Got a nice little treat for everyone in anticipation of the big game with Syracuse tomorrow night. I chatted with Brian Harrison of Orange:44, who is one of my favorite (if that’s possible) Syracuse bloggers on the net. He’s a regular on Twitter like me, and although I think he’s developed a bit of an unhealthy Curling obsession of the past couple of weeks, he’s still knows his ‘Cuse hoops.

Make sure you head over to Orange:44 and check out my responses to his questions!

Chris (IBBW): Wes Johnson had the NBA hype before the season, but I don’t think anyone saw this type of impact right away. What has he meant for Syracuse’s unexpected stellar year and how healthy is he currently?

Brian (O44): Without a doubt Wes gets most of the hype headlines for the team. He is a very good player and everyone from fans to bloggers to the media agree he will enter the NBA Draft after this season. He was a consistent scorer and rebounder for Syracuse until he was injured against Providence in the Carrier Dome. Since then he’s been all over the map with his scoring, but he seems to have recovered finally and fully. On nights he has carried the team, and other nights he complements the team by passing first. Without a down he is a value in the zone and will burn you if you take him lightly.

Chris (IBBW): I’ve watched a few ‘Cuse games lately and it seems that without that Canuck Rautins on the floor the team struggles mightily. Is he the true floor general for this team? And how many tears did he cry when the Yanks laid the hurt on his boys Sunday?!

Brian (O44): For the record, Andy was born in Jamesville, NY and grew up in Toronto. He has dual citizenship, so that’s something right? He is most definitely the captain of the Good Ship Syracuse and it doesn’t even start with his shooting ability. He is the key component and first line of defense in the 2-3 Zone. He is one of the top earners of steals in the country. And then there is his shooting. Sometimes he is cold, but when he is on he is simply the best shooter in the nation. As for his Olympic watching I am not sure, but he does play basketball and not hockey so it probably didn’t sting that badly.

Chris (IBBW): While Syracuse undoubtedly has the better frontcourt, I think the same can be said for Villanova’s backcourt. What will Syracuse do to try and slow down ‘Nova’s guards, who have had success against this zone in recent years?

Brian (O44): Syracuse boasts the best 3 point field goal defense in the Big East, only allowing 30.4%. They will extend the zone and make it difficult for easy looks at the basket. Additionally our backcourt is so good at moving in the zone they will give contested looks to Villanova, but more importantly making penetration into the zone tough. The interesting question will be if the referees call a tight game or not.

Chris (IBBW): Shot clock is off, tie game. ‘Nova ball. What lengths are you going to to ensure that Scottie Reynolds does NOT break your heart?

Brian (O44): I’m guessing everything and the kitchen sink. Scottie Reynolds is a dream killer. The key is to not foul him, especially if he’s going to shoot a three pointer. Luckily Syracuse has been in similar situations like that this year, and their defense has held up. The rebounding is a bit more suspect, but in those situations they have boxed out well and come down with the game icing rebound and then free throws. If the game came down to that situation it could get interesting.

Chris (IBBW): Other than Wes and Andy, who is the one player that will have ‘Nova fans shouting at the TV on Saturday night?

Brian (O44): It will probably be Kris Joseph. He comes off the bench but could probably start for most teams in the Big East or any other team in the country. He has a really nice complete game as he can take the ball baseline, can throw down the rock, or can shoot a sweet mid range jump shot. Jim Boeheim trusted him to take the last shot for Syracuse against Georgetown and he delivered by splitting defenders and hitting a lay up. Then again, it could be Rick Jackson, coming off a career high 28 points at Providence.

Chris (IBBW): Outside of the the National Title run, is this Boeheim’s finest coaching job ever? How did he make this team so good when everyone expected a down year?

Brian (O44): This has to be. For a team that was just outside of the Top 25, to now be well entrenched in the top 5 and a legitimate threat to go to the Final Four. The difference is Jim Boeheim is coaching the zone defense better than ever based on the players he now has. Due to that, the offense has come along and Syracuse is able to kill a team in several ways. Oddly enough, Jim Boeheim has never won a national coach of the year award. I believe he should be the front runner for this year.

Chris (IBBW): Prediction time — How many pounds of gel will Rautins have in? Will Arinze Onuaku eat somebody? Oh yeah, and what actually happens in the game?

Brian (O44): Two and ½ pounds, no, and I’m guessing one of the best college basketball games of the regular season. Villanova plays the half court set well, and that can mess with Syracuse, a team that likes to push the tempo. But it will probably come down to Villanova’s three point shooting. If Villanova manages to hit a lot they will be in good shape to pull the upset. However they cannot be a one trick pony. Syracuse will continually feed the ball inside and probably will do it with ease against the smaller, multi-guard lineup that Jay Wright loves using. Villanova will have to drive to the basket to win this game. But for a game like this, with the higher rank, at home, and in front of a record crowd, I’m going with the Orange in this one. Although I think it will be a fairly close game and should be entertaining to everyone watching. I’ve been looking forward to this game since the Big East slate started.

Thanks again to Brian for the great Q&A! Have fun at The Dome tomorrow night, but I hope you leave with a strong case of beer tears!

In anticipation of ‘Senior Night’ and our Wednesday night clash with South Florida, I caught up with Ken DeCelles from the USF Blog Voodoo 5. Make sure you head over there and check out my answers to Ken’s questions, and as always, give him some hell while you’re over there!

On to the questions…

Chris (IBBW): Is there a more under-the-radar player in the BIG EAST than Dominique Jones? He’s averaging over 20 a game but still doesn’t get much press. What has he meant for the Bulls’ program?

Ken (V5): I’d like to see one. He did get some national recognition during our four game Big East winning streak earlier this year, but he is still widely unappreciated. Jones’ biggest contribution has to be making USF relevant again in basketball. I’ve heard more USF basketball talk this month then I have over the past 5 years. Jones has said that he will be back if USF doesn’t make it to the Sweet 16 this year, so I hope there will be some national buzz about the team next season.

Chris (IBBW): Jarrid Famous is a guy that Villanova was heavily involved with and was disappointed to miss out on. How is his first year on campus going? Would you say he’s below, met or exceeded expectations?

Ken (V5): It took a little bit of time for Famous to adjust to the higher level of competition, but he has done exactly what we needed him to do this season. He rebounds well, does a good job in the post, and he is improving everyday on defense. He has been knocked around by stronger guys like Yancy Gates, but I’m sure an offseason of strength training will help.

Chris (IBBW): You’ve scored some good wins this year (Pitt, Georgetown) but taken a few bad losses (St. John’s last time out, and a sweep at the hands of Notre Dame isn’t pretty). Many think you’re still on the bubble for The Dance, so what do you need to do to get in?

