Georgetown - Northeastern 11/21/13 Game Discussion

[DanMcQ]

Northeastern Roster

[SSHoya]

Nov 15, 2013 9:19:33 GMT -5 DanMcQ said:

Northeastern Roster

I note that no one is listed as a center in its roster. What kind of offense does Northeastern run?

[skyhoya]

They are 0 & 2 playing cupcakes, it doesn't matter who their center is, as we have a lot of bigs to pound them. Break out game for one of them.

[aleutianhoya]

Certainly we ought to win, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. Northeastern is 0-2 but has lost two close games -- one to a team that won its regular season conference championship last year and had a top-100 RPI (Stony Brook), and another to a local rival that had a winning record last year (BU). Neither is a powerhouse, don't get me wrong, but neither is a terrible team. Sure, we do what we need to do and play even reasonably well and we win going away. But this is the sort of game, like Wright State, that is against a decent team that if things go wrong can give us a ball game. Perfect game for us to start off the tourney.

They are actually pretty big -- just not in the post. Their starting guards are 6'5" and 6'6" and they are 6'8", 6'8" and 6'7" up front. Certainly, we're much bigger overall, but outside of the 5 position, we aren't going to have a size advantage everywhere. Of course, I doubt they have very much depth in the size department.

[SSHoya]

Nov 15, 2013 10:09:39 GMT -5 aleutianhoya said:

Certainly we ought to win, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. Northeastern is 0-2 but has lost two close games -- one to a team that won its regular season conference championship last year and had a top-100 RPI (Stony Brook), and another to a local rival that had a winning record last year (BU). Neither is a powerhouse, don't get me wrong, but neither is a terrible team. Sure, we do what we need to do and play even reasonably well and we win going away. But this is the sort of game, like Wright State, that is against a decent team that if things go wrong can give us a ball game. Perfect game for us to start off the tourney.

Agree with aleutian on this one. Respect every opponent and take no on lightly.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

1) I dislike that we don't have a game this weekend and don't play again until Thursday. Too much time off.

2) NorthEastern, and Which ever team we face next of Kansas St or Charlotte are all bad teams that we should beat. It would be extremely disappointing to not reach the finals of this tournament. We really need to face Michigan or VCU in the final to get some RPI benefit from this tournament.

3) Looking at Kenpom They play mostly man defense, and almost all the people they play are juniors. Scott Eaterton is their go to guy. They don't really do anything well. They seem to be forward dominant and score most of their points form 2p% They don't shoot/hit a lot of threes, they do not get to the line or hit their free throws when they do.

[kghoya]

Ford is pretty good wing player. 15 and 33 can go off on any night. I've seen them do it against George Mason.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Unfortunately for many of us, this game is at 12:30 PM Eastern. The Friday game will be in the afternoon, as well but the exact time will depend on whether we win on Thursday night.

Personally, I would like to see the team come out at a fast pace, like we did against Wright State. I think getting into an offensive groove early on can help to build a quick lead and hopefully allow us to lead most of the game. I'm not sure if John Thompson III intentionally used that as a strategy against Wright State, but it seems to be what happened and it worked well.

Normally, I might be concerned about having so much time off, but given how much this team has to work on to improve, I think the time could be beneficial.

[Boz]

Nov 15, 2013 10:39:58 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Unfortunately for many of us, this game is at 12:30 PM Eastern. The Friday game will be in the afternoon, as well but the exact time will depend on whether we win on Thursday night.

Time to schedule a couple of "closed door meetings" for the end of next week.

I am assuming ESPN3 will be broadcasting all games in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off? If not, those meetings might have to change to "off-site lunches."

[lichoya68]

no gimmes HIT FOUL" shots and but NO GIMMES. it next would be most likely vcu then michigan can someone show the brackets probably wrong as usual go hoyas

[hoyasaxa2003]

Nov 15, 2013 12:40:30 GMT -5 Boz said:

Nov 15, 2013 10:39:58 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Unfortunately for many of us, this game is at 12:30 PM Eastern. The Friday game will be in the afternoon, as well but the exact time will depend on whether we win on Thursday night.

Time to schedule a couple of "closed door meetings" for the end of next week.

I am assuming ESPN3 will be broadcasting all games in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off? If not, those meetings might have to change to "off-site lunches."

