Laura's Prominent Play

(Junior Reggie Cameron playing a Career Game at the Garden)

Third Time’s a Charm?  After losing their first two games of the season by a total of 6 points, 2 in double OT to mid-major Radford and 4 to Maryland, the Hoyas finally broke through against the Wisconsin Badgers, a well-coached perennial contender in March under Coach Bo Ryan.  The Georgetown men’s basketball team rolled into Madison Square Garden Friday for the 2K Classic smarting from its first 0-2 start since 1998-99.  With something to prove, the Hoyas came away with an impressive 71-61 win, earning a ticket on Sunday against defending national champion the Duke Blue Devils.  Duke won the second game of the evening, overpowering a talented Shaka-less VCU squad behind sophomore reserve guard Grayson Allen’s 30 point career performance.

While the slow start to the season was not what the Hoyas had in mind, they now have an opportunity to get to .500 in this early season against Duke in the World’s Most Famous Arena.  If a team can’t get up for this, they can get up for nothing.  No doubt MSG will be packed with alumni from both schools, many of whom flock to New York City after receiving their well earned degrees.  It’s an early season treat for the Hoyas and if they continue to play–and shoot–as they did on Friday against the Badgers, a win is very much in the realm of the possible despite Duke’s #5 rank and Georgetown’s ranking off the grid.

Georgetown-Wisconsin: Despite a strong performance from Wisconsin’s Nigel Hayes, the Hoyas tamed the Badgers with suffocating D and timely shooting, especially from junior Reggie Cameron in what will be remembered as his Breakout Game, and sophomore Isaac Copeland, who continues to show his tremendous versatility and NBA potential.

The Hoyas held the Badgers to 30% shooting in the first half, and under 33% for the game. The Hoyas entered the half with a 27-22 lead, thanks in large part to Cameron, who hit 5-of-6 field goal attempts, including 4-of-4 from three-point land, and a career high with 14 points.  In the second half the Badgers got to within 2, 36-34 with 14:28 to go, but the Hoyas bounced  back and eventually led 52-40 on a three from Copeland. Wisconsin fought back to 58-50 after free throws from Ethan Happ with less than 6 minutes to play.  The  Hoyas scored six consecutive points on layups from sophomore guard L.J. Peak and Copeland and free throws from freshman C Jessie Govan to take their biggest lead, 64-50, with under 5 minutes to go. Georgetown connected on 9-of-10 free throws in the final 4:50 — including six in a row from Smith-Rivera — to seal its first victory of the season.  The bright spot for the Badgers was junior forward Nigel Hayes with 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting–without him, this would not have been a contest.

Overall Georgetown hit 42.9 percent of its field goals (21-of-49), 50 percent of its three-point field goals (9-of-18) and 83.3 percent of its free throws (20-of-24). Outrebounded 40-36, the Hoyas handed out 15 assists and committed 15 turnovers.

Even with senior leader DSR having an “off” game, missing 7 of 9 field goals and experiencing foul trouble in the second half for a second straight game, he finished with 13 points on 7 for 10 free throws.  The Hoyas had 4 players in double figures and 31 bench points, a good sign after 3 points from the bench (Govan) at Maryland. Copeland, Cameron, DSR and Govan scored in double figures and collectively, Georgetown shot 9-of-16 from 3.

LJ Peak continues his fine guard play, and the “Princeton Offense”, a phrase that turns the stomach of many a Hoya Fan, continues to become less relevant as the 30-second shot clock will prevent old Ivy league slow ball games from surviving.  As I stated before, “The farther this team strays from that nauseatingly mischaracterized ‘Princeton Offense’, the greater this team will be.”

Sophomore Paul White, suffering from a hip injury, did not return against Wisconsin and true point guard Tre Campbell fell ill during the Maryland game, but my prediction of a 72-67 Hoya victory over Wisconsin was not far off.

Prominent Players of the Game:  Reggie Cameron and Isaac Copeland  Cameron owned the first half, and Copeland the second.  Cameron, currently a reserve forward who arrived at the Hilltop with high expectations, scored all of his 14 points in the first half and made 4 of 5 three-pointers.  Copeland led Georgetown with 15 points, all in the second half, on 5-for-9 shooting with eight rebounds.  Freshman center Govan added 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.   Copeland and Govan are among nine freshmen and sophomores on the Hoya squad.

