Shooting, defending 3s become problems again for Hoyas
Georgetown’s blowout defeat at Seton Hall on Tuesday may have been an aberration. But it wasn’t a first.
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Instead, the way the Pirates shot, going 8-for-13 (62 percent) from the 3-point line, and shattered the Hoyas’ own confidence at the offensive end of the floor (5-for-15 from 3-point range) was achingly familiar — akin to their NCAA tournament losses to VCU and Ohio the last two years.
It makes the lessons and adjustments that come out of what coach John Thompson III called “our worst game of the season at both ends of the court” that much more important to digest.
| Up next |
| Villanova at No. 9 Georgetown |
| When » Saturday, 2 p.m. |
| Where » Verizon Center |
| TV » CBS |
Last March, the Rams knocked down 12 of 25 3-pointers en route to the Final Four while Georgetown went 5-for-26 from beyond the arc. Two years ago, the Bobcats were 13-for-23 (57 percent) from beyond the arc while the Hoyas were just 8-for-22 (36 percent).
“Both of those games, both of those teams didn’t miss,” Hoyas senior guard Jason Clark said.
What made the Pirates’ performance so unusual was that it came against a team that has experienced overwhelming success guarding the perimeter. With three regular season-games remaining, the Hoyas (20-6, 10-5 Big East) still lead the conference in opponents’ 3-point field goal percentage (.286). They were stunned by their own inability to contain Jordan Theodore, who went 5-for-5 from long range and finished with 29 points, and it carried over when they had the ball.
“That’s something we haven’t experienced this year, something traditionally that young teams go through a little bit,” Thompson said. “I’m hoping that’s a blip also, but definitely a poor defensive effort led to what I call a ‘get-back’ shot. ‘He just scored. I’m going to get him back,’ as opposed to staying with and trying to execute.”
But when Georgetown falls behind, as it did against Seton Hall, VCU and Ohio, it also has struggled to ratchet up its own urgency on offense. It remains determined to run its sets even if the moment calls for attacking the rim off the dribble.
“I think that can be the case with a couple losses that we had,” Hoyas freshman guard Jabril Trawick said. “Like, the offense is great, especially when we’re making shots and we’re getting a lot of shots up. But at the same time, I think that if we’re able to make basketball plays sometimes, just drive to the rim, a drive and a dish, that’s good as well.”
Thompson believes the opposite. What the Hoyas lacked the most against the Pirates, what they will need down the stretch with the postseason looming, is a rededication to what has gotten them this far.
“I think I wanted someone to take over at the defensive end and make sure we had communication, make sure our help rotations were where they should be and not let [Theodore] get as much separation,” he said. “… When most people think of taking over, they think of slashing, shooting. We need someone to take over down at the other end of the court.”
