Vandy pre-game discussion

[bmartin]

There may be a big contingent from Harvest, Alabama at the game.

[hoyaLS05]

lichoya68 said:

minus seven who does that mean is favored sorry for dumbness. go hoyas

Haha, that means the Hoyas are favored. It means, for betting purposes, you must subtract seven from Georgetown's total score to figure out which team wins against the spread/win in Vegas.

Also, LIC, I definitely understand your prediction that we may lose...but I don't think this is actually a trap game. Are we looking ahead to Old Dominion? Fairfield? I don't think so.

[hoyalove4ever]

Another subplot: do we lose out first game to the same team in two straight seasons? I hope our guys are fired up not to let that happen.

[hoyaLS05]

With Kevin Stallings talking about, in the article linked on the game article threads, picking up the pace, does that mean they play man-to-man? A fast offense and a zone defense are certainly not mutually exclusive, but when I think of a fast-paced team, I think of man-to-man defense.

[SFHoya99]

They gave up 94 points to a DII team.

I'm pretty sure they play no defense.

[hoyaLS05]

sfhoya99 said:

They gave up 94 points to a DII team.

I'm pretty sure they play no defense.

Excellent point.

[chinatownfanclub]

From the sounds of that article linked on the game articles thread, this game may require a lot more of Summers and PE Jr. to run the floor while Big Roy gets some oxygen on the bench.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

I think that they will probably play a sagging man-to-man against us like Northern Iowa did in the tournament last year. The key to the game is controlling tempo. The way to do that is to rebound well (something we do very well) and play solid transition defense (something that was suspect in the Hartford game).

[lichoya68]

hey towson beat hartford pretty bad last nite BUT BC LOST TO VERMONT THATS GREAT GO HOYAS BE READY FOR VANDY... ;D

[bmartin]

When JT3's Hoyas score (in regulation):
68 or more - 20-0
61-67 - 17-12
less than 60 - 6-11

[godores2005]

Kevin Stallings will always be a man to man defense first coach. He hates the zone and will only use it when absolutely necessary (thinks it lets players be lazy). In years past, our defense has been most effective when playing zone, but Stallings has been hesitant to go to it.

Anyway, with regard to our exhibition game, we did give up a ton of points to a division II squad (albeit a very good DII squad- #7), but that team also played NC State close (and other teams' exhibition games have been close- Maryland, Mich. St.). We were up big on them in the 2nd half and Stallings started experimenting with different lineups and that's when they made their run. With our main lineup in, we dominated them, but when we started mixing things up to see how certain combinations worked, we allowed them back in the game.

I don't know what to expect in this game because we haven't played a real game yet and your team does present some match up problems (but so did last year).

[kchoya]

From the Vandy board:

"The key to the game for Vandy is Neltner. Ross will probably be matched up on Green, who is a load. He may also get one of the two freshmen. Hibbert is big, but that's about it. "

He's big but that's it? I guess their scouting consists of looking at the cover of SI.

vanderbilt.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1953&tid=83148091&mid=83148091&sid=1087&style=2

Also:

"Yeah, surprising to me, the DC papers haven't reported an injury. Maybe he's taking slower to the game than expected. If so, that's a positive for VU right there, cause I'm convinced that kid would give VU fits more so than Green or Hibbert. "

Really? Does he know something we don't?

[godores2005]

I'm pretty sure the game last year was a pretty good scouting opportunity. Anyway, what does one poster's opinion have to do with the coaching staff's scouting?

[TBird41]

cohoya said:

Vandy Rivals.com staff predictions

Apparently they have John Thompson Jr's sons mixed up.

Also, I'm not sure what they mean by this:

"Cook ran the ultra-complex high post offense that Stallings first made famous at Vandy"

Apparently, we run the Vanderbilt offense. I wonder how JT3 learned it?

[TrueHoyaBlue]

They also make a number of references to the Hoyas' squadron of brand new guards, and in particular, to the fact that we, like the 'dores, are breaking in a new point guard this season.

Huh?

[KHoyaNYC]

Yeah, there's some bizarre stuff over on their fansite. Most seem to understand Jeff Green has got game, but Hibbert is getting short-changed big time.

I know many posters are concerned about this game. I am not. Vandy has the long ball and some nice athleticism, but Georgetown is very good about not letting other teams dictate tempo or playing style. We won't let them run and gun. I like GU 62-50.

[kchoya]

godores2005 said:

I'm pretty sure the game last year was a pretty good scouting opportunity. Anyway, what does one poster's opinion have to do with the coaching staff's scouting?

I wasn't talking about the coaching staff, so maybe "scouting" wasn't the best choice of words. But still, to say a Wooden award candidate is "big, but that's about it" is pretty funny.

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

I also get the feeling we will play to the level of our competition. A minus this past weekend, but a plus in most games. Their coaches will know what's up. This is just fans with misplaced understanding of an opponents strengths/weaknesses. If Egerson does step up per the Post article today, we are solid tonight.

[GIGAFAN99]

kchoya said:

godores2005 said:

I'm pretty sure the game last year was a pretty good scouting opportunity. Anyway, what does one poster's opinion have to do with the coaching staff's scouting?

I wasn't talking about the coaching staff, so maybe "scouting" wasn't the best choice of words. But still, to say a Wooden award candidate is "big, but that's about it" is pretty funny.

It's also still better than "big but not really even that" which we'd use to describe the one man British invasion that is 6'9, 250lb Alan Metcalfe.

[godores2005]

Most of that analysis was based on the fact that Ted Skuchas shut Hibbert down last year, and if you saw Skooch play at all last year, you would know that he is not an SEC caliber level player. He was absolutely demolished by Noah, Horford, Davis, Thomas, Davidson, etc. in the SEC last year but outplayed Hibbert in their matchup. Now Hibberty may have gotten better, but I'm sure that is what their analysis is based on.

It's almost like people on your board predicting that VU will only score 50 points in their own house playing a more uptempo game. In my 5 years following VU, they never scored under 50 once (not even against the great UK teams who played hellacious defense).

I also think one factor you all are underestimating is the effect that playing in Memorial Gymnasium (NOT Memorial Colliseum- that is is Lexington, KY). SEC teams still struggle there and they play there once a year.