Georgetown-Duke Rivalry:  Hoya fans may remember not long ago when Georgetown took down a #1 17-0 Duke JJ Redick-Led team in January 2006 at Verizon Center when the Hoyas were unheralded.  This Duke team doesn’t measure with that team, and this Hoya team may be a bit stronger than that special Hoya team.  Since then, the schools have maintained an on & off rivalry that is quite even.  While No. 3-ranked Duke defeated No. 13 Georgetown 76-67 on January 17, 2009, in Durham to improve to 16-1 on the season, the next season Georgetown returned the favor in DC.  NB:  This is the first meeting between the teams since then-No. 8 Georgetown blew put 7th-ranked Duke 89-77 on Jan. 30, 2010.  Hoya fans would be pleased to see the next game played in the post-season.

Why The Hoyas Will Beat Duke:

1. Pressure Off:  Now with the first W on the board, the Hoyas should be playing with Upset in mind and Confidence after playing consecutive  strong games against two well-coached Big Ten teams.  The Hoyas are playing at the Garden, their home away from home, and JTIII should be primed to notch yet another victory over Duke.
2. Versatility:  Even three games into the season, a pattern is starting to emerge.  This is not a Hoya team of even a few years ago without depth, but rather one where one of 8 or 9 players may emerge as the star on a given day. On Tuesday night at Maryland, freshman forward Marcus Derrickson scored 13 points and shot 3-of-5 from 3, while adding six rebounds. Yet he was scoreless Friday night. Senior center Bradley Hayes cored 16 on 8-of-13 shooting against the Terps; on Friday night, he scored just just four points on six shots.  On Friday, other Hoyas showed up Big, such as Cameron, who scored only six points total in Big East play last season.  While DSR and Peak didn’t shoot well from the field, they did other important things for their team, including 12 of 16 free throws between them. With all of this talent, and Kaleb Johnson, Paul White and Tre Campbell, JTIII has a deep roster of talent that can step up every game.  Trey Mourning and Riyan Williams are also available to come off the bench to contribute for the Hoyas.
3. D Rediscovered:  Overall, Georgetown rediscovered its defensive intensity by limiting the national runners-up to 32 percent shooting in advancing to the Sunday’s final.  The Hoyas maintain that defensive intensity to stop Duke, Allen, Thornton and Jefferson, among others.
4. Drive Early and Often and Get to the Line.  Get to the line more than Duke and make free throws and the Hoyas will win this game.

Prediction:  Hoyas contain Allen to under 2o points and win a squeaker, 75-74, against the defending national champion Duke Blue Devils.

(2006 Upset at Verizon Center over #1, 17-0 Duke Blue Devils)

Has Georgetown officially transitioned to the Big Ten Conference?  It might seem that way as this afternoon the Hoyas travel to its home away from home, Madison Square Garden, to take on the Wisconsin Badgers, 2015’s runner up to Duke in the NCAA national championship.  The Badgers under Coach Bo Ryan (is this his last season) lost key pieces from last season’s team, including highly decorated center Frank Kaminsky, who has taken his game to the NBA.  However, many strong pieces remain.

The Hoyas lost 75-71 to (now) Big Ten member University of Maryland on Tuesday night, and hope to build upon its strong play in that game as it still seeking its first victory of the season.

While the Badgers also lost its home opener to the Western Illinois Lethernecks, they have since beaten Siena and North Dakota.  The Hoyas have yet to taste victory this season but tonight would be a perfect appetizer before the finals of the 2K Classic, against the winner of Duke and VCU.  What blue and gray blooded Hoya fan wouldn’t relish a shot at national champion Duke on Sunday?  First, Georgetown must defeat the Badgers.

