It's Panic Time: Georgetown Loses To West Virginia 65-59, Drops To 1-3 In Big East
by JGD on Jan 8, 2011 1:50 PM EST
in Game Summaries
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PrintThis sucks. There is no sugarcoating what happened today in the Verizon Center. The Georgetown Hoyas, as recently as December 29, were a top 10 team in the country. They finished the hardest out-of-conference schedule in the nation at a sparkling 11-1, including road wins at Missouri, Old Dominion, and Memphis. Since conference play began 10 days ago, this team has been an unmitigated disaster. Poor defensive rebounding, sloppy turnovers, impatient offense, and a lack of leadership have caused the Hoyas to become unhinged. Today, against a rebuilding West Virginia team that just barely squeaked by Depaul, Georgetown lost 65-59. Down three with less than two minutes to go, Georgetown did not get up a shot on three straight possessions. With three seniors, a junior and a sophomore in the starting lineup, the current lack of poise is remarkable.
Jason Clark led the Hoyas with 16 points, while Austin Freeman and Chris Wright combined for 20 points on 6-21 shooting. Right now, our three guards are not playing basketball as well as they should be. Clark and Wright, the primary ball handlers, have been out of control. Wright started the season playing the most effective we'd seen him in a Hoya uniform. Since conference play started, he has reverted back to the worst of his sophomore and junior seasons. Freeman hasn't looked this bad since his sophomore year, when he was overweight and uninterested.
More thoughts after The Jump.
No matter how inconsistent our three guards have been in the last 10 days, blame also has to be placed on John Thompson III. Our plays coming out of timeouts have been atrocious, not to mention JT3's momentum killing timeout call when the Hoyas were about to take the lead in the second half after a 10-2 run. Our senior guards are in a slump right now, and for the first time in JT3's time on the Hilltop, we have capable backups. When Markel Starks plays as well as he did midway through the second half, he shouldn't sit. I appreciate having faith in your best guys, but let them figure it out in practice and ride the hot hand. Freeman got energized in the second half and scored 11 points after riding the pine and seeing the younger guys take over. The same should have went for Wright.
Watching Pitt outlast Providence on the road the other day was a stark contrast to how this Georgetown team has played this year. Pitt was down with a minute left, got good possessions on offense being patient, and buckled down on the defensive end, winning by four when all was said and done. Even in our close victories over Old Dominion and Missouri, our execution was terrible late in the games. We were saved by Wright nailing a game tying three at the buzzer after Hollis Thompson took an unforced three pointer with 10 seconds left against Missouri. And we were saved by Wright heaving up a three pointer with no time left on the shot clock against Old Dominion. Against Temple, Thompson took another unforced shot at the end of the game, missing a wide open Julian Vaughn for what would have been the game winning dunk. Against St. John's, Clark got destroyed on the defensive end and we didn't prevent the tip-in that ultimately lost us the game. Today, we had three straight possessions to tie the game and couldn't even get a shot up without turning the ball over.
All that said, I still have faith in this team. As a Georgetown fan, I have no other choice. This is the only team that I really care about in all of sports, and as painful as these last 10 days have been, it's only been 10 days. I believe in Wright and Freeman to make this better and carry us through the rest of the season. I worry that both are pressing under the magnitude of their final seasons in college, where so much rides on their professional lives in their last chances to prove to NBA scouts that they are worthy of being drafted. Fortunately for Freeman and Wright, they will be judged by how many wins Georgetown amasses for the rest of the season and how deep Georgetown goes in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for Wright and Freeman, they aren't grasping that at this moment, instead sulking and playing lackadaisical when their shots aren't falling. DaJuan Summers and Jessie Sapp faced similar challenges in 2008-2009, and we all know how that ended up. Yet, Georgetown fans have to hope this will be different. These guys worked too hard in the off season and looked too good in out-of-conference play to go out like this.
JT3 has built a successful program at Georgetown, and he must right the ship during practices this week. This team has to become better rebounders on the defensive glass, and needs to execute for 40 minutes for the rest of the season. Turnovers, rebounding, and defense are about focus and effort. Going forward, we have to see more of that, and it has to start at the top, with JT3 and our two star senior guards and captains.
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at the game so didnt see it via tv
but that was one of the worst reffed games I’ve seen in a while. In the last few minutes alone there was an awful “turnover” call where the ball went off the WVU defender’s ankle, and a noncall on a play where the WVU defender elbowed a Gtown player in the face.
I probably need a new handle, but I'm too lazy to think of one
by SomebodyBuyAustinaSteak on Jan 8, 2011 2:18 PM EST reply actions
panic is a strong word
I’m not panicking.
