Georgetown Basketball: 10 Bold Predictions for the Hoyas in 2012

When the baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies commence on July 20, only two players will be enshrined in the hallowed halls—Ron Santo and former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin.

Santo was selected by the Golden Era committee late last year, and Larkin was selected for induction by 86.1 percent of BBWAA voters on Monday afternoon.

Larkin, a 12-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner and 1995 NL MVP, was selected in his third year of eligibility, and becomes the 48^th member of the Hall of Fame who played his entire career with one team. Larkin was also the first shortstop in MLB history to join the exclusive 30-30 club, with 33 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 1996.

A number of returning HOF candidates were able to increase their overall percentage of votes this year but still fell short of induction. Jack Morris picked up 13.2 percent more votes this year but still fell short of the 75 percent of votes required, collecting only 66.7 percent overall.

Long-time Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell also increased his vote total significantly, up from 41.7 percent in 2011 to 56.0 percent this year.

Both Morris and Bagwell moved up significantly, however, with next year’s ballot containing several first-year candidates who will stir up much conversation and controversy. Can Bagwell and Morris garner enough votes for consideration?

Bleacher Report will take a look at the candidates who will be on next year’s ballot for the Hall of Fame and attempt to rate their overall chances at success.

Jason Clark has stepped up into the role of senior leader this season.

He's the Hoyas' top scorer, and he's doing a much better job at forcing the issue and getting to the free-throw line lately. His 26-point effort helped Georgetown take down a tough Marquette squad last week. But he's not just a scorer.

When Clark's offense is limited, he dishes the rock and scraps for blocks, steals and rebounds. For example, he was held to 10 points against West Virginia Saturday, but he didn't let it affect the rest of his game; he swiped five steals, had a couple blocks and stayed focused on both ends.

By the end of the season, Clark will establish himself as one of the premiere performers in the conference.

The Hoyas pay a visit to the Carrier Dome February 8th with a chance to take down the mighty Orange.

John Thompson's crew has the pieces at every position to compete with Syracuse. They have the scoring and shooting ability on the perimeter and interior, along with solid defense and athleticism to keep the Orange at bay.

Jim Boeheim's squad will be due for a loss or two at this point in the season, and a surging Georgetown bunch will take Syracuse by surprise. The Hoyas have as good a chance as anyone to upset the Orange, and they will make the most of their opportunity.

Georgetown has a special post player in Henry Sims.

In addition to scoring 12 points per game, he also grabs five boards, dishes four assists and swats two blocks. 

Unlike many other centers, he has great court awareness when he gets the ball inside. Whether it's a back-to-the-basket post up or a drive through the lane, he does a great job of seeing open teammates.

It's very rare for a center to lead his team in three different categories, including assists, but I predict that Sims will lead the Hoyas in rebounds, assists and blocks.

The Big East conference schedule is tough for any team to navigate, even the top teams in the conference.

We've already seen teams like Georgetown, Connecticut and Louisville get knocked down in conference play, and there's still two months left in the season.

Georgetown has the tools to take care of business throughout most of the Big East season, but it will still take an incredible amount of intensity and consistency to finish the regular season with 25 wins.

They've already received their wake-up call this season with the loss to West Virginia, so expect a focused Hoyas group to go on a nice run leading up to early February.

Otto Porter Jr. started turning some heads at the Maui Invitational Tournament, and he continues to impress as the season progresses.

The 6'9" freshman from Missouri wasn't widely glorified coming out of high school, but Big East opponents are quickly learning that he's ready for prime time.

He's become a major contributor for the Hoyas with his rebounding, defense and mid-range shooting. Porter leads Georgetown in rebounding and he uses his length to create turnovers. His performance against Louisville in December (14 points and 14 rebounds) shows just how dangerous he can be.

It's actually not too bold of a prediction to say that he'll be one of the top candidates for Freshman of the Year honors. 

Right now, the Big East standings are wide open except for Syracuse at the top. There are a handful of teams that could compete for the second and third spots in the standings, and Georgetown will earn one of those spots.

John Thompson will use his depth and variety of scoring options to stay near the top of the conference.

Here's how I see the top-half of the Big East shaking out:

1. Syracuse

2. Louisville

3. Georgetown

4. Connecticut

5. Seton Hall

6. Marquette

7. West Virginia

8. Cincinnati

Markel Starks has shown glimpses of brilliance this season, but the sophomore guard needs to be more consistent in order for Georgetown to survive the rigors of February and March.

In the Hoyas' road win against Louisville, Starks dropped 20 points to sink the Cardinals. But the following week he was held scoreless as Georgetown barely nipped Marquette at home.

Starks is learning that his team needs him to have a balance of scoring and facilitating to keep the offense potent. We know he has the potential for a big season, so it's just a matter of him fulfilling his role on the team.

The Big East Tournament is a grueling test of team cohesiveness and determination. Some would argue that it's more difficult to win the Big East playoffs than it is to win the NCAA crown.

This year's Georgetown squad has more glue and grit than in years past. Bleacher Report's David Dietz explained how this year's team has much more resolve and has a great mix of veterans and youth.

The 2012 Hoyas will stick together and be one of the toughest teams to face in the Big East tourney. Their discipline and desire will lead them to a deep run in Madison Square Garden, where they will play their way to the conference title game.

The fact that I haven't discussed Hollis Thompson yet in this slideshow is a testament to this team's balance. But Thompson is probably Georgetown's most talented player and the one who has the best shot to have a career in the NBA.

He's an efficient shooter, making the most of his opportunities on offense, and his per-game totals have dramatically improved from last season. The 6'7" junior has expanded his game and become a more versatile threat.

Various scouting and NBA Draft sites list him as a bubble prospect, a mid-to-late second round choice at best. A strong showing in the Big East and NCAA tournaments will convince skeptical NBA scouts and General Managers that he belongs in the league.

Georgetown has had disappointing finishes to its seasons the last four years, including back-to-back first-round upsets.

They are due for a deep run in the big dance, and the 2012 team is the kind of squad that can take John Thompson back to NCAA prominence.

The Hoyas have a dependable interior presence, they rebound well, and they have plenty of scoring options. They will be a handful for teams to defend, and it will also be difficult to score on them. 

Despite not knowing what the bracket will look like, I think they have the ingredients to reach the Elite Eight.