Wisconsin averaging 79 points per game so far this season, led by junior point guard Bronson Koenig, who averages 19 points per game. Nigel Hayes has scored 14 ppg and  Vitto Brown, 13ppg,  Redshirt freshman Ethan Happ scored 17 points against North Dakota, and averages 9.7 per game.  So no Frank Kaminsky, but Wisconsin has a few scorers, which means the Hoyas defense will have to be at least as strong as it was in College Park.

Keys to the Game:

1.  Bradley Hayes Become the Hoyas’ Kaminsky:  Hayes must continue to dominate on offense and step up his defense.  I am looking for a greater presence on D as Hayes continues to score and dominate the boards.  Hayes is averaging a double-double of 17.5 points and 10 rebounds through Georgetown’s first two games, which is rather remarkable since he played limited minutes throughout his junior season.
2. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera needs to step up his game and become the senior leader and scorer the team needs.  He is averaging 14.5 per game, and he should have assistance in the offensive column by Isaac Copeland (12 ppg) and assists (DSR and Copeland combine for 8.5 assists per game).
3. Freshmen Break Out Game:  Whether this is the Marcus Derrickson Break Out Game or one where the 3 freshmen make their presence known, a Georgetown victory must include a strong performance from Derrickson or the Frosh Triumverate of Derrickson-Govan-Johnson.
4. LJ Peak-ness.  I see LJ picking up his game in the early season.  Let him run, let him fly, let him play.  The farther this team strays from that nauseatingly mischaracterized “Princeton Offense”, the greater this team will be.
5. Paul White Returns?  If White is back and well, then the Hoyas chances of “upsetting” the Badgers increases.

While the Badgers are slight favorites (2.5 point spread), I think it’s even as the Hoyas are essentially playing on what should feel like a home court.

Prediction:  Hoyas 72, Badgers 67

Let’s meet Duke on Sunday!

First, for the good news:  the New York Mets have a bright future, Exhibit A:

Last night’s starter, rookie Steven Matz pitched a strong 5 innings and left the game in fine condition for relievers to finish it.  Matz is a reason to believe in the future.

Last night, 22 year-old rookie Michael Conforto, a late addition to this 2015 World Series team, had his big league breakout game and hit two home runs, one a upper deck blast to Pepsi Porch. 

Now, for the sobering news:  The Mets play tonight with their backs to the wall after losing control of Game 4 with a combination of mental lapses, untimely walks (2 by Tyler Clippard) and errors (Daniel Murphy’s pivotal error and Yoenis Cespedes sleeping on the basepath).  The Mets bats went silent again after blasting off in Game 3, and that was the essential story of Game 3.

At this time there is no reason or purpose to assess blame, but rather, the team has to go out on the field tonight and produce.

Then there is the Matchup:  the Game 1 starters return, Edinson Volquez for the Royals and Matt Harvey for the Mets.  Volquez has since Game 1 returned to the Dominican Republic for his father’s funeral, which for any human being has a lasting effect much less a starter in what could be the deciding contest of the World Series.  Then there is Harvey, the Dark Knight, who had his troubles in Game 1, a game that the Mets were leading going into the 9th.  Harvey has well exceeded the inning limits (180) that became a great topic of controversy at the end of the season into the playoffs, and while all such talk is off the table for now, there is concern about Harvey’s ability to deliver yet again in the post-season.

Less than a half hour before game time, this blogger is ready to sign off.  As a lifelong Mets fan (no secret), I hope with all my heart that they take this Series back to Kansas City.  First, there is a reason of pride:  who wants the Royals celebrating at CitiField?  (Only the Royals and their fans, of course).  Second, where is that team that took charge in late July through late September and said “Take note, the Mets are back!”  If that team digs deep and returns, there is a chance of the Mets forcing a Game 6.

How the Mets Win:

1.  No errors tonight–can’t afford a single mishap.
2. Harvey pitches very well for at least 5 innings, at best 6.
3. Collins goes to Niese, Reed or even Robles, not Clippard.
4. At least 5-6 bats are fully alive and get multiple hits, from Granderson to Flores, with one or two long balls.
5. Familia comes in to finish for 3 outs.

That is the Formula.  Short of that, the Mets and their fans will wait until next year.

One good sign:  Straw is throwing the First Pitch!

