Game 4: Mount St. Mary's University (1-1)November 18, 12:00 pm (EST)Washington, DC Capital One Arena (20,500) Tickets: Available Media: TV: WDCA-20 (DC only) Video: Fox Sports App GU Radio: TBA MSM Radio: None About the Mountaineers: Location: Emmitsburg, MD Enrollment: 2,240 Conference: MAAC 2022-23 Record: 13-19 Record vs. Georgetown: 5-24 Meet The Coach: Dan Englestad (St. Mary's MD '07) 5th season, 60-90 Career: Same |
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Game 5: American University (1-2)November 19, 4:30 pm (EST)Washington, DC Capital One Arena (20,500) Tickets: Available Media: Video: Fox Sports 2 GU Radio: WTEM-980 AU Radio: None About the Eagles: Location: Washington, DC Enrollment: 7,571 Conference: Patriot 2022-23 Record: 17-15 Record vs. Georgetown: 9-47 Meet The Coach: Duane Simpkins (Maryland '96) 1st season, 1-2 Career: Same |
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The Georgetown Hoyas were not ready for prime time after Wednesday's 11 point loss to Rutgers, a margin that felt more like 31. Its downfall in the game were not sins of hubris but painful bouts of inexperience, and Saturday's matinee with Mount St. Mary's begins four weeks of recovery in relative anonymity, both in coverage and in attendance, at the cavernous Capital One Arena.
When next the Hoyas face a road crowd it will be on December 15 at Notre Dame, whereupon we will know considerably more abut the ceiling for this team moving forward. There wasn't much to show for it against Rutgers.The ever-generic "Georgetown MTE" favors the homestanding Hoyas in both games, though not by the margins of a week ago, much less a month or two ago in hindsight There's a lot of work ahead for this team and it starts Saturday.
Mount St. Mary's arrives Saturday following a 14 point win over Coppin State, an early TKO in the first half that the winless Eagles did not recover from. Balanced scoring was in order in the game, though forward Dakota Leffew will be worth watching in Saturday's game. The 6-5 senior is a 38 percent shooter from outside the arc and a capable passer, though turnovers can be a problem. Guard play from seniors Xavier Lipscomb (5.0 ppg) and Joshua Reeves (11.0) have been encouraging to open th season and both are capable shooters from outside. With only three players taller than 6-7, Georgetown needs to return inside against 6-9 Jedy Cordilia, whose numbers are inconsistent and where MSM relies on 6-6 George Tinsley as its more effective rebounder.
The Mountaineers have been proficient on three point defense. Maryland was a mere 3 for 16 from deep and Coppin State (4 for 21) was not much better. However, MSM has not used this fully to its advantage, shooting just 27 percent from three point range on its own. Of more concern, perhaps, to the Mountaineers: turnovers. In two games, MSM has committed 35 turnovers, including seven from Leffew and 10 combined from its two frontcourt starters. The Mountaineers are vulnerable to runouts and Georgetown, should they get their own turnover house in order, should be able to take advantage of same in the second half.
As for AU, it's a short turnaround for Georgetown as the Eagles take the ride down Massachusetts Avenue for another visit to Capital One Arena on Sunday afternoon. Two things to note, however: American is deeper and more experienced than Mount St. Mary's, and its offense is averaging nine threes a game.
Is Georgetown prepared for either of these?
The Eagles' methodical style of play was rat poison to the wayward Hoyas of a year ago, shooting 25 percent from the floor after halftime in last season's game while the Eagles maximized their talent in a 57 percent second half and a lead that it held for the final 8:33 of that game. The 2023-24 Eagles return four starters and 10 letterman from that team, with productive efforts so far from starters Matt Rogers (15.3 ppg), Matt Mayock (3.8 ppg, 46 percent from three) and guard Elijah Stevens (8.0 ppg, 4.0 to 1 assist/turnover ratio) as well as reserves Jeff Sprouse (21 mph, 10.0 ppg) and Jermaine Bellisager Webb (10.0 ppg). Webb, at 7-0 provides inside muscle that AU has lacked for years, and will test Supreme Cook in ways that LeMoyne, Holy Cross, or Mount St. Mary's did not, but Rutgers did.
American is coming off double digit wins over Siena and NJIT averaging 11 threes in the two games combined, The Eagles held NJIT to no second chance points in the game Saturday, and a 12-3 advantage on steals. That said, Duane Simpkins' style differs from that of Mike Brennan and this American team will be more active to the ball and push the tempo when it suits them. Sprouse and Stevens combined for 24 in last season's game and are particular targets for the still emerging Georgetown defense to do a better job defending. More on American Saturday, but some keys to both games:
1. Ball Control: Georgetown was especially lacking in ball control against the Rutgers defensive sets. While American won't be as proficient defensively, it will attempt to force Georgetown into bad habits.
2. Own The Boards: AU has been surprising tough on the boards and the Hoyas needs to set a statement in this game.
4. Shake It Off: There was a lot of frustration on the court Wednesday that needs to be excised for GU to use the next five games as a means to build for the future. That frustration will return if Georgetown drops consecutive games to American for the first time since NBA star Kermit Washington was playing for the Eagles from 1970 through 1973.