Talk about the luck of the draw. We're going to play one of the best defensive teams in the country, whose lineup includes this year's #1 Freshman
Mar 17, 2002: (12) Georgetown (17-13, 8-8) vs (5) #9 Towson (28-4, 17-1)Scouting Report- Primary defense: --
- Offense focus: --
- Key players:
- Fr SF Andre Hart (16.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.7 bpg, #1 class rank)
- Sr SG Ben Knox (15.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
- So C Tyler Bekele (7.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 53% FG)
- Strengths:
- Defense: 56.6 opp ppg (#1 Big East, #6 Nat'l), 38.5 opp FG% (#2 Big East, #11 Nat'l), 17.7 opp topg (#2 Big East, #10 Nat'l), 8.4 spg (#2 Big East, #9 Nat'l), 3.4 bpg (#2 Big East)
- Weaknesses:
- Over reliance on Hart: Hart shoots 20.6 FGApg, 13.9 3PA pg
- FG shooting: 37.7 FG% (Last Nat'l), 22.0% Big East (Last Nat'l); primary reason is because Hart only shoots 27% FG, and 13% 3PT
- How they got here:
- Finished 8th Big East; Lost Conference Tournament Quarter-Final
- (Play-In) Def Weber St, 76-67 (Knox 22 pts, 5 stls)
Strategies- Force them to shoot low percentage shots, esp Hart. We have to keep an eye on SG Ben Knox; he could be a bigger factor in this game, than super freshman SF Andre Hart
Start of 1st halfWe're crashing the offensive glass, and we scored on 2 off rebs puts back already. SG Haven Wilkerson, and it doesn't look good.
Up 4-0, 17:54. GEORG's SF Andre Hart is 0-4 3PT.
Up 10-2, 13:40. GEORG clamped down on defense, and leveled the score before PF Dan Morton answering back with a FG to regain our lead.
Up 14-12, 8:30. GEORG momentarily took a 1-pt lead. We answered back with a 6-0 run, before GEORG connected on their 4th 3pt shot of the game.
Up 20-18, 3:29.
GEORG's SG Ben Knox (7 pts) tied the game. PF Bevon Green (6 pts) scores a basket on our end. GEORG's SG Andre Hart (3-16 FG, 8 pts) with another miss. On our next possession, SG Cain Ward (2-6 FG, 4 pts) scoring just 2nd FG of the game.
Up 24-20, 2:37. GEORG's Hart continues to brick his shots. On our end, C Alex DeMond has been a work horse in this game, as he scores another inside basket; DeMond already with a double-double 10 pts, 10 rebs. GEORG got themselves into penalty, and PF Bevon Green added 2 more FTs.
Up 28-20, 1:05. PG Anthony Martin called for his 3rd foul of the game, and GEORG converted both FTs, and that's the last of the scoring in the 1st half.
Halftime, Up 28-22.
Key stats / Notes (Halftime)- FG shooting: GEORG 25%, TOW 38%; GEORG's SF Andre Hart 3-19 FG (2-14 3PT)
- Pts in the paint: GEORG 2, TOW 18
- Rebounds: GEORG 10, TOW 23
- We're doing the right things in the 1st half. I'm worried though on finding more scorers, as SG Haven Wilkerson won't be coming back to this game; the extent of his injury is unknown at this point
Start of 2nd halfWe opened up the 2nd half with 5 turn overs (total of 14 in the game) in the 1st 4 mins, which allowed GEORG to come close.
Up 32-31, 15:10. GEORG getting the lead on 2 FTs. A series of GEORG turn overs (10 for the game), and we answered back with a 6-0 run, getting 4 pts from PF Dan Morton (6 pts).
Up 38-33, 12:38.
After almost 4 scoreless mins, GEORG getting a 3 from SF Andre Hart (13 pts), to pull GEORG to within 2. Another turn over by SG Cain Ward, who is having a sub par game today (3-12 FG, 5 turn overs). Hart missed a 3 that could have given them the lead. We turn the ball over again. GEORG's Ben Knox hitting a 3. I had to burn an early timeout.
