THE OFFICIAL GEORGETOWN BASKETBALL SEASON THREAD

[DeadsetAce]

wrong picture

 

[im not you]

Matt was that dude. He gettin that Merrill Lynch cake right now too.

 

[lmbassclown]

there is no cake at merrill lynch. not anymore at least.

 

[al3xis]

 

[lmbassclown]

that's a good man. i remember giving him heat at school for missing that big dunk freshman year. good kid.

 

[downyboy]

Originally Posted by LMBAssclown

the dude loved to dribble like skip to my lou and chris wright, but most of the time, couldn't get it in the bucket. i'd rather take ashanti cook (word to downyboy) and jon wallace.

hahaha, I was more of a Bowman fan. Although I never personally met Ashanti, he was always cool in the dorms and would say "what up."

 

[lmbassclown]

Super 60 Rakeem Christmas cuts list to 5

ESPNU's No. 7 player in 2011 Rakeem Christmas has narrowed his college list to five schools, according to a release from Academy of the New Church headcoach Kevin Givens.

The 6-foot-9 junior will decide among Florida International, Florida, Georgetown, Oklahoma and Texas.

"I'm happy to work with a smaller group of schools going into the season," Christmas said. "I've been so busy with maintaining my gradesand practicing with the team, that I think this will help me focus with having to deal with less pressure during the season. My transition at ANC has beengreat. I'm enjoying my classmates, teachers, and teammates. Coach Givens has been great with the workouts. I'm just ready for the season tostart."

Christmas and ANC kick off the season on Thursday December 4th at 7:00 pm against Atlantic Christian.

 

[al3xis]

looks like this the fall back to Roscoe or if something else opens in the spring, Eric McKnight..6'9 athlete from Princeton Day. Interest from Memphis andOkie State along with G'Town. Had recently been spotted at one the games.

starting at 2:30


it's interesting to see them on kids like this, roscoe, rakeem, and the little interest they had in mitchell and latavious....and currently in the programwith clark and hollis...

long, athletic, rangy defenders. I like it as long as they can be brought along offensively. (clark, hollis)


Markel Starks..

Markel hit game winning shot for Prep last night against St. John's College Prep and Chris Martin to win 47-46. Starks had 24 pts and 20 in First Half before SJCP went to a gimmick defense to hold him down--so he saved 2 of his 4pts in 2nd Half to win game--but also set up his teammates and got them involved.
Personally, I think he's going to amount to a big time player. No AAU = no exposure. but there aren't many lead guards I'd ratherhave.


Interesting storyline tomorrow with Burke/Brennan. Just take care of business, see some more of henry and vee.

And the Butler/UW week doesn't look so imposing now.

 

[al3xis]

Georgetown's Julian Vaughn is completely overhauling his basketball identity.

Virginia's Mr. Basketball in 2007 and a consensus top-100 recruit at high school hoops factory Oak Hill Academy, the 6-foot-9, 247-pound Vaughn signed with Florida State and arrived in Tallahassee with a reputation as an offense-minded, face-up forward with range extending beyond the 3-point arc.

Following a modest freshman campaign in which he averaged 3.0 points and earned Florida State's sixth man award, Vaughn transferred to the Hilltop to be closer to his ailing mother.

Though the Vienna native didn't lose a year of competition because the NCAA granted him a special waiver, he did look lost throughout much of his first season at Georgetown. He seemed uncomfortable running the team's Princeton-based offense. And his scorer's mentality left him without a niche on a team that desperately needed interior defense and rebounding and already featured a face-up, shoot-first forward in DaJuan Summers.

Vaughn averaged just 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.8 minutes as a sophomore, and as a junior he has had to compete with athletic sophomore Henry Sims and freshman forwards Hollis Thompson and Jerrelle Benimon.

Vaughn has responded by stepping into the Hoyas' hard-hat void by drastically altering the focus of his game. He is averaging 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 blocks for the Hoyas while boasting the best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7-to-1) among the team's starters.

"I'm pleased but not surprised, because Julian knows exactly what we need from him, and he's a very bright and coachable player," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said of Vaughn, the one-time perimeter floater who suddenly has become a steady presence in the paint for the 16th-ranked Hoyas (5-0). "While it's true that Julian wasn't really known as a defender in high school, he's been willing to dedicate himself to that part of his game. He worked his behind off in the offseason, but I think he also changed his mindset."

The Hoyas have yet to face a Big East-caliber frontcourt, but Vaughn looks to be a solid inside complement to finesse-minded center Greg Monroe. Offensively, Vaughn has developed a reliable hook shot as well as a solid drop step.

Defensively, his progression is even more startling. Vaughn's positioning on opposing post players, whether in entry denial or behind a player in the paint, trumps Monroe's interior defense. And he leads the team in blocked shots.

Given Vaughn's past form, the transition almost boggles the mind. But perhaps Georgetown finally has found the blue-collar frontcourt presence that has been missing since Roy Hibbert left two seasons ago.

