Hoyas, Memphis have roles reversed now The roles are reversed from a month ago.
When Georgetown and Memphis met in the fifth-place game of the Maui Invitational in November, the Hoyas were still unknown, with only a smattering of acknowledgement from AP Top 25 poll voters. The Tigers, meanwhile, were the No.?8 team in the country.
When the two teams meet again Thursday at Verizon Center — in a game neither expected to be a rematch when it was originally scheduled — it will be the Hoyas who have surged in the rankings. The Tigers will have plenty to prove this time after a pair of highly competitive losses left them without a single vote in this week’s rankings.
| Up next |
| Memphis at No. 16 Georgetown |
| When » Thursday, 7 p.m. |
| Where » Verizon Center |
| TV » ESPN2 |
As an indication of how far Georgetown has come in just four weeks, coach John Thompson III characterized the Hawaii meeting as “a while ago.” But the 91-88 overtime win in the first meeting was exactly what a team with 10 underclassmen needed after falling short against Kansas two nights before.
“It showed us that we can compete with anybody,” said senior guard Jason Clark, who had a game-high 26 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in overtime. “That was kind of like their second big taste of what college basketball is about. I think that they know that games aren’t always going to be easy, that you’re going to face great players and it’s going to be a game of runs.”
The Hoyas (9-1) haven’t lost since, but the Tigers (6-4) may be far better than their record indicates, with all four of their losses coming against teams that are currently in the top 25, including defeats this month at the hands of two undefeated teams: No. 22 Murray State (12-0) and No. 4 Louisville (11-0).
“We know we escaped by the skin of our teeth out in Maui,” Thompson said. “They’ve had a very difficult schedule.”
Defensively, the task is still the same: managing the high-tempo set by the Tigers’ dribble-drive offense, which is spearheaded by the lightning quick backcourt duo of Will Barton (20.7 points, 8.6 rebounds per game) and Joe Jackson (13.9 ppg, 3.2 assists per game).
Thompson’s game plan?
“Turn and run back as fast as you can,” he said. “You’re not going to slow them down. That’s what they do. They’re very good at it. It’s not a question of slowing them down. You just hopefully can be back there waiting on them.”
Barton and his brother, Antonio Barton, both sophomores and Baltimore natives, were AAU teammates with Georgetown center Henry Sims, who said bragging rights are also on the line in what will be the Hoyas’ final game before Big East play begins next week.
