Georgetown (1-1) comes into the game with West Virginia (3-1) looking to correct what went wrong again Navy.
In the 78-71 loss to Navy, the Hoyas defense made mistake after the mistake that allowed the Mids to shoot 50% including making 6 out of their last 7 shots. It’s mistakes that need to be corrected but it wasn’t something head coach Patrick Ewing wanted to dwell on. “We watched film of all the mistakes that we made. Things that we need to do better if we expect to win. Once we did that yesterday, we moved on,” said Ewing.
West Virginia is coming off a tough 87-82 loss to Gonzaga. “We had every opportunity in the world to come out of here with a win, and we kind of gave it away,” said West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. Derek Culver led the Mountaineers in the close loss with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Keys For Georgetown
Rebounds
This could be on the list every game. The Hoyas best offense is getting second shots. Even in the loss to the Zags, West Virginia won the battle on the glass but they have given up double-digit offensive rebounds in their first four games. The Hoyas play a lot of four-out, one-in offense which means Qudus Wahab must use his size to get the Hoyas second shots. That probably won’t be incredibly effective on Sunday. Georgetown will need to send a second or, even a third guy at the glass to put pressure on the Mountaineers.
Can’t Be a Jump Shot Team
The Hoyas must get more creative with their offense and penetrate more. Navy coach Ed DeChellis even said they played Georgetown to take away the shooters and make them make twos. If the Hoyas stay patient, this could work in their favor. It sounds kinda 1980s but Georgetown could run an inside-out offense with a 2000s twist. Besides posting up Wahab, the Hoyas should look into posting up Jamorko Pickett more and they could even get away with it with Donald Carey.
In short, Georgetown can’t be a volume jump shot team. Exploiting mismatches is how the NBA plays and Ewing could do the same with a college twist.
Zone
I know. I know. Ewing hates zone as much as he hates 1990s Chicago Bulls-New York Knicks highlights but hear me out. This team is build to be a zone team. Around the corner from Capital One Arena is a school that is making the switch. George Washington is working out the kinks of converting a man-to-man team to a zone team and even though there’s been bumps in the road, it could be very effective by conference season.
The Hoyas man-to-man defense has had breakdown after to breakdown. Even if Ewing adopts the Lute Olson philosophy of changing defenses if a team scores on consecutive possessions, that would be an improvement over what’s happening now.
Prediction
West Virginia is tough and physical and they want to wear you down. Georgetown didn’t respond when Navy kept coming at them and a lot of that was mental. Georgetown doesn’t have to win this game but they have to show signs that they are more than just a team that was predicted to come in last in the conference.
Photo Credit: Georgetown Athletics
