Post by Admin on Feb 18, 2007 8:03:07 GMT -5
HoyaSaxa.com Pre-Game Report
Wash Post - Camille Powell: Streaking Hoyas are wary of trap
GUHoyas.com Game Notes
Cincinnati Game Notes
Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Post
Wash Post - Camille Powell: Streaking Hoyas are wary of trap
The Hoyas say that they've learned their lesson from last season, when they were coming off of an emotional win over Syracuse and then promptly lost to last-place South Florida, a team that was riding a 17-game losing streak.
The memory of that loss "plays a major role," sophomore guard Jessie Sapp said. "Last year, we went in and we were like, they haven't won any games and we could just beat them. So this year, we just don't take anybody for granted."
"I think the team has matured," junior guard Jonathan Wallace said last week, before the Villanova game. "I think we're playing pretty well, but there's always room for improvement. We have to stay consistent; we can't be front-runners as Coach Thompson always says. It's very important -- teams are going to make runs and we're going to have down parts in games -- but we have to stay consistent in what we do."
Against Villanova on Saturday, the Hoyas twice had to dig themselves out of holes (an 11-point deficit in the first half, and an eight-point deficit in the second). Georgetown won a game that came down to the final possessions, something that it had not done this season.
"We haven't [been in that situation], but our guys are comfortable with what we're doing," Thompson said. "We were comfortable in that situation. With our guys, as the year's progressed, we've grown up. . . . We have poise."
That starts with the unflappable Thompson and extends to the players; junior forward Jeff Green has referred to the Hoyas as "a laid-back group of cats."
"We can't think we're going to blow every team out," said Green, who was named Big East player of the week. "We've got to keep our composure. I was asked in an interview last week about how do I keep my team from overreacting? I feel like that's just a team effort. We can't get overhyped or get down on ourselves if we make a mistake. We've got to keep playing."
The memory of that loss "plays a major role," sophomore guard Jessie Sapp said. "Last year, we went in and we were like, they haven't won any games and we could just beat them. So this year, we just don't take anybody for granted."
"I think the team has matured," junior guard Jonathan Wallace said last week, before the Villanova game. "I think we're playing pretty well, but there's always room for improvement. We have to stay consistent; we can't be front-runners as Coach Thompson always says. It's very important -- teams are going to make runs and we're going to have down parts in games -- but we have to stay consistent in what we do."
Against Villanova on Saturday, the Hoyas twice had to dig themselves out of holes (an 11-point deficit in the first half, and an eight-point deficit in the second). Georgetown won a game that came down to the final possessions, something that it had not done this season.
"We haven't [been in that situation], but our guys are comfortable with what we're doing," Thompson said. "We were comfortable in that situation. With our guys, as the year's progressed, we've grown up. . . . We have poise."
That starts with the unflappable Thompson and extends to the players; junior forward Jeff Green has referred to the Hoyas as "a laid-back group of cats."
"We can't think we're going to blow every team out," said Green, who was named Big East player of the week. "We've got to keep our composure. I was asked in an interview last week about how do I keep my team from overreacting? I feel like that's just a team effort. We can't get overhyped or get down on ourselves if we make a mistake. We've got to keep playing."
GUHoyas.com Game Notes
Cincinnati Game Notes
Cincinnati Enquirer
Cronin says they’re a legitimate Final Four candidate and points to 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert as the key to their success. Hibbert who leads the Big East Conference with a 70.1 field goal percentage, averages 13.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.
“He’s become so much more aggressive in pursuing the ball and getting himself involved offensively,” Cronin said. “I think that’s been the difference in their team. That’s taken them from a good team to a great team. I see teams that have 6-11 guys that can’t stop him, namely Louisville.
“He’s the best big man offensively that we’ve played, including (Ohio State’s) Greg Oden. But it’s the same problem for us. Anybody with size and talent that gets the ball near the basket against us turns and scores.”
“He’s become so much more aggressive in pursuing the ball and getting himself involved offensively,” Cronin said. “I think that’s been the difference in their team. That’s taken them from a good team to a great team. I see teams that have 6-11 guys that can’t stop him, namely Louisville.
“He’s the best big man offensively that we’ve played, including (Ohio State’s) Greg Oden. But it’s the same problem for us. Anybody with size and talent that gets the ball near the basket against us turns and scores.”
Cincinnati Post
What else can you do to stop Hibbert? Perhaps, Cronin said, a little trickery.
"Obviously, we're going to try to be a little more effective in stopping Roy Hibbert from scoring baskets two feet from the bucket," Cronin said. "We might have to stand one guy on top of another guy's shoulders. That might be a rules violation."
"Obviously, we're going to try to be a little more effective in stopping Roy Hibbert from scoring baskets two feet from the bucket," Cronin said. "We might have to stand one guy on top of another guy's shoulders. That might be a rules violation."
