Georgetown Basketball

At A Glance: 

Georgetown:  7-0.  AP:  15 ESPN:  13  BP: 13  RPI: 34  BPI: 10

Washington:  6-1.  AP:  17  ESPN:  16  BP: 17  RPI: 5  BPI: 70

Point Guards:

Chris Wright has taken to the leadership role like a duck to water this year for the Hoyas.  He hit some key shots down the stretch against Butler in their first test of the year and unlike previous editions of Hoya guards can actually shoot well (91 percent from the line, 48 percent from the field).  He needs to improve his ball-handling (assist to turnover ratio is about even) but John Thompson III can feel confident in him running the show.

Isaiah Thomas was supposed to have a little freedom from running the offense this season but Abdul Gaddy hasn’t caught on yet.  This is troubling when you consider his assist to turnover ratio (.55).  He’s still scoring over 20 a game but the Huskies would much rather he assume the position as the smallest shooting guard in the nation.

Advantage:  Washington.  Thomas will chuck the ball up a lot but you can almost guarantee he’ll get his twenty.

Shooting Guards:

Jason Clark is the defensive leader in the backcourt and makes a sound counterpart to Greg Monroe.  He improved his assist-to-turnover ratio and averages almost five rebounds a game – at 6-2, that’s very impressive.  Clark is one of those guys who won’t get as much press as his more celebrated teammates but deserves more attention.

Venoy Overton serves as the defensive pest and had six steals in the loss against Texas Tech but averaged four fouls in the last four games.  This will be a challenge guarding either of the Hoya guards.

Advantage:  Georgetown.  Not only does Clark defend well but almost averages twice as much as Overton.

Third Guards:

Austin Freeman is a linebacker inside a guard’s body.  His role to shoot the rock – mostly from inside the three-point line – and hasn’t scored less than nine points in any game this season.  Defense is not his forte and he can be prone to fouls.

Elston Turner was a bench player this season until Romar realized that Abdul Gaddy wasn’t ready.  He responded well in the Texas Tech loss but is keeping this spot warm until Gaddy proves himself worthy.

Advantage:  Georgetown.  At least Turner doesn’t have to take on a small forward in this matchup.

Power Forwards:

I hate to harp on certain things, especially when Julian Vaughn’s role is to rebound, block shots and make his counterpart’s life inside difficult at best and he does a decent job.  But Julian, seriously.  One for ten from the free-throw line?  At least he hasn’t gotten to the line in his last three games.  All the Hoya faithful can do is hope he doesn’t get a chance at the charity stripe.

Quincy Pondexter will battle against anyone.  Aside from the Montana game he has scored at least a dozen points in every game.  He is the most consistent performer on the team and will need to have his usual monster effort again.

Advantage: Washington.  Pondexter is a likely first-team Pac-10 performer.

Center:

If you man the pivot in D.C.  your birthright is intimidation.  Greg Monroe may not have that personality but he has brought the scary this season.  Just ask Matt Howard.  However, he actually has the worst field-goal percentage among the starters, which is rare for a center, and is also tied for the lead in assists thanks in part to the Princeton-style defense.  Monroe is well on his way to lottery-pick status and taking his place on G’Town’s Mt. Rushmore (Ewing, Mutombo, Mourning, Hibbert).

It looked like Matthew Bryan-Amaning was going to have a breakout year with 23 points against Belmont.  Since then he has averaged a mediocre seven points a game but is rebounding a little better.  He hasn’t had to play a center like Monroe yet and will need to show more than he has at this point.

Advantage: Georgetown.  Obviously.

Bench:

Much like a gawky 12-year-old boy the Hoyas’ bench is young and thin.  Hollis Thompson is a true small forward and Henry Sims should assume Monroe’s role in the pivot once he moves on to the NBA.  Other than that no Hoya averages double figures in minutes.  In particular, the backcourt has to remain on the floor.

Aside from Gaddy, who actually had a decent game against Cal State-Northridge following a nightmare performance against Texas Tech, forward Dennis Gant offers the most help off the bench.  He actually helped keep the Huskies in the game against Tech.

Advantage:  Even.  It’s hard to know what you’ll get from game to game with these guys.

Coach:

JT III has his charges rebounded from last season’s debacle (the Hoyas only won six of their last 19 games).  Of course, their performance in the Big East will merit watching but they passed their first test against Butler with flying colors.  Having another test right after should help prepare them for conference play.

