With the first half of the Big East Conference schedule complete, Georgetown couldn’t ask to be in a better position. The sixth-ranked Hoyas (18-2, 8-1), who host the South Florida Bulls (10-12, 1-8) tonight, possess at least a two-game lead over every team in the league — including second-place Notre Dame (16-4, 6-2), whose two conference defeats include one by Georgetown.
Despite their best conference start in 19 seasons, the Hoyas’ work is far from finished. In a rare moment of openness by normally secretive college coaches, this past weekend Seton Hall’s Bobby Gonzalez gave a frank assessment of his three key Georgetown weaknesses. His comments make good starting points for examining the Hoyas’ primary concerns with nine regular-season games left to play.
Sometimes statistics do lie
“We thought we could foul them and put them on the line, because they were second to last in the league.”
While the Hoyas are a mediocre 66.4 percent from the line for the season, they are shooting 71.3 percent in conference games. Georgetown’s 80.6 percent (25 of 31) success rate against the Pirates was the fifth time they’ve topped 80 in the last 10 games. In their first 10 contests this season, they shot better than 68 percent once.
Nobody epitomizes the improvement better than Roy Hibbert, who was 50 percent (26 of 52) in the first 12 games of the year but is 80.5 percent (33 of 41) in the last eight.
Bigger worry The Hoyas have shot under 36 percent from behind the 3-point line in five of their last eight games. They are a combined 6 of 34 (17.6 percent) from three in their two losses.
Revisiting Memphis can give you the blues
“We thought we could beat them down the floor for quick baskets.”
Teams are turning up the defensive pressure on Georgetown, especially the Hoyas’ backcourt, and it’s beginning to take a toll, as turnovers and poor decisions turn into points at the other end of the floor. The Hoyas have committed at least 10 turnovers (-0.35 margin) in all but one conference game, including a season-high 21 (15 steals) against Seton Hall. The more Jessie Sapp, Jonathan Wallace and Jeremiah Rivers worry about holding on to the ball, the less effective they are when Georgetown needs a perimeter playmaker. Freshman guard Chris Wright could help solve this problem, but he’s likely done for the season (foot injury).
» Bigger worry: None
Shattered glass myths
“We thought they were more vulnerable than last year’s Georgetown team, with Jeff Green, on the defensive boards.”
The Hoyas appear susceptible on the glass but they are fourth in the Big East in defensive rebounds (26.3 per game). They also dominate defensively overall — No. 1 nationally in field-goal percentage defense (35.2), which often leads to second chance shots. Georgetown needs DaJuan Summers (5.5 rebounds per game) to stay healthy and support Hibbert (team-high 6.9 rpg).
» Bigger worry: The Hoyas average less than 10 offensive rebounds, which puts a premium on efficiency. If they go cold from the floor (see 3-point percentage versus Memphis and Pittsburgh above), coming from behind gets exceedingly difficult.
