- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
any word on out of conference games for next year?
THE OFFICIAL GEORGETOWN BASKETBALL SEASON THREAD
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by lmbassclown,
- Start date
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
Memphis series is going to resume.
I would guess Temple was a home and home as well but I'm not sure.
I would guess Temple was a home and home as well but I'm not sure.
- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
[table][tr][td]Day[/td][td]Date[/td][td]Opponent[/td][td]Location[/td][/tr][tr][td]Friday[/td][td]Nov. 12[/td][td]at Old Dominion[/td][td]Norfolk, Va.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Monday[/td][td]Nov. 15[/td][td]Tulane[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Thursday[/td][td]Nov. 18[/td][td]vs. Coastal Carolina+[/td][td]Charleston, S.C.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Friday[/td][td]Nov. 19[/td][td]TBA+ [/td][td]Charleston, S.C.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Nov. 20[/td][td]TBA+[/td][td]Charleston, S.C.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday [/td][td]Nov. 27[/td][td]UNC-Asheville[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Tuesday[/td][td]Nov. 30[/td][td]vs. Missouri #[/td][td]Kansas City, Mo.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Dec. 4[/td][td]Utah State[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Thursday[/td][td]Dec. 9[/td][td]at Temple[/td][td]Philadelphia, Pa.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Sunday[/td][td]Dec. 12[/td][td]Appalachian State[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Dec. 18[/td][td]Loyola (Md.)[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Thursday[/td][td]Dec. 23[/td][td]at Memphis[/td][td]Memphis, Tenn.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Wednesday[/td][td]Dec. 29[/td][td]at Notre Dame *[/td][td]South Bend, Ind.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Jan. 1[/td][td]DePaul * [/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Monday[/td][td]Jan. 3[/td][td]at St. John's *[/td][td]New York, N.Y.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Jan. 8[/td][td]West Virginia *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Wednesday[/td][td]Jan. 12[/td][td]Pittsburgh *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Jan. 15[/td][td]at Rutgers *[/td][td]Piscataway, N.J.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Tuesday[/td][td]Jan. 18[/td][td]at Seton Hall *[/td][td]Newark, N.J.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Wednesday[/td][td]Jan. 26[/td][td]St. John's *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Jan. 29[/td][td]at Villanova *[/td][td]Philadelphia, Pa.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Monday[/td][td]Jan. 31[/td][td]Louisville *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Feb. 5[/td][td]Providence *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Wednesday[/td][td]Feb. 9[/td][td]at Syracuse *[/td][td]Syracuse, N.Y.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Sunday[/td][td]Feb. 13[/td][td]Marquette *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Wednesday[/td][td]Feb. 16[/td][td]at Connecticut *[/td][td]Storrs, Conn.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Feb. 19[/td][td]at USF *[/td][td]Tampa, Fla.[/td][/tr][tr][td]Wednesday[/td][td]Feb. 23[/td][td]Cincinnati *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Feb. 26[/td][td]Syracuse *[/td][td]Verizon Center[/td][/tr][tr][td]Saturday[/td][td]Mar. 5[/td][td]at Cincinnati *[/td][td]Cincinnati, Ohio[/td][/tr][tr][td]Tues.-Sat.[/td][td]Mar. 8 - 12[/td][td]BIG EAST Championship[/td][td]New York, N.Y.[/td][/tr][/table]
- 293
- 11
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2003
looks like we had a great midnight madness this past weekend. good to see the whole school pack it in mcdonough, wale showed up even tho the cameraman clearly didn't realize who wale was. great to see one more NBA jersey go up on the wall, big ups to monroe's momma for showing up.
really great to see the team take the court that night. i got a good feeling about this season, seems like everyone's ready to play. excited to see what the 2010 recruiting class has to offer. anyone else notice bowen is wearing 23? can't remember the last time a hoya suited up in that number. let's just hope he can play jumpman.
considering all the flak that jt3 has gotten about his recruiting. not only did he shut a few people up by getting mikael hopkins, but great to see that we had a ton of recruits visiting. even better than we got a verbal from one even before the night's festivities began. word to 6'10 brandon bolden. and tyler adams, you don't want to play for coach k. if you're coming to our MM despite committing to duke, i think your gut is telling you to come here. as if monroe's jersey on the wall didn't help drive that point home.
word to allen also for all his information and support, especially keeping us up to date in the college basketball thread.
let's get it this season.
really great to see the team take the court that night. i got a good feeling about this season, seems like everyone's ready to play. excited to see what the 2010 recruiting class has to offer. anyone else notice bowen is wearing 23? can't remember the last time a hoya suited up in that number. let's just hope he can play jumpman.
considering all the flak that jt3 has gotten about his recruiting. not only did he shut a few people up by getting mikael hopkins, but great to see that we had a ton of recruits visiting. even better than we got a verbal from one even before the night's festivities began. word to 6'10 brandon bolden. and tyler adams, you don't want to play for coach k. if you're coming to our MM despite committing to duke, i think your gut is telling you to come here. as if monroe's jersey on the wall didn't help drive that point home.
word to allen also for all his information and support, especially keeping us up to date in the college basketball thread.
let's get it this season.
- 293
- 11
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2003
From ESPN.com's Dave Telep...
John Thompson was preparing for his first official practice of the season Friday night. At the same time, junior forward Brandon Bolden was preparing to commit to the Hoyas.
"We went in the back into Coach Thompson's office while it was going on," Bolden said. "It hadn't kicked off yet. He was definitely happy (when I committed). He was waiting on when I was going to do it."
Bolden might have had an idea he was ready to commit, but his AAU coach, George Burgess, was somewhat caught off guard. "I didn't think he was going to do it," Burgess said. "Florida was on him hard but he was rock solid. He really liked Florida but he said with the things he does Georgetown was the best fit."
What's interesting about Bolden is that while he's been seen on the circuit by scouts, it wasn't until this fall that his stock began to heat up. A native of South Carolina, he transferred to Charlottesville (Va.) Miller School this fall and word began leaking out of his improvement.
This could very well be a case of the Hoyas getting far enough ahead of the pack to lock up a good player before many of their counterparts had a chance to evaluate Bolden, let alone recruit him.
"I always knew that's where I wanted to go. It was just a matter of the time of when I was going to do it," Bolden said. "My mom gave me the green light to do it when I felt it was right."
Bolden's pledge was the first high-major commitment to emerge from Friday night's festivities.
John Thompson was preparing for his first official practice of the season Friday night. At the same time, junior forward Brandon Bolden was preparing to commit to the Hoyas.