Lorenzo Romar has to be a bit disappointed with Gaddy so far and would like to see Bryan-Amaning develop more. Pondexter and Thomas have responded but that’s not exactly shocking.

Advantage:  Georgetown.  Thompson has made people forget about last season’s swoon so far.

Prediction:

This is a fairly even matchup at all positions except center.  Pondexter and Gant will likely need to help defend Monroe inside, which will help open things up for Freeman.  Washington didn’t pass their first test against a Power Six/Ranked opponent.  With Monroe it will be a tough challenge to pass their second.

Georgetown 76, Washington 68.

 Greg Monroe is a work in progress for the NBA as of right now. His game is quietly improving, as well as his strength increasing. There's no doubt this young man has potential. But how much potential is there and how long will it take him to develop fully into a respectable NBA prospect? I believe I have the answers to those questions right here. How good is he? Tuesday night at the MSG against Butler answered a good bit of questions if you ask me. There is a monster growing in the Big East.

 As a loyal Hoya fan, I've watched Greg Monroe through his good games and his bad. But there is no doubt in my mind that his game Tuesday was the best he's ever played at the collegiate level. He was doing everything that a guy 6'11 should do and more.

 He scored 24 points on a very good Butler defense, in my opinion. Yes, I know it was Ball State, but Butler only gave up 39 points to them. That's unheard of in the college game today. The thing is, he probably could have had about 30 points at the end of the game. He went 9-20 from the floor. Like all players, he missed some easy layups, but that is something that can easily be fixed with some work on concentration. His strength probably hurt him as well, but we won't go into that. He still has some improving to do on his shooting though.

 The most impressive and most important stat of the night is those 20 shots that he took. He has been criticized for his lack of aggressiveness throughout his life, and he proved that he can be a selfish player, and that is what Georgetown needs to get deep into the month of March.

 Fifteen rebounds to add to that is not bad at all. Just another thing that he is improving on. If he could get 10 rebounds a game for the Hoyas, I'd be very pleased with him. Scoring chances will come with offensive rebounds and put-backs. He's averaging roughly 10 a game now, so no complaints here.

 He also proved he can be physical and play defense and guard. He limited Matt Howard his touches and shut him down, thus making him nonexistent in Butler's offense. I'm sure Howard was aware of Monroe's ability to block shots, and it definitely showed. He threw up some ridiculous shots that made you wonder why he was playing college basketball, especially as the previous Horizon Player of the Year.

 All of that, combined with his great passing ability, leads me to believe that Greg Monroe can (and will be) a very good NBA prospect and player when he decides to come out. If he can start having 20 points and 10-15 points consistently, Monroe will be a definite top 10 pick, not to mention leading the Hoyas deeper and deeper into the postseason.

 He has no telling how much potential. He just has to let it all develop for the rest of the season, and we will undoubtedly have a monster in the Big East.

"Greg Monroe is one of the most talented players in the country."

Pretty tough to argue with that statement, isn't it? I mean, we are talking about a kid that is 6'11", left-handed, and an excellent passer with a solid jumper and a developing post game. That sentence alone is probably enough to get a player drafted.

But what if I were to say this:

"Greg Monroe is one of the best players in the country."

Up until last night, I would have argued that point feverishly.

Living in DC, I've seen Monroe play enough over the last year and change to be able to break down his game pretty effectively. He relies a little too much on his left (dominant) hand, especially when finishing a drive. His strength and athleticism can stand to be improved. He has god-given potential for days, but he needs to improve his back-to-the-basket game, adding more advanced moves and counter moves.

But he's 19.

What 19 year old is a finished product?

Not too many.

If Monroe keeps working hard, there is no reason he can't live up to that potential.

This issue with Monroe has always been his aggressiveness. His assertiveness. For all that potential, it was rare to see the big fella take a game over.

He did last night.

Monroe scored 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, shut down Matt Howard defensively, and, perhaps most importantly, took 20 shots from the floor, a career high.

"[Monroe] was playing with a real authoritative spirit," Butler head coach Brad Stevens said after the game. "He's a tough guy to guard."

Part of what makes Monroe's aggressiveness so important is his ability to pass. You want opponents to be forced to double team Monroe on the block. At 6'11", he can see over the defense and will find the open shooter or the cutter. The Hoyas have a savvy, unselfish basketball team that knows how to move the ball. If Monroe gets doubled and kicks the ball out, odds are good Georgetown is going to end up with a high percentage shot.


