November 30, 2017 - Check out observations from Georgetown’s 76-55 victory over Maine.

Twenty Two impacted

Maine deployed a ¾ court 2-2-1 press after makes and dead ball inbounds situations. It wasn’t the first time this year Bob Walsh’s team has done so, but certainly was the most vigorous.

“We haven’t done it for a full game as much this year” allowed Walsh afterward. Its impact was “We made them uncomfortable at times with our ¾ court stuff”, as “they’ve been so good in transition, one of the best teams in transition in the country this year. We wanted to take them out of that, and we did a little bit”.

Essentially he “thought we could slow them down with our ‘22’. I was comfortable with the pace of the game to be honest”.

Head Hoya Pat Ewing was honest in his team’s press offense assessment.

“No. They’re a team that generally doesn’t trap” answered G’Town’s first year head coach, when asked if the constant pressure supplied by Maine. “But we didn’t do a good job tonight of handling it. Going forward we have to do a better job. This is something that we worked on. It’s part of our routine. We just didn’t do a good job of handling it”.

The Hoyas committed 12 giveaways; not a huge number and most not necessarily attributed to the 2-2-1, but as Walsh acknowledged it impacted Georgetown’s comfort level, forcing decisions to be made under duress.

The team’s 46.3% shooting mark may not scream ‘offensive difficulty’, yet the Hoyas at times did struggle. Just ask Kaleb Johnson, a junior wing that answered “I think we could have handled it a little better. That’s something we are definitely going to work on”, when questioned about his team’s work against that 2-2-1.

Recognition is key

It’s apparent junior center Jessie Govan will be game planned against in 2017-18. The Hoyas leading scorer and rebounder at 18.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game respectively, the 6’10 pivot is a guy who can score from the inside and perimeter, the latter at this time in trailer or spot up situations.

When he is around the cup, one thing is obvious; teams are sending his defender help, sometimes consisting of multiple guys. Yes, Govan has been triple teamed. Facing several defenders happened for Govan against Maine, who seemed to double/triple him on the catch.

How did he handle such Black Bear pressure? With mixed results.

At times Govan struggled with it, to his coaches chagrin: “He has to pass it. That’s part of being a good player. When you get double teamed, you have to do a good job of finding the open people. That’s one of the things I’m stressing to him. A couple of times he took tough shots when he was doubled and tripled teamed, and he has to do a good job of finding the open men”.

Then again, as has occurred all season long Govan found, or initiated the action that led to open shots for teammates. Johnson, the games’ leading scorer at 18 points, applauded both Govan and junior forward Marcus Derrickson’s presence, saying of his 13.8 ppg scoring mark this season “I think that’s because Marcus, Jessie are so good. Like somebody said earlier, a lot of times they double jessie, and I’m wide open for the kick out, or pump fake drive”.

So how can Govan become more proficient in identifying and countering multiple players guarding him? Would watching tape help?

“Yes, it definitely does” he agreed. “Not only for me but the whole team, so they know what spots to go to when I get doubled, depending on who doubles me, where to go”.

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