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Finally back home, Georgetown readies for visit from Creighton Finally back home, Georgetown readies for visit from Creighton
(about 1 hour later)
Several days before departing for his team’s most recent road game, Georgetown Coach John Thompson III was holding out the dim hope he and his players would be able to make it back to the District this past weekend despite the forecast for a blizzard of historic proportions. Several days before departing for his team’s most recent road game, Georgetown Coach John Thompson III was holding out the dim hope that he and his players would be able to make it back to the District this past weekend despite the forecast for a blizzard of historic proportions.
By the time the Hoyas had lost to Connecticut, 68-62, on Saturday afternoon at XL Center, the storm was in the process of dumping two feet of snow in the nation’s capital, forcing carriers to suspend flights at local airports. But by the time the Hoyas had lost to Connecticut, 68-62, on Saturday afternoon at XL Center, the storm was in the process of dumping two feet of snow in the nation’s capital, forcing carriers to suspend flights at local airports. Travel restrictions left the team stranded in Hartford for two days, but Thompson and his staff still managed to complete the scouting report for the next game against Creighton. Thanks to additional pre-storm planning, Georgetown also secured practice time at a nearby high school in Windsor, Conn.
Travel restrictions left the team stranded in Hartford for two days, but Thompson and his staff still managed to complete the scouting report for the next game against Creighton. Thanks to additional pre-storm planning, Georgetown also secured practice time at a nearby high school in Windsor, Conn. The Hoyas (12-8, 5-2 Big East) finally arrived back on campus late Monday afternoon to catch some rest in advance of their game Tuesday night at Verizon Center. In all, Georgetown has spent seven of 10 days on the road since its most recent home game Jan. 16.
The Hoyas (12-8, 5-2 Big East) finally arrived back on campus late Monday afternoon to catch some rest in advance of their game the following night at Verizon Center. In all, Georgetown has spent seven of 10 days on the road since its most recent home game Jan. 16. [Life after Havoc: VCU settles in under Will Wade]
“It hasn’t affected our preparation,” Thompson said via cellphone following practice Monday morning as the team was getting ready to head to the Hartford area’s Bradley International Airport for the flight back. “We were as a staff prepared to be stuck up here, so we brought all the tools we needed to do the scout, to get ready. “It hasn’t affected our preparation,” Thompson said in a telephone interview following practice Monday morning, as the team was preparing to leave for the Hartford area’s Bradley International Airport. “We were as a staff prepared to be stuck up here, so we brought all the tools we needed to do the [scouting], to get ready.
“Now sitting in the hotel in Hartford is a major inconvenience, but at the same time, it shouldn’t affect our preparation.” “Now, sitting in the hotel in Hartford is a major inconvenience, but at the same time, it shouldn’t affect our preparation.”
With limited distractions while waiting for air travel to resume, players were able to devote full attention to their rematch with Creighton. In the first meeting this season in Omaha, the Bluejays (14-6, 5-2) made 21 of 25 free throws in the second half to pull away for a 79-66 triumph. Georgetown attempted seven foul shots the entire game. With limited distractions while waiting for air travel to resume, players were able to devote full attention to their rematch with Creighton. In the first meeting this season, in Omaha, the Bluejays (14-6, 5-2) made 16 of 17 free throws in the second half to pull away for a 79-66 win. Georgetown, for its part, attempted seven foul shots the entire game.
The discrepancy was much the same for the Hoyas against Connecticut, which made 20 of 25 free throws in the second half. Georgetown made three trips to the free throw line in the second half while committing 27 fouls overall, more than double that of its former Big East rival. The discrepancy was much the same for the Hoyas against Connecticut, which made 20 of 25 free throws in the second half. Georgetown made just three trips to the free throw line itself in the second half while committing 27 fouls overall, more than double those of its former Big East rival.
The Hoyas typically have been mindful of getting to the foul line, ranking second in the Big East in free throw attempts. They’re also tied for first in the conference with sixth-ranked Villanova in free throw shooting percentage (.754). The Hoyas typically have been mindful of getting to the foul line, ranking second in the Big East in free throw attempts. They’re also first in the conference in free throw shooting percentage (.757), a hair ahead of sixth-ranked Villanova (.753)
“We need to make it a point to try to get to the line, but also we’re putting the other team at the line too much,” Thompson said. “And we have to limit that.”“We need to make it a point to try to get to the line, but also we’re putting the other team at the line too much,” Thompson said. “And we have to limit that.”
The Bluejays, meanwhile, have won four of five to move into a four-way tie for second place in the Big East with Georgetown, No. 7 Xavier and No. 10 Providence. Creighton is coming off a 72-64 win at home against then-No. 18 Butler behind junior guard Maurice Watson Jr.’s 20 points, 18 of which came during the second half. [This year’s five most important freshmen]
Creighton ended an 11-game losing streak to ranked opponents and matched its win total from all of last season. The Bluejays opened Big East competition in 2014-15 by going 0-8 and failed to gain a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Bluejays, meanwhile, have won four of five to move into a four-way tie for second place in the Big East with Georgetown, No. 7 Xavier and No. 10 Providence. Creighton is coming off a 72-64 win at home against then-No. 18 Butler behind junior guard Maurice Watson Jr.’s 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half.
Creighton, which was expected to arrive in the District early Monday evening, leads the Big East in scoring (83.5) and three-point field goal percentage (.385) and ranks second behind the Bulldogs in overall field goal percentage (.484). With that result, Creighton ended an 11-game losing streak against ranked opponents and matched its win total from all of last season. The Bluejays opened Big East play in 2014-15 by losing eight in a row, and they ultimately fell far short of a berth in the NCAA tournament.
The Hoyas are second in overall field goal percentage defense (.388) but seventh out of 10 teams in three-point field goal defense (.348). Creighton shot 8 for 19 (42 percent) from beyond the arc earlier this season against Georgetown. Creighton, which was expected to arrive in the District early on Monday evening, leads the Big East in scoring (83 points per game) and three-point field goal percentage (.378) and ranks second behind Butler in overall field goal percentage (.481).
The Hoyas are second in overall field goal percentage defense (.388) but seventh out of 10 teams in three-point field goal defense (.347). Creighton shot 8 for 19 (42 percent) from beyond the arc in the teams’ first meeting this season.
“I’d like to think what we experienced last year, there were enough guys that were either in uniform or in the locker room that were part of that 0-8 start and understand how important one possession can be,” Bluejays Coach Greg McDermott said. “I think there was certainly some learning and maturity that took place as a result of that experience, and it makes you a little bit better this time around.”“I’d like to think what we experienced last year, there were enough guys that were either in uniform or in the locker room that were part of that 0-8 start and understand how important one possession can be,” Bluejays Coach Greg McDermott said. “I think there was certainly some learning and maturity that took place as a result of that experience, and it makes you a little bit better this time around.”