Ken (V5): A win tomorrow would be a great start. I thought that if we could win 5 games between our last 5 games of the regular season and the Big East Tournament would get us in. An NIT bid would be a little bit of a letdown considering what happened earlier this season, but any type of tournament would be a huge step in the right direction for the program.

Chris (IBBW): You’ve got nearly 5 guys averaging in double-figures (with G Mike Mercer barely missing with 9.0 ppg). How should we read into that? Does that mean there is a glaring lack of depth on this team?

Ken (V5): Depth has been a concern this year, but we finally have everyone healthy for the first time this season. We do have one huge void that’s missing from our team, and that is a competent three-point shooter. For the season we are only hitting 29.2% of our shots from three. In an offense where its mostly dribble penetration, defenses have quickly learned that all they need to do is collapse in the paint and make our guys beat them from deep.

Chris (IBBW): What does Villanova have to do to stop it’s two-game losing streak and dispatch the Bulls, who’ve given a lot of teams problems this year?

Ken (V5): Run zone on defense, and collapse when Jones drives to the basket. We have a hard time hitting anything from distance, and it has burned us the last couple of games. But because I said this, I wouldn’t be surprised if we go 10-15 from three tomorrow.

Chris (IBBW): It’s Senior Night at The Pavilion, which means Scottie Reynolds’ last game on campus. What are you expecting out of him?

Ken (V5): I think that Chris Howard and Anthony Crater will do a decent job holding Reynolds to below his season averages. Last season we did a great job limiting Reynolds to one made basket and seven points, and while I don’t think we will hold him to single digits, I think Reynolds will finish up with 14 points and 5 assists. Not a bad scoreline, but its not what everyone will expect from Reynolds on
Senior Night.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction for how this one plays out.

Ken (V5): USF will keep it close for 30-35 minutes, but Villanova will pull away late and crush USF’s fleeting tourney hopes.

Nova 71-63.

…Thanks again to Ken for making this happen on such short notice. Good luck tomorrow night and as you put it, let’s hope for a clean, injury-free affair…

Sorry for the late post everyone. I forgot I emailed Chas and just realized he probably answered. Which he had. So for the latest installment of …Keep Your Enemies Closer we talked with Chas Rich of Pitt Blather, the best Pitt Panther blog out there for my money. As you’ll see in a few minutes, Chas was not happy when we raised “the incident” in Boston.

Enjoy everyone, and make sure you head to Pitt Blather for some more Pittsburgh coverage before the game tomorrow!

(Note: No pick’em as it is a noon game and the turnaround time is too quick)

Chris (IBBW): If this season doesn’t cement Jamie Dixon as one of the top coaches in America, I don’t know what will. You lost 3 players who were so important to the program, and many people expected you to struggle, yet that hasn’t been the case. Talk about all that for me.

Chas (PB): Oh, there have been struggles. Plenty early. It’s just that the team has made steady improvement as the season continued. Gary McGhee has gone from an awkward foul machine to, in the words of Bill Raftery, “a very serviceable center.” Jermaine Dixon is healthy and has reprised his role as the defensive stopper. They are more of a perimeter team. While the offense hasn’t changed, the emphasis is less on pounding it inside. There’s more driving an shooting jump shots.

Chris (IBBW): I’ve got Ashton Gibbs as my Most Improved Player this year. Did you see this jump coming?

Chas (PB): I expected some improvement, but beyond the shooting it has been the way he has been able to handle the need for him to lead the team that has been surprising. There were parts early in the Big East schedule where he not only had to run the offense, but generate his own shot. He’s not a lockdown defender by any stretch, but he plays solid and is already like another coach on the court.

Chris (IBBW): Dante Taylor was pegged by many to be one of the biggest impact freshman in the conference. Were those predictions premature? What’s been the story with him this year?

Chas (PB): First, he is playing out of position. He’s a power forward and he plays center because of need and because he isn’t ready to play the 4 in Pitt’s offense. The second, is that he is still a freshman big man. It’s astounding how few have the immediate impact expected. I covered this a couple weeks ago, and if you take a look at the top freshman big men, most are in the same boat.

Expectations and pressure were too high because he followed DeJuan Blair and there was arguably an unrealistic expectation that since he was a McDonald’s All-American he would be an immediate force. That isn’t the way it has worked. He will be great in time. He needs to get his conditioning improved and he needs to play better on defense.

Chris (IBBW): How much will last year’s Elite 8 loss serve as motivation for this Sunday’s game? That team was Fields’, Blair’s and Young’s, but do these guys feel that pain too?

Chas (PB): Jermaine Dixon is still bitter. He blames himself for the turnover late in the game when Pitt was up 5 and the game got away. Guys like Brad Wanamaker I am sure thinks about this one.

(IBBW Note: Short answer. We think Chas is still bitter as well.)

Chris (IBBW): What have been the keys to stopping Pitt this year in your losses?

Chas (PB): Turnovers. Lots of turnovers. Strong guard play that forces Pitt out of tempo by speeding the pace. It disrupts the offense and you see them struggle to execute. Basically, Villanova’s strength.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction for Sunday’s game.

Chas (PB): Ugh. I hate predictions. Fine. It won’t be pretty, but Pitt guts it out at home in a close one.

Thanks to Chas for the quick work on a busy weekend! Good luck tomorrow brother, so long as it doesn’t interfere with ours!

For our latest installment of …Keep Your Enemies Closer, I talked with Dave Pean of FriarBlog (make sure you check out my responses there!). Dave’s been in the blogging world for a few years now, has seamlessly transitioned himself in the social networking world, and has developed a Donut/Coffee problem like which the world has never seen these past few years because of Friar Basketball.

Dave, thanks for your time, and Godspeed with the impending heart issues.

Chris (IBBW): Rivalry wins like the one you had against UConn are supposed to ignite a season, but you’ve lost 4 straight since then. In fairness it was a very tough schedule, but talk me through what happened.

Dave (FB): Hey, we’ve been beating UConn soundly for several years now without getting any ignition from it, why start now?  But yeah, this has been a brutal stretch of the schedule.  As the losses continue to pile up, there have been some positives to take away.  PC played Syracuse extremely tough in the first half at the Carrier Dome (before succumbing to their awesomness), and also had a great shot at upsetting Georgetown at home a few nights ago (despite not being able to piss in the ocean).

The big problems (besides the defense) that hurt in the Cincinnati and Marquette losses were bad offensive stretches, plus the ability to make plays down the stretch.  Even though the team puts up a lot of points on the board, there really isn’t a go to player in crunch time who can continually execute on big possessions.  Some players try to take matters into their hands, but end up doing too much.  We just hope that the team (and coaching staff) learns this stretch, and can put it towards the goal of being able to play consistent basketball for 40 minutes.

Chris (IBBW): Jamine Peterson has come out of nowhere (at least in my eyes). Where was he last year and did you anticipate this at all from him?