"We went in the back into Coach Thompson's office while it was going on," Bolden said. "It hadn't kicked off yet. He was definitely happy (when I committed). He was waiting on when I was going to do it."
Bolden might have had an idea he was ready to commit, but his AAU coach, George Burgess, was somewhat caught off guard. "I didn't think he was going to do it," Burgess said. "Florida was on him hard but he was rock solid. He really liked Florida but he said with the things he does Georgetown was the best fit."
What's interesting about Bolden is that while he's been seen on the circuit by scouts, it wasn't until this fall that his stock began to heat up. A native of South Carolina, he transferred to Charlottesville (Va.) Miller School this fall and word began leaking out of his improvement.
This could very well be a case of the Hoyas getting far enough ahead of the pack to lock up a good player before many of their counterparts had a chance to evaluate Bolden, let alone recruit him.
"I always knew that's where I wanted to go. It was just a matter of the time of when I was going to do it," Bolden said. "My mom gave me the green light to do it when I felt it was right."
Bolden's pledge was the first high-major commitment to emerge from Friday night's festivities.
- 293
- 11
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2003
Team preview: Georgetown
Blue Ribbon Yearbook
Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 335 Division I teams. To order the complete 2010-11 edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-877-807-4857.
(Information in this team report is as of Oct. 1.)
COACH AND PROGRAM
The 2009-10 Georgetown season was a difficult one for many to fully comprehend. Just when you decided they ranked below the top tier of Big East teams, the Hoyas would surprise by coming up with performances that made folks scratch their heads and wonder why they weren't a weekly visitor to the Top 10 and a contender for the Final Four, the same place where coach John Thompson III had taken them three years earlier.
For example, Georgetown basketball enjoyed back-to-back electric Saturdays inside the raucous confines of the Verizon Center. With President Obama in the house to watch them play Duke, the Hoyas shot an astounding 71.7 percent from the field and got 21 points each from Greg Monroe and Chris Wright in a decisive 89-77 victory over a Blue Devil team that eventually would be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis.
Seven days later, with snow piling up one foot at a time, the Hoyas, behind sharpshooting guards Austin Freeman and Jason Clark, blitzed then-No. 2 Villanova with a season-high 103 points and took a 13-point victory. More than 10,000 fans who braved the weather -- dozens of whom shared a Metro subway car with 'Nova's Scottie Reynolds going to the game -- screamed their lungs out and later celebrated by dotting our nation's capital with snow angels.
Of course, a basketball season isn't all peaches and cream, as former Hoya Allen Iverson used to say. There were a few rotten apples in there as well. Georgetown didn't intend to win them all, but it also didn't intend to drop its first game of the season to Old Dominion on its campus court. Four days after playing close to the perfect game against Duke, the Hoyas laid an egg at the Verizon Center to USF, coughing up a nine-point halftime lead. They inexplicably lost to a Rutgers team that had lost nine of its previous 11 Big East games.
Georgetown Hoyas
Last Season 23-11 (.676)
Conference Record 10-8 (t-7th)
Starters Lost/Returning 1/4
Coach John Thompson III (Princeton '8
Record At School 139-62 (6 years)
Career Record 207-104 (10 years)
RPI Last 5 years 26-6-8-63-15
The lowest point of the season came at the end. The Hoyas, seeded third, couldn't find a way to slow No. 14 Ohio in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and were sent packing after a 97-83 loss, the most points allowed by a Thompson-coached team in the Big Dance. What made the sudden knockout even more stunning was that Georgetown had just come off an impressive showing in the Big East Tournament. The Hoyas won three games to get to their third conference championship game in four years, and came within a basket by West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler at the buzzer of taking the game into overtime.
But Georgetown didn't have a single senior on last year's team. Its strength of schedule ranked No. 1 or No. 2 for much of the season. Out of conference, the Hoyas knocked off Butler, the NCAA runner-up, as well as two other participants in March Madness, Temple and Washington. They were fourth in the nation in field-goal percentage and 25th in three-point shooting.
All in all, you got the feeling the Hoyas were better than 23-11, and 10-8 in the Big East.
"We were young, but I didn't want to talk about that," Thompson said. "We didn't have any seniors and we didn't want to use that as an excuse, but you have to go through some growing pains, and this team went through some growing pains."
The Hoyas lost one player off last year's team, but he was a big piece. Greg Monroe was one of the nation's best players, an anchor that added terrific passing skills, particularly from the high post or the point in Thompson's "Prince-town" offense, to his abilities as a fine scorer and tenacious rebounder. But he went into the NBA draft and was taken in the lottery (No. 7 pick overall) by the Detroit Pistons. The Georgetown offense spent two seasons flowing through Monroe, capitalizing on his uncanny vision and court awareness. Now, there will be adjustments.
"We have a lot of experience coming back," Thompson said. "We only lost one player. We have some talented freshmen coming in to add to our roster. So we're not looking at it as how do we replace Greg. There isn't one person who's going to fill the void. There's just a heightened sense of responsibility that each of our players will have. It's not necessarily that we're going to have a player move into his position."
With an excellent trio of guards returning led by conference player-of-the-year candidate Austin Freeman, who Thompson says is "healthy and ready to go" after being diagnosed last March with diabetes, the Hoyas will shift their focus to the perimeter but will remain flexible with their offense. One of their challenges will be finding some consistent inside scoring, which presents a change for the holdover big men who focused on defense, rebounding and doing the little things.
"Depth is going to be very important," Thompson said. "The sophomore class is more ready and prepared. We're going to go much deeper this year. Our big men need to fill the void left by Greg's loss. We're not looking for one particular person. We're going to have to do it by committee."
It will be a challenge, but Thompson has kept Georgetown on the right track through his six years on the Hilltop. He has averaged 23 wins per season. The Hoyas have made the NCAAs four times, including 2007 when they won 30 games, captured the Big East Tournament title and the NCAA East Regional, and made the Final Four.
PLAYERS
PG-CHRIS WRIGHT (6-1, 208 lbs., SR, #4, 15.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 35.1 mpg, .470 FG, .336 3PT, .777 FT, St. John's College HS/Washington, D.C./Bowie, Md.). Wright, a point guard who can score, hiked his numbers in all the applicable areas last season. He increased his scoring average by almost three points, his assists per game by nearly a half-dime and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.79:1 as compared to 1.58:1 the previous year. And he did it without resting much -- his average minutes ranked him eighth in the league.
The Hoyas are a much better team when Wright scores, and that was evident last season. Wright hit for 10 or fewer points seven times in conference play, and Georgetown went 2-5 in those games. He has had a tendency in the past to get down on himself if he doesn't play up to his standards. But added to his responsibilities as point guard is a big one -- being the team leader, along with Austin Freeman -- and he must keep his head in the game at all times. But with his quickness, shooting touch, passing skills and court sense, Wright will continue to be a valuable contributor.
