What to follow: Radford at Hoyas

November 13, 2015 - Saturday marks the start of Georgetown's 2015-16 season, as Radford University comes into Verizon Center for a noon tip off. Tickets for this Verizon Center tilt can be purchased here. Seats start at $4 apiece for two tix!

TV viewers can check out the action on Fox Sports 2, while Rich Chvotkin provides radio coverage on 106.7 FM.

G'Town is ready to take the court.

"All the work we've put in, we're ready to come out here and show everyone what we're made of " said G'Town senior center Bradley Hayes yesterday, of battling the Highlanders.

Fellow senior D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, a guard, felt similarly, while also noting "It being my last one, it's even more exciting. My last first home game".

Their coach, John Thompson III is not immune to being amped, as "You get excited this time of year...Their anxious, their excited, their nervous. And so am I. And if you aren't this time of year, something's wrong with you".

What can the Hoyas, and by extension fans, expect?

"We'll start looking at them today. Obviously we played them before", a 76-49 Hoya win last season, shared Hayes.

Thompson admitted RU preparation is challenging, given "the understanding that they lost a few key pieces" since last season, yet "they have a good core group back" bolstered by impressive new players. Additionally in his view "Coach (Mike Jones) Jones' teams, you know they are going to be well prepared, you know they are going to play hard at both ends of the court".

Nevertheless familiarity with Radford gleaned via watching "games from last year" and the Hoyas' own December, 2014 contest, give G'Town something to work with, per Thompson. The coaches being longtime friends who competed against one another in high school , also may inform Thompson in preparing his players in terms of what to expect.

For that, plus what to look for from G'Town, see Premium Court.

Did Thompson , Hayes or sophomore guard L.J. Peak reveal the squad's starting lineup?

In a word no, but when pushed Thompson did relent, laughing while conceding "I think he's accurate" when told of Smith-Rivera's personal belief starting this season is in his cards.

One thing stressed by all in Blue and Grey; no let down in anticipation of Georgetown's much anticipated battle with Maryland in College Park on Tuesday.

"We have to just take it one game at a time" said Smith-Rivera, of dialing in on the Big South Conference's Radford and not looking toward the Terps, a Big Ten member and local rival. "Because that's how you get beat".

True enough. Starting tomorrow at Noon, whether the Hoyas have truly embraced that will be evident.

Be sure to follow the game on our real time chat thread. Access Twitter's @HoyaNation for periodic, live reports.