As of last night, ESPN's schedule said the games were on ESPNU/Watch ESPN (ESPN3).

[Nevada Hoya]

I hope the baskets are aligned and at the right height in PR.

[prhoya]

Nov 15, 2013 20:12:06 GMT -5 Nevada Hoya said:

I hope the baskets are aligned and at the right height in PR.

You've got the wrong crowd!

[prhoya]

Nov 15, 2013 12:40:30 GMT -5 Boz said:

Time to schedule a couple of "closed door meetings" for the end of next week.

I am assuming ESPN3 will be broadcasting all games in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off? If not, those meetings might have to change to "off-site lunches."

You could try the "site inspection" variety.

[idhoya]

I'd like to see more Josh/Hops together along the front line. Northeastern would be a good game to work on this.

[calhoya]

Nov 16, 2013 3:30:09 GMT -5 idhoya said:

I'd like to see more Josh/Hops together along the front line. Northeastern would be a good game to work on this.

Agree. Also want to see Moses get into the offensive flow of the game. This team really needs two scoring threats on the inside. If that happens it really can open up things for DSR, Starks and Cameron on the outside as well as creating opportunities for players who like to slash to the basket like Jabril and even Bowen.

[FrazierFanatic]

Nov 16, 2013 8:11:56 GMT -5 calhoya said:

Nov 16, 2013 3:30:09 GMT -5 idhoya said:

I'd like to see more Josh/Hops together along the front line. Northeastern would be a good game to work on this.

Agree. Also want to see Moses get into the offensive flow of the game. This team really needs two scoring threats on the inside. If that happens it really can open up things for DSR, Starks and Cameron on the outside as well as creating opportunities for players who like to slash to the basket like Jabril and even Bowen.

I just don't see Moses ever being a scoring threat, he doesn't seem to have that skill set. If he can contribute 5 or 6 points on a couple of put backs and a dunk that would be plenty, if he can give us some boards and some solid D.

[johnnysnowplow]

Nov 16, 2013 3:30:09 GMT -5 idhoya said:

I'd like to see more Josh/Hops together along the front line. Northeastern would be a good game to work on this.

Yes please.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

Won their first game over Central Connecticut State at home.

Guard Demetrius Pollard went for 27 points on 8/11 from 3pt range. In his first two games he went for 3 and 0 points respectively on 1-2 and 0-2 shooting from 3. He shot 36% from 3 last year.

Team did commit 21 turnovers so hopefully we try pressing them a bit.

[OldHoyafan]

I know two games are not enough of a barometer to predict the rest of the season performance, but they do show that the Hoyas will need major improvements from key members on the team. I must say that I did not know much about Josh Smith until Hoyas played UCLA last year. It does not look like he has lost much weight from that game. He is a huge target but the "quick feet and soft hands" description of his game has not yet manifested itself. If he gets the ball within five feet of the basket there is no stopping him because he is able to put his big shoulders against the body of the defender and negate any jumping ability the defender may have to block his shot. The question is what can he do beyond five feet. Can he hit the jump shot consistently from the free throw line? Can he dribble just once from that free throw line and get to the basket with enough height to keep his shot from being blocked. JT3 staple switching defense will have to be scrapped when he is in the game. The comparisons to Roy are not valid at this point because Roy was very good at switching and hedging and then getting back to his man once he rolled to the basket. Unfortunately for Josh is that unlike Roy there is no Jeff Green and Pat Jr. to help defend and rebound. I don't see how the Hoyas play Josh and Nate at the same time unless they go exclusively to a tight zone. The length and speed of Otto and Greg would have allowed it but not this year with Cameron and Jabril. Markel will have to be more assertive throughout the game for these Hoyas to be effective. He will have to increase his drives to the basket like Jabril did in the first game and become a threat to go all the way to the basket. This will setup Josh for those less than five feet shots at the basket. DSR will have to be money from the 3pt line because his lack of foot speed on defense makes him a liability on defense. It's amazing how much you can now see the the range Otto and Greg had on defense last year. I actually thought DSR's foot speed had improved throughout the year but looking back, it was Otto's and Greg(until suspension) ability to coverup his lack of speed on defense that was the difference. Again no predictions but a tread water year until great frosh class of next year will will not hurt my feelings.