THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 18, 1996 TAG: 9603180129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Georgetown's John Thompson can be as autocractic and unbending as the next coach. More autocratic and unbending than the next coach, in fact, and proud of it.
But that's not to say Thompson won't listen to suggestions.
With Georgetown trailing New Mexico 35-32 at halftime of a NCAA second-round game at the Richmond Coliseum Sunday, Thompson began outlining his second-half defensive strategy.
``The genius of coaching I am, I gave all of the instructions and told them how we going to trap and go back in zones,'' Thompson said. ``I thought that would shut them down. After I finished, Boubacar Aw said, `Coach, let us go man, and we'll get 'em.'
``I said: `Do it.' ''
Done. Georgetown scrapped its zone and harassed New Mexico into 10 second-half turnovers, pulling away for a 73-62 victory. The Hoyas (28-7) advance to the Sweet 16, where they'll meet Texas Tech (30-1) in the East Regional Thursday in Atlanta.
``So much for my knowledge,'' Thompson said. ``They came out and played man to man, and they played it really well. That turned the game around for us, really.''
So did the second-half shooting of point guard Allen Iverson, who shook off a slow start to finish with 25 points. The Hoyas also got stellar inside work from forward Jerome Williams and reserve center Jahidi White, who combined for 22 points and 23 rebounds.
The massive White, 6-foot-9 and conservatively listed at 270 pounds, scored nine points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots. New Mexico was unable to deal with him all afternoon, and had no hope after starting center Kenny Thomas fouled out with 7:20 left.
Thompson said White had played well early in the season, but fell out-of-shape, and is just now returning to early-season form.
``He went home,'' Thompson said. ``When you go home, Mama treats you kind of good when you're that big. I think Mama treated him real well and he didn't play real well anymore. He got tired real fast.''
So at practice, while the rest of the team watches film, White runs. And runs.
``The team runs a lot,'' White said. ``He gives a lot of people breaks. Most of the time he doesn't give me breaks.''
White wouldn't give New Mexico one Sunday. Neither would Iverson, who shot 2 of 8 and had three fouls in the first half but 7 of 12 in the second, scoring on his customary array of dazzling drives and long 3-pointers.
``When he's hitting 25-footers, you can't go out and guard him, because he's quick enough to go by you,'' said New Mexico guard David Gibson, who guarded Iverson.
The best way to defend any Hoya Saturday was to put him on the foul line. Georgetown hit just 13 of 31 free throws, keeping the Lobos in the game long after the matter could have been decided.
``We practice them (free throws) like hell,'' Thompson said. ``You can't imagine how much we practice them. It's gotten to the point where if they go in, I get scared.''
Georgetown shoots just 64 percent from the line, and Thompson said he's tried for 10 years, in vain, to make the Hoyas a good free-throw shooting eam.
While he doesn't know how to do that, Thompson did know enough to listen to Aw, a sophomore from Senegal who is a defensive specialist.
``Coach Thompson is a nice coach,'' Aw said. ``We are allowed to express ourselves. When you have something to say, you say it.''
And it doesn't fall on deaf ears. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
John Thompson and Allen Iverson savor Georgetown's 73-62 win over
New Mexico
Allen Iverson, left, missed 6 of 8 shots and picked up three
first-half fouls, but finished with 25 points. Teammate Victor Page
liked his effort.
by CNB