The Mets are right back in it.  The storylines are endless:  Captain David Wright delivering in  the clutch and putting an end to all questions about where he belongs.  Curtis Grandson continuing to be the most consistent player on the team.  Big bats and production from Wright and Grandy with a ton of heart.  Daniel Murphy hitless, no problem.  Everyone else on the Mets had at least one hit and were productive.  Juan Uribe, a player who would be starting on many teams,  returns from injury to pinch hit and delivers.  On a night when the last Mets catcher to play in a World Series–of course, Mike Piazza (2000)–threw out the first pitch and when New York and legend Billy Joel kicked off the festivities with the National Anthem and later sang his signature song, Piano Man, with the New York crowd, all leading to a 9-3 pummeling of the Royals, can you say “Mets Magic” “Amazins” and indeed, we Believe!

However, the one thread of the night that may have the longest lasting impact, especially if the Mets ultimately prevail in this World Series, is the first pitch of the game, which in baseball lore may someday become known only as “The Pitch”.    (Escobar finding himself on his behind early in the game.)

There has been more print, TV and radio time used to discuss this one Pitch in the past 24 hours than the remainder of the game.  However you see it, excessive and aggressive to a brilliant strategic move, it is undeniable that the Mets last night got what they wanted and needed, desperately, a win.  I have to give huge props to Noah Syndergaard for approaching the game the way he did and even more importantly, adjusting his pitches as he did when he learned what his mates Matt Harvey and Jacob legroom learned before him:  the Royals can hit high velocity fastballs that are over the plate.

Just when I decide who this team’s true Ace is, my thinking evolves.  Of course, Harvey was on that top rung for a while and in the NLCS, legroom, but now, after that performance last night, and his multipurpose role in the prior two series, there can be a very strong argument that Thor is moving up that rung.  And who knows, after tonight, it could be the rookie from Queens, Steven Matz!

Tonight’s Matchup:

After last night what can we expect from homegrown Long Islander Steven Matz tonight as he makes his World Series debut for the team he grew up rooting for?  Left-handed Matz, with his large contingent of fans (perhaps more than all Royals fans in attendance) has the chance to do something at least as important as last night’s win:  he will try to even the Series at two games apiece.

This will be Matz’s third-postseason start for the Mets in the playoffs, who made just six regular-season starts due to injury.  While he may be no Syndergaard, he does have his weapons and the team has every confidence in him. Matz started Game 4 of the NLDS on Oct. 13th at home against the Dodgers even though he had not pitched at this level since Sept. 24 due to his back injury. He also pitched Game 4 of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs and has a 3.72 ERA in his two outings.  Not bad for a rookie, and who knows what he can deliver at home in the World Series before his family, friends and fans?

Matz will face Royals starter Chris Young, once a Princeton college basketball player who stands at 6’10”.  In his career against the Mets (including the postseason), Young has started four games with a 1-1 record and 5.24 E.R.A.  This year because of his performance in relief in Game 1 where he shut down the Mets bats in three shutout innings, he is 1-0 with an 1.00 ERA.  The good news for the Mets is that they have already faced Young and know what to expect.  Also, the Mets know Young well, as he played for the organization from 2011-12.  He is also pitching on three days’ rest. Whether they will break him down early as they did Ventura is another story, but that should be the goal.

Why The Mets Will Take Game 4: It’s a 1-2 proposition,

1.  Matz:  Steven Matz is ready for his Star Turn on the Big Stage.  He has already tasted the post-season in the NLDS and NLCS and fared well under the circumstances.  Whether he lasts 5 to 7 innings, the Mets’ pen will be ready.  Ideally he would get to 7 but I won’t count on that unless he manages to stay out of trouble.  He will need the help of the Mets
2. Bats:  Last night the Mets brought out the Offense of late July-late September and that is what they will need to even the score with the Royals.  Whether it’s Grandy and Wright or Murphy and D’Arnaud, contribution from all bats will be essential because the Royals bats are not going AWOL.
3. Fans:  New York is a special place and this team is especially fired up by the crowd.  They want to leave it all of the field for them and expect to see a repeat performance tonight.

Prediction:  Mets 7, Royals 4