"Chris has done a great job for us," Thompson said. "He has to score and help his teammates. I don't think it's a conflict. I like a [point] guard that can score. But he also has to be unselfish, and when he does both, we will be successful. He'll do a good job of finding his teammates for quality shots and help them be better."
SG-AUSTIN FREEMAN (6-3, 227 lbs., SR, #15, 16.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 34.4 mpg, .525 FG, .444 3PT, .856 FT, DeMatha HS/Mitchellville, Md.). Freeman blossomed into one of the Big East's best guards last season. He was the only true guard to finish in the top 15 in field-goal percentage in the league, ranking 11th, and wound up third in three-point percentage and fourth in accuracy from the foul line. He was at his best in conference games, averaging 19.5 points.
Freeman erupted for a pair of incredible second-half outbursts, going for 28 of his 33 points in a January win over Connecticut, and running off 24 of his 29 points in a victory the next month over Louisville.
Freeman is a technically sound player, someone who is deceptively quick but never seems to be in a rush.
In addition to his abundant basketball talent, Freeman has guts. Late last season, Freeman felt some stomach discomfort and decided to see a doctor. The examination revealed he had diabetes. He missed a March 1 game against West Virginia while being evaluated but returned for the Hoyas' next game as if nothing had happened, scoring a team-high 24 points, and went on to finish the season. He has adopted a steady regimen to deal with his health issues and Georgetown's medical personnel will be there to assist every step of the way.
"It's a life-changer for him," Thompson said. "It's a huge adjustment, but he's already made it. We just have to monitor him closely; we know if he plays 10 minutes he's going to be tired. He and I will work together, but we don't anticipate having any problems with his health.
"Austin can score in different ways. The thing is, he averaged 20 points in conference play. He can put the ball in the basket. He can score efficiently. Other people score a lot of points, but they don't value their shots. Austin doesn't need a lot of shots."
As one of Georgetown's leaders, Freeman will be asked to do more of everything -- score, rebound, defend, pass -- to help the Hoyas have a successful season. For that reason, when asked if he thought Freeman was a Big East player-of-the-year candidate, Thompson replied, "Who else could it be?"
SG-JASON CLARK (6-2, 170 lbs., JR, #21, 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 33.4 mpg, .475 FG, .424 3PT, .758 FT, Bishop O'Connell/Arlington, Va.). Clark took a giant step last season, going from freshman reserve to sophomore starter and doubling his scoring average from his rookie season. He led the team with 67 three-point baskets, and his 1.97 treys per game were 11th in the Big East. He posted a high game of 24 points in the Hoyas' win over then-No. 2 Villanova. He also played good defense, finishing second on the team in steals and combining with Wright for an even 100 using his long arms and quickness.
"We'll see growth again this year," Thompson said. "He learned a lot as a sophomore. He's worked as hard as anyone in the offseason, and we'll watch his progress continue this year. His shot selection is good. He can play good defense against guys smaller than him and bigger than him."
The Hoyas will expect Clark to handle the ball better this season (67 assists, 67 turnovers in 2009-10) and get to the free-throw line a little more (only 62 free throws attempted in 34 games). But his presence, along with that of Freeman and Wright, gives Georgetown three perimeter threats, and the team's ability to spread the floor will make it tough on opposing defenses given the outstanding shooting percentages of Clark and his two backcourt mates.
SF-HOLLIS THOMPSON (6-7, 205 lbs., SO, #1, 4.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 19.5 mpg, .451 FG, .438 3PT, .615 FT, Loyola HS/Los Angeles). Thompson made a splash as a freshman with his smooth moves in the paint and his ability to hit the three-ball from the wing. He will utilize that versatility this season by seeing time at both the small forward and power forward positions, taking a taller defender away from the paint, stretching the defense, and also going inside.
Thompson proved to be an adept shooter from distance last season. He was second on the team in percentage from beyond the arc, and his 28 threes were fourth. He accounted for a three-point basket every 23.7 minutes of playing time, a pace that topped that of Wright. Thompson scored a season-high 16 points against Lafayette, and he broke into double figures three times in Big East games. His length helped contribute to 31 steals in his 34 games. He also started two games while Freeman was undergoing an examination that revealed diabetes.
"Hopefully we'll see similar growth in for him during his sophomore year," Thompson said. "He has good size, the ability to get his shot off. Most freshmen spend a lot of time trying to figure it out, but he figured it out. We're looking forward to seeing him continue improving."
PF-JULIAN VAUGHN (6-9, 247 lbs., SR, #22, 7.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.3 spg, 22.6 mpg, .576 FG, .273 3PT, .571 FT, Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson, Va./Florida State University). Vaughn, who transferred from Florida State before his sophomore year, was content to do the dirty work around the basket and help Monroe on the boards. He did an effective job of clogging the lane to stem opponents' drives to the hoop and was second on the team in blocked shots behind Monroe.
Now Vaughn will have to take a step up in all areas. While he was second on the team to Monroe in rebounds last season, he pulled down less than half as many on average and must assert himself better on the glass.
Offensively, the Hoyas are in need of a steady, consistent inside scorer. Although Monroe led the team in field-goal percentage, Vaughn tended to pick his spots. But he knows that's different now, which is why he worked diligently in Washington's Kenner Summer League on his offense. He does have some skills offensively; he scored 19 points against Providence and 18 against Washington, and handed out six assists versus Pittsburgh.
"He's going to have to rebound, but everyone this year is going to have to rebound for us," Thompson said. "We're not big. That being said, Julian has to play great defense for us. We need him to be aggressive. Julian worked very hard in the offseason at the offensive end. We think he'll be more confident offensively and be good on the boards."
C-HENRY SIMS (6-11, 220 lbs., JR, #30, 1.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.1 spg, 6.8 mpg, .500 FG, .000 3PT, .565 FT, Mount St. Joseph/Baltimore). Sims is the only true post player on this team, but his game remains a work in progress. He established a career high in the non-conference part of the schedule with 12 points against American. That, however, turned out to be slightly less than one-third of his scoring output for the entire season.
Sims worked in the offseason to get stronger, so when he comes in a game he can be relied upon to aggressively crash the boards. Whether he can provide more offense, however, is the question.
