If anybody has ESPN insider and would care to share the recruiting article by PM that would be much appreciated. The Goodman article isn't great, but really, it's nothing new or unexpected. This isn't a description of something like the circus that was Ben Howland's program at UCLA, for example.
(1) "Everyone knows a change needs to be made," one former player said. "But no one will dare stand up and say it." This echoes the opinion of many on here. But clearly, not "everyone" knows that or it would happen.
(2) "Everyone is scared to death [of JT Jr.]"
"Loyalty and fear," one told ESPN on why they weren't willing to attach their name to anything. "Fear of Big John and where you stand. You don't mess with him."
"I'm still scared of him, and I'm a grown man now," added another.
Do these quotes surprise anybody?
(3) "I love the school, and he's a really, really good man," one former Hoya said of JT3. "But he's just not getting it done."
Clearly, JT3 hasn't gotten it done over the last two seasons. I don't think anybody disputes that. But the question is, is that enough to make a change? Therein lies the disagreement.
(4) "How many more years are they going to give him of not making the tournament?" asked one former player." My sense is one more after this season.
To those who say JT3's record merits firing, answer this: Mike Brey missed the tournament three consecutive years in the early 2000s. Clearly, he has rebounded from that quite well. In the last of those three seasons he went 6-10 in the Big East. Would you have fired him back then?
(5) "He still tries to recruit high-level guys, regardless of the fit," one player said. "He needs high-skilled guys, not necessarily the top talent. Obviously, some of the guys fit well -- but most of them don't. "Georgetown actually looks like the team the Princeton offense was actually built to beat."
I think that's probably a fair statement, assuming we are going to play textbook Princeton offense. I don't think we do, but I think high-skilled guys are definitely needed. And we do need them. I do think the types that are missing are people like Jon Wallace, who might not necessarily be super athletic but who have at least one great skill.
(6) "It's embarrassing," one former player said. "And something needs to be done." Again, not a shocking sentiment.
I agree our losing stinks. Of course, you don't want to see any article like this if you are JT3 or Georgetown. But, what this really amounts to is "Georgetown has been bad the least couple of seasons, and we are frustrated and want to do something about it." There isn't one criticism against JT3 personally. The only statement that can in any way be interpreted as criticism is the recruiting comment, and that's not something shocking.
I think the article is only "shocking" in the sense that it'll make more people aware that we have stunk. That's about it.