Story By: Richard Thomas
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
Just days removed from yet another disappointing loss to the SMU Mustangs, the Hoyas are looking to get back on track this week with the final week of “tune-up” games before the Big East opener on January 2nd. Question is? Are they ready for it?
After a quality loss, if you could call it that against Syracuse, the Hoyas returned home to face a SMU team that should have been outmatched by the Hoyas line-up, instead they were dominated by a Mustangs team in the second half in what Hoyas Head Coach Patrick Ewing called a “defensive letdown.” Seems like we have been using that word a lot over the past few seasons when it comes to this team.
Next on the slate, Appalachian State. Now we all know that we can’t call any of these games “gimmies” for the Hoyas. Nothing is coming easy, even with the fresh faces on the court this season.
Jessie Govan led the Hoyas with 17 points to go with seven rebounds. Freshman guards James Akinjo (16 points, seven rebounds) and Mac McClung (13 points) made up the bulk of the rest the Hoyas’ offense. So where was the remainder of the Hoyas offense, well just ask SMU, who shot 47.5 percent from the field in this game and hitting on 20 of 25 from three point range.
As a team, Appalachian State is averaging 85.3 points per game on 48.5% shooting from the field, 37.3% from behind the arc and 67.8% from the foul line this season. Their 4-6 record doesn’t really reflect how this team from Boone, NC is really playing this season.
Prediction: Hoyas by 10, 64-54