F-JERRELLE BENIMON (6-7, 242 lbs., SO, #20, 1.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.2 spg, 12.1 mpg, .394 FG, .167 3PT, .667 FT, Fauquier HS/ Warrenton, Va.). As a freshman, Benimon embraced his role -- a guy who came in and fearlessly crashed the boards and never backed down against a bigger opponent. After he pulled down six rebounds against Villanova, Wildcats coach Jay Wright called him "a beast." Benimon didn't show a lot in the way of offensive skills, but the Hoyas don't need that much scoring from him. As Thompson expressed it, "We're going to have to rebound by committee, and Jerrelle is a member of that committee." He should be the first big man off the bench in the early going while Georgetown's two big freshmen get acclimated.
Blue Ribbon Previews
Big East Take an Inside look at the Big East with Blue Ribbon's 2010-11 team reports: Insider
Cincinnati
Connecticut
DePaul
Georgetown
Louisville
Marquette
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh Insider Free
Providence
Rutgers
Seton Hall
South Florida
St. John's
Syracuse
Villanova
West Virginia
G-VEE SANFORD (6-3, 180 lbs., SO, #11, 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 4.8 mpg, .320 FG, .231 3PT, .824 FT, Lexington Catholic HS/Lexington, Ky.). Sanford, a Kentucky recruit until John Calipari replaced Billy Gillispie as coach, didn't exhibit the form that saw him average more than 22 points per game as a high school senior. And the fact Georgetown's three guards played more than 80 percent of the available minutes showed that Thompson was reluctant to play him.
Sanford did have one highlight, scoring a season-high nine points in a game against West Virginia, but he contributed only 24 points in his other 26 games of action. With Hollis Thompson moving into the starting lineup, Sanford will have a better chance to make the rotation, but he'll have to pick up his game at both ends.
F-NATE LUBICK (6-8, 227 lbs., FR, #34, 21.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.7 bpg, St. Mark's/Southborough, Mass.). There's a lot to like about Lubick, who played high school basketball for his father, won two state championships during his career and was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts. Lubick is versatile and athletic with a good shooting touch and sharp passing skills. But his main contribution to the Hoyas will be his physical and aggressive nature, someone who won't back down to older and stronger opponents in the Big East.
"He's a big, aggressive kid," Thompson said. "He's also skilled. He's someone who can get right into the mix early. We'll have to force feed him and get him some reps in college basketball. He has a good feel for the game. He's unselfish. He can do some nice things for us."
C-MOSES ABRAHAM (6-9, 237 lbs., FR, #32, 17.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 8.0 bpg, Progressive Christian/Cave Springs, Md./Kano, Nigeria). Abraham was a late bloomer on the basketball court. He came to the United States during Thanksgiving week of 2009 carrying only a backpack. Less than four months later, he chose Georgetown over Maryland and Indiana, saying he liked how supportive the Hoyas staff had been through the recruiting process.
Thompson has called Abraham "a clean slate" because of his relative lack of offensive skills, and the Hoyas will be patient in teaching those skills to him. Abraham has shown strong aptitude at the defensive end. He has a huge wingspan, making him a threat in the paint. He goes for blocked shots with vigor but instinctively knows not to lean into opponents or risk drawing fouls.
"Physically, Moses is ready to play in the Big East," Thompson said. "He's big, strong and aggressive. We have to get him basketball-ready. He's an extremely bright kid and a hard worker. He's going to be pretty good one day."
G-MARKEL STARKS (6-0, 157 lbs., FR, #5, 25.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.3 spg, Georgetown Prep/Accokeek, Md.). Starks can put up points in a hurry, as he proved at the Capital Classic, where he poured in 18 points in just 18 minutes and won MVP honors. He's a quick point guard who can shoot and score, and an adept ball-handler who doesn't crack under pressure. He also has fine perimeter skills, having knocked down 48 percent of his tries from three-point range as a senior.
"Martel will have the luxury of learning from Chris, Austin and Jason," Thompson said, referring to his older backcourt teammates. "He's going to be in the mix."
F-AARON BOWEN (6-5, 180 lbs., FR, #23, 17.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, Quality Education Academy/Winston-Salem, N.C./Jacksonville, Fla.). While Lubick and Starks committed early in their junior years of high school, Bowen didn't commit until close to the second signing period in the spring of his senior season. He had committed to Marquette but re-opened his recruitment after Golden Eagles assistant Dale Layer left the program.
Bowen has a 6-11 wingspan that will disrupt the passing lanes. He can pull up for the jumper or take the ball to the hole. He is good at filling lanes on the break. Bowen's worked hard to be a better defender but will get better in time as he hits the weights.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: A
BENCH/DEPTH: B
FRONTCOURT: B
INTANGIBLES: B+
Georgetown fans can't help but dream. If Monroe had returned for his junior season, the Hoyas would have been on the short list of contenders for the national championship. But reality always interferes, and the Hoyas are going to have to climb that mountain without him.
Everything appears to be in place with the starting five. Freeman and Wright are excellent players who will provide mental toughness and strong leadership to the group. Clark will contribute perimeter shooting and lock-down defense. Thompson gives the Hoyas an athletic defender who can make shots. Vaughn has shown he can play offense, and he'll have to put his mind to it with this team.
The Georgetown bench should be better, but it will take some time to develop because freshmen, particularly Lubick, Abraham and Starks, are expected to play an integral role. Lubick and Abraham look like they'll be ready before too long, but while they come along, the veterans in reserve -- Sims, Benimon and Sanford -- need to show improvement from last season.
Thompson is reluctant to say the Hoyas definitely have a perimeter-based offense. He'll remind you that the team will stay versatile and not be predictable. But he is quick to say that everyone will have to pitch in to replace the points, rebounds and assists provided by Monroe.
"We're going to ask Austin to do more of everything, and that's the same for everyone from our core group," Thompson said. "It's not only scoring points, it's rebounding more, setting up their teammates more."
The Hoyas should be in the mix for a top-four finish in a Big East that will find a lot of balance -- rather than one or two dominant teams -- in the upper half, and will be if their rebounders and the bench come through.
Blue Ribbon Yearbook
Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 335 Division I teams. To order the complete 2010-11 edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-877-807-4857.
(Information in this team report is as of Oct. 1.)
COACH AND PROGRAM
The 2009-10 Georgetown season was a difficult one for many to fully comprehend. Just when you decided they ranked below the top tier of Big East teams, the Hoyas would surprise by coming up with performances that made folks scratch their heads and wonder why they weren't a weekly visitor to the Top 10 and a contender for the Final Four, the same place where coach John Thompson III had taken them three years earlier.
For example, Georgetown basketball enjoyed back-to-back electric Saturdays inside the raucous confines of the Verizon Center. With President Obama in the house to watch them play Duke, the Hoyas shot an astounding 71.7 percent from the field and got 21 points each from Greg Monroe and Chris Wright in a decisive 89-77 victory over a Blue Devil team that eventually would be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis.
