rainbow@ihuxe.UUCP (Rob Buchner) (03/11/85)
> I was watching the Big EaSt final of Goergetown vs. st. Johns. >I couldnt believe the domination on the boards from Goergetown even with >Euwing on the bench. I was wondering if anybody can suggest the >OPTIMAL DEFENSE against Georgetown to have any shot at victory. What one needs is an OPTIMAL OFFENSE. ie if you don't miss a shot there are no rebounds to lose. Seriously though, I suspect most teams will slow the pace way down against Georgetown to shorten the game and lessen their advantage. Georgetown has been playing with a clock all season, so they may not be ready for that type of game. Otherwise, Georgetown is just going to roll. Robert
bch@mcnc.UUCP (Byron Howes) (03/18/85)
I don't blame Jeff Offut for talking up Georgia Tech. They've done
well and will probably do better. It's a shame that as a reward for
winning the ACC tournament they got the dubious honor of going into
what is clearly the toughest regional bracket. They'd be certain
final four otherwise.
From the looks of things, the tournament refs are calling very little,
particularly by ACC standards. Many of the games to date have been
outright wars at the pivot. The big physical teams have been able to
wear out the smaller opposition by putting lots of body on them.
Georgia Tech just doesn't have the kind of depth (6 or 7 productive
players as opposed to 8 or 9 for Georgetown) to win in that kind of
war of attrition.
Ewing is an imposing player -- arguably the most imposing player in
college basketball. He is not, however, the keystone of Georgetown's
game and to center your game around him will get you killed from the
wings and the backcourt. Why Georgetown is a great team is (if
nobody else has noticed) that they are incredibly balanced. Ewing
is a little like a Ferris Wheel at an amusement park. He ain't
the whole thing, just the thing you see first.
The teams that have defeated Georgetown have done it with a combination
of quick penetration and outside shooting on offense and multiple
defensive patterns. The more disorganized the game, the worse Georgetown
seems to do. Unfortunately Georgia Tech's patient down-tempo game
doesn't qualify. Not only will they let Georgetown set up, but provide
all positions plenty of time to rest with Dalton probably being more
effective than usual.
--
Byron C. Howes
...!{decvax,akgua}!mcnc!ecsvax!bchofut@gitpyr.UUCP (Jeff Offutt) (03/26/85)
> I don't blame Jeff Offut for talking up Georgia Tech. They've done > well and will probably do better. It's a shame that as a reward for Well you were right on several points (except my name, Offutt has two "t"s, please). Dalton was incredibly effective against us. Ewing, however, was made ineffective. I was pleasantly surprised to see how both Salley and Joseph handled Ewing. Joseph's body bounced well off of Ewing's (I think Joseph was playing for an NBA bid and knew it. At 28 years old, he's got pro potential but not much time to realize so he's questionable). Salley was particularly impressive, one time slamming over (around) 4 men (not Ewing). Unfortunately, our wing game did not work. Price had one of his worst games (2 for 14!!) and we were not able to capitalize on Georgetown's problems. Interesting to note that they slowed the game down, not GaTech. People keep talking about our depth, but you only need 5 people, and GaTech has 5 GREAT athletes that don't need much rest. I think Price was intimidated. And lost confidence. He'll be just that much hungrier next year. (Next year, the battle cry of the defeated.) One thing for sure, we gave G'town a helluva game. I know that when Ewing got his 4th foul, G'town's coach had that "I don't believe this, we're going to lose this game!" look on his face. It's just unfortunate that a team has a great year and a great tournament but has to end it on a losing note. But in a tourny, only one team ends a winner. -- Jeff Offutt School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 ...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!ofut