Handling Hoyas no walk in park

Every game is important in a league as arduous as the Big East. But ESPN’s Big Monday billing… Every game is important in a league as arduous as the Big East. But ESPN’s Big Monday billing brings a heightened importance when Pitt (14-2, 2-1 Big East) hosts conference foe Georgetown (13-1, 3-0).

The last time the two teams met – in Madison Square Garden for the Big East Championship last year – Georgetown demoralized Pitt, 65-42. The Panthers haven’t forgotten.

“I think about our two losses to them all the time,” Ronald Ramon said. “Both of those defeats took a ring away from us, so it’s something that stays with you. They’re coming into our house this time, so we have to make sure we protect it.”

That’s just what Ramon has done – protect it. Since assuming the point guard duties in the wake of Levance Fields’ injury, Ramon has 28 assists and 10 turnovers. That equates to a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio, the same ratio Fields had before his injury.

There have been some concerns that handling the ball would take away 3-point shot opportunities from Ramon, but in Pitt’s 84-70 win against Seton Hall on Saturday, he balanced both tasks efficiently.

Ramon scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range and had eight assists to just two turnovers.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon thinks it’s the defense that dictates Ramon’s shot totals as opposed to the position he’s playing.

“Ronald’s going to get more shots against a zone like today,” Dixon said on Saturday. “He’s not going to get as many shots against the man-to-man, it’s just the nature of that defense.”

Georgetown will also, at times, feature a similar zone look to that of Seton Hall, but the Hoyas will primarily play man-to-man defense against Pitt. Regardless of which defense they’re in, the Hoyas will trap the Panthers, and often.

Georgetown is a sound defensive team that grinds out its opponents, allowing few easy baskets.

The Hoyas’ defense will have to stand up in a tough environment against a Pitt team that averages 78.9 points per game. That means containing Sam Young, who has scored in double figures every game so far this year, including a career-high 28 points against Seton Hall.

Young, who is from the Washington, D.C., area and grew up a Georgetown fan, is also looking for vindication.

“We played them tough last year, but they won two out of three from us,” Young said. “This time we’re ready for a little revenge, I feel like we’re the better team until they prove otherwise.”

On the offensive end, Georgetown strikes a good balance with three legitimate pro prospects, led by 7-foot-2-inch center Roy Hibbert. Some would contend that Hibbert made a mistake by opting out of the NBA Draft last year, but continued good play in the conference should have the big man right back to the top of most draft boards.

Georgetown runs the Princeton offense – constant motion, ball movement and back-door cuts with an emphasis on teamwork – which at times hasn’t seemed to fit the talent that the Hoyas possess, particularly Hibbert.

Georgetown plays with tremendous balance, and Hibbert might sometimes be too unselfish in the system. However, even if he’s not scoring, Georgetown has to get the ball to Hibbert on almost every possession. Hibbert is most dangerous drawing double-teams and passing the ball out of the low post to open shooters and cutters.

Jonathan Wallace runs the Georgetown offense, but it’s versatile freshman Austin Freeman – a former McDonald’s All-American – who allows the Hoyas offense to jell.

Freeman is a pure shooter and features a signature step-back 3-pointer. Freeman also has the explosiveness to blow by his defender and finish strong with either hand. If Sam Young draws DaJuan Summers – the Hoyas’ versatile swingman – on defense, Freeman could pose a serious matchup problem for Gilbert Brown.

The wild card for Georgetown could be 6-foot-9-inch forward Patrick Ewing Jr. coming off the bench. Although he doesn’t score that much (6.9 points per game) Ewing Jr. can step outside. His biggest assets are his defense and his intensity.

Georgetown is gifted with size and athleticism throughout its lineup, but it’s the Hoyas’ maturity that presents the biggest threat.

The Hoyas boast a lineup that has a combined 312 collegiate starts and they return four starters from their Final Four team a year ago.

“It’s not their height that specifically concerns me, but rather the fact that they’re just good players,” Dixon said. “We have five different starters from when we faced them last year.”

If Georgetown does have a weakness, it’s the teams inability to knockdown its free throws. The Hoyas have only shot 60.9 percent as a group from the line.

If the Panthers can turn the game into a free-throw contest late, they may find themselves with a good chance to avenge last year’s conference championship loss.