GTOWN #11 on rivals countdown

[tpk3]

www.georgetown.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=859238

fair assessment

[lancasterhoyafan]

Good stuff!

[Dhall]

Pretty obvious why there is no game in McDonough anymore - school makes a lot more money by charging the season ticketholders for that game at Verizon instead (even if most of them don't go).

[prhoya]

Nice write-up. I would put us around #11 too. I disagree on the "depth is a major concern". We have the depth to compete for this ranking. It's the lack of experience down low in the toughest league that's my concern.

[blueandgray]

Sorry...but depth is absolutely a concern. Perhaps not so much in the backcourt...but definitely in the front court. What happens when Monroe picks up two quick fouls in the first 5 minutes of a game?

[SFHoya99]

Oct 6, 2008 10:13:52 GMT -5 blueandgray said:

Sorry...but depth is absolutely a concern. Perhaps not so much in the backcourt...but definitely in the front court. What happens when Monroe picks up two quick fouls in the first 5 minutes of a game?

We're actually pretty flexible. I have a good amount of confidence in Sims -- he may be skinny but he can block shots, shoot, rebound and Vaughn is going to add solid minutes (though his rebounding numbers look suspiciously like Macklin's).

Summers is going to play a lot of PF, so that's four guys who can play PF/C. Last year we had a four man rotation down there )Hibbert, Summers, Ewing and Macklin). Sure, Ewing as a fifth year senior is bound to be better than a freshman Sims, but I don't know if Monroe is going to play less minutes than Hibbert.

At small forward, Summers and Freeman are basically going to get most of the minutes, with Nikita and Omar maybe dropping in a few (or a three guard lineup). That leaves a somewhat more thin backcourt unless Freeman or Omar can put in some time at the two -- otherwise we've got three players for two positions. So that's thin.

Right now we're looking at an eight man rotation. That's not really thin in the "getting tired/foul prone" sense. It is somewhat thin in the injury sense.

[prhoya]

Basically, SF said it all. IMO, this year lack of experience is more of a major concern than depth.

[prhoya]

I don't agree with the author's assessment that Freeman is the player who must step up. I'm counting on Freeman to be his solid and consistent self.

The player who IMO needs to step up is Summers. It's his time to be all-conference first team. He, along with Sapp, must lead this team. I'm expecting a lot from him and he has the tools to deliver.

[blueandgray]

At risk of sounding like a cup is half empty guy, if for any reason Monroe has to play reduced minutes in a battle against Louisville, Ucon, or even Syracuse for that matter... going at it with Sims and Summers down low will be tough to say the least. Monroe is really going to have to go to battle the 30 plus minutes he plays a game.

As far as the backcourt goes...I think we look good with Wright, Sapp, and Clark playing the 1 and 2. Clark is going to get major minutes and although he's a true freshman... I think we are all going to be very happy with the ball in his hands. Finally, Austin and Summers will play the 3....that's should more than suffice.

[lichoya68]

too high too many youngins for such early season hype BUT WATCH OUT IN FEBRUARY and totally agree with above OUR WINTER WILL DEPEND ON OUR SUMMERS YUP VERY VERY TRUE HES THE KEY OTHER NEWBIES WILL LEARN UNDER JT3 BUT DAJUAN MUST THATS MUST STEP UP ALL BIG EAST AND POSSIBLE ALL AMERICAN PLAY TO US TO PLAY LONG IN MARCH one mans humble opinion yup go hoyas go youngins and LETS RUMBLE DAJUAN ITS YOUR TIME YUP eat the bannana dajuan THIS YEAR ;D ;D

[Hoya TMF]

i thought this assessment was right on except for the depth. We have less experienced depth, but our rotation isn't going to be much different that it was for most of last year. Wright was hurt most of the year, so we played four guards in three guard spots and rotated four guys in the big man spots. we need to see if omar can become a tc-type player who can give you hustle plays, good defense and a bucket or two when called upon. hopefully nikita con contribute as well to steal summers' some minutes. we have enough players; it just remains to be seen what they can contribute as we get deeper into our schedule.

Last Year
1. Onions-Rivers
2. Wallace-Wright
3. Austin-TC
4. Summers-Ewing
5. Hibbert-Macklin

This Year
1. Onions-Clark
2. Wright
3. Austin-Wattad/Nikita
4. Summers-Vaughn
5. Monroe-Sims

being ranked at 11 means that we make the sweet 16 and are one of the better teams not to make the elite 8. that is a reasonable expetation. i'd say msu, mephis and gonzaga are better than us, so we may be overrated by a few spots, but that's what happens when your program starts to gain some success-you get overrated. i can't wait!

[dcc33]

Considering that 4 of our 8 person rotation (assuming Nikita and Omar are not a consistent part of it) have not played a game in a Hoya uniform, I'm inclined to say that 11th pretty optimistic.

Our backcourt will be very good, assuming Chris is as good as we think he is, having a year of practice and hopefully no injuries (I think he will live up to the hype and then some). Even if Jessie and Austin don't improve much from last year, I think a healthy Wright and Clark replacing Rivers makes us better than last year. Every guy in our backcourt seems to be able to handle the ball well, pass, defend, penetrate to score, and shoot the 3 at a good percentage (Jessie, Chris, and Austin were all over 40% last year). Is Jason a good shooter? His shot didn't stand out to me when I saw him over the summer, but thats not a good sample size, so perhaps someone has more input.

The frontcourt worries me. I like Summers a lot as a 3, and if he can play 15+ minutes a game there, I'll feel more comfortable - especially if that lets Greg play the 4 spot that he seems most suited for. I have no idea what to expect this season from Vaughn or Sims (who I think will be great in 2-3 years). If we can get 12-15 effective minutes a game from both of them I think we deserve the number 11 ranking, possible reaching the elite 8 - if not, I see us in the 20-25 range, with making the sweet 16 a successful end to the season. Its just way to early to say.

[GIGAFAN99]

I'd say dead on for this analysis but I agree on Summers being the one who has to step up. He's had a full offseason this year so no excuses. If he steps up to be a 50-40-80 guy like Freeman, this offense will be difficult to defend with those two and Monroe in the frontcourt.

[algtiger]

I think it is important to note that last year, Rivals ranked us 10th, and put USC 9th. Preseason rankings mean nothing.

[SirSaxa]

nice thing about this year is the expectations are a lot lower than the last couple, but the talent is just as good. Maybe better. Not the experience though.

new team, new opportunities, new guys to cheer for, the second act of JT3 era!

[idhoya]

I'm interested to see how the offense is tweaked now that the team is faster.

[SirSaxa]

Oct 6, 2008 23:52:25 GMT -5 idhoya said:

I'm interested to see how the offense is tweaked now that the team is faster.

You and me both brotha!

[Jack]

Interesting note for the Old Spice Classic:

Rivals Rankings
10. Tennessee
11. Georgetown
12. Michigan St.
13. Gonzaga

Not too shabby, that.

[lichoya68]

wow good pick up old spice number ten thru thirthteen straight thru big tests early for the youngins lets pull some early upsets go hoyas do think that 11 is a little high rather have low expectations and then grow and get old adn SURPRISE come feb yup go hoyas ;D ;D

[jgalt]

Oct 7, 2008 9:56:07 GMT -5 Jack said:

Interesting note for the Old Spice Classic:

Rivals Rankings
10. Tennessee
11. Georgetown
12. Michigan St.
13. Gonzaga

Not too shabby, that.

i hadnt noticed that. thats pretty sick. the winner of that tournament is going to have alot of solid wins to fall back on come march. the winner would have had to beat two top 15 teams in a matter of days, definitely similar to what this team will face come big east play.