Georgetown Game

I think God's Gift should start again or at least get some serious minutes  leaning on Smith and Lubbock   using up some minutes to keep our guys out of early foul trouble.  I think it was a smart move by Coach in the Xavier game, was helpful, and had zero to do w us losing.  Geeorgetown only scored 61 against DePaul ....wonder what they did defensively.

I think God's Gift should start again or at least get some serious minutes  leaning on Smith and Lubbock   using up some minutes to keep our guys out of early foul trouble.  I think it was a smart move by Coach in the Xavier game, was helpful, and had zero to do w us losing.

Agree, Lavin is always a step ahead. I'd start Gift as well, alongside Lipscomb, Balamou, Hooper and Bourgault. That gives us two zone busters and three guys who work really hard in practice, which should be enough to offset Georgetown's advantage in sizes, skill, strategy and system.

Gift will play. Lubbock killed obekpa last year. He did what ever he wanted . Obekpa looked disinterested

Quote from: hnk on January 02, 2014, 09:01:24 AM

I think God's Gift should start again or at least get some serious minutes  leaning on Smith and Lubbock   using up some minutes to keep our guys out of early foul trouble.  I think it was a smart move by Coach in the Xavier game, was helpful, and had zero to do w us losing.

Agree, Lavin is always a step ahead. I'd start Gift as well, alongside Lipscomb, Balamou, Hooper and Bourgault. That gives us two zone busters and three guys who work really hard in practice, which should be enough to offset Georgetown's advantage in sizes, skill, strategy and system.

Love it Foad!  Appreciate your deft sarcasm. Great strategy to have 6'6 Gift guard two 6'10 guys with decent post moves.  Not to mention bringing nothing offensively to our O challenged team. This is hoops, not  sumo wrestling.

I think God's Gift should start again or at least get some serious minutes  leaning on Smith and Lubbock   using up some minutes to keep our guys out of early foul trouble.  I think it was a smart move by Coach in the Xavier game, was helpful, and had zero to do w us losing.  Geeorgetown only scored 61 against DePaul ....wonder what they did defensively.

There are no quality teams in this country that adjust their lineups game-to-game based on the other teams personnel.  GOOD teams are confident in what they do, what their identity is, and that they can enforce their will and style of play.  We have the most talented roster in this conference.  If we have our you-know-what together, we shouldn't have to adjust our lineups or style for ANYBODY in this league.

Going to be an interesting game. Georgetown completely sleep walked through the DePaul game. Georgetown was bothered by DePaul's half court pressure, but mostly because they just didn't seem interested in making the right play. The Other thing DePaul did well is they are a great rebounding team where as Georgetown is a mediocre one. Luckily St. John's is also a mediocre rebounding team, so we won't have that issue.

I expect the Hoyas to be much more focused against St. John's.

On the Other hand St. John's ought to be fired up and desperate for a win with Villanova on the horizon and a potential 0-3 start staring them in the face if they drop this game to Georgetown.

Quote from: hnk on January 02, 2014, 09:01:24 AM

I think God's Gift should start again or at least get some serious minutes  leaning on Smith and Lubbock   using up some minutes to keep our guys out of early foul trouble.  I think it was a smart move by Coach in the Xavier game, was helpful, and had zero to do w us losing.  Geeorgetown only scored 61 against DePaul ....wonder what they did defensively.

There are no quality teams in this country that adjust their lineups game-to-game based on the other teams personnel.  GOOD teams are confident in what they do, what their identity is, and that they can enforce their will and style of play.  We have the most talented roster in this conference.  If we have our you-know-what together, we shouldn't have to adjust our lineups or style for ANYBODY in this league.

Absolutely, and especially for Georgetown.  Running and pressing might be the best way to "defend" Joshua Smith.  I certainly don't think Gift can stop him on the block consistently.

Agree w the part about running and pressing

Smith is going to get his points against whoever we put out there Obekpa, Gift .. doesn't matter.    But he can't play a full game, is a weak defender in space, and doesn't rebound well.    Start a small lineup and make him guard Sampson or Sanchez.    Jakarr or Orlando being on the back line of the zone, or even playing him man to man, will do no worse than our "bigs" Obekpa and Gift.