"Greg is an unselfish player," coach John Thompson III said after the game. "We have an unselfish team. We have a lot of people in that locker room that can score. The number of shots one takes is not important to this group. It is how we play and if it is the right shots and if we get victories. That is what important."

It is more than just scoring, however.

The Hoyas last season really struggled on the glass, especially at the defensive end. Butler is not a big team by any stretch of the imagination, but Georgetown dominated the boards last night, finished with a 43-30 rebounding and 12 offensive rebounds.

Monroe was also the biggest reason that Howard struggled so much. It was obvious watching the game that the reigning Horizon player of the year was cognizant of Monroe's presence as a shot blocker. He missed his first eight shots, the majority of which came right at the rim.

With as well as Monroe played, it is clear there is still room for improvement. He only made 9-20 shots, missing a number of easy lay-ups.

"If you had told me he was 9-for-20," Stevens said, "and he shot ten free throws and he ended up with 24 points, I would have said that's not all bad against us."

That will come with time. Monroe is still learning how to score in the post and how to handle being a guy that Georgetown needs to post a double-double every night.

But if you can go for 24 and 15, and people are saying you still have a great deal of room for improvement, what happens when you reach that threshold?

Only time will tell.

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Talent is not an issue at the top of Georgetown's roster.

With Chris Wright handling the ball, Austin Freeman on a wing, and Greg Monroe manning the paint, the Hoyas have one of the best 1-2-3 punches in the country. Most pundits, especially the ones worth paying attention to, would agree with that statement.

Through the Hoya's first five games, those three have lived up to all expectation.

While he is still clearly a work in progress, Monroe has been much more assertive on the offensive end and on the glass this season, bumping his averages up to 14.8 ppg and 9.4 rpg. Chris Wright's scoring is up to 13.8 ppg and he is coming off his best game of the year, scoring 18 points and going 4-5 from three against Mt. St. Mary's. Austin Freeman, who is the third or fourth option on the offensive end right now, is still averaging 11.8 ppg despite not having hit his stride this season.

The issue is not what those three bring to the table.

Those three can play, and for the most part they are a great fit for the offense John Thompson III likes to run.

The issue is what they don't bring to the table.

Monroe, for as talented as he is, is not what you would call a banger. He blocks some shots, but is not all that physical inside on either end, especially on the glass. If and when he has the ball in the low-post, you can be pretty certain he will use his left hand.

Part of the reason that his field goal percentage is down 100 points this season is that he has made a concerted effort to improve his right hand.

This is where Julian Vaughn comes into play.

Vaughn came out of Oak Hill Academy with a lot of hype, but played limited minutes at Florida State as a freshman and at Georgetown as a sophomore. With DaJuan Summers gone to the league, Vaughn has slid into the starting "4" spot very nicely this season. He's provided some muscle and toughness on the block, a big reason why Georgetown has looked better on the glass this season.

But Vaughn also has the perimeter skills to fit in with JTIII's Princeton offense. He is a capable passer, with 10 assists and just six turnovers in five games this year, with the ability to knock down a jumper from the perimeter.

In the back court, the one thing that Georgetown was lacking last season was a dynamic play maker and athlete on the defensive end.

Sophomore Jason Clark is that guy.

Clark has been a terror on the defensive end of the floor. He is quick with long arms and great anticipation, allowing him to get into the passing lanes. He creates easy baskets for the Hoyas in transition, which is really important for a team that likes to play at a controlled pace.

Like Vaughn, with more playing time has come the emergence of Clark as a threat in the half court offense Georgetown runs. He has the quicks to get to the rim, the hops to finish around the rim, and the stroke from the perimeter that forces a defense to play him honest.

Don't be surprised if Clark becomes the Hoya's most valuable backcourt player by season's end.

The Georgetown big three is as talented as any in the country, but with a limited bench, the production of the other two starters will go a long way in determining Georgetown's success this season.

If you like what you have read here, check out Rob's blog Ballin' is a Habit or follow him on Twitter @ballinisahabit .

So far this season, Hoya fans seem to be in a real hurry to forget about last year and move on...immediately.  Understandable.