Seven days later, with snow piling up one foot at a time, the Hoyas, behind sharpshooting guards Austin Freeman and Jason Clark, blitzed then-No. 2 Villanova with a season-high 103 points and took a 13-point victory. More than 10,000 fans who braved the weather -- dozens of whom shared a Metro subway car with 'Nova's Scottie Reynolds going to the game -- screamed their lungs out and later celebrated by dotting our nation's capital with snow angels.
Of course, a basketball season isn't all peaches and cream, as former Hoya Allen Iverson used to say. There were a few rotten apples in there as well. Georgetown didn't intend to win them all, but it also didn't intend to drop its first game of the season to Old Dominion on its campus court. Four days after playing close to the perfect game against Duke, the Hoyas laid an egg at the Verizon Center to USF, coughing up a nine-point halftime lead. They inexplicably lost to a Rutgers team that had lost nine of its previous 11 Big East games.
Georgetown Hoyas
Last Season 23-11 (.676)
Conference Record 10-8 (t-7th)
Starters Lost/Returning 1/4
Coach John Thompson III (Princeton '8
Record At School 139-62 (6 years)
Career Record 207-104 (10 years)
RPI Last 5 years 26-6-8-63-15
The lowest point of the season came at the end. The Hoyas, seeded third, couldn't find a way to slow No. 14 Ohio in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and were sent packing after a 97-83 loss, the most points allowed by a Thompson-coached team in the Big Dance. What made the sudden knockout even more stunning was that Georgetown had just come off an impressive showing in the Big East Tournament. The Hoyas won three games to get to their third conference championship game in four years, and came within a basket by West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler at the buzzer of taking the game into overtime.
But Georgetown didn't have a single senior on last year's team. Its strength of schedule ranked No. 1 or No. 2 for much of the season. Out of conference, the Hoyas knocked off Butler, the NCAA runner-up, as well as two other participants in March Madness, Temple and Washington. They were fourth in the nation in field-goal percentage and 25th in three-point shooting.
All in all, you got the feeling the Hoyas were better than 23-11, and 10-8 in the Big East.
"We were young, but I didn't want to talk about that," Thompson said. "We didn't have any seniors and we didn't want to use that as an excuse, but you have to go through some growing pains, and this team went through some growing pains."
The Hoyas lost one player off last year's team, but he was a big piece. Greg Monroe was one of the nation's best players, an anchor that added terrific passing skills, particularly from the high post or the point in Thompson's "Prince-town" offense, to his abilities as a fine scorer and tenacious rebounder. But he went into the NBA draft and was taken in the lottery (No. 7 pick overall) by the Detroit Pistons. The Georgetown offense spent two seasons flowing through Monroe, capitalizing on his uncanny vision and court awareness. Now, there will be adjustments.
"We have a lot of experience coming back," Thompson said. "We only lost one player. We have some talented freshmen coming in to add to our roster. So we're not looking at it as how do we replace Greg. There isn't one person who's going to fill the void. There's just a heightened sense of responsibility that each of our players will have. It's not necessarily that we're going to have a player move into his position."
With an excellent trio of guards returning led by conference player-of-the-year candidate Austin Freeman, who Thompson says is "healthy and ready to go" after being diagnosed last March with diabetes, the Hoyas will shift their focus to the perimeter but will remain flexible with their offense. One of their challenges will be finding some consistent inside scoring, which presents a change for the holdover big men who focused on defense, rebounding and doing the little things.
"Depth is going to be very important," Thompson said. "The sophomore class is more ready and prepared. We're going to go much deeper this year. Our big men need to fill the void left by Greg's loss. We're not looking for one particular person. We're going to have to do it by committee."
It will be a challenge, but Thompson has kept Georgetown on the right track through his six years on the Hilltop. He has averaged 23 wins per season. The Hoyas have made the NCAAs four times, including 2007 when they won 30 games, captured the Big East Tournament title and the NCAA East Regional, and made the Final Four.
PLAYERS
PG-CHRIS WRIGHT (6-1, 208 lbs., SR, #4, 15.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 35.1 mpg, .470 FG, .336 3PT, .777 FT, St. John's College HS/Washington, D.C./Bowie, Md.). Wright, a point guard who can score, hiked his numbers in all the applicable areas last season. He increased his scoring average by almost three points, his assists per game by nearly a half-dime and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.79:1 as compared to 1.58:1 the previous year. And he did it without resting much -- his average minutes ranked him eighth in the league.
The Hoyas are a much better team when Wright scores, and that was evident last season. Wright hit for 10 or fewer points seven times in conference play, and Georgetown went 2-5 in those games. He has had a tendency in the past to get down on himself if he doesn't play up to his standards. But added to his responsibilities as point guard is a big one -- being the team leader, along with Austin Freeman -- and he must keep his head in the game at all times. But with his quickness, shooting touch, passing skills and court sense, Wright will continue to be a valuable contributor.
"Chris has done a great job for us," Thompson said. "He has to score and help his teammates. I don't think it's a conflict. I like a [point] guard that can score. But he also has to be unselfish, and when he does both, we will be successful. He'll do a good job of finding his teammates for quality shots and help them be better."
SG-AUSTIN FREEMAN (6-3, 227 lbs., SR, #15, 16.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 34.4 mpg, .525 FG, .444 3PT, .856 FT, DeMatha HS/Mitchellville, Md.). Freeman blossomed into one of the Big East's best guards last season. He was the only true guard to finish in the top 15 in field-goal percentage in the league, ranking 11th, and wound up third in three-point percentage and fourth in accuracy from the foul line. He was at his best in conference games, averaging 19.5 points.
Freeman erupted for a pair of incredible second-half outbursts, going for 28 of his 33 points in a January win over Connecticut, and running off 24 of his 29 points in a victory the next month over Louisville.
Freeman is a technically sound player, someone who is deceptively quick but never seems to be in a rush.
In addition to his abundant basketball talent, Freeman has guts. Late last season, Freeman felt some stomach discomfort and decided to see a doctor. The examination revealed he had diabetes. He missed a March 1 game against West Virginia while being evaluated but returned for the Hoyas' next game as if nothing had happened, scoring a team-high 24 points, and went on to finish the season. He has adopted a steady regimen to deal with his health issues and Georgetown's medical personnel will be there to assist every step of the way.
"It's a life-changer for him," Thompson said. "It's a huge adjustment, but he's already made it. We just have to monitor him closely; we know if he plays 10 minutes he's going to be tired. He and I will work together, but we don't anticipate having any problems with his health.
