Preview
Ten seconds, maybe fifteen.
For a Notre Dame team which has lost four Big East games by a total of nine points, the last few seconds of its games have been a rollercoaster, none more so than its Jan. 25 game against the Hoyas, lost at the buzzer. The two teams return to action Wednesday in a game with major RPI and NCAA implications. And no matter how close the Irish have been, they face a Georgetown team that has literally grown up in the last minute of its games. Make no mistake, though--for an Notre Dame team which has nonetheless defeated BC and UConn in its last two home games, this is a critical game for its NCAA resume.
Last month's game was literally settled in the last moments of each half, where Ashanti Cook hit a shot as the first half expired and where Cook found Roy Hibbert for the game winner 20 minutes later.
So what will set one team apart at the end?
The outside shot.
Notre Dame was able to stay in the game last month (and nearly win it) from the outside shot, hitting nine threes while the Hoyas missed 14 of 18 from outside. ND enters the game at a 39% pace from outside, which has helped cover the Irish when the inside game has struggled or Chris Thomas is cold from the field. Georgetown's outside shooting has waned in recent games, shooting only 33% in conference play and 29% (21-73) in its last four. Brandon Bowman (5-14 vs. ND on Jan. 23, 1-5 from three) will be key if Georgetown is to rediscover the outside shot. An effective Bowman from outside means an effective Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert inside, where the Irish will be4 less likely to sag inside on the defensive end. Hibbert had one of his best games of the season last month (11 points, 7 rebounds) and neutralized Torin Francis (1-4 vs. GU) in the process.
Guard play should be solid for both teams. Ashanti Cook has settled into the shooting guard role and has come up big in recent weeks, and can be expected to help on Chris Thomas, who was 3-11 vs. Georgetown last month and will be expected to do better. Chris Quinn matches up well against the Georgetown zones, and is effective as a zone breaker.
Don't forget the close-in shot, either. A key stat from last month's game: while ND was 6-13 from three, they were only 3-10 from two point range. Georgetown forwards Brandon Bowman and Jeff Green were a combined 7 for 17 (41%) from two point range while ND forwards Torin Francis and Colin Falls combined for 1 for 5 from two point range in the prior meeting. Both teams must take advantage of its inside game.
ND has a major advantage off the bench in senior Dennis Latimore who will help the Irish front line. Georgetown has few if any scoring options off the bench, but could use the help from Darrel Owens and Ray Reed.
Three additional keys to the game:
1. Tempo. Georgetown wins if the tempo of the game favors its motion offense.
2. First half shooting. The Hoyas shot only 35% in the first game of the series and 2 of 10 from three. Georgetown must establish its shooting in the first half, not just the second.
3. Darrel Owens. The Hoyas may need a spark off the bench if Cook or Wallace is frustrated by the Irish defense. Owens played a big role in the win over West Virginia.
If there's any additional pressure in a game like this, it's on the Irish. With so many close losses, and an RPI which is still below the cut, the Irish need to get the home win before two tough road games at PC and Connecticut. But if the pressure is on Notre Dame, the opportunity is on the Hoyas, with a chance to set itself apart and continue a run of near historic proportions. And it'll still come down to ten or fifteen seconds.
Enjoy it.
===
Georgetown (16-6)
Coach: John Thompson III
(Princeton '88)
1st season, 16-6
Career: 84-48
RPI: 38
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Jonathan Wallace 6-1 7.3
Ashanti Cook 6-2 11.5
Brandon Bowman 6-8 15.3
Jeff Green 6-8 13.2
Roy Hibbert 7-2 5.4
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 64.7
Points Allowed 59.7
FG Shooting: 45.1
FG Defense: 40.8
3FG Shooting: 35.5
FT Shooting: 68.7
Rebounds/Game 32.7
Assists/Game 14.0
Turnovers/Game 13.9
Notre Dame (14-7)
Coach: Mike Brey
(G. Washington '82)
5th season, 99-49
Career: 197-101
RPI 50
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Chris Thomas 6-1 14.0
Chris Quinn 6-2 12.9
Colin Falls 6-4 11.9
Torin Francis 6-11 8.7
J. Cornette 6-10 4.6
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 66.6
Points Allowed: 60.9
FG Shooting: 41.2
FG Defense 41.1
3FG Shooting: 39.1
FT Shooting: 71.4
Rebounds/Game 36.0
Assists/Game 14.5
Turnovers/Game 11.7
=======
http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/sections/259109.html
http://www.southbendtribune.com/sto...20050216-sbt-MARS-C1-With_new_coach__Hoya.sto
http://www.thehoya.com/sports/021505/sports15.cfm
Ten seconds, maybe fifteen.