(I bet that picture above still stings, doesn't it?  I know.  It hurts me too.  I had the honor of sitting all of 30 feet from the court for that game, soaking up every last turnover and last-second crappy jacked-up three-pointer, as only a senior watching his final college basketball game could.)

Unfortunately, I'm afraid that we're not going to get a real gauge on this team for another week, as the Hoyas continue Cupcake Month with Mount Saint Mary and American this week.

The Hoyas have turned in mostly up-and-down efforts so far this year—a 46-45 win in the home opener against Temple raised some serious eyebrows—but the Hoyas remain undefeated so far, and will likely enter the game against Butler with a 6-0 record.

What that hypothetical 6-0 means is anyone's guess, though. 

Of all college basketball fans, Georgetown supporters should understand the dangers of putting too much stock in early season results.  Last year, the Hoyas leapt out to a 10-1 record, capping their early-season success by toppling then-No. 2 UConn on the road.

But to say they "flamed out" the rest of the season would be an understatement.  As has been rehashed more times than any Georgetown fan can stomach, the Hoyas limped their way into a 6-12 finish over the rest of the season, getting knocked out in the first round of the Big East Tournament and the NIT.

Keeping last season squarely in mind, I'm swearing off making profound conclusions about the Hoya squad this early in the season.  We need to see the Hoyas play some real competition in legitimate pressure-cooker environments (like a typical Big East slugfest) before we crown the Hoyas as "over" their troubles from last year.

Opportunity isn't far away. On the slate for next Tuesday? Georgetown vs. No. 12 Butler in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.

This game provides the Hoyas a two-birds-with-one-stone test: a battle against their challenging opponent of the season, and one that will provide the typical wild atmosphere of a high-profile Big East game (or the Big East tournament, as it's held in MSG every year).

Georgetown coach John Thompson III didn't back down there, as four days later? The Hoyas face a cross-country trip to take on No. 14 Washington.

Both games will serve as early litmus tests for the Hoyas.  Blue Ribbon calls Butler "one of—if not the—top mid-major program in the nation." They’ve got a team that returned every player from an NCAA qualifying squad last season.

And the Washington Huskies, winners of the Pac-10 regular season title a year ago, stars Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and All-American guard Isaiah Thomas, who could prove extremely troublesome for some of the Hoyas' younger guards.

So, while I'm waiting to pass season-defining judgment on the Hoyas just yet, there have been a few noticeable positives from this early part of the season:

1) Greg Monroe looks like he took the freshman-to-sophomore leap in stride , understanding that he must command the ball and take a much larger leadership role on the team.  Against LaFayette, Monroe put up a ridiculous stat line of 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block in 29 minutes of play. 

It doesn't matter if Monroe put up that line against middle schoolers; Hoyas fans should feel relieved to see Monroe demanding more touches this season. 

2) Hollis Thompson really can shoot.    Again, keeping in mind the early competition (and that he will NOT be seeing such open looks when the Big East season rolls around), it seems like Thompson’s extra half-semester (he enrolled early in the spring last year to get a jump start on learning Georgetown's Princeton offense) is paying dividends so far. 

Ardent supporters of the program insisted that Thompson's silky-smooth shot could end up being the most reliable outside presence we have by the end of the season, and early season returns show no reason to question that possibility.

3) The big men off the bench aren't complete slouches.    Julian Vaughn and Henry Sims have to combine to provide Monroe some frontcourt support if the Hoyas have any chance this season, and it appears that both players understand their roles on the team much more than last season. 
Vaughn's found his way into the starting lineup this year and provided valuable minutes, while Sims hasn't looked as lost on the court in his role as first big man off the bench.

With those positives said...remember, everything goes out the window starting next Tuesday.

The Hoyas' performance against Butler and Washington could go a long way in rebuilding this team's fragile confidence—or breaking it down even further than last season.

The Big East has been the dominant conference in college basketball over the last few years but hasn't produced a national champion in a while now.

After a Final Four season, Villanova is one of many favorites to return to college basketball's most glorious stage.

Following a disappointing 09-09 season, Georgetown is out on a mission and the Uconn Huskies are looking forward to returning to the Final Four as well.

For some odd reason, none of these statements look promising.

Jim Calhoun and the Huskies were pushed to the limit at home against Hofstra. They won 76-67, but Uconn was challenged in the frontcourt, backcourt and mentally.

