2013 NCAA Tournament – South Region Second Round
#2 Georgetown Hoyas vs #15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Friday, March 22, 2013, 6:50 pm Eastern, TV: TBS
Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Opening Line: Georgetown -13
Current Line: Georgetown -13 1/2
Opening Total: 123
Current Total: 123 1/2
Opening Money Line: Georgetown -1200 / FGCU +800
Current Money Line: Georgetown -1200 / FGCU +800
Georgetown went 25-6 this season. The Hoyas were 14-4 in the Big East and part of a 3 way tie for first with Louisville and Marquette. Georgetown lost to Syracuse 58-55 in overtime in the Big East semifinals. It will likely be the last game at least for a while between the longtime rivals, as Syracuse will move on to the ACC next year along with Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. Georgetwon and Syracuse could meet in the Final Four though. The Hoyas were seeded #2 in the South region.
The Hoyas will take on #15 seed Florida Gulf Coast in the second round Friday in Philadelphia. The winner of that game will face either #7 San Diego St or #10 Oklahoma in the third round Sunday. Florida Gulf Coast is 24-10 and finished second in the Atlantic Sun with a 13-5 record, a game behind Mercer. The Eagles beat Mercer 88-75 in the Atlantic Sun Championship game. Florida Gulf Coast has won 5 straight games. The Eagles are making their NCAA tournament debut in only their second year eligible for postseason play after moving up to Division I. Georgetown and Florida Gulf Coast have never played each other before.
Georgetown started off the season 10-1 in non-conference play under coach John Thompson III. The only came to Indiana in overtime in a tournament in Brooklyn. The Hoyas have conference losses at Marquette, Pitt, at South Florida, and at Villanova. Georgetown has wins at St. Johns, Notre Dame and Rutgers twice, and at home against Providence, Louisville, Seton Hall, St. John’s Marquette, Cincinnati twice, Depaul, Syracuse twice, and UConn. The Hoyas also have wins over Duquesne, UCLA, Tennessee, and Texas. Georgetown had a game against Florida canceled because of bad weather that was supposed to be on an aircraft carrier. Georgetown is 16-11 ATS and the total is 10-14 this season.
Georgetown is outscoring teams 65-56 this season. The Hoyas are #6 in points allowed. The Hoyas are shooting 45.6% from the field including 35.8% from 3 point range. Georgetown makes 68% of their free throws. The Hoyas are averaging 33 rebounds per game and give up 28.1 per game. Georgetown opponents are shooting 37.6% from the field and 30.4% from 3 point range. The Hoyas are #4 in opponents’ field goal percentage and #35 in three point defense. Georgetown averages 15 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 13 turnovers per game.
Forward Otto Porter, Jr. averages 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 1 block per game. Guard Markel Starks averages 12.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Forward Greg Whittington averages 12.1 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Whittington has missed the last 18 games due to being academically ineligible. He is out indefinitely.Guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera averages 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Forward Nate Lubick averages 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists a game. Forward Mikael Hopkins averages 6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1 steal and 1.2 blocks per game. Jabril Trawick will also get significant minutes in the rotation. Center Tyler Adams is ineligible for the season.
Florida Gulf Coast is coached by Andy Enfield. The Eagles played a very tough non-conference schedule. FGCU has losses at VCU, at Duke, at St. John’s, at Iowa St, at Maine, at Mercer, at East Tennessee St, Lipscomb twice, and at Stetson. The Eagles beat Miami (FL) 63-51 in the second game of the season. FGCU also has wins over Toledo, Loyola-(MD), and Florida International. Mercer and Florida Gulf Coast were the only teams above .500 in the Atlantic Sun. The Eagles did beat Mercer twice, including on the Bears’ home floor in the championship game. FGCU is 4-0 ATS and and the total is 2-2 in the few board games for the Eagles.
Florida Gulf Coast is outscoring teams 73-67 this season. The Eagles are shooting 46% from the field and 33.9% from 3 point range. FGCU makes 67.7% of their free throws. The Eagles average 36.6 rebounds a game, and give up 31.7. FGCU opponents are shooting 40.6% from the field and 31.1% from 3 point range. The Eagles average 14 assists, 9 steals, 4 blocks and 15 turnovers.
Guard Sherwood Brown averages 15.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Guard Bernard Thompson averages 14 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. Forward Chase Fieler averages 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, a steal, and 1.3 blocks per game. Guard Brett Comer averages 7.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Forward Eric McKnight averages 6.7 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Christophe Varidel averages 6.1 points per game. Filip Cvjeticanin, Eddie Murray, and Dajuan Graf also get significant minutes.
Florida Gulf Coast is 9-0 ATS overall, 7-0 in neutral site games, 6-0 after a straight up win, against teams with winning records, and 5-0 after a cover.
Georgetown is 6-1 after a straight up loss, 9-2 after failing to cover, 10-3 against teams with winning records, 11-4 overall, 18-7 in neutral site games, 1-4 in NCAA tournament games, and in non-conference games.
Florida Gulf Coast will not be intimidated by playing Georgetown. The Eagles hung with Duke for a while until a 30-0 run by the Blue Devils ended any hopes of an upset. FGCU only trailed by 4 at halftime at Iowa St, one of the most difficult places to play in the country. Oh yeah, the Eagles also have a double digit win over Miami. Plus, throw in the fact that Georgetown has lost to double digit seeds in their last 4 trips to the tournament. I think Georgetown wins, but the gutsy Eagles keep it close.