Dave (FB): Greedy Peterson was a Tim Welsh recruit who always showed great athleticism during his freshman year two years ago, but also had a very raw game overall.  Keno Davis decided to red shirt him last season, and his improvement has been amazing.  If you saw him two years ago, you would be surprised if he could ever learn to make a jump shot, let alone a three pointer.  Oh, and he will now take plenty of three pointers.  His shot selection and overall decision making still have lots of room for improvement, but seeing how Greedy has been able to develop everything else so quickly, the sky is the limit.  Peterson just pumps out SportsCenter highlight dunks and double-doubles like they’re going out of style.   I’m not sure anybody anticipated this from this season, but Friar fans are pretty excited about what he can do for the program over the next two years.

Chris (IBBW): Lots of new names on the roster this year. Who are the impact newcomers for the Friars?

Dave (FB): So we have 4 freshman, 2 JUCO transfers, and a red-shirt freshman.  Whew.  It’s crazy to think that 8 players (if you include Greedy) did not see a BIG EAST game last year.  Out of those 7 newcomers, we only have 3 that have been logging meaningful minutes.  Duke Mondy has been a solid role player, and at times a nice spark offensively off the bench.  However, big man Bilal Dixon and point guard Vincent Council have had the most impact — if they don’t both land on the BIG EAST All-Rookie team, something is terribly wrong.  Dixon keeps getting better and better as the season progresses, and seems like a leader type with his intensity out on the court.  His offense will come and go, but his defense is improving and rebounding has been great.
Vincent Council is the future of the team right now. He’s a great penetrating point guard (which the Friars haven’t had since GOD pretty much) with a phenomenal court sense.  It’s not a stretch to say that he is currently the best player on the team.  As Providence keeps improving on bringing in more talented players, VC will definitely thrive.  The one missing piece in Friartown is a legitimate center — I’m pretty confident Keno will land one the next few years, because all he needs to do is show tape of Council’s passes.

Chris (IBBW): After some careful research, I can confirm Sharaud Curry has only been here for 5 years. But much like Scottie Reynolds, it’s felt like 10. I hate his rainbow 3’s. What has his career meant for PC Basketball?

Dave (FB): Sharaud has had an up and down career at PC.  After starting out with so much promise by landing on the BIG EAST All-Rookie team, coupled with a very good sophomore year at 15 PPG, he obviously took a huge detour with the broken foot that caused him to miss an entire year.  After coming back last year though, it’s clear what type of player Curry is.  At 5-9, he is extremely limited on the defensive end (and has not really improved on this in 5 years).  As a point guard, Curry is more of east-west player, but capable of some excellent scoring nights.  With Council now able to take over some of the ball handling duties, Curry can now play off the ball and really do some damage if his shot is falling.  Like his fellow graduating class of last season, I think the expectations were a little high after seeing what he could do early on.However, Curry didn’t really take the next step as becoming a complete player / leader, and I think that is what frustrates Friar fans.  I will give him credit for how he has played in some recent BIG EAST games though.  Who knows, maybe he has a few more rainbow threes left in him for a BIG EAST upset to close out his career at Providence. Or maybe he used them all up against Villanova last year!

Chris (IBBW): It’s Year 2 of Keno-Ball. Pros? Cons? Dreams? Fears?

Dave (FB): Everyone knew coming into the season that this year was going to be rough.  I think what all Friar fans wanted to see was how the young pieces of the team fit into the program.  Between Vincent Coucil, Bilal Dixon, and the emergence of Greedy, I think there is plenty to get excited about for the future of the team.  With two top 100 recruits coming in next season, we are definitely headed in the right direction in terms of upgrading the talent.  The big questions that loom however: Will the talent upgrade take care of the glaring problems on defense Keno’s team’s have had his first two years?  Will there be a snowball effect in being to be continually land bigger recruits, especially the top talent in the area?  That is the million dollar bet Providence made, and to me it looks we have a good start.

Chris (IBBW): We know about the dildo incident and Jeff Xavier’s lunatic brother, so what has been the weirdest thing to happen at The Dunk this year? And do I need to be worried that Villanova is likely going to be there in the NCAA Tourney?

Dave (FB): Sadly enough, it’s been a pretty tame year at the DUNK.  Unfortunately, the best thing I can think of is the breaking out of a Pauley D big head (since he’s from Rhode Island) in the Student Section.  The NCAA Tournament there should be fun though – I would imagine you’d travel quite well, but I think the locals would get behind another fellow BIG EAST member.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction for Saturday.

Dave (FB): Keeping up with one of the best teams in the conference on your home court is one thing – playing them on the road scares the crap out of me.  I wish I could say we have any chance whatsoever, but I just think Villanova is too talented.  I think we will lose 90-74.

…Thanks again to Dave for his time!…good luck on Saturday brother…just don’t want to see this game in the 100’s…Lord knows that is possible…

Me and Andrew from Casual Hoya traded blows for the 2nd time this year, with this one obviously getting more personal than the first round, where we actually, ya know, discussed basketball. You know the Hoyas. Greg Monroe is a beast. Chris Wright is on the verge of killing someone and Austin Freeman is on the verge of ordering the Extra Large #2 meal at Mickey D’s.

So sit back, enjoy your Friday, and check out the barbs we threw at each other. You can see my answers to Andrew’s questions at Casual Hoya!

Chris (IBBW): Does JT3 even allow the bench players to attend Saturday’s game?  I noticed they scored 10 against Duke, up from 4 against Villanova. I really don’t see a point. If all they are going to do is jack up shots and foul they should just let you play.

Andrew (CH): JT3 better allow the bench to attend the game, because Georgetown won’t beat Villanova without some form of contribution.  The 10 points against Duke was nice, but that should be the norm rather than the exception.  Hollis Thompson isn’t a bad player, it just seems that confidence is an issue right now.   He was with the team last year, knows the system, and can shoot.   It was nice to see him confidently knock down a couple of 3s against Duke, and hopefully he carries it into Saturday.  Jerrelle Benimon is more of a banger type, and he does some nice work in the paint.  Anything more than 2 -4 points from him is gravy.  As far as leaving those guys on campus and allowing me to play, I’d be fine with that.  In fact, there’s no way in hell that if I have my hands on the ball with a few ticks left that I am not hoisting my patented John Starks hop-step jumper.  It remains unfathomable to me how some walk-ons simply dribble out the clock when they finally get court time in garbage time.  Shoot the rock!

Chris (IBBW): I’m certainly no Obama fan but I will admit it is very cool to have The Head Honcho attend one of your games. When you saw him, did you immediately find the answer to life’s greatest question like I’ve heard happens?

