The Hoyas attempt to get their offense back on track and push their record to 3-0 with a visit to Savannah State on Saturday at 1 pm EST. You can listen to Rich Chvotkin call the game like it’s Hickory High v. South Bend Central, but no TV for this one.
The Tigers of Savannah State come into this game 2-1 after home wins over Webber International (?) and Central Connecticut State (?!), followed by a loss at North Florida(…). The game is a return trip after the Hoyas were awfully rude to their guests in a 100-38 stomping of Savannah State last year. The Tigers are coached by one Horace Broadnax, who comes in at No. 87 on the top 100 Hoyas of all time, having played point guard on the 1984 championship squad.
Savannah State features three returning leaders. Rashad Hassan, a 6’7″ forward who is the top returning scorer, is averaging 8.3 ppg and 4.7 rpg on the young season. Arnold Louis, another 6’7″ forward, is leading the team in rebounds at 9.7 per while chipping in 9 points per outing. Finally, Tracy Rankins, a 5’10″ senior mite, is leading the team in scoring at 13 ppg. The drop-off from there is steep, scoring wise, so expect to hear those three names and, if all goes well, not much more.
Savannah Sate is still a probationary Division I school, without a conference but in the market (if you know somebody). Their expectations are accordingly modest…
but that’s no excuse for The Hoyas to sleep, particularly after Tuesday’s debacle. The Hoyas need to capitalize on the opportunity for improvement in a hostile arena. Offensive execution and aggressiveness on the boards are both areas for improvement, and the Monroe-Wright-Freeman-Clark quartet could use some support from anyone else on the team. This is the first of four very winnable games for the Hoyas–Lafayette, Mt. St. Mary’s, and American follow, all at home–before their Butler-Washington gauntlet in mid-December. Now’s the time to work out the kinks and to light a fire in the right places.
Prediction: Georgetown 75, Savannah State 50.
