Memphis Tigers at #16 Georgetown Hoyas
Verizon Center – Washington, D.C.
Thursday, December 22, 2011, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Georgetown -5
Current Line: Georgetown -5 1/2
Opening Total: 142
Current Total: 145
Opening Money Line: Georgetown -215 / Memphis +185
Current Money Line: Georgetown -230 / Memphis +190
The 6-4 Memphis Tigers and the #16 9-1 Georgetown Hoyas meet for the second time this year. Georgetown beat Memphis 91-88 in overtime in the fifth place game of the Maui Invitational last month. Now the Tigers look to avenge that loss Thursday night in Washington, D.C. Memphis, coached by Josh Pastner, has additional losses to Michigan in Maui, and to undefeated Murray St and Louisville. Memphis has wins over Tennessee in Maui, and at Miami-(FL). Georgetown is coached by John Thompson III. The only loss for the Hoyas came to Kansas in the first round in Maui. Outside of the Maui tournament, Georgetown has played a pretty soft schedule. However, the Hoyas do have a win at Alabama in the Big East/SEC challenge. Georgetown leads the series 9-2 against Memphis including 3-0 in Washington. The Hoyas have won 3 straight games against Memphis.
Memphis is outscoring opponents 82-75 this season. The Tigers are shooting 48.7% from the field, including 38.9% from 3 point range. Memphis makes 69.5% of their free throws. The Tigers average 36.2 rebounds a game, and have a rebounding margin of -1.1. Memphis averages 14.5 assists, 12.5 turnovers, 8.1 steals, and 6.4 blocks a game. Tiger opponents are shooting 40.8% from the field including 33.2% from 3 point range. Memphis forces 14.2 turnovers a game.
Memphis sophomore guard Will Barton averages 20.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1 block a game. He leads the Tigers in scoring and rebounding. Joe Jackson averages 13.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Adonis Thomas averages 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds a game. The top three scorers all shoot at least 34.5% from 3 point range. Tarik Black averages 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks a game to lead the team. Charles Carmouche averages 8.3 points, 3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2 steals a game to lead the team. He is suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. Chris Crawford leads the team in assists with 4 a game, and also averages 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks a game.
Georgetown is outscoring opponents 78-58 this season. The Hoyas are shooting 49.2% from the field, including 37% from 3 point range. Georgetown makes 74.5% of their free throws. The Hoyas average 36.9 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +6.7. Georgetown averages 15.2 assists, 11.5 turnovers, 6.8 steals, and 4.8 blocks a game. Hoya opponents are shooting 38.4% from the field, including 27.7% from 3 point range. Georgetown forces 15.2 turnovers a game.
Georgetown guard Jason Clark averages 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. He leads the team in scoring and steals, and shoots 39.6% from 3 point range. Hollis Thompson averages 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He makes 50% of his three point attempts. Henry Sims averages 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 blocks a game. He leads the team in assists and blocks. Markel Starks averages 9.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists a game. Otto Porter averages 8.6 points, 6.1 rebounds to lead the team, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. Reserve center Tyler Adams is out indefinitely with a heart condition.
Georgetown is 4-0 against the spread and the total is 1-3 this season. Memphis is 3-4-1 ATS and the total is 6-1-1 this season. The favorite is 5-0 ATS and the over is 4-0 in this series recently. The Tigers are 4-1-1 ATS an underdog, 4-1 as an underdog of 6.5 points or less, 3-1-1 as a road underdog, 16-7 as a road dog of 6.5 points or less, 7-21-1 in non-conference games, 1-4-1 against teams with winning records, 1-7 in Thursday games, and 0-4-1 against Big East teams. The Hoyas are 5-0 ATS overall, 10-1 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 4-1 against teams from Conference USA, 34-16-1 in non-conference games, 4-9 at home, and 2-6 against teams with winning records.
Memphis has been disappointing this season after starting the season ranked #10 in the preseason rankings. They have also played a very difficult schedule. Georgetown allows only 58 points a game, but Memphis scored 88 against them in the narrow loss in Maui. Granted the game did go into overtime, but that is by far the most points Georgetown has allowed this season. I think the Hoyas will do better defensively this time and win another close game.