Andrew (CH): So I guess living in Philadelphia the only famous people you ever see are the statue of Rocky and Allen Iverson, right?  Well, let me tell you what it is like in the Capital of the Free World:  We see Obama all the time.  At the gym.  In line at Jamba Juice.  Picking through the oat and grain selection at Whole Foods.  At our basketball games. It’s no big deal.  But yes, every time we do see him the Universe is torn asunder and a dozen Angels descend from heaven on a golden chariot and tell us all the secrets of the universe.  And Coach K’s face melts like at the end of “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.”  Pretty sweet.

Chris (IBBW): Who is the big celeb attending this weekend’s clash? If it’s Nancy Pelosi, I kill myself right now. Hearing her talk is a true look into the bowels of Hell.

Andrew (CH): True Fact: Nancy Pelosi sometimes comes to Georgetown games, as her husband is a proud graduate.  So maybe your dreams could come true and you’ll see her on the jumbotron explaining the “Public Option.”  But I am pretty much counting on the biggest celeb at the game to be Jay Wright’s suit, followed closely by his mane of jet black hair.

Chris (IBBW): Is Kyle Singler from the same species as us?

Andrew (CH): Absolutely not. No man has ever straddled the line of Ginger and Albino more confusingly. In person he very much resembles a husky dog as well. I don’t trust him and I’m pretty sure he can give others rabies.

Chris (IBBW): Will Chris Wright drop more f-bombs or dimes on Saturday?

Andrew (CH): Interesting question. The problem with Chris’ f-bombs is there is no discriminating between good ones and bad ones for him, he just has a potty mouth. When he’s playing badly it’s “f!*k” and when he’s playing well and pumping up the crowd its “let’s f!*king go!” As you know, Georgetown is 15-0 when Wright scores in double figures and 1-4 when he doesn’t. Final line prediction for CW4: 17 points, 4 assists, 6 f-bombs, 1 win

Chris (IBBW): Since you’ve figured out that everyone from Villanova would rather be at Georgetown, who is the one player (excluding Scottie Christ) that you would want down in D.C.

Andrew (CH): Mouphtaou Yarou.  A name like that fits in perfectly with former Hoya big men.  I mean seriously, what was Yarou thinking?  Georgetown has had Dikembe Mutumbo, Boubacar Aw, Cheikh Dia, Godwin Owinje and of course, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje.  Yarou would fit in perfectly with the long list of Hoyas with awesome names.  Hope he is having fun with Scotty, Corey and Reggie.  Unforgivable mistake.

Chris (IBBW): Jon Scheyer just announced he’s transferring to Georgetown. Please enlighten us on how you just reacted.

Andrew (CH): Several of ways to skin this cat (or throw this puppy off the roof, if that’s what you’re in to) and the lowhanging fruit answer is that the fanbase would be mortified to have to watch this smug twerp cry and Scheyer-face his way up and down the court for the remainder of the season. In reality, the guy’s putting up absurd numbers on what appears to be the 5th best team in the Big East (and inexplicably is the cream of the crop in what some douches call America’s premier basketball conference) and would immediately push the Hoyas to championship caliber. Of course, last weekend’s game made it pretty clear that he’s not cut out to play in the Phone Booth so maybe we’ll just leave well enough alone.

The real question is how CasualHoya reacts. We make no bones about the fact that we were singlehandedly responsible for Nikita’s decision to transfer – well, either that or his appalling lack of talent – and would love to have a new player to woodshed. Scheyer is the latest in a line of Duke players who are intensely unlikable but put up solid numbers.

A better question would be how we’d feel if Andy Rautins were to transfer.

Chris (IBBW): Don’t you dare talk about the good women of Villanova like that (Note: See his question to me on his site). Plus, we all know you’ve been with one. It’s your true dark secret.

Andrew (CH): Let’s end this debate in a way that even those with a Villanova degree will understand.  Simply put:

Georgetown: http://static.tvfanatic.com/images/gallery/jwoww-photo.jpg

Nova: http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Snooki-Slams-Jersey-Shore-Boycott-500×333.jpg

Chris (IBBW): Even though I think the Pitt-Big Ten rumors are false, it’s a great question, so I’m firing it back. IF that happened, where do we go from here?

Andrew (CH): I think that if we lose a football school, especially one as important to Big East football as Pitt, the Big East will disband.  At the end of the day, as much as I hate it, football decides what happens in college athletics; it is where all the money is.  The Big 10, Big 12 and ACC will swallow the other seven football schools, leaving Georgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Providence, Seton Hall, Marquette, DePaul and Notre Dame to fend for themselves.  Notre Dame will be forced to join a conference after NBC drops them and the remaining schools bring on St. Joe’s, Xavier, and Dayton to form a basketball-only conference.  They get no TV exposure, lose all recruits and are forced to take part in an experimental underwater basketball league run by Vince McMahon.

Only one thing I said above is unlikely, and sadly it has to do with ND.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a predicition (or 3 or 4) for what happens on Saturday.

Andrew (CH): Almost impossible to predict given the way the Hoyas crap the bed against teams like ODU and USF and rise to the occasion against ranked opponents. Gtown is moving through the most difficult part of its schedule and the Nova game will be huge for payback and for Big East/NCAA Tournament seedings.

Based on what we’ve seen thus far, Nova would be crazy not to throw extensive zone defense at Gtown (well, unless we have another Cocaine Night in honor of your 1985 team) and that could be the key to the game. Gtown is clearly better than Nova on the interior and the zone would certainly do a lot to neutralize that.

I’d also expect there to be a battle of tempo with Nova obviously looking to push the ball behind Scottie Reynolds and Gtown seeking to maximize possessions. We know that Wright and Freeman (and Clark) have the experience not to get flustered but they have struggled with presses. Interestingly, Gtown’s glaring weak spot – its bench – has seen a few glimmers of hope with the play of freshmen Hollis Thompson and Jerrelle Benimon so pace might not be as important.

Nova obviously keys off of Reynolds but King has given them some pretty impressive numbers both with his unabashed gunslinging and actually grabbing a few boards and I see him as an X factor. No secret for Gtown – the game will depend on whether Monroe, Wright, and Freeman all come to show out. Early prediction: Gtown 72 – Nova 66

Thanks again Andrew, and hopefully you can actually make it to the game on Saturday. I’m not sure Georgetown people have enough hand-eye coordination to drive in the snow though!

UPDATE: Check out my answers to Bob’s questions now at Gonzo Blog!

Weirdest weekend of my life. No ‘Nova hoops for the first time in a long time (excluding holidays/finals of course). Anyways, gave me plenty of time to watch the rest of the country play, which was fascinating. As I’m about to write this, I know I’m jinxing the team, but f it. I really do think we’re up there with everyone else. Color me unimpressed by a lot of teams I thought were possibly a step above.

Oh yeah, and I chatted with Bob Yelenak of Gonzo Ball in anticipation of our game with the Pirates tomorrow night. Enjoy!