"Hofstra gave us everything we could handle," said UConn head coach Jim Calhoun. "Down nine with nine to go in your own building, I think, is tougher than being down nine on the road."

Uconn is more than capable of beating Hofstra by 25 points but at some point as players you've got learn how to step on an opponents' throat. We should see the real Uconn in a matchup with Duke soon.

Villanova has no excuse whatsover for their play against George Mason. Freshman Isaiah Armwood drilled a three-pointer with 17.6 seconds left to propel Villanova 69-68 in Puerto Rico.

Villanova made only two field-goals in the opening 10 minutes and trailed 19-7. Villanova didn't play like the #5 team in the nation while shooting 59% from the free-throw line and and 35% from the field. Villanova had three players foul out and they combined for 19 points.

If Jay Wright wants to stay afloat, he'll need Senior point guard Scottie Reynolds to lead the team and not commit eight turnovers.

Georgetown is the only team I'd give the benefit of the doubt because they played a traditionally quality foe.

The Hoyas are less talented from a year ago but John Thompson III still has some horses on campus.

After a 19-13 lead at halftime, the Hoyas just sqeaked by Temple on a smooth layup from 6'10 center Greg Monroe. The layup looked so routine that you'd assume the Temple defender let him score.

Monroe notched 11 points on and Georgetown reached 2-0. If Georgetown wants to go far in the NCAA's, Monroe needs the ball more often.

If the Big East wants to remain the "Cream of the Crop" then it's powerhouses willl have to play well each night and win the games they're supposed to win.

Nova' has a matchup with the Dayton Flyers in a few minutes while Georgetown plays another cupcake in Savannah State on Saturday.

They blew a lead, turned the ball over, and shot poorly from the perimeter. So you can call it a win over Temple for the Georgetown Hoyas , but what they picked up in the win column, they certainly lost in the confidence pool.

They’re young and talented, but there are no early indicators that the 20th-ranked Hoyas are anything more than an athletic bunch who will find wins at a premium on the nights when they can’t muscle the ball into the basket.

The keys to the John Thompson III offense, a credible post presence and timely three-point shooting, haven’t turned over the engine of the Hoyas’ potential through two games against Tulane and the Owls.

Where you would’ve expected the more seasoned Hoya unit to race out of the gates and prove detractors wrong, the Hoyas have lurched out to their perfect start. Against Tulane and Temple, physically inferior programs when paired with Georgetown, the Hoyas have averaged 15 turnovers and 18 personal fouls per contest. They’re averaging 28 percent from the three-point line.

Save for Greg Monroe’s consecutive double-doubles, there’s little room to expect a Hoya rise through the national rankings.

The Big East will be leaner this season than it has been in recent years, and an improved Hoyas team will be able to hang with Syracuse, Connecticut, and Louisville for a top spot in the conference and a national tournament berth. But it’s going to take a lot more efficiency from Austin Freeman and Chris Wright to make the Hoyas a dynamic offense that won’t need to lean on superb defense every night.

Gone are the days of Jeff Green’s versatility and Jonathan Wallace’s clutch shooting and floor leadership. These Hoyas have to find a new niche of athletic precision and skilled execution—particularly from behind the perimeter.

Or else it will be a long season of shortened expectations for the Hoyas.

Coming out of high school, Greg Monroe and Devin Ebanks (Louisiana and New York, respectively) were two of the best forward prospects in the 2008 Class.

Monroe, who turned down Coach K and Duke along with Uconn was quite the missing piece for a contender. He opted for Georgetown and left Jim Calhoun and Coach K in a ditch.

However, Ebanks is a bit smaller at 6'8, and he chose West Virginia over Texas and Memphis.

Monroe came into a situation trying to replace Roy Hibbert who graduated.

Having chosen to play in the Big East, Monroe and Ebanks thought they'd clash quite a bit in the powerhouse league.

The two freshman only met once in the Big East, which was at the Verizon Center in January. Georgetown took a whopping 75-58 beatdown at the hands of West Virginia. Monroe, the focal point of the frontcourt scored 11 points and grabbed 8 boards and dished four assists. Ebanks only scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds in the matchup. Both players combined for eight turnovers.

As the season grew old Ebanks matured as the frontcourt leader under Bob Huggins. After the Georgetown win he scored in double digits 13 out of the next 16 games.