"Aside from his natural talent, one of Julian's primary strengths is that he is extremely intelligent. Combine that with his willingness, and he's a very coachable player and an excellent teammate," Thompson said. "Every kid wants to score, and those opportunities will increase for him, but he understands that what we need most from him are the blue-collar contributions - rebounding, blocked shots, defensive positioning and presence, hustle, passing.

"He's starting to understand and embrace the fact that dirty-work guys do get recognized and noticed and applauded. That's the part of his game which needed the most work when he got here. And he now understands that both our success and his future are linked to his development in that department."

 

[lmbassclown]

GU VS AU PREVIEW...

Georgetown is building confidence defensively as it prepares for a tough stretch next week. American's offense doesn't appear to pose much of achallenge.

In perhaps the least-daunting matchup left on their schedule, the 16th-ranked Hoyas look to remain undefeated Saturday and take advantage of an Eagles teamthat has had trouble scoring.

Georgetown (5-0) has two matchups next week against teams that are currently ranked, facing No. 23 Butler in the Jimmy V Classic in New York on Tuesday nightbefore meeting No. 12 Washington four days later in the John Wooden Classic in Anaheim, Calif.

Before those contests, Georgetown has what essentially amounts to yet another tune-up. The Hoyas, who have allowed 54.6 points per game, aren't expected tohave much trouble against the Eagles (1-7), who average 59.6.

Georgetown held Mount St. Mary's to 41.5 percent shooting in an 83-62 victory Monday night. It was also a second straight impressive game offensively forthe Hoyas, who set a season high in points last Saturday in a 97-64 win over Lafayette.

Greg Monroe leads four Georgetown players in double-figure scoring with 14.8 points per game. The sophomore center had a season-high 19 points and 11 reboundsMonday.

Junior guard Chris Wright, averaging 13.8 points, added a season-high 18.

Monroe and Wright were also consistent last season, when the Hoyas went 16-15. The improved play of Julian Vaughn and Jason Clark, though, has Georgetownbelieving it can challenge for a Big East title.

Vaughn had a career-high 14 points and matched personal bests with eight rebounds and three blocks against Mount St. Mary's. Clark added 12 points and foursteals after setting career highs for points in his previous two games.

"(Vaughn and Clark) are in their second year now," coach John Thompson III said. "You see the growth, you see the development, you see theircomfort level is higher. Their teammates' confidence in them and their confidence in themselves is better right now."

Vaughn, who transferred from Florida State before the 2008-09 season, has joined Monroe to give the Hoyas two strong frontcourt players. Vaughn is averaging7.2 points after posting 1.8 last season.

"(Last year) I put pressure on myself, but this year I definitely learned to relax," Vaughn said. "I worked really hard this summer and I thinkI'm just trying to make sure it pays off by relaxing and playing hard."

Clark is shooting 52.5 percent and averaging 13.2 points, eight more than last season.

Stephen Lumpkins is American's top scorer after struggling as a freshman. The forward is averaging 13.9 points after being held to 3.4 in 2008-09.

Lumpkins had 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks to lead the Eagles to their first win of the season, 59-53 over Howard on Tuesday night.

Riley Grafft is the only other player averaging double figures in scoring for American, contributing 10.0 points. The 6-foot-11 Grafft, also averaging 5.9rebounds, will be asked to help contain Monroe.

The Hoyas have won six straight against the Eagles and lead the series 42-8.

 

[al3xis]

Henry

We're much better up front this year, defensively and on the boards.

 

[al3xis]

- Benimon can't be judged against this talent, but we may have something here. At the least, he has a confidence about him and not a deer in the headlightlook that some freshmen have had here. He moves with purpose. Surprised at his ability to put the ball on the floor. If he takes Nikita's scrap minutes,fine by me. Not sure how he got away with the black on black look, but it was nice.

- Julian, again. Keep it up...when Henry is settled in and not playing hot potato, he's going to be fine. The more court time, the better he will get. All3 of the bigs are being assertive and rebounding more. Greg's rebounding can't go unnoticed, I just hope it is not a product of weak competition.

- Hollis also moves with a purpose, nice to see some hard cuts again.

Can't wait for Tuesday

 

[lmbassclown]

From ESPN's favorite draft guru, Chad Ford:

"Although Pondexter, Johnson and Anderson might be on the rise on our Big Board, a couple of players are starting to slip. Georgetown's Greg Monroehas been knocked by scouts for what they perceive as a lack of intensity and less-than-elite athleticism. One NBA GM said he didn't see Monroe as a lotterypick, and at least two other scouts concurred. More GMs are taking a wait-and-see attitude, but he has dropped on our Big Board based on the feedback."

who knows? maybe he'll be back for another year? i don't think people are giving that possibility enough of a chance.