Chris (IBBW): Do you think Bobby Gonzalez is making it a priority to guard Scottie Reynolds this year? I heard he did well against you last year. Just so you know, we plan on leaving Jeremy Hazell wide open all game like we did in the 1st half last year.

Bob (GB): First, let me note, it seems (especially to Big East foes) like Scottie has been playing college ball for 12 years.  Keon Lawrence, a transfer from Missouri, has been pretty much a bust offensively in his 11 games with the Pirates, however, he has worked his way into the starting #2 large in part for his ability to play tight defense.  I expect Keon to shadow Scottie for the majority of the game in an effort to try to contain him.  If Lawrence can hold Scottie under 20 points, I’d view it as a job well done.  Lawrence most recently defended Dominique Jones last Thursday night and while Jones was good for 28 points, Keon played tight defense, Jones just hit contested jumper after contested jumper.

As far as Hazell, he did drop 24 against the Wildcats last year, but it was on 9-of-24 shooting.  If Hazell puts in a similar effort on Tuesday, the Pirates will have little chance of securing the upset.

Chris (IBBW): What do you make of the light suspension for Keon Lawerence? Bad example for the future or are you okay with it? Also, what do you make of the Gonzo era so far?

Bob (GB): Keon was suspended for the first 8 (non-conference) games of the season.  There are still a ton of mysteries surrounding the accident that I’m not sure whether all the facts will come or not until his case is heard.  We heard he was driving under the influence, yet his BAC levels came back under the limit.  Then in a surprising twist, last week he turned himself and posted bail answering to reckless driving charge that states he was operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.  Was he over the limit or not? Questions that will likely go unanswered until his pending court date.  As far as the suspension, I think it was fair, he was suspended for 8 games and wasn’t allowed to come back and play until the BAC tests came back, stating he was not under the influence. I feel the university was nothing short of professional in their punishment for Keon.

The “Gonzo era” is probably best defined at this moment as exciting basketball that has yet to deliver on a NCAA berth.  If things continue as they are this year, it’ll be Gonzo’s fourth year and fourth year without seeing the big dance.  Bobby was brought in to improve recruitment in the NJ/NY area, however, he’s had his problems with recruiting, “academically-risky” players, evident most recently with Jesse Morgan.  Morgan signed a LOI to play at SHU next year, but enrolled early at UMass because he couldn’t post a qualifying SAT score.  With only Fuquan Edwin on board to play at South Orange next year, you’d have to wonder if the potential recruiting prowess Bobby was supposed to possess is greatly outweighed by a lack of postseason play.  Keep in mind, Seton Hall fired Louis Orr who brought an over performing squad to the tournament twice in three years.  There were whispers that Orr and the administration has their differences, but still, Orr was let go because he wasn’t viewed as being successful enough for the program.  Two NCAA at-large bids and an NIT appearance in his five years at the Hall is leagues ahead of Gonzalez’s SHU resume at the moment.

Chris (IBBW): Seton Hall was picked as the breakout team this year, but after a 3-5 start you don’t hear as much about the Pirates any more. Is the NCAA’s still a possibility or does this team not have what it takes?

Bob (GB): Well, I agree they were a sexy pick based on the hype surrounding the transfers, most notably Herb Pope and Keon Lawrence.  Pope has lived up to expectations for the most part, however Keon Lawrence has been noticeably absent.  Jeff Robinson, the transfer from Memphis has contributed tremendously to the little success they’ve had this conference season.  That being said, they were projected by the Big East coaches and the media to finish 10^th in the conference and those close to the team felt the projections were way off and borderline disrespectful.  However, at 3-5 with back-to-back road games at ‘Nova and Pitt, the Pirates are two losses away from being 3-7 in the toughest conference in basketball and changing their focus to fighting for an NIT invitation.

Chris (IBBW): Other than Mr. Hazell, who does Villanova have to really watch out for on Tuesday?

Bob (GB): Herb Pope.  If Seton Hall stands any chance of upsetting the Wildcats, Pope will need to play the game of his life.  He’s leading the Big East in rebounding at 11.4RPG, a full 1.4RPG ahead of 2^nd place, Jamine Peterson.  Despite ripping 17REB against USF on Thursday, USF flustered Pope offensively limiting him to 5PTS on 2-of-10 shooting.  Pope will need to play much more efficiently against Antonio Pena on Tuesday. See the game Pope had last week against Pittsburgh where he dropped 19PTS/9REB on 8-of-12 from the floor.  A duplicate effort will be needed from The Pope of South Orange if they’re going to stay close with ‘Nova.

Chris (IBBW): You know and I know that Villanova wants to run, and there are few teams in the country who can keep up with them. Will Seton Hall play that game or try to slow it down as much as possible?

Bob (GB): Make no mistake, these two teams play the same style offensively, however there’s clearly a difference in the talent at hand.  They both love to run and Seton Hall will even prefer the two teams run, however, the problem is, Villanova does it better, much better.  That being said, the Pirates did defeat the Panthers last week at Pittsburgh’s own game, focusing on defense.  Will Gonzo drastically alter his game plan in an attempt to slow down Tuesday’s game? I don’t believe so.  I think Seton Hall will be able to keep up with the Wildcats for much of the first half, but there will come a point where Hazell starts missing his shots, the Pirates will go through a scoring drought and the flood gates will open for Villanova.  It’s important for Seton Hall to raise their defensive intensity from what was on display at South Florida in an attempt to slow Villanova during these stretches.  If their defense doesn’t respond, the boys from Jersey are in for a long night at the Pavilion.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction for Tuesday.

Bob (GB): For the reasons stated in the last question, I’m going to go with Villanova 85, Seton Hall 73.  I’ll take it one step further and give the Pirates some life with a half time score of Villanova 43, Seton Hall 39.

…Thanks again Bob!…and good luck tomorrow night so long as it doesn’t interfere with ours!…

Update: Head to Casual Hoya to check out my answers to their questions!

Just so you know, this is my absolute favorite Q&A of the year, because nobody tops the guys at Casual Hoya. Luckily, we’ll get to do this twice this year as the ‘Cats take on the Hoyas twice! So this time, I talked to Andrew Geiger, who apparently has an on-going Twitter feud with their best player, but at the same time is a great guy.

Take a read below as Andrew answers my questions on the Hoyas. Most disappointing thing: Finding out Nikita Mersheriakov has already transferred. On the one hand, I’m sad because I no longer having one of my best punching bags. Then again, the odds I get to see him get dunked on increase because he might actually play in that schoolgirl’s conference.

Chris (IBBW): I feel comfortable saying that Chris Wright and Nikita Mersheriakov defeated DaJuan Summers (bolted to the NBA out of fear) and Omar Wattad (transferred to Never Never Land) in their bouts last year. Who are these two enigmas looking to get after this season? And how long will we have to put up with the inevitable Mersheriakov steroid saga?