Ebanks led West Virginia's frontcourt in Morgantown and dropped 16 points along with 10 rebounds while De'Sean Butler torched Scottie Reynolds and Villanova for 43 points. The Mountaineers rolled 93-72, and Ebanks flew onto the national radar...

Greg Monroe, not to be outdone, scored in double figures in 26 games his freshman year. However, his Hoyas struggled severly and were constantly thrown under the bus.

The Mountaineers finished 21-10(10-8) in the Big East. Ebanks led his team to a win over Luke Harangody in the Big East Tournament followed by a 74-60 whipping of Pittsburgh who was labeled a Final Four team. They eventually lost to Syracuse in overtime despite 22 points from Ebanks.

Monroe only experienced five wins in the final 15 regular season games, with two key wins over Villanova ans Syracuse. Georgetown qualified for the Big East Tournament and blew their opportunities in Madison Square Garden against St. John's in the opening round.

Suprisingly, the Hoyas were invited to the NIT where they layed an egg against Baylor who only had 3 bench points...pathetic right?

On the brink of a fresh start, Monroe and Ebanks find their teams ranked in every top 25 poll. West Virginia's ranked in the top 10 of most polls.

Both sophomores are on many All-America ballots. Ebanks is a favorite along with teammate De'Sean Butler for the Big East Player of the Year honor. I expect each to improve their scoring average at least 6.0 ppg.

Monroe is ultimately playing for stock, as in NBA Draft language. A projected lottery lock and possibly a top 10 pick, Monroe will be on a mission like never before. Scouts will travel to every game of his just watch him progress as a player.

If Monroe toots his hat too much, he may find his team in the garbage can all over again.

Ed Davis will be another top forward in the same boat.

Ebanks and Monroe are unquestionably gifted players with the sky as their potential.

The Big East has traditionally taken a backseat to the ACC over the last 10 years.

Not anymore: The Big East is by far the deepest conference.

This past season, the Big East provided one of the most entertaining postseason tournaments in recent memory; including an epic six-overtime game.

That game featured two Hall of Fame coaches; Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun. It also showcased two NBA Draft Lottery picks; Hasheem Thabeet and Johnny Flynn, who combined for 53 points.

The Big East also provided the nation with a plethora of conference teams to watch in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Seven clubs represented the conference; UConn, Villanova, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Marquette, Louisville, and Syracuse. The much more heralded ACC, in comparison, sent only six schools to the "Big Dance".

Of the seven teams the Big East sent to the tournament, five of them made the Sweet 16, and four made the Elite 8. Also, Uconn and Villanova reached the Final Four, although both were wiped out in their semifinal games and missed the title game.

However, enough with living in the past. The 2009-2010 is upon us and the Big East has reloaded after losing premeire talent to graduation and the NBA Draft.

While it's unlikely the Big East will again field seven teams in the upcoming NCAA Tournament this coming spring, they just might. Five Big East teams are likely to be included in the preaseason Top 25 if Syracuse can obtain a buddy pass from reluctant voters. 

Following is a look at some of the premier teams in the league: 

Uconn - Fresh off their appearance in the Final Four, they will have to replace Thabeet and A.J. Price, but retain Stanley Robinson and Jerome Dyson. Calhoun will have Gavin Edwards and Kembe Walker to toy with as the season progresses. Look for the Huskies to be around the top of the conference once again.

Villanova - They will sport the nation's top backcourt with Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Scottie Reynolds and Reggie Redding returning from a Final Four appearance. Jay Wright should be Final Four-ready if they take pride in defense each game. Duke transfer and sharp-shooter Taylor King will also play this season.

West Virginia - The Mountaineers will be Elite 8-bound with Da'Sean Butler playing alongside a talented Devin Ebanks. Both players should be Big East Player of the Year contenders along the way. They shouldn't lose in the first round at the hands of a school like Dayton again anytime soon.

Notre Dame - Big East Player of the Year frontrunner Luke Harangody may miss the NCAA Tourney again with their losses. They missed last year with a loaded team. Marquette lost Wesley Matthews, Jerel McNeal, and Dominic James...enough said about their chances.

No DeJuan Blair, Levance Fields, Sam Young and Tyrell Biggs? Nope.

Pittsburgh will have to tango with only one starter from a year ago, Jermaine Dixon. Dixon broke his foot over the summer so I'll put them and Marquette in the same sinking ship.

