Skip To Main Content

Georgetown University Athletics

Big East Conference Hoya Saxa

Men's Basketball

Georgetown Vs. Xavier Asheville Postgame Quotes

Feb. 20, 2016

Recap | Box Score | USATSI Photo Gallery | Photo Gallery

Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III

On breakdowns in the second half...

A lot defensively, obviously. They executed. They're a very talented team. They play well together. They executed but with that being said, they shot almost 80 percent in the second half, and when someone does shoots that well against you ââ'¬" and it's not like they were bombing away ââ'¬" you have to go back and evaluate and re-evaluate every aspect of your defense.

On Georgetown's young team learning its offense...

With them (Xavier), our offense goes out the window, meaning they play that 1-3-1. It's not your traditional 1-3-1. They did it most of the game. It's more so about the guys making reads and making plays. We try to put them in different positions and they have to make plays. Xaiver did a good job of making you think one thing was open and taking it away. AS much as we picked it apart the first time up there, we didn't today.

On the 13-0 run to start the second half...

It's not easy. We've been in that position before and fought back and so we realize we can do that, but we've fought back before.

On Jessie Govan not getting as involved as last game...

I think it was their defense more so than anything on Jessie's part. They're big, they have big physical guys and they made a conscious effort to sit one person behind him and another person in his lap. They decided they wanted to take that away. And they did a good job of executing that. He's still learning, in terms of movement and when to get open and how to get open but I'll give the credit to them on that.

On Xavier's Edmond Sumner...

He was very hard to defend in the second half. He got to the rim whenever he wanted. He's very fast, very, very, very fast. It takes more than a single person to slow him down. He's a good player, he's a good basketball player.

Senior guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera

On the team's shot selection and needing to attack more...

There were a few times I think I should have attacked the basket or made plays. A lot of them we usually make, but they just didn't go in.

On Xavier's run to start the second half...

I felt like some of it was transition, just getting back and communication and losing guys that are capable of making those shots. The communication was not where it should be. They made some tough ones also.

Sophomore forward Isaac Copeland

On the difference between playing Xavier first time and today

The last time we played hard for 40 minutes and we came out flat to start the second half today across the board and they took advantage of it. I think that was the main key and the biggest difference.

Head Coach Chris Mack

Opening statement ...

"Coming into the game, we had a ton of respect and still do for Georgetown. Georgetown handled us in Cincinnati and they've played us as well as anyone has all year. Georgetown is extremely skilled; they're long and we just had trouble guarding their actions. We felt like we were a step behind in Cincinnati so for the last 36 to 48 hours we worked really hard on taking all the action that Georgetown runs and filter it so that our players could understand as best as they could without smoke coming out of their ears. It's a very difficult system to defend, especially when you have talented players like Georgetown has. Regardless, when you go on the road and take care of the ball the way we did; seven turnovers in the first half and then shoot the percentage that we did from the foul line, with James [Farr] and Edmond [Sumner] really getting us off to a great start by being 12-of-12, it's just a recipe to win on the road; keeping turnovers down again, making free throws. I was proud of our effort. It might be one of our most complete games all year. We were really locked in with all the details that Georgetown presents from an offensive stand point. Our guys have shared the ball all year long. We're a team that plays well with one another; I think that was pretty evident today. Anytime you can win on the road in this conference count your blessings and move forward."

On Xavier's second-half run and playing in transition ...

"We've been working a lot on 3-on-2, 2-on-1's in practice; we do a drill, it takes about four or five minutes a day. Our team has left a lot of points on the table in transition, but not here lately. We've done a much better job. We didn't feel like we were a step behind. When you go into an opponent's gym and be up at half time and go into the locker room, despite the momentum at the end of the first half, we just reassure our guys that we're fine. There are a lot of teams that would say 'hey, you're up two,' making your free throws and taking care of the ball, you better hit some shots and play in the second half with our hair on fire. Start the half like we're excited to be here and we did. We went out 15 to six; I think in the first four minutes."

On Georgetown's Jessie Govan and big players ...

"He scares you to death because our big guys are generally playing guys between six to eight feet of the basket unless their man is setting the ball screen and then he rolls anyways. And that was a big point of emphasis that when the ball maybe would go into the post to a guy like [Marcus] Derrickson or [Isaac] Copeland when they button-hook, our five can't fall asleep. He can't go down and double the post. He has to stay alert because [Jessie] Govan will sit there at the top of the key, like he did against Seton Hall. With more playing time he's gaining more confidence and he gets more shots, so that was a big point of emphasis; also knowing that he's not a stiff in the low post either. He made a huge play in game one against a senior of ours. He's a tough matchup. What a terrific talent he is."

Sophomore Guard J.P. Macura

On shooting more than 70 percent in the second half ...

"As shooters and post players, I mean, the ball sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn't go in. I'm happy that they were going in today. "

On 1-3-1 zone defense ...

"We have a lot of length in that zone and we pressure the ball a lot and I think we just speed teams up and make them turn the ball over. "

On a BIG EAST road win at this point in the season ...

"It's a great team win. I think we played great tonight and we gotta get better at practice on Monday."

On whether or not Georgetown deflated or lost steam after the run to start the second half ...

"Not really. They're a good team, they kept going but at the end we had too much talent and we were playing together and we ended up winning the game. "

On the difference in the last eight games with his play ...

"I'm just trying to get my teammates involved and playing hard and that's about it."

Freshman Guard Edmond Sumner

On what the game plan was coming out of the second half ...

"We wanted to pressure a little more and speed them up because Georgetown does a great job at slowing down. So we just wanted to speed them up. "

On what sparked the run to start the second half ...

"Going into the locker room, we weren't panicking. We knew we had to come out with better defense and again, we wanted to speed them up. That was our whole plan going in was speeding them up."

On the difference between the first GU-XU meeting and today's game ...

"The first game, I just took a lot of bad shots. I don't think I got my teammates involved enough and I was just trying to force it. This game, me and my teammates all opened up the driving lanes, so that was a big difference."

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jessie Govan

#15 Jessie Govan

C
6' 10"
Freshman
Isaac Copeland

#11 Isaac Copeland

F
6' 9"
Freshman
D

#4 D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera

G
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jessie Govan

#15 Jessie Govan

6' 10"
Freshman
C
Isaac Copeland

#11 Isaac Copeland

6' 9"
Freshman
F
D

#4 D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera

6' 3"
Freshman
G