For a Notre Dame team which has lost four Big East games by a total of nine points, the last few seconds of its games have been a rollercoaster, none more so than its Jan. 25 game against the Hoyas, lost at the buzzer. The two teams return to action Wednesday in a game with major RPI and NCAA implications. And no matter how close the Irish have been, they face a Georgetown team that has literally grown up in the last minute of its games. Make no mistake, though--for an Notre Dame team which has nonetheless defeated BC and UConn in its last two home games, this is a critical game for its NCAA resume.
Last month's game was literally settled in the last moments of each half, where Ashanti Cook hit a shot as the first half expired and where Cook found Roy Hibbert for the game winner 20 minutes later.
So what will set one team apart at the end?
The outside shot.
Notre Dame was able to stay in the game last month (and nearly win it) from the outside shot, hitting nine threes while the Hoyas missed 14 of 18 from outside. ND enters the game at a 39% pace from outside, which has helped cover the Irish when the inside game has struggled or Chris Thomas is cold from the field. Georgetown's outside shooting has waned in recent games, shooting only 33% in conference play and 29% (21-73) in its last four. Brandon Bowman (5-14 vs. ND on Jan. 23, 1-5 from three) will be key if Georgetown is to rediscover the outside shot. An effective Bowman from outside means an effective Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert inside, where the Irish will be4 less likely to sag inside on the defensive end. Hibbert had one of his best games of the season last month (11 points, 7 rebounds) and neutralized Torin Francis (1-4 vs. GU) in the process.
Guard play should be solid for both teams. Ashanti Cook has settled into the shooting guard role and has come up big in recent weeks, and can be expected to help on Chris Thomas, who was 3-11 vs. Georgetown last month and will be expected to do better. Chris Quinn matches up well against the Georgetown zones, and is effective as a zone breaker.
Don't forget the close-in shot, either. A key stat from last month's game: while ND was 6-13 from three, they were only 3-10 from two point range. Georgetown forwards Brandon Bowman and Jeff Green were a combined 7 for 17 (41%) from two point range while ND forwards Torin Francis and Colin Falls combined for 1 for 5 from two point range in the prior meeting. Both teams must take advantage of its inside game.
ND has a major advantage off the bench in senior Dennis Latimore who will help the Irish front line. Georgetown has few if any scoring options off the bench, but could use the help from Darrel Owens and Ray Reed.
Three additional keys to the game:
1. Tempo. Georgetown wins if the tempo of the game favors its motion offense.
2. First half shooting. The Hoyas shot only 35% in the first game of the series and 2 of 10 from three. Georgetown must establish its shooting in the first half, not just the second.
3. Darrel Owens. The Hoyas may need a spark off the bench if Cook or Wallace is frustrated by the Irish defense. Owens played a big role in the win over West Virginia.
If there's any additional pressure in a game like this, it's on the Irish. With so many close losses, and an RPI which is still below the cut, the Irish need to get the home win before two tough road games at PC and Connecticut. But if the pressure is on Notre Dame, the opportunity is on the Hoyas, with a chance to set itself apart and continue a run of near historic proportions. And it'll still come down to ten or fifteen seconds.
Enjoy it.
===
Georgetown (16-6)
Coach: John Thompson III
(Princeton '88)
1st season, 16-6
Career: 84-48
RPI: 38
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Jonathan Wallace 6-1 7.3
Ashanti Cook 6-2 11.5
Brandon Bowman 6-8 15.3
Jeff Green 6-8 13.2
Roy Hibbert 7-2 5.4
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 64.7
Points Allowed 59.7
FG Shooting: 45.1
FG Defense: 40.8
3FG Shooting: 35.5
FT Shooting: 68.7
Rebounds/Game 32.7
Assists/Game 14.0
Turnovers/Game 13.9
Notre Dame (14-7)
Coach: Mike Brey
(G. Washington '82)
5th season, 99-49
Career: 197-101
RPI 50
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Chris Thomas 6-1 14.0
Chris Quinn 6-2 12.9
Colin Falls 6-4 11.9
Torin Francis 6-11 8.7
J. Cornette 6-10 4.6
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 66.6
Points Allowed: 60.9
FG Shooting: 41.2
FG Defense 41.1
3FG Shooting: 39.1
FT Shooting: 71.4
Rebounds/Game 36.0
Assists/Game 14.5
Turnovers/Game 11.7
=======
http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/sections/259109.html
http://www.southbendtribune.com/sto...20050216-sbt-MARS-C1-With_new_coach__Hoya.sto
http://www.thehoya.com/sports/021505/sports15.cfm
