It is a cliché basketball coaches toss out with regularity.
“You’re going to make a run, they’re going to make a run,” said Georgetown head coach John Thompson III after the Hoyas’ win over then No. 11 Marquette on Feb. 10.
Except in this case, Thompson is just partially correct. Georgetown’s offense has produced game-changing runs often during its nine-game winning streak. The opposition cannot make a similar claim.
In the Hoyas last four games, they allowed an 8-0 run by Louisville, a 9-0 spurt by the Golden Eagles, a 7-0 run by West Virginia and one 8-0 run by Villanova. In no other stretch did Georgetown allow more than two consecutive field goals.
That defense combined with disciplined offense is a productive mix. The Hoyas entered last weekend with the second-best shooting team in the nation (56.2 percent) and the most efficient offense in the country, according to www.kenpom.com.
“They’re very patient in the offensive end and they’re very efficient. When they want to do something, they stick to their play,” said Marquette sophomore guard Dominic James. “They constantly run it, and at times they use the whole shot clock, and you’ve got to have a very disciplined defense in order to get those key stops.”
Running to standstill
» The Golden Eagles’ one offensive burst came midway through the first half and they held a one-point lead for 27 seconds. But they only managed two 5-0 runs in the second half while the Hoyas put them away with a 21-4 run of their own at end of the game.
» For the Mountaineers, it was much worse. The game was essentially out of reach after the Hoyas’ 17-0 stretch in the first half. West Virginia’s only spurt was a 13-2 run that began when they were down by 19 points with under four minutes to play.
“They guard you, they’re long and they get to the rim,” said West Virginia head coach John Beilein. “We had a couple fast break opportunities, but when you get to the rim a couple times and you get a blocked shot, they’re just good defensively.”
» The Hoyas shot under 45 percent from the field in two games against Villanova, but the Wildcats, who led by as many as 11 points in the first half Saturday, scored consecutive field goals just twice in the second half of the Hoyas’ 58-55 win.
“We’re on the same page,” said Thompson after the win over West Virginia. “We’re getting to the point where everyone gets the understanding and the growth of how we should perform on defense, what looks we want to give everyone on defense. At the same time on the other end, our guys have grown to understand the others’ strengths and learning how to take advantage of them. … Hopefully that will continue.”