Andrew (CH): In the tournament of transferring (to another school or the NBA D-League), it broke down like this: Wright over Summers and Nikita over Wattad. Then this year Wright, faster than we could have expected, dispatched with Nikita (who transferred to Wake Forest during the fall semester. You knew that right?) Thus: Wright is champion and we are ready for him to either turn on Freeman and destroy the team, or vanquish The Majestic Sims, whose tweets we will honestly miss.

Chris (IBBW): I just found out that John Thompson calls his son’s games on the radio, but haven’t had the chance to listen in. How frustrated does he get? Is he yelling out plays? Making substitution calls? And what’s the over/under on games until he gets T’d up from press row?

Andrew (CH): To be honest, I have never listened to a Thompson call on the radio, I don’t think he does every game. For away games where Dick Vitale is announcing, I normally mute the TV and listen to Rich Chvotkin, who is now in his 36th year of broadcasting George games. He works alone and has a cult following. USA Today ran an article on him and his “personal language” a few years back. Chvotkin got the gig by sending self-recorded broadcast to Big in the early 70’s, and hasn’t missed a match since. Great gent too, have fun into him at various Georgetown events.

As for Big John, I have listened to his sports radio show and as expected, he does not refrain from criticizing his son’s team. Last year he called out the team for lacking “thugs” to enforce the paint. I am sure he gets frustrated with the team bu he has mellowed down since retiring, and does a pretty good job doing NBA games for TNT. While I doubt he micro-manages his son, I am sure he still influences a lot of what goes down in the Georgetown Athletic Department.

Chris (IBBW): What sick deal did Austin Freeman make with the Devil? I was STUNNED at what transpired in the UConn game. By the way, you owe me a thank you for jinxing those sons of bitches.

Andrew (CH): I’m not sure he made any deal with the Devil. His increased performance this year can be attributed to his weight loss – was 240 pounds at the end of last year, now down to about 215 – and his work over the summer. He was quiet during non-conference play, partly because he is unselfish and partly because the games weren’t as close. He has been dominating since BIG EAST play started, averaging 21.3 points per game while shooting 58.5% from the field. He has been our most consistent performer, and the player we’d feel most comfortable with taking a last second shot. On top of that, he is showing off the athleticism and mid range game that was expected of him coming out of DeMatha as a Top-10 prospect. I’m not sure you be STUNNED by what transpired, considering he was a a McDonald’s All=American, First-Team All-BIG EAST Rookie, and is leading Georgetown in scoring. I would have been much more STUNNED that Scottie Reynolds put up 36 points on less than 55 shots. That, my friend, was stunning.

Chris (IBBW): Besides the trio of Wright, Monroe and Freeman, who do Wildcats fans have to look out for on Sunday?

Andrew (CH): Besides Wright, Monroe, and Freeman? That’s like asking me to walk into a McDonald’s and order something that isn’t a hamburger, cola, or french fry. But to answer your question, I expect sophomore Jason Clark to play a big role in this one. Clark has a superhuman wingspan, and will play a vital role in breaking whatever press you throw at us as well as hleping to contain Nova’s explosive guard play. I wouldn’t ignore Julian Vaughn down low, either. He’s capable of putting up 15 and 8 if he’s ignored.

Chris (IBBW): We know JTIII prefers a slow, methodical approach to the game, but after seeing what Louisville’s press did to us in the 1st half on Monday night, any chance he turns the hounds loose? Or is he hoping that by going to the complete other end of the spectrum he can lull 22,000 fans/players to sleep, resulting in an easy win?

Andrew (CH): There is no chance that Nova sees a press for any more than a possession or two. Our schemes are predicated upon getting back on defense in the half-court sets. UConn exploited the Hoyas’ horrible transition defense in the first half of that game, as I’m pretty sure 90% of the hoops they made all day were dunks or layups. The press is something that Georgetown has struggled with (both applying it and breaking it_, so we’ll just leave it to the experts like you clowns and Louisville.

Chris (IBBW): When I visited my friend at Georgetown, a good portion of the school was gated in. So Judge Smails, how does it feel to go to a school at an exclusive country club? God forbid you let that upper-middle class crowd in, right?

Andrew (CH): I would argue that the gates of the University are there to keep students out of the surround area, not the surrounding area of of campus. The University and its neighborhood have a notoriously bad relationship, all the rich politicians and talking heads hate the loud, drunk and obnoxious students – go figure. Once heard a story of a student opening the door at an off-campus house party only to find an irate George Stephanopoulos demanding that the music be turned down. Good times.

Chris (IBBW): Are you one of those schools with a Quidditch team? My brother at Dartmouth just informed me of this phenomenon, and for some reason I immediately thought of Georgetown as a definite member.

Andrew (CH): As a University that embraces all cultures, Georgetown apparently does indeed have a Quidditch team. I can assure you, however, that there are indeed some incompreshensible d-=bags at that school and if any of them pretend to be wizards or witches, they should be punched in the mouth if they aren’t already teased and abused by their classmates.

One of the local bars used to have a drink called a Harry Potter, and after enjoying about 50 Harry Potters after watching a Summer League game, I bumped into Roy Hibbert (then a rising sophomore), who was carrying a bag of McDonald’s fried deliciousness and clearly dejectedly after a poor performance. I let him know that he played well. Clearly, my white lie was suffcient to press him to his NBA career. As an aside, Hermione has become far more attractive as the movies have progressed.

Oh yeah, and Hoyas 68, ‘Nova 64.

Make sure you head to Casual Hoya and check out my answers to Andrew’s questions!

…Thanks again to Andrew for doing this…and good luck on Sunday, so long as the luck only involves no hospital trips after what is assured to be a pounding that will drive you to the local watering hole…

Following after Wednesday night beatdown of The Hawk, Dave from The Owls’ Nest contacted me about a possible Q&A. Haven’t done one of these since since Dayton, and I was anxious to get back to it. Temple is a storied Philly program who I respect, and despite my displeasure with the Dionte Christmas billboards last year, I agreed to do a little exchange. Below are Dave’s answers to my questions!

Chris (IBBW): Now that Dionte Christmas has moved on from the program, is there another player ready to assume that role as the star? Is is this Owls team going to share the wealth?

Dave (TON): Thus far, the team has gone on to share most of the wealth, as you said. Players like Lavoy Allen, Ryan Brooks, and Juan Fernandez have now had opportunities to learn to utilize their game to better the rest of the team. Since the departure of Dionte, we’ve seen a lot of the divvied up style of play, where any player can explode on any given night to take control. Depending on the teams the Owls play decides really who the player that has the most success is. This year has truly ben more of a team effort, though.