Yes, Georgetown is in an ugly stretch right now, but the Hoyas still don’t have a bad loss on their resume. Sure, wins against St. John’s and West Virginia would have been nice and arguably a team like Georgetown (at least with the expectations we had for them after the out of conference schedule) should have beaten them, but as it stands right now things aren’t terrible. Better to have a stretch like this in early January than in March.
Note: I’m not sure I believe any of the above.
Casually.
Austin "I just wasn't being aggressive and I need to be aggresive"
Yes totally! If Austin plays agressive (and Clark and Wright stop hoisting NBA 3-pointers) I think we are far stronger
I probably need a new handle, but I'm too lazy to think of one
by SomebodyBuyAustinaSteak on Jan 8, 2011 3:07 PM EST up reply actions
frustration
on the part of the players and III is evident. we’ll see if it leads to adjustments or just trying to “execute better.”
by The Lorry Michel Backrub on Jan 8, 2011 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
iron horse the best
$3 shots of kerosene
Good talk.
Casual Hoya
by Hire Esherick on Jan 8, 2011 3:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Losing confidence.........
I truly felt that this team was special having watched the non-conference schedule play. Deep, senior, talented.and motivated. Blowing out many teams that they should blow out, and staying with or beating tougher teams. No excuse for our defensive lapses or our turnovers. Low three point nights will have happen, but three games in a row suggests that we are executing that aspect of the game poorly. Agree with an earlier post that if Freeman, Clark or Wright do not have it going………….play Sanford and Starks and Vaugn and Sims (at the same time). We have the ability to throw so many talented players and different combinations at our opponents. No excuses for losing. This IS a bad loss……………at home against a team that will finish in the bottom half of the Big East..
With paranoia,
This team has no inside game.
bigs are horrendous offensively and guards can’t take any1 off the dribble. All you have to do is guard the 3pt line and the backdoor cut and you can easily beat this team. Wright and Freeman are not NBA level athletes. Plus they don’t play D and turn the ball over a ton.
by PhillyPeetzWitRanch on Jan 8, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Good point on "no D"
We let Mitchell drop 28 points on us. He isn’t that great…we just made zero effort to cover him.
Section 101.
by RileysDressLikeAHoyaJersey on Jan 8, 2011 4:44 PM EST up reply actions
The only good thing about an early season collapse
More time left in the season to right the ship.
Pitt game: I mean, if we win it would be miraculous, but at this point as a fan you have to prepare for a loss here. Somehow pulling a win out of our ass here would be HUGE though…
Then @ Rutgers, @ Seton Hall – again, we can’t overlook anyone, but even on the road those are games we SHOULD win, even more so than St. John’s and West Virginia.
Then, revenge game vs. St. John’s at home – I like our chances at home the second time around.
But without looking ahead, I just want to see us play better. St. John’s and West Virginia did not win those games as much as we lost them. 1-2 open three pointers, 1-2 less stupid turnovers – we’re 3-1 in Big East, not 1-3.
We’re shooting ourselves in the foot, but our problems are correctable. We just need to keep our composure. Our ceiling is much lower now – we’re not a top 10 team, and at this point we’re not a top 25 team. But if we right the ship, we’re still an NCAA team. With our strong non-conference resume and the strength of the Big East, 9-9 should make the tournament without a serious sweat. After that, anything can happen… you just gotta believe.
JTIII has thrown in his lot...
with Lumpy McWreckingball. As #4 goes, so does this team.
Transfer watchlist? ENGAGED!
After that last, unholy row,
I never, ever play, basketball now.
It joins a list of things I'll miss like fencing foils and lovely girls I'll never kiss.
Georgetown
off to its worst Big East start since the 2003-04 season, Craig Esherick’s last as coach.
Trending in the wrong direction
Each game we see new problems develop on top of other problems that haven’t been fixed.
The year started with bad turnover. Then the bigs couldn’t contribute against quality teams. These were not major issues with clark, wright, and freeman scoring 20 each and carrying the team.
When clark and wright cooled off, freeman was still able to carry the team. Now that he is cold, no one is picking up the pieces.
Add visible frustration to the mix and it only gets worse. Now clark and wright settle for contested 3’s.
Today was much worse as wright didn’t make any attempt to be a facilitator and went back to full wrecking ball status.
So now we are left with turnovers, weak big men, no inside game, cold from 3, frustration, and the wrecking ball leading the whole mess.
Fuck…..