Down 38-39, 9:35.
We are literally throwing away a great chance to win this game, and I let the team know of my disappointment during the huddle. When play resumed, out shot got blocked. GEORG's SG Ben Knox missing consecutive FGs. C Herbert Desmond got fouled while shooting. Desmond connects on 2 FTs; those are Desmond's 1st 2 pts of the game. Another miss by GEORG's Andre Hart (5-27 FG). On the next play, we go to C Herbert Desmond again. Desmond with a strong move to the basket, and he scores! 4 straight pts for Desmond.
Up 42-39, 7:56.
GEORG scores on a medium-range jumper. We miss a 3. GEORG's finally hitting a shot, and GEORG regains the lead. SG Cain Ward launches a 3, and
gets his first 3pt shot of the game. We go up by 2. GEORG's SG Ben Knox answers back with a 3pt shot of his own, and GEORG goes up by 1.
Down 45-46, 6:26.
After an exchange of misses and turn overs, PG Nick Granger drains a 3pt shot; that is Granger's 1st shot of the game. We go up by 2, in this see-saw battle. GEORG able to answer back with a FG. Tied game. GEORG gets another shot block (their 5th of the game), and we got called for a shooting foul on the other end. GEORG splits their FTs, and they go up by 1. PF Dan Morton missed, but C Alex DeMond to the rescue once again grabbing another off rebound and scores on the put back; monster game for DeMond (14 pts, 15 rebs). And we go up by 1 once again.
Up 50-49, 3:28.
TOW: PF Bevon Green goes inside. Gives the pass to C Alex DeMond. DeMond shoots, but he missed the shot. GEORG gets the rebound
GEORG: Their C scores a jumper from the right elbow.
Down 50-51, 2:51.
TOW: C Alex DeMond can't get a shot. Kickout to SG Cain Ward. Ward shoots and missed once again. Ward is 4-14 FG today.
GEORG: SF Andre Hart with a big 3. Hart has converted only 3-20 3PT prior to that shot. Timeout.
Down 50-54, 2:12.
TOW: Still a long way to go. SG Cain Ward gets the pass. Ward gets closer. Pull up jumper is good! Ward with 11 pts.
Down 52-54, 2:01.
GEORG: We go m2m defense, double on Hart. Their PF forced to take a shot. Missed. But they get the off rebound. Their PG forces a shot. Missed. Finally we secure the def rebound. Timeout.
Down 52-54, 1:12.
TOW: SF Aaron Hale had his shot blocked. GEORG recovers
GEORG: We are forcing the ball out of the hands of their main scorers. But their PG saw an opening, drives and scores. Timeout.
Down 52-56, 0:48.
TOW: No need to shoot 3s, as long as we can get a 2-for-1. Important thing is that we score. And we throw the ball away. No choice but to give up fouls, and shoot 3s. Problem is we only have 3 team fouls.
Not gonna happen
Final Score: Georgetown - 59, Towson - 52Box Scores[INDENT]DeMond 14, 16, 0, 2 blks
Ward 11, 4, 3, 2 stls, 5 tos
Green 10, 4, 1, 4 tos
Morton 6, 5, 1
Desmond 4, 1, 1
Granger 3, 3, 2, fouled out
Hale 2, 5, 2
Martin 2, 4, 2, 4 tos, fouled out
Wilkerson 0, 0, 0
Toxey 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison[INDENT]FG: 34-34%
REB: +16
TO: +9
Pts in paint: +18
2nd chance: +9
Fast break: +4
[/INDENT]
Notes- Very hard loss to swallow, as we did everything we could to give ourselves a chance to win this game. A cruel draw, and an untimely injury to a key player, ends our season. Our 20 turn overs certainly hurt us
- As it turns out, SG Haven Wilkerson suffered a broken wrist which will take more than a month to heal. Doesn't matter now, as we can't do anything but to look forward to the next season.
- GEORG SF Andre Hart finished with 18 pts (including a clutch 3 in the end game), 4 rebs, 7-29 FG
