Commentary

Josh Pastner's Georgetown issue

Memphis needs to control the flow early -- or else it'll look like its loss to Kansas

Originally Published: December 23, 2010
By LaRue Cook | ESPN The Magazine

The Memphis Tigers must control the flow from the tip against the Georgetown Hoyas in their top-20 battle Thursday -- or it's going to be a long one.

If coach Josh Pastner's club allows senior Julian Vaughn and junior Henry Sims to establish an inside presence, we might see a replay of the Tigers' 81-68 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks on Dec. 7.

The Jayhawks' low-post tandem of twins Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris combined to score 30 points and joined with Thomas Robinson to grab 25 rebounds; that was only one fewer than the Tigers as a team. So pushing the pace and keeping the Hoyas on their heels and out of half-court sets should be the plan, particularly since the Georgetown post players aren't nearly as athletic as the Morris twins.

One problem: Georgetown has shown through 11 games that it doesn't mind running and gunning.


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