If the plan is to try to shut him down with Obekpa or Gift playing him one on one, we'll end up needing to send double team help and then the Georgetown guards will have a field day.   And we'll get no production from Obekpa/Gift on the offensive end.  That combination (Gtown guards going off and us not scoring inside) worries me more much more than Josh Smith getting his 16pts.   
Let Sanchez or Sampson do the best they can on him, use the zone to deny entry passes, and on the other end make Smith guard one of our guys 15ft from the basket where they can both shoot or drive past him.

Smith is going to get his points against whoever we put out there Obekpa, Gift .. doesn't matter.    But he can't play a full game, is a weak defender in space, and doesn't rebound well.    Start a small lineup and make him guard Sampson or Sanchez.    Jakarr or Orlando being on the back line of the zone, or even playing him man to man, will do no worse than our "bigs" Obekpa and Gift.

If the plan is to try to shut him down with Obekpa or Gift playing him one on one, we'll end up needing to send double team help and then the Georgetown guards will have a field day.   And we'll get no production from Obekpa/Gift on the offensive end.  That combination (Gtown guards going off and us not scoring inside) worries me more much more than Josh Smith getting his 16pts.   
Let Sanchez or Sampson do the best they can on him, use the zone to deny entry passes, and on the other end make Smith guard one of our guys 15ft from the basket where they can both shoot or drive past him.

Smith played only 14 minutes against DePaul and had only two fouls. Some GT folks are wondering if  JT is getting sick of his lousy defense and commitment. This guy is his own worst enemy & it will be interesting to see what role he plays going forward.

make Smith guard one of our guys 15ft from the basket where they can both shoot or drive past him.

Or they play zone, which everyone should play against us anyway.

Forgot they have smith. Saturday will not be a fun day

Saturday's game will be the 100th meeting between Georgetown and St. John's.

St. John's lead's the all time series 53-46

Georgetown leads the series in the BE era 42-18

Anybody know the team's travel plans? I hope they left for DC this morning because who knows when they'd be able to leave with this weather

Anybody know the team's travel plans? I hope they left for DC this morning because who knows when they'd be able to leave with this weather

 Are you kidding?  Lavin is still trying to make up his mind whether to Bus, train , or fly?   

Anybody know the team's travel plans? I hope they left for DC this morning because who knows when they'd be able to leave with this weather

If you follow any of the SJU  social channels they were on campus this afternoon for practice and media session.

Quote from: goredmen on January 02, 2014, 10:19:05 PM

Anybody know the team's travel plans? I hope they left for DC this morning because who knows when they'd be able to leave with this weather

 Are you kidding?  Lavin is still trying to make up his mind whether to Bus, train , or fly?   

This was great

Quote from: goredmen on January 02, 2014, 10:19:05 PM

Anybody know the team's travel plans? I hope they left for DC this morning because who knows when they'd be able to leave with this weather

If you follow any of the SJU  social channels they were on campus this afternoon for practice and media session.

Ah yes that's right. This could be trouble

Quote from: goredmen on January 02, 2014, 10:19:05 PM

Anybody know the team's travel plans? I hope they left for DC this morning because who knows when they'd be able to leave with this weather

 Are you kidding?  Lavin is still trying to make up his mind whether to Bus, train , or fly?   

Hilarious Boo!

Just found out they are departing by bus and;

Phil driving (of course)

Lav changed everyone's seat ten times.

Karr would not pass the snacks.

Sheed missed the bus, but Dom leaped over it.

Max' shooting machine did not fit in baggage compartment.

D'Lo gave the driver a dirty look.

Lav threw Branch under the bus.

Obekpa blocked traffic.

StJohnsBasketball ‏@StJohnsBBall 8m
#BlizzardBus to Georgetown, here we go! #SJUBB #100thMeeting @bigeastconf @FOXSports1 @UnderArmour

@StJohnsBBall: #SJUBB PREGAME QUOTES: @SJUCoachLavin, @SirDom1, @philgreene31 and @maxthehooper preview Georgetown: http://t.co/NEuy2twavT

Lav on where the team is:

“Naturally we wish we were undefeated. With that said we are about where I thought we would be, which is a work in progress with a nice upside."