"Austin can score in different ways. The thing is, he averaged 20 points in conference play. He can put the ball in the basket. He can score efficiently. Other people score a lot of points, but they don't value their shots. Austin doesn't need a lot of shots."
As one of Georgetown's leaders, Freeman will be asked to do more of everything -- score, rebound, defend, pass -- to help the Hoyas have a successful season. For that reason, when asked if he thought Freeman was a Big East player-of-the-year candidate, Thompson replied, "Who else could it be?"
SG-JASON CLARK (6-2, 170 lbs., JR, #21, 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 33.4 mpg, .475 FG, .424 3PT, .758 FT, Bishop O'Connell/Arlington, Va.). Clark took a giant step last season, going from freshman reserve to sophomore starter and doubling his scoring average from his rookie season. He led the team with 67 three-point baskets, and his 1.97 treys per game were 11th in the Big East. He posted a high game of 24 points in the Hoyas' win over then-No. 2 Villanova. He also played good defense, finishing second on the team in steals and combining with Wright for an even 100 using his long arms and quickness.
"We'll see growth again this year," Thompson said. "He learned a lot as a sophomore. He's worked as hard as anyone in the offseason, and we'll watch his progress continue this year. His shot selection is good. He can play good defense against guys smaller than him and bigger than him."
The Hoyas will expect Clark to handle the ball better this season (67 assists, 67 turnovers in 2009-10) and get to the free-throw line a little more (only 62 free throws attempted in 34 games). But his presence, along with that of Freeman and Wright, gives Georgetown three perimeter threats, and the team's ability to spread the floor will make it tough on opposing defenses given the outstanding shooting percentages of Clark and his two backcourt mates.
SF-HOLLIS THOMPSON (6-7, 205 lbs., SO, #1, 4.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 19.5 mpg, .451 FG, .438 3PT, .615 FT, Loyola HS/Los Angeles). Thompson made a splash as a freshman with his smooth moves in the paint and his ability to hit the three-ball from the wing. He will utilize that versatility this season by seeing time at both the small forward and power forward positions, taking a taller defender away from the paint, stretching the defense, and also going inside.
Thompson proved to be an adept shooter from distance last season. He was second on the team in percentage from beyond the arc, and his 28 threes were fourth. He accounted for a three-point basket every 23.7 minutes of playing time, a pace that topped that of Wright. Thompson scored a season-high 16 points against Lafayette, and he broke into double figures three times in Big East games. His length helped contribute to 31 steals in his 34 games. He also started two games while Freeman was undergoing an examination that revealed diabetes.
"Hopefully we'll see similar growth in for him during his sophomore year," Thompson said. "He has good size, the ability to get his shot off. Most freshmen spend a lot of time trying to figure it out, but he figured it out. We're looking forward to seeing him continue improving."
PF-JULIAN VAUGHN (6-9, 247 lbs., SR, #22, 7.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.3 spg, 22.6 mpg, .576 FG, .273 3PT, .571 FT, Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson, Va./Florida State University). Vaughn, who transferred from Florida State before his sophomore year, was content to do the dirty work around the basket and help Monroe on the boards. He did an effective job of clogging the lane to stem opponents' drives to the hoop and was second on the team in blocked shots behind Monroe.
Now Vaughn will have to take a step up in all areas. While he was second on the team to Monroe in rebounds last season, he pulled down less than half as many on average and must assert himself better on the glass.
Offensively, the Hoyas are in need of a steady, consistent inside scorer. Although Monroe led the team in field-goal percentage, Vaughn tended to pick his spots. But he knows that's different now, which is why he worked diligently in Washington's Kenner Summer League on his offense. He does have some skills offensively; he scored 19 points against Providence and 18 against Washington, and handed out six assists versus Pittsburgh.
"He's going to have to rebound, but everyone this year is going to have to rebound for us," Thompson said. "We're not big. That being said, Julian has to play great defense for us. We need him to be aggressive. Julian worked very hard in the offseason at the offensive end. We think he'll be more confident offensively and be good on the boards."
C-HENRY SIMS (6-11, 220 lbs., JR, #30, 1.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.1 spg, 6.8 mpg, .500 FG, .000 3PT, .565 FT, Mount St. Joseph/Baltimore). Sims is the only true post player on this team, but his game remains a work in progress. He established a career high in the non-conference part of the schedule with 12 points against American. That, however, turned out to be slightly less than one-third of his scoring output for the entire season.
Sims worked in the offseason to get stronger, so when he comes in a game he can be relied upon to aggressively crash the boards. Whether he can provide more offense, however, is the question.
F-JERRELLE BENIMON (6-7, 242 lbs., SO, #20, 1.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.2 spg, 12.1 mpg, .394 FG, .167 3PT, .667 FT, Fauquier HS/ Warrenton, Va.). As a freshman, Benimon embraced his role -- a guy who came in and fearlessly crashed the boards and never backed down against a bigger opponent. After he pulled down six rebounds against Villanova, Wildcats coach Jay Wright called him "a beast." Benimon didn't show a lot in the way of offensive skills, but the Hoyas don't need that much scoring from him. As Thompson expressed it, "We're going to have to rebound by committee, and Jerrelle is a member of that committee." He should be the first big man off the bench in the early going while Georgetown's two big freshmen get acclimated.
Blue Ribbon Previews
Big East Take an Inside look at the Big East with Blue Ribbon's 2010-11 team reports: Insider
Cincinnati
Connecticut
DePaul
Georgetown
Louisville
Marquette
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh Insider Free
Providence
Rutgers
Seton Hall
South Florida
St. John's
Syracuse
Villanova
West Virginia
G-VEE SANFORD (6-3, 180 lbs., SO, #11, 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 4.8 mpg, .320 FG, .231 3PT, .824 FT, Lexington Catholic HS/Lexington, Ky.). Sanford, a Kentucky recruit until John Calipari replaced Billy Gillispie as coach, didn't exhibit the form that saw him average more than 22 points per game as a high school senior. And the fact Georgetown's three guards played more than 80 percent of the available minutes showed that Thompson was reluctant to play him.
Sanford did have one highlight, scoring a season-high nine points in a game against West Virginia, but he contributed only 24 points in his other 26 games of action. With Hollis Thompson moving into the starting lineup, Sanford will have a better chance to make the rotation, but he'll have to pick up his game at both ends.
F-NATE LUBICK (6-8, 227 lbs., FR, #34, 21.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.7 bpg, St. Mark's/Southborough, Mass.). There's a lot to like about Lubick, who played high school basketball for his father, won two state championships during his career and was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts. Lubick is versatile and athletic with a good shooting touch and sharp passing skills. But his main contribution to the Hoyas will be his physical and aggressive nature, someone who won't back down to older and stronger opponents in the Big East.