Section 101.
by RileysDressLikeAHoyaJersey on Jan 8, 2011 4:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Thompson
I agree with the comment that it’s better to have this stretch now rather then later. However, based on how I see Thompson motivating his players during the game, I don’t see how he’s going to pull the team’s confidence back up. I’m seeing no in-game adjustments, no strategic substitutions (in fact I see the opposite with the sitting of Starks as evidence), and no encouraging energy coming from the Hoya leadership. It starts with the coach and then moves through the players. We can’t expect energy and leadership from Wright and Freeman when there’s no example to follow.
Also, in watching other college games today I’ve seen a number of teams run a variety of different offenses. I think Thompson needs to run a few more plays to get his shooters more involved in the offense. Freeman took two shots in the first half. Part of it is Austin not being aggressive enough while a large portion also has to do with a lack of open looks based on the backdoor reliant offense. I’m tired of seeing Wright come down the floor and point and wave with his free hand for 15 seconds before something happens. Then he does the same thing everyone in the arena knew he was going to do (the play I refer to as the point guard spin at half court with no one guarding them out there play). Imagine the surprise on Jamie Dixon’s face when we run a stack deep in the paint with Freeman coming off a pick for a jumper. I may be missing some of the game’s intricacies but I feel that we definitely need more offensive variety.
Completely agree
This is our third straight year where our offense has gone stagnant for large chunks of games because the predictability. If Austin is being covered by Joe Mazzula, the ball should be going into him in the post every single time. I’d also like to see a high/low post set with Lubick and Vaughn, instead of Lubick playing on the perimeter as well. Any offense is predicated on spacing, and without dumping the ball inside, we have no offense to speak of.
My handle used to be Jeff Green's Dad, but it was confusing and creepy, namely because I am not his dad. My new handle is JGD. I am trim and in charge.
by JGD on Jan 8, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
Vaughn has been a turnover machine inside
It’s been a bad move to work the ball into vaughn in the post because he has more turnovers than made shots.
I’m also going to lose it if I see vaughn get beat again on the baseline. He jumps inside on a ball fake and leave the baseline wide open. Terrible fundamentals seems like a coaching issue.
Benimon also had his worst game of the season. I’ve never heard an audible groan in verizon center when someone gets subbed in since Nikita left.
Section 101.
by RileysDressLikeAHoyaJersey on Jan 8, 2011 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
Post up Freeman a la Derek Fisher
Haven’t seen anyone in the country yet who can guard Freeman 1 on1 inside the arc.
I will go to the Pitt game on Wednesday.
If we win, there is still hope. (This will require actual rebounding skill, three-pointers that score three points instead of handing the ball to the other team, and/or actual game management and no more stupid timeouts.)
And if we lose…
…see you next season.
"The enemy is like a woman, weak in face of opposition..." - St. Ignatius
iron horse the best
$3 shots of kerosene
Good talk.
Casual Hoya
by Hire Esherick on Jan 8, 2011 5:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Also, this was my game experience
"The enemy is like a woman, weak in face of opposition..." - St. Ignatius
I think I have a new mental image
when I want to last longer during relations
by Lord Humongous on Jan 8, 2011 6:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
nice photoshop skills
you win + 10 internetz
I go to the WVU game
Race over to McD for the women’s game and they ended their 21 game home winning streak in double OT versus MQ.
Between the men and the Giants’ collapse, I’m so done with sports right now.
What's the 'Philly' in 'PhillyHoya' mean?
I always thought it meant you were FROM Philly…which then confuses me that you refer to the Giants as a collapse
Maybe it's because I'm a Hoya
with you
on both the Hoyas and Giants collapse. Combine that with how the Yankees were dominated in October, and the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 have been about as bad as it gets for me sportswise.
contemplating a sports blackout if this continues with the Hoyas.
by ghostofjoeybrown on Jan 9, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
I have a sore throat
I chanted, clapped, screamed and yelled the whole game. In the final minutes it occurred to me that the players have to want it more than I do.
When I looked at the players I didn’t see the game faces of players who, though struggling, were determined to leave it all on the court no matter what. It was the wide-eyed stare of players who were afraid to lose and didn’t know what to do about it.
That has to change.
Document rubber doll!
Casually.
by CasualHoya on Jan 8, 2011 8:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
i eat my hat
i choke on all my big east road game/experienced team spew
this team needs to figure it out. no one is a leader. no one is a playmaker. nd and sju were NOT bad losses. THIS WAS.
8-10 gets this team in tourney. thats about it.
Good talk.
Casual Hoya
Turnovers and rebounding killed us
Awful showing.