Chris (IBBW): You’ve held the opposing team to 50 points or less in over half your games thus far. What do you attribute this amazing defensive run to?

Dave (TON): There are a number of player that have stepped up on the defensive side of the ball. The team has a nice unity, and we’re seeing more and more of man to man defense. The players have focused so much on their defensive responsibilities, that they can trust one another in covering their own men. At the same time, the Owls have done a nice job with team defense, and helping out when a player gets beat, or might be in a mismatch. Because of this unison, Temple has been able to do a tremendous job on the defensive side of the ball.

Chris (IBBW): Give me that one player that Villanova fans need to keep their eye on on this Sunday.

Dave (TON): Lavoy Allen. I believe Temple needs to develop and establish a post game against this somewhat guard-oriented ‘Nova team.  If Allen is able to make himself known early, there could be problems for the Wildcats. Lavoy’s diversity alllows him to post up a defender, as well as pop out for a jump shot. On the rebounding side of the ball, Allen has done a tremendous job in keeping the Owls alive on offense, as well as get a quick stop on defense. He is a key to holding Villanova to as minimal opportunities as possible.

Chris (IBBW): I’m not very familiar with the A-10 landscape this year outside of Dayton and Xavier. Where does Temple project and what are your hopes of getting back to the Dance this season?

Dave (TON): Several teams that usually are projected at the top of the conference have taken significant hits because of graduation. This has allowed some of the younger teams in the past develop and take congrol. In Temple’s case, we’ve been fortunate to have a player or two step up year in and y ear out to make up for playmakers that have moved on. I believe the Owls once again will have a great chances to win the A-10 tournament, but it’s not going to be easy with the number of competitive and talented teams there are this year.

Chris (IBBW): Since you asked me how Villanova will handle the Owls’ great D, how do you think Temple will attempt to slow down the frenetic pace the Cats have been scoring at lately?

Dave (TON): Temple has been forced to play against almost any type of offensive scheme, one of which being the fast break. Against St. John’s, the Owls needed to deal with the same type of play, except for the fact that the Red Storm brought in fresh legs every whistle. Temple’s defense is going to have to keep the intensity as always, but at the same time keep up with the fast pace that Villanova favors. The biggest problem in this case might be the big men; they are going to need to work hard to get down the floor and stay with the flow of the game, without getting quickly fatigued or in foul trouble.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction for the game. Do the Cats sweep the Big 5 again or does Temple pull off the upset that has people talking for weeks?

Dave (TON): Without favoring, I do believe this game is going to be close. It’s too difficult for me to choose a winner, as much as I want to pick the Owls, because VU is such a talented team. I will, though, predict that this game goes down to the sire, and it will come down to whoever’s defense is able to hold up the longest. If either team can force the other to quickly give up possessions, they will have the advantage. There’s going to be a lot of talent on the floor, and it will be interesting to see who is able to take the helm and control the game. This is going to be a fun 40 minutes.

Thanks again to Dave for this! Make sure you visit The Owl’s Nest and give him hell before the game!

Yesterday I was contacted by James O’Brien of The Blackburn Review. James wanted to gauge my interest in a Q&A for a possible Dayton-Villanova matchup on Friday. As he said, the turnaround would have to be fast, as we’d only have a matter of hours to exchange questions and answers. So naturally, I told him to write me as soon as Dayton advanced as I was sure ‘Nova would have no problem.

Yeah, not going to assume anything anymore. We all saw how that went today. So with that said, here are James’ answers to my questions in regards to Dayton. Make sure you go check out my answers to his questions at The Blackburn Review!

Chris (IBBW): So we both had some close calls today! I thought Puerto Rico was supposed to be a relaxing spot. You were up by 9 against Georgia Tech at the half, so what made it such a close game in the 2nd period?

James (BR): GT did something they should have done from the time the ball was tipped off. They attacked us at the post with Favors and Lawal and sagged into a zone that we couldn’t penetrate. On top of that, arguably our two best players Chris Wright (supposed first round pick…gag) and senior workhorse Marcus Johnson combined for 7 points and 5 rebounds. Coming out the half with a nine point lead and having forced 15 turnovers I was confident, but down 7 with 5 to play? Jesus, I haven’t been that shaken since I last checked my credit score. I’m just glad we got out of there with a win.

Chris (IBBW): Give me the one guy who will have ‘Nova fans sweating tomorrow.

James (BR): I wish I could point to one player and say he was our soul, but there just isn’t one. Our supposed 1st round pick scored 25 in our first game and 7 in the second. Our most experienced and well-rounded player was held scoreless this morning. I guess there’s one thing I can guarantee you, if we don’t get yet another big game from Chris Johnson, this game could get ugly because he’s turning into the player we can count on the most. Also, keep an eye on the Marcus Johnson vs. Scottie Reynolds matchup. Marcus really is a special talent on defense, and if he can’t contain Reynolds, ‘Nova will have a huge advantage.

Chris (IBBW): From the looks of it, you relied heavily on 3 young guys to get the win on Thursday. ‘Nova also has to rely on its youngsters to get the job done this year. Give me the rundown on your young guys and what they bring to the table.

James (BR): Coming into this season, we only really expected to “depend” on one of our sophomores and that was Chris Johnson. Now I use the word depend lightly because we play everybody short of the Dean. Anyway, let’s get to your question. Chris Johnson showed huge potential last season, coming in as an unknown recruit he showed a propensity to rebound in almost any situation while being only 6′6″. He’s easily developing into our most well-rounded player and crowd favorite. He demonstrated his range and versatility today, leading our team in points, rebounds, and steals. You’re’ not going to enjoy playing against him. Paul Williams, is still an unknown entity. He was our best recruit last season but spent half the year nursing a bad ankle. We were told he was a lock down defender who can hit any shot and today he demonstrated every bit of it. What will he show tomorrow? Who know. Finally, Luke Fabrizius, aka Pop-A-Shot. I’ve never seen him pass, rebound, or play defense. Once I sa him dribble, but I didn’t have my contacts in. He shoots every time he gets the ball, no matter what. Some days he goes 4-7 and is a hero, some days he goes 0-6 and I send a dead ferret to his dorm room. He has no conscious, and neither do I.

Chris (IBBW): When I think mid-major, Dayton is one of the names that comes to mind. Actually, the program has passed mid-major status in my opinion. How does the team deal with the added spotlight and not being able to sneak up on teams?

James (BR): This is a divisive issue among Dayton fans. We’re in the scheduling limbo where BCS teams don’t want to schedule us, especially on the road, but won’t be taken as a serious Top-25 team unless we can beat a few teams. We’re thought of as a good program, but not one good enough to lose to and expect your fan base to understand. I figure with another season or two of NCAA Tourney success we’ll be on the same level as our hate rival Xavier. Which means we’ll have just enough respect that people know what state our University is located. I’ve said before that Villanova is aprogram we strive to be like and I think this will be a huge litmus test for our season and program.