"He's a big, aggressive kid," Thompson said. "He's also skilled. He's someone who can get right into the mix early. We'll have to force feed him and get him some reps in college basketball. He has a good feel for the game. He's unselfish. He can do some nice things for us."
C-MOSES ABRAHAM (6-9, 237 lbs., FR, #32, 17.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 8.0 bpg, Progressive Christian/Cave Springs, Md./Kano, Nigeria). Abraham was a late bloomer on the basketball court. He came to the United States during Thanksgiving week of 2009 carrying only a backpack. Less than four months later, he chose Georgetown over Maryland and Indiana, saying he liked how supportive the Hoyas staff had been through the recruiting process.
Thompson has called Abraham "a clean slate" because of his relative lack of offensive skills, and the Hoyas will be patient in teaching those skills to him. Abraham has shown strong aptitude at the defensive end. He has a huge wingspan, making him a threat in the paint. He goes for blocked shots with vigor but instinctively knows not to lean into opponents or risk drawing fouls.
"Physically, Moses is ready to play in the Big East," Thompson said. "He's big, strong and aggressive. We have to get him basketball-ready. He's an extremely bright kid and a hard worker. He's going to be pretty good one day."
G-MARKEL STARKS (6-0, 157 lbs., FR, #5, 25.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.3 spg, Georgetown Prep/Accokeek, Md.). Starks can put up points in a hurry, as he proved at the Capital Classic, where he poured in 18 points in just 18 minutes and won MVP honors. He's a quick point guard who can shoot and score, and an adept ball-handler who doesn't crack under pressure. He also has fine perimeter skills, having knocked down 48 percent of his tries from three-point range as a senior.
"Martel will have the luxury of learning from Chris, Austin and Jason," Thompson said, referring to his older backcourt teammates. "He's going to be in the mix."
F-AARON BOWEN (6-5, 180 lbs., FR, #23, 17.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, Quality Education Academy/Winston-Salem, N.C./Jacksonville, Fla.). While Lubick and Starks committed early in their junior years of high school, Bowen didn't commit until close to the second signing period in the spring of his senior season. He had committed to Marquette but re-opened his recruitment after Golden Eagles assistant Dale Layer left the program.
Bowen has a 6-11 wingspan that will disrupt the passing lanes. He can pull up for the jumper or take the ball to the hole. He is good at filling lanes on the break. Bowen's worked hard to be a better defender but will get better in time as he hits the weights.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: A
BENCH/DEPTH: B
FRONTCOURT: B
INTANGIBLES: B+
Georgetown fans can't help but dream. If Monroe had returned for his junior season, the Hoyas would have been on the short list of contenders for the national championship. But reality always interferes, and the Hoyas are going to have to climb that mountain without him.
Everything appears to be in place with the starting five. Freeman and Wright are excellent players who will provide mental toughness and strong leadership to the group. Clark will contribute perimeter shooting and lock-down defense. Thompson gives the Hoyas an athletic defender who can make shots. Vaughn has shown he can play offense, and he'll have to put his mind to it with this team.
The Georgetown bench should be better, but it will take some time to develop because freshmen, particularly Lubick, Abraham and Starks, are expected to play an integral role. Lubick and Abraham look like they'll be ready before too long, but while they come along, the veterans in reserve -- Sims, Benimon and Sanford -- need to show improvement from last season.
Thompson is reluctant to say the Hoyas definitely have a perimeter-based offense. He'll remind you that the team will stay versatile and not be predictable. But he is quick to say that everyone will have to pitch in to replace the points, rebounds and assists provided by Monroe.
"We're going to ask Austin to do more of everything, and that's the same for everyone from our core group," Thompson said. "It's not only scoring points, it's rebounding more, setting up their teammates more."
The Hoyas should be in the mix for a top-four finish in a Big East that will find a lot of balance -- rather than one or two dominant teams -- in the upper half, and will be if their rebounders and the bench come through.
- 293
- 11
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2003
tyler adams has decommitted from duke. looks like he's headed for 37th & O st.
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
are we rollin with this thread for the new year?
Adams should be a Hoya but Mi$$i$$ippi State lurking worries me.
Once Cox bolted it def hurt for this class, which I didn't think would be the case. Hopkins/Adams/Trawick would be a hell of a rally by the staff. Past this year, Things are bright recruiting wise going forward.
Adams should be a Hoya but Mi$$i$$ippi State lurking worries me.
Once Cox bolted it def hurt for this class, which I didn't think would be the case. Hopkins/Adams/Trawick would be a hell of a rally by the staff. Past this year, Things are bright recruiting wise going forward.
DeadsetAce
Supporter
- 106,616
- 52,781
- Joined
- May 31, 2004
checkin in
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
Adams, Trawick and Hopkins all signed LOI's.
now time to take care of business on the floor.
Lubick was rumored to start the last exhibition..which would be the best lineup IMO..just can't in anyway play Hollis extended minutes at the 4.
Supposedly Julian killed JMU's big guy, who's the projected CAA player of the year.
I hope III uses his depth this year and it's why I think we should be better than last year. Looking back, it's ridiculous that we've only had 9 scholarship kids on roster the past 2 years.
. NOBODY, Austin and Chris included, should be asked to play more than 30 minutes a game on average.
As for tomorrow, can't say I'm too confident. ODU has had our number and opening at their place on a Friday night is tough. Forget the fact that they're really good.
But, overall I like this team and if we rebound well..I think this group can really be quite good come March. That's really where Greg will be missed most. I'm not worried about the offense, and not overly concerned replacing him as a defender..but he was far and away our best rebounder. Julian's going to have to stay on the floor 25-30 minutes and Nate/Benimon/Henry/Moses have to bring it.
Wright/Clark/Freeman/Thompson/Starks/Sanford/Bowen....outside of Chris' consistency, I have no concerns with them offensively. They'll light it up. But they have to defend.
III said he's worked on a press with this group, think it'd be a good idea..but I'll believe it when I see it.
now time to take care of business on the floor.
Lubick was rumored to start the last exhibition..which would be the best lineup IMO..just can't in anyway play Hollis extended minutes at the 4.
Supposedly Julian killed JMU's big guy, who's the projected CAA player of the year.
I hope III uses his depth this year and it's why I think we should be better than last year. Looking back, it's ridiculous that we've only had 9 scholarship kids on roster the past 2 years.
As for tomorrow, can't say I'm too confident. ODU has had our number and opening at their place on a Friday night is tough. Forget the fact that they're really good.
