Georgetown is at Temple tonight in a game that I hope turns into a street fight. The Hoyas have passed every test so far this season as their record stands at 8-0. Tonight will be different. Tonight will be the exact opposite of the Missouri game. It will be just as difficult, just a different kind of difficult. I can't wait to see how this group reacts to a a low scoring slug fest against a quality team with some decent size on the road.
My Advice: Press. Press. Press. Push. Push. Push. Defensively I love when the Hoyas apply pressure. I know they like to pick their spots but I'd like to see them pick more spots. Offensively they need to try and get good shots in transition. Temple is pretty stingy in the half court so any points you can get when they aren't set will be important.
Hedge: I will hedge a little bit about the press. Temple doesn't have a great offense so if they are getting good looks by virtue of beating the press, scrap it. JT3 can coach so I know he will adjust.
KenPom: I love the stuff available at KenPom. I can make 2 hours seems like 5 minutes on that site. Looking at the tempo-free stats, Temple will be the best defense the Hoyas have played so far. Conversely Georgetown will be by far the best offense that the Owls have faced. Nice little match-up there.
Keys: As always it will be very important to limit the Owls to just one shot per possession. It would be nice if Vaughn would stay out of foul trouble. Same goes with Henry. Offensively it's very simple. Take good shots. It doesn't matter if they are 3's or 2's. A good shot is a good shot, especially with this team of shooters.
The Numbers: Well we are about a 1/4 of the way through the season, depending on how many post season games you play, and we can finally make a little sense of some of the statistical numbers. The early season schedule has paid off so far as the Hoyas find themselves with the #1 RPI and #1 SOS.
Top Ten: The Hoyas moved into the Top Ten in both polls this week. It doesn't really matter but it does. I really like seeing them on the bottom scroll when the new poll comes out. I bet recruits like seeing that as well.
Flashback: Last year these two teams got together on opening night for ESPN's 24 hours of College Basketball and played one of the worst games of the season. Monroe hit a late shot to push the combined total just north of 90. The Hoyas won 46-45 in a most forgettable contest.
Moses: The Temple game is the last game until the Hoya Saxa Death Star is complete. Moses Ayegba was ruled ineligible for the first 9 games of the season by the NCAA. The NCAA ruled that his airline ticket was paid for by somebody outside of his immediate family.
I think it's fitting that Moses will be able to play his first game on a Sunday. They haven't really missed him so far but it will be nice to have his big body and 5 fouls available from now on.
Celebration Ale: Tonight's game will again be sponsored by Celebration Ale at Welcome to Rick's. We like to celebrate just how fun it is to watch this year's team, especially the guards. Austin Freeman is ridiculous, Chris Wright is letting the game come to him, and Jason Clark is a freak.
Don't forget to Hollar for Hollis.
Peace brah
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