You can say what you want but Syracuse losing to D-II Le Moyne isn't a game you just forget about. The Orange have too much talent to have letdowns at home. If coach Boeheim fails to motivate his team early on, look for a game versus Columbia to be catastrophic. Flynn , Devendorf and Harris are no longer their to save the Orange.

Louisville is the only team that looks to be a mystery. They lose Terrence Williams and Earl Clark but Pitino will have Edgar Sosa, Terrence Jennings and stud Samardo Samuels as they attempt to stay afloat in the Big East in the 09-10 campaign.

The Hoyas of Georgetown are poised for a breakout season after a catastrophe last year. They went 16-15 and lost their opening conference tourney game against St. John's, followed up by a loss in the NIT to Baylor. The Hoyas should make strides and John Thompson III will grasp his the Big East.

As for the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC...just step your game up.

The Big East will battle the ACC for national supremacy for years to come.

Hoyas History

In 1984, the Georgetown program took home a national title under John Thompson, father of current head coach John Thompson III.

Twenty-five years later, that title is the Hoyas' only NCAA Championship although they have returned to the Final Four five times. Meanwhile, the Hoyas are trying to live up to their untapped potential as the 2009-10 season is upon us.

A Look Back at 2008-09

Record: 16-15 (7-12, Big East)

Coming into last season, the Hoyas snagged highly recruited Greg Monroe out of New Orleans away from Coach Krzyzewski and Duke. They began 9-1 with their lone loss coming against No. 12 Tennessee, but down the stretch crumbled like crackers.

To open conference play, the Hoyas defeated second-ranked Connecticut before losing nine out of 12. At that point, postseason play was unlikely, given they had tough games remaining on the road.

Georgetown's only chance was the Big East Championships, but St. Johns bounced the Hoyas in the opening round. They ended up in the NIT and lost to Baylor in the first round. It was a huge disappointment for such a team with an experienced coaching staff and NBA talent.

New and Old Players

Newcomers: SF Hollis Thompson, SG Vee Sanford, SF Stephen Stepka, PF Jerrelle Benimon  

Key Losses: SF/PF DaJuan Summers, SG Jessie Sapp

Key Returners: C Greg Monroe, SG/SF Austin Freeman, PG Chris Wright

Impact Hoyas

Greg Monroe and his skills are second to none. His greatest weakness was consistency last year. He has great size and potential at 6'11". Monroe has great hands and is a tremendous weapon with his passing ability in Thompson's Princeton style offense. Look for him to be a Big East Player of the Year contender as a sophomore.

Austin Freeman is a 6'4" wing who can create, but is tentative at times. He too can be a Big East star if he works on his three-pointer, as he shot just 30 percent from behind the arc a year ago.

Chris Wright is a solid defender at 6'1" and is similar to Allan Ray, a former Villanova guard. He only averaged 1.5 fouls per game, which was key for coach Thompson.

Nikita Mescheriakov has great size and athleticism at 6'8". Not good from the perimeter, but will be needed to replace Summers. He may get big minutes if he can rebound and play defense consistently.

Top Games

• Duke: Jan. 30. It'll be interesting to see how Monroe holds up against a loaded Duke frontcourt. Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith vs. Freeman and Wright is key.
• @ Villanova: Jan. 17. A Final Four team returns an outstanding backcourt. It'll be a good road outing against a national title contender.
• UConn: Jan. 9. This is the only meeting scheduled. UConn lost Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien, A.J. Price, and Craig Austrie, but have Jerome Dyson, Kemba Walker, Stanley Robinson, and Gavin Edwards on the team.

Season Outlook

Thompson will look to get his guys on track and focused. Coming off such a terrible season, it'll be imperative that Georgetown play well above .500 in a tough conference.

Freeman Wright and Monroe have to play like seniors and lead the rest of the young ones. Hollis Thompson, Vee Sanford, Stephen Stepka, and Jerrelle Benimon will come along eventually, but don't expect big minutes. 

Georgetown's chemistry is key in the team's development early in the season. Summers may slightly be missed, but what he did down the stretched should be matched by Nikita Mescheriakov.

This team has enough to make a deep run in the postseason. The Big East should beat them up, but the tough schedule should beat up fellow contenders Syracuse, UConn, and Villanova also.

The Hoyas are a tough team to figure out, but should be able to withstand the storm and make the Sweet 16.