 

[al3xis]

i still don't see the intensity concerns? Didn't seem them last year, don't this year. Aggressiveness, yeah.

He's rebounding better than ever, no he's not an athlete athlete but everyone has known that. The secret didn't just get let out now.

All Greg needs to concern himself with is finishing around the hoop with both hands.

But, I don't see him not leaving..his quotes last spring were "Another year won't hurt."

But if he did..that's a championship team.

 

[lmbassclown]

gotta get big tomorrow. take it game by game.

in other, more important news...

THAT'S MY DELIVERY PIZZA! (word to deadset...see you at tomorrow's game)

 

[DeadsetAce]

^Hahaha wooooooooo. Stoked for tomorrow night. It'll be my first time seeing them live since last year.

 

[downyboy]

I will be the guy harassing and throwing popcorn at Rivers all night.

 

[lmbassclown]

we don't talk about last year

 

[DeadsetAce]

3 hours

let's goooooooo

 

[lmbassclown]

GU VS BUTLER PREVIEW

Georgetown's unbeaten start has come entirely against unranked opponents, while Butler is still searching for its first win against a Top-25 foe.

That will give both teams something to prove when the 15th-ranked Hoyas face the No. 22 Bulldogs on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden as part of the JimmyV Classic.

Georgetown (6-0) has gone largely untested throughout a soft early schedule as it tries to return to the NCAA tournament following a one-year absence. Five ofthe Hoyas' wins came by more than 15 points and those were against teams that currently have losing records.

But coach John Thompson III has still liked what he has seen from his club, which finished 16-15 in 2008-09 -- its worst record in his five seasons at thehelm. The Hoyas were especially strong defensively in a 73-46 win over American on Saturday, holding the Eagles to 27.1 percent shooting.

"I don't know that I'd ever say that we're where we should be, but we're getting better and I think we're a significantly better teamtoday than we were at the start of the season," Thompson said. "Hopefully we keep moving in that direction."

Georgetown's defense ranks among the top three nationally, allowing just 53.2 points per game, and the Hoyas have seen positive signs from an offense thataveraged fewer than 70 points last season.

Four players are averaging more than 11 points, led by sophomore center Greg Monroe (13.

and junior guard Chris Wright (13.5). The Hoyas' starters hadeasy nights against American, but they're eager for a bigger challenge, which they should get this week.

After Tuesday's game, the Hoyas travel to Anaheim, Calif. to face 17th-ranked Washington in the John Wooden Classic on Saturday.

"I am looking forward to it. I think my teammates are too," said Monroe, who had a career-high 13 rebounds against American. "We have to go oversome things to get ready first, but I think everybody's looking forward to the trip. Everybody's ready for the big stage."

Butler (6-2) has already had a taste of some quality competition, losing to then-No. 22 Minnesota and then-No. 19 Clemson in the 76 Classic in Anaheim overThanksgiving weekend. But both the Golden Gophers and Tigers have since fallen from the poll.

While the Bulldogs have been a fixture in the national rankings in recent seasons, they've lost eight of their last nine against Top-25 opponents. Thiswill be their first meeting with Georgetown.

Coach Brad Stevens' team opened Horizon League play with an 84-67 win over Valparaiso on Saturday, as Butler shot 56.8 percent from the field and had fiveplayers score in double figures.

Leading scorer Gordon Hayward (15.4 ppg) had a team-high 18 points, and the offensive performance was a big improvement after the Bulldogs combined to shoot39.0 percent in their previous five games.

"I think our guys on one end of the floor, really, really did a good job," Stevens said. "Offensively, I thought we were moving the ballwell."

Stevens wasn't as pleased with a defense that allowed Valparaiso to shoot 53.3 percent and hit 7 of 15 from 3-point range. Butler will have to keep an eyeon Georgetown guard Jason Clark, who is 14 of 31 from beyond the arc this season.

It will also try to find an answer inside for the 6-foot-11 Monroe. At 6-8 each, Hayward and junior Matt Howard are the Bulldogs' tallest regulars.

 

[lmbassclown]

This is our first big test of the season. As for the rankings, we can throw those out the window. As the popular phrase goes: SIZE MATTERS. We've got theedge in terms of big men (pause) with Monroe, Sims and Vaughn. If we play aggressive in the paint, get after the boards like we've been doing, and gettingblocks, I think we'll be fine. It's nice that we've been spreading the ball around and showing our depth, so hopefully we keep that up. It's ateam effort, but I'd also like to see Monroe get real big on this one. Stay hungry. See you guys at the game. Word to Downy and Deadset. HOYAS, GET BIG.

 

[lmbassclown]

p.s. i'll be the guy sexually harassing rivers' sister if she's there. tasty...

 

[DeadsetAce]

 

[kiddin like jason]

Please smack these doofuses.

 

[al3xis]

interested to see what part of the back board Nikita can manage to hit in MSG this time.


I think we got this. Redemption time.