At least our press was marginally effective for the first time at disrupting an opposing team’s offense when employed.
by Shake Your Boumtje Boumtje on Jan 8, 2011 8:08 PM EST reply actions
JGD--- you never showed for your free beer
I was in my seat for nearly the entire game (other than half-time)…… But then again, I am only a fair weather fan, being at 3 games over the last 8 days….. Where have you been?
Btw, nice summary above….. Our season is over, it was worrisome after witnessing the DePaul game and evident after SJU….. This was just confirmatory….. Even if we bounce back, one never knows when the “bad” Hoyas will reemerge… Same old story, 3 years running…..
by MerlinWilson'sSister on Jan 8, 2011 8:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Yeah
I didn’t go today. I sensed doom and need to handle other stuff back home. Cuse game, I’ll be at 118 looking for my beer. Thanks for the nice words about the summary, tough game to watch.
My handle used to be Jeff Green's Dad, but it was confusing and creepy, namely because I am not his dad. My new handle is JGD. I am trim and in charge.
by JGD on Jan 8, 2011 9:52 PM EST up reply actions
Having the jets win is the closest thing I can have to completely forgetting this season without excess amounts of alcohol
For every Gerry McNamara, there are three Eric Devendorfs.
by ChrisWright'sSleeve on Jan 9, 2011 12:23 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Washington Post
The cover picture is Vee sitting on the bench…enough said.
Section 101.
by RileysDressLikeAHoyaJersey on Jan 9, 2011 10:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Cwright_4 im so far gone, could care less wat yall think #haters
Section 101.
by RileysDressLikeAHoyaJersey on Jan 9, 2011 10:28 AM EST reply actions
Wright needs a timeout for stuff like that.
Our opinions may not count, but he’ll be singing a different tune if the team keeps on choking through Conference play and the BET, the selection committee notices, and the team gets sent down to the purgatory of the NIT.
Agree w/ HOYALVR. Get Starks (or Vee) to cover for him. Wright needs to sit until he gets his head back in the game.
"The enemy is like a woman, weak in face of opposition..." - St. Ignatius
If he insists on using Twitter, I'd rather see this...
Than see him actually engaging with those giving him shit. He’s acknowledging that he’s off-course without making excuses to people who don’t deserve an explanation. He should only be discussing the specifics of what’s going wrong with the coaching staff or his teammates.
That, and while I have an objective appreciation for confidence, this is really better than post-DePaul when he was saying that there was nobody who could guard him off the dribble (or something like that, I can’t recall the exact quote). Let’s work on more defense, less trying to barrel through the opposing team from one end of the court to the other.
There was so much talk early in the season about the team being poised (remember that? it was nice…). Well, put Wright on the bench for awhile to get his head screwed on straight, then see how he recovers his game. The same goes for other players who aren’t living up to their potential – so much has been said about the depth of the Hoyas’ bench, let’s see what they’ve got, and maybe the seniors will follow suit.
Losing Faith
Don’t get me wrong, I am still behind this team 100%, but what the hell is going on in the heads of Wright and Freeman? First, it starts with coaching and Thompson needs to figure out where the wheels came off this bus. Does he EVER show any emotion when his players mentally check out on the court? And I agree if Starks is showing potential and able to give this team a boost when they need it, then Wright should ride the bench. This is a sinking ship and nobody out there seems to care. The team has potential to go a long way—tell me what’s changed between the beginning of the season and now to make this team look and act so drastically different? At the game yesterday, a West Virginia fan said—“We’re terrible this year. We came here expecting to lose.” Is that the mentality of our players as they take the court? Two things would make a huge difference—the amount of turnovers yesterday was inexcusable and does Georgetown ever try to rebound? No, they let West Virginia take 2 or even 3 more tries at the basket. I can only hope some type of miracle will occur in the next 48 hours and give us a shot at Pitt.
Wright and Freeman dont seem to care
They looked like they could wait for the game to be over. Bad body language. Shaking their heads. They looked like they were ready to checkout after halftime.
Section 101.
by RileysDressLikeAHoyaJersey on Jan 9, 2011 1:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You see what happens Larry
This is what happens Larry when you rely on outside shooting and have no inside options. Yes, we’re in a funk and that will happen from time to time, but it’s extremely troubling that no one can step up inside to give us a lift when the shots aren’t falling. I was at the John’s game and you could see Sims think out loud all the way up to our seats – so slow and predictable. JuJu has been MIA. Lubick’s work rate is great, but he’s not able to give us points yet. Time to step up Hoyas and take ownership of this season now.
What are we talkin' about?
by We talkin' about practice on Jan 10, 2011 1:51 PM EST reply actions
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