Chris (IBBW): How would you describe Dayton’s style of play?

James (BR): Dayton’ success is predicated on two things. Fresh legs and suffocating defense. Expect to see a pace of substititon that is only paralleled at an alumni hockey game and tight man to man defense. Dayton has yet to come across a back court that they couldn’t harass into multiple turnovers and easy break-a-ways. On the other hand, we haven’t seen a back court with Villanova’s talent and athleticism. Our style has worked great against hte mid-level Big East teams like Pitt and West Virginia, but I think we’ll be in a whole new level of shit against you fellas.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction on tomorrow’s game.

James (BR): Unlike most self respecting journalists, I don’t have to be impartial. My gut says Dayton by twenty, but my gut is also filled with cheap Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Don’t judge me.

Dayton 69 Nova 63. See you on the beach!

Thanks to James for reaching out to me and getting this done! I especially like how he referred to Pitt and West Virginia as mid-level programs! But as I told him, when I say good luck to Dayton tomorrow, I don’t really mean it!

I’m pretty sure our blogger exchanges were pretty popular last year, especially for some of the teams that we didn’t know that much about. Although I could just be making that up, and you all hated them. But we’re going to move forward as if you really, really liked them. And so, this year (with a new title!) we bring you the return of our blogger exchanges.

I wasn’t expecting to get this going until the Maryland game, but a George Mason blogger found me on Twitter today (+1 for Twitter being a good thing). Ryan from GMUHoops.com and I decided to get this thing going for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, which begins on Thursday.

Below are my questions to Ryan, with his answers. Get to know the enemy a little bit better and take a look.

Chris (IBBW): The George Mason team that knocked off UConn was scrappy and undersized. At first glance this year’s squad seems to have a big more height inside to go with your usual stellar guard play. Who does Nova’s young frontcourt have to look out for on Thursday?

Ryan (GMH): This is the first time in a long time that I can remember this team actually having some height in the front court. Ryan Pearson, despite being 6′6″ has been a very consistent low post scorer while playing more of a small forward role this season and has been the team’s best offensive rebounder. Mike Morrison is typically the man in the middle you see the most of in the front court. He, like Pearson, is a sophomore and loaded with potential. Runs the floor well but struggles with free-throw shooting and staying out of foul trouble. He could have a big game or he could be a non-factor if some early fouls force him to sit. Redshirt-freshman Kevin Foster plays at a couple different spots and he will be in the thick of things in the front court. Freshman Johnny Williams has the most size up front but we have only seen a little out of him so far. He did not play against Liberty but picked up 7 points against Dartmouth in 11 minutes. However, I doubt we will see much of him on Thursday.

Chris (IBBW): And I thought we were in for a treat with 6 new faces this year. Am I reading this right? You have 7 new players (6 true freshman, 1 redshirt)? Any of these guys expected to be big contributors this year?

Ryan (GMH): Yes you are reading that correct. The coaching staff did a hell of a job the past few off-seasons and some people are saying it’s the best recruiting class of any non-BCS school. It gives us high hopes for the future but a lot of questions for this season. Luke Hancock has stood out already and seems to be this year’s 6th man. He prepped an extra year and it’s really showing already. Kevin Foster redshirted so he at least knows Coach Larranaga’s defensive schemes, which in the past has taken younger players a while to adjust to. Foster might contribute teh most this year because of his versatility. Guard Sherrod Wright is probably the best scorer of the group but needs to work on his defense to be more of a factor this year.

Chris (IBBW): Cam Long is obviously the go-to-guy, but who are the next options after him?

Ryan (GMH): Typically it’s rare we have one go-to-guy the whole season, often it will be Cam but it will also be Ryan Pearson, or Andre Cornelius and so on. Coach Larranaga runs a a very balanced offense, never runs through just one guy. Cornelius uses his speed to create scoring opportunities and has the ability to hit from behind the arc. Ryan Pearson has been very consistent in scoring both outside and inside.

Chris (IBBW): Just finished reading about your first two wins of the year. Seems like in both games it was a different cast of characters leading the way to victory. That is something Villanova prides itself on. When one guy isn’t having a great night, his teammates will pick him up. Same thing for Mason?

Ryan (GMH): Very true for Mason as well. It makes our team unpredicatable at times and I think that really plays a part in how a team schemes against you. This team has a lot of unselfish players. You won’t find any ball-hogs here and more than a few guys will finish in double digits.

Chris (IBBW): Besides having an awesome name, Louis Birdsong is the lone senior on your team. We are in a similar situation right now with only Scottie Reynolds (Reggie Redding is suspended). How much are you worried that George Mason will be lacking leadership this season?

Ryan (GMH): Unlike Scottie Reynolds, Louis Birdsong won’t be much of a factor in this game. Birdsong is kind of the odd man out with the new influx of talent the team got in the off-season. He used to play power forward but has now been asked to move outside more. That being said I do worry about this team lacking leadership. There are going to be times this season where it really shows and it may very well start Thursday. Senior leadership has always been a key to this program’s success and without it I  would not be surprised to endure a roller-coaster season.

Chris (IBBW): I’m ashamed to say I don’t follow your league that much.  What are the expectations? What would constitute a ‘great’ year and what would have to happen for this year to be a disappointment?

Ryan (GMH): After Mason’s run in 2006 and Eric Maynor/VCU (now Utah Jazz 1st round pick) taking down Duke in 2007, just playing in the NCAA Tournament is no more considered a successful season. The CAA strives to get multi-bids every season now but hasn’t had much luck of late. Some of the teams in the league such as ODU and Northeastern have a chance to get some national recognition but they gotta win those out-of-conference games. And despite Mason being young, they want to continue to reach the CAA Tournament Finals as they have the past 3 years. No one expects a run to the Final Four but each year the team hopes to reach the post-season and leave their mark.

Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction for Thursday’s game.

Ryan (GMH): Last season I could have told you exactly how this game would have went with our squad but this year I really have difficulty speculating the outcome. Some of these young guys could be up for the challenge but keep in mind that more than half the team has never played in a Division 1 game outside of our home arena. At times, our Coach’s attacking style of defense will look great and create opportunities but we will also see a slot of assignment miscues that will lead to some open three-pointers and easy scores for you guys. If our young guys try to run and gun with your guards, I would expect a rout on your part. But if we play smart while being aggressive on defense I could see them slowing down the game’s pace and giving us a chance.

Score: ‘Nova 83 Mason 68

Thanks to Ryan for doing this! Make sure you check out GMUHoops.com for all your George Mason coverage. Unfortunately, I hope we stomp the crap out of Mason on Thursday, but good luck the rest of the season Ryan!

Make sure to check out my responses to Ryan’s question at GMUHoops!