
Three keys to the game:
1. Three point shooting. The Hoyas own a considerable advantage and must improve its shooting after recent struggles.
2. Post defense. After an encouraging game, Roy Hibbert must continue to assert himself down low and keep Hamilton off the rebound.
3. Get ahead. Georgetown needs to build a lead and hold on to it.
It's time for the Hoyas to exorcise some demons at the Garden, where it has not won in the regular season once since 1994. And in a stretch run where every win is vital to be in the NCAA mix, this is one the Hoyas simply can't let get away.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/story/282685p-242261c.html
http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20050220-010718-8174r.htm
--St. John's is ineligible for the 2005 Big East tournament due to a self-imposed ban on post-season competition.
--Seven of the last 11 games for St. John's have been decided by six or fewer points.
--Georgetown and St. John's rank 10th and 12th, respectively, of 12 Big East teams in assist to turnover ratio.
Preview
A must win?
One year and a day removed from the nadir of modern Georgetown basketball, the Georgetown Hoyas need a statement against a still struggling St. John's Redmen (aka Red Storm) team at Madison Square Garden. With Villanova and Notre Dame catching a second wind in the Big East race, Georgetown needs to stake its claim now for a Big East bye and an NCAA berth, not in the first week of March.
Since the two teams last met, St. John's has lost a number of close games, including last second losses to Seton Hall and West Virginia. Daryl Hill continues to impress fans with his play, and while the efforts of Lamont Hamilton and Eugene Lawrence have made the Redmen a more competitive team, the pieces aren't in place yet for Norm Roberts. Still, St. John's can challenge Georgetown in this game with good shooting, holding down the turnovers, and doing that it do in last season's Waterloo--staying close. St. John's is not a comeback team in 2004-05. In 13 games the Redmen have trailed entering in the final five minutes. Its record in those games is 0-13. Tied or leading entering the final minutes? St. John's is 8-1.
Fouls may also play a factor. St. John's cannot afford foul trouble with its starters, as its bench is even thinner than the Hoyas. AFter a series of struggles from the outside, the Hoyas need to revert to its patient passing game and get players like Jeff Green and Brandon Bowman to the line. Roy Hibbert will also be called upon to continue his encouraging play of late. Hibbert scored only four points in last month's game at MCI Center, and a second strong game could really help the hoyas' efforts inside.
Three keys to the game:
1. Three point shooting. The Hoyas own a considerable advantage and must improve its shooting after recent struggles.
2. Post defense. After an encouraging game, Roy Hibbert must continue to assert himself down low and keep Hamilton off the rebound.
3. Get ahead. Georgetown needs to build a lead and hold on to it.
It's time for the Hoyas to exorcise some demons at the Garden, where it has not won in the regular season once since 1994. And in a stretch run where every win is vital to be in the NCAA mix, this is one the Hoyas simply can't let get away.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/story/282685p-242261c.html
http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20050220-010718-8174r.htm
