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It's rare that a game in December has implications for a March tournament seeding, but Saturday's game with Indiana may fit the bill.
The Hoyas enter the game 7-3, but 0-3 against teams in the top 50 of the RPI. Its win over Florida is tempered by the Gators' faulty non-conference play, standing at 7-4 with an RPI of 115. Given that the Big East will not provide a significant boost versus top teams, Saturday's game carries a last opportunity to make a statement before conference play.
Indiana enters the game 10-2, and 2-2 versus the top 50. The Hoosiers have won three straight following a 20 point loss to Louisville, but the caliber of opponents (including Butler, Grand Canyon and New Orleans) will receive a decided step up in this game. Indiana is holding opponents to 39.2% from the field this season and 21.1% from three point range. The inside game, however, figures to tell the story.
Much will be made of Indiana's three point shooting (41.7%), and it is worth watching, but for either team to prevail, the inside game will be crucial. The Hoosiers will go with two inside with 6-7 Troy Williams, the current national player of the week for his efforts in the Crossroads Classic, and center Hanner Mosquera-Perea, who scored 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks in IU's most recent win versus New Orleans. Williams is effective at driving inside and the ability of Georgetown to force the game outside may be a key factor in controlling the ability of Indiana from getting easy baskets, a swell as opening lanes for guards James Blackmon and Yogi Farrell to set up for threes.
It goes without saying that Indiana is a good shooting team: the top eight scorers on the stat sheet all average 45 percent or better from the field, but this is overstated by the fact that 11 of its 12 games to date have been played at home or within the state. In its only game outside the state, 19 IU turnovers allowed Louisville to coast to a 20 point win at Madison Square Garden.
Georgetown has not demonstrated a consistent defensive effort against the three this season. In its last three games, opponents have averaged seven threes a game versus just over four threes a game earlier in the season. While the Hoyas have an advantage inside with height and with Josh Smith, foul trouble is a constant concern, as Smith's productivity wanes when he spends large sums of the first half sitting on the bench.
Some other keys to the game:
- DSR: Ready Or Not: D'Vauntes Smith Rivera has seen his scoring narrow over the last five games, with only one game of more than 20 points all season. If the Hoyas are to make a run Saturday, DSR needs a big game.
- Stay Close: The Hoyas' freshmen may have a tough time staying in place once IU's passing offense gets going. Open shots mean easy points for the Hoosiers.
- Zone Defense: Indiana could give Georgetown trouble in zone sets, especially without a strong effort inside.
Georgetown is well suited to contain indiana defensively but its offensive focus has to be up to the task, especially late. This may be the kind of game where the lineup does not go more than eight deep, and everyone must come ready to play.
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