The Georgetown Hoyas have gotten off to an excellent start in 2010/11. They are 6-0 against the nation's 24th-toughest schedule, with solid wins at Old Dominion and on a neutral floor against North Carolina State. Tonight, however, they will face a tougher test than they've faced all year. They are scheduled to play against No. 9 Missouri in a "neutral" game in Kansas City's Sprint Center. The game will begin at 9 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU and ESPN3.com.
The Tigers are also undefeated, but haven't done it against quite as good a schedule as Georgetown. In fact, they almost lost to Western Illinois in the first game of the season. If the Hoyas have anything to hang their hats on, it's that they enter this game battle-tested. That's something John Thompson III mentioned in this Tarik El-Bashir article earlier today.
"Most people think I'm crazy," Thompson said with a laugh as he pored over video of Missouri early Monday. "And I might be. Most people don't put together a schedule like I did this year, or even last year. But I felt like this was the best way to prepare this group for Big East play."
The downside is that Missouri is the kind of athletic team that gave Georgetown fits last year. They have 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes a game, and they play the kind of pressing style that coach Mike Anderson loves to do. Missouri is really deep at the guard position, with Marcus Denmon, Michael Dixon, Kim English and the Pressey brothers. Chris Wright, Jason Clark and Austin Freeman will have to be on their game tonight.
For more, read Casual Hoya's Q&A with SB Nation's Missouri blog Rock M Nation.