But, overall I like this team and if we rebound well..I think this group can really be quite good come March. That's really where Greg will be missed most. I'm not worried about the offense, and not overly concerned replacing him as a defender..but he was far and away our best rebounder. Julian's going to have to stay on the floor 25-30 minutes and Nate/Benimon/Henry/Moses have to bring it.
Wright/Clark/Freeman/Thompson/Starks/Sanford/Bowen....outside of Chris' consistency, I have no concerns with them offensively. They'll light it up. But they have to defend.
III said he's worked on a press with this group, think it'd be a good idea..but I'll believe it when I see it.
- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
- 293
- 11
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2003
- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
not a big game on paper, but huge game imo. lets see how this new squad does facing a challenge that even some of our recent teams couldn't handle.
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
Moses out first 9 games, not a big deal but would have been nice to have an extra body.
Great test tonight. Gota bring it. Hoping Lubick gets the nod.
Great test tonight. Gota bring it. Hoping Lubick gets the nod.
- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
^ why is he out? thanks
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
according to III, someone who wasn't an 'immediate member of his family' purchased his plane ticket to the US when he originally came over.
- 293
- 11
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2003
i think we've got a much better shot at winning at ODU. we've lost both games at mcdonough, a terrible place to play and won the one game we played at their house. so here's to opening up the season right. really excited for tonight's game. time really flies. hoping to see some great things, not just from our frontcourt, but from the new fellas like lubick and starks. sucks that abraham is gonna have to wear warmups for 9 games.
DeadsetAce
Supporter
- 106,616
- 52,781
- Joined
- May 31, 2004
hoyas get big, do work...
- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
I don't understand the ruling, I mean if Moses arrives in the US three years ago and somebody paid for his ticket, is that still an eligibility issue? how far do you back track?
I want to see:
- Nate Lubick starting. Heck, even if Henry's made the jump I hope he is if Nate's not. I just don't want to see Hollis stuck at the 4. It's not good for the team and definitely doesn't put Hollis in a position to succeed.
- Go 9, even 10 deep. you don't have to dish out a ton of minutes, but there are too many bodies on this team to play Austin, Chris and even Jason close to 35 minutes.
- Since we have depth, I hope we see some pressure D. maybe not tonight, but at some point this year I hope it's part of the game plan consistently.
- Rebounding and defense. This year depends on it, as last years did. We will score.
I want to see:
- Nate Lubick starting. Heck, even if Henry's made the jump I hope he is if Nate's not. I just don't want to see Hollis stuck at the 4. It's not good for the team and definitely doesn't put Hollis in a position to succeed.
- Go 9, even 10 deep. you don't have to dish out a ton of minutes, but there are too many bodies on this team to play Austin, Chris and even Jason close to 35 minutes.
- Since we have depth, I hope we see some pressure D. maybe not tonight, but at some point this year I hope it's part of the game plan consistently.
- Rebounding and defense. This year depends on it, as last years did. We will score.
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
[font=Arial,Helvetica][/font]
- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
Despite going into the game knowing it would be a hard fought win, I still feel like it was more of a loss than an actual win.
- Officiating was horrible, touch fouls left and right.
- We were sloppy on the offensive and defensive side.
- Bench Hollis, he adds absolutely nothing to that starting five that we need. Do we really need a 4th shooter on the floor?
- Very impressed with Lubick, although I'd like to see him on the block more. Although I haven't watch him play much I don't think he enjoys playing on the permiter (Allen, chime in here since you followed him through HS)
- Vaughn, disappointing.
- Sims was a pleasant surprise on that finish by the bucket. Baby steps is right, hope III gives him some time. Would really help us out on depth. Also, any reason for the number change?
- Didn't see much of Markel, but I'm already a fan. Looks confident with the ball and showed no signs of freshman erratic play at the point.
- Big three were a huuuuge disappointment in the first half. Freeman and Wright really need to become more assertive and dictate the game. On the offensive side I feel they don't really have a clear cut plan as to where the offense should start. Think we can use Lubick how we used Hibbert here.
In the end its a win. Now on to Tulane.
....
This offense still kills me with the players we have!
- Officiating was horrible, touch fouls left and right.
- We were sloppy on the offensive and defensive side.
- Bench Hollis, he adds absolutely nothing to that starting five that we need. Do we really need a 4th shooter on the floor?
- Very impressed with Lubick, although I'd like to see him on the block more. Although I haven't watch him play much I don't think he enjoys playing on the permiter (Allen, chime in here since you followed him through HS)
- Vaughn, disappointing.
- Sims was a pleasant surprise on that finish by the bucket. Baby steps is right, hope III gives him some time. Would really help us out on depth. Also, any reason for the number change?
- Didn't see much of Markel, but I'm already a fan. Looks confident with the ball and showed no signs of freshman erratic play at the point.
- Big three were a huuuuge disappointment in the first half. Freeman and Wright really need to become more assertive and dictate the game. On the offensive side I feel they don't really have a clear cut plan as to where the offense should start. Think we can use Lubick how we used Hibbert here.
In the end its a win. Now on to Tulane.
....
This offense still kills me with the players we have!
- 12,102
- 1,410
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2008
I mean, it was the same thing last year early with Temple, though. ODU like them is great defensively. I think the offense will be fine. But I do hate it when we come out like we've never seen a zone defense before. Free has to be assertive, I think he should be the focal point, not just a piece of the puzzle anymore. He's capable.
Lubick doesn't want to hang around the perimeter, but he was comfortable when he had to be out there against the zone. Once he gets comfortable, I think he'll show the skill he has. Eventually during his career, he's an option to run through the offense through from the high post.
For now, he's the right complement to the other 4 starting guys. He'll bang and he'll board and not be an offensive liability...Henry can be used as Julian's back up and Hollis can be the 6th man, time at the 3 and a little time at the 4.
Older guys gota take care of business tonight so the bench can get some extended time. There aren't many soft spots on the schedule to do so, tonight should be and needs to be made into one.
Lubick doesn't want to hang around the perimeter, but he was comfortable when he had to be out there against the zone. Once he gets comfortable, I think he'll show the skill he has. Eventually during his career, he's an option to run through the offense through from the high post.
For now, he's the right complement to the other 4 starting guys. He'll bang and he'll board and not be an offensive liability...Henry can be used as Julian's back up and Hollis can be the 6th man, time at the 3 and a little time at the 4.
Older guys gota take care of business tonight so the bench can get some extended time. There aren't many soft spots on the schedule to do so, tonight should be and needs to be made into one.
- 2,217
- 321
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2005
I'M READY FOR THIS
- 12,393
- 6,826
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2000
