The best part about the few week or so is the teams that realize non-conference games are for great games, not blowouts, so they make sure to put one or two on the schedule. Florida and Georgetown knew that, and they did it.
Forget that, the best part about the first opening games is the gimmicks. And this one also involves playing on another aircraft carrier. The Hoyas and Gators will play aboard the USS Bataan in Jacksonville.
Not much separates these two teams. The Hoyas are a team that is paced by steady play from the guards and wings, namely sophomore Otto Porter, who is due for a huge season. Much-hyped freshman D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera is expected to come in and replace the now-graduated Jason Clark and his 14 ppg. In fact, there’s a lot Georgetown has to replace: Clark, Hollis Thompson (12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Henry Sims (11.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.5 apg). Porter will fill some holes, but the biggest question mark is who will pick up the defense? Glue guy Nate Lubick should help (started all 33 games last season), as should Markel Starks (25 starts, 7.1 ppg).
Florida? Well, they stay Florida. Erving Walker is really the only player they lost, with volume (understatement) shooter Kenny Boynton back (15.9 ppg, 44-percent from the field), as well as slasher Mike Rosario and a tall shooter in 6-10 Erik Murphy (10.5 ppg in 2011-12). Patric Young will be asked to shoulder just as much of the front-court load as last season and he’s got the size to prove it. The biggest question mark in this game is if the suspension of point guard Scottie Wilbekin is going to change anything in the Gators attack. Boynton will take over at the point for the three games he’s out and expect Rosario, who played a sizable amount of point in two seasons at Rutgers, to play some as well.
Weather might have an affect on this one, the same as it will on the Ohio State/Marquette game. Wind will decide how much these teams shoot from deep, which makes it advantage Georgetown, who will be more adept at getting to the rim. Florida will also have to avoid turnovers and bad shots. Unfortunately, with shot-happy guards handling the ball like Boynton and Rosario, that might be a challenge.
Remember a few years back when playing outside was an amazing event? Now it’s aircraft carriers. Your move, college football.
David Harten is the editor of The Backboard Chronicles. You can follow him on Twitter at @David_Harten.
