2022-23 Schedule Talk

[daveg023]

Jul 29, 2022 8:21:17 GMT -5 hoya73 said:

Jul 29, 2022 5:34:32 GMT -5 daveg023 said:

He's his worst enemy sometimes with these things...

My one gripe remains the Jamaica Classic.  If we are in a better MTE instead of GB, Loyola, Wake/Lasalle, we'd be getting 3 better games.  I am not sure when we committed we knew who else was going to be in it, but it fits a pattern that since Ewing has been here we have been in some very weak MTEs.  Unfortunately the only two times we were in a stronger field we bowed out of the PK80 and we had the Wooden Classic cancelled (UCLA, Kansas, UVA) on us.

Here's the fields of some of the events on ESPN:

www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34296910/your-guide-seven-early-season-2022-23-men-college-basketball-tournaments

Any of these events (sans maybe the Hawaii one) would be a massive improvement over Jamaica, and would lead to a schedule I'd find totally acceptable.

Not wanting to come off as a negative guy, and one of the most negative has also criticized our being in the Jamaica tournament, but... do you really believe a team that went 0-20 in the BE last year had an offer for a significantly better tournament?

I get we may not have been a top target for say Maui or the PKI (which also were locked in at least over a year ago anyway), but there are plenty of other decent events that gladly would have taken us. 

I mean look at that Charleston event with Va Tech, Penn St, South Carolina, Davidson, Colorado St, etc.   Or the Myrtle Beach one with Colorado, Texas A&M, Murray State, Loyola Chicago, UMass, etc.   No doubt we would have been an attractive add to either field if nothing else for the Big East's inclusion.

Are they great events?  No.  But there's at least 3-4 NCAAT caliber teams in those fields, and likely few (if any) +300 RPI teams.   Those would have been the perfect type of MTEs for us this year. 

[hoyasaxa2003]

The November tournaments can only have one team per conference. For this reason, even bad teams can get invites to some of the better November tournaments. I agree that while last year may have been uniquely bad, we never played in the more competitive tournaments before then anyway when we were easily a top 100 (though not great) team.

[seaweed]

Jul 29, 2022 8:54:28 GMT -5 daveg023 said:

Jul 29, 2022 8:21:17 GMT -5 hoya73 said:

Not wanting to come off as a negative guy, and one of the most negative has also criticized our being in the Jamaica tournament, but... do you really believe a team that went 0-20 in the BE last year had an offer for a significantly better tournament?

I get we may not have been a top target for say Maui or the PKI (which also were locked in at least over a year ago anyway), but there are plenty of other decent events that gladly would have taken us. 

I mean look at that Charleston event with Va Tech, Penn St, South Carolina, Davidson, Colorado St, etc.   Or the Myrtle Beach one with Colorado, Texas A&M, Murray State, Loyola Chicago, UMass, etc.   No doubt we would have been an attractive add to either field if nothing else for the Big East's inclusion.

Are they great events?  No.  But there's at least 3-4 NCAAT caliber teams in those fields, and likely few (if any) +300 RPI teams.   Those would have been the perfect type of MTEs for us this year. 

Would have been perfect for us if the pieces come together and we are able to perform in the early season. None of us knows the thinking of the staff really, but hedging bets with the OOC this years seems warranted after last season's debacle. Sure we did a roster overhaul and most of us are more confident looking forward, but taking it easy at the start is a sensible approach and gives the squad time to come together, gel etc. The overly ambitious "what about the bubble" crowd seems to discount the necessity of having an opportunity to grow into the season.

I see things going one of two ways this year - either underperform and look something like last year god forbid, or overperform and leave the bubble sitters in the dust, meaning no amount of SOS talk is warranted. If we end up fence sitting somewhere in the middle, so be it but most of us would probably still consider a burst bubble due to weak OOC and a trip to the NIT to be one heck of an improvement over last year. But I am leaning into the over perform option

[kghoya]

Jul 29, 2022 9:12:55 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

The November tournaments can only have one team per conference. For this reason, even bad teams can get invites to some of the better November tournaments. I agree that while last year may have been uniquely bad, we never played in the more competitive tournaments before then anyway when we were easily a top 100 (though not great) team.

Georgetown was scheduled to play in the PK80 - a three game tournament - in Ewing's first year. He took the Hoyas out and they have yet to play in a similar event. No Maui, Battle 4 Atlantis, or even Charleston Classic.

Now Ewing did put them in a nice 2 day event in NYC where they played Texas & Duke. They were set to play in another solid event that was wiped out with covid. I think the other teams were Kansas, UCLA, and UVA.

For whatever reason Ewing doesn't want to play in a 3 game early season event. We'll have to wait until he retires to possibly see the Hoyas back in Maui.

[DFW HOYA]

Jul 29, 2022 5:34:32 GMT -5 daveg023 said:

My one gripe remains the Jamaica Classic.  If we are in a better MTE instead of GB, Loyola, Wake/Lasalle, we'd be getting 3 better games.  I am not sure when we committed we knew who else was going to be in it, but it fits a pattern that since Ewing has been here we have been in some very weak MTEs.  Unfortunately the only two times we were in a stronger field we bowed out of the PK80 and we had the Wooden Classic cancelled (UCLA, Kansas, UVA) on us.

The basketball office is not good with optics. A return visit to Jamaica looks a little like when John Thompson scheduled games in Las Vegas--it wasn't for the competition.

Ewing doesn't schedule strategically--maybe scheduling is handled by the general manager in the corner office. There are no recruits in Montego Bay, and fewer fans--in the scope of ESPN Thanksgiving events, it's altogether forgettable. Over the next couple of years, when the Gavitt Games and Big 12 series expire and Syracuse may roll off the schedule, Georgetown is going to have a more difficult time getting Quad 1 opponents before Christmas.

[hoyaatheart55]

Yea I’m not looking forward to the Jamaica tournament. Last time we played like crap and it looked like we were in a bad high school gym.

[kghoya]

Jul 29, 2022 9:59:57 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Ewing doesn't schedule strategically--maybe scheduling is handled by the general manager in the corner office. There are no recruits in Montego Bay, and fewer fans--in the scope of ESPN Thanksgiving events, it's altogether forgettable. Over the next couple of years, when the Gavitt Games and Big 12 series expire and Syracuse may roll off the schedule, Georgetown is going to have a more difficult time getting Quad 1 opponents before Christmas.

Ewing does schedule strategically. It just for wins, not for having the strongest resume come March. For the most part it hasn't really mattered. They've only had a conference record that should have put them on the bubble once in five seasons.

[DFW HOYA]

Jul 29, 2022 10:51:47 GMT -5 kghoya said:

Ewing does schedule strategically. It just for wins, not for having the strongest resume come March. For the most part it hasn't really mattered. They've only had a conference record that should have put them on the bubble once in five seasons.

I would suggest that's recruiting tactically, not strategically.

[drquigley]

How can you look at our record last year and understand what a huge task Ewing has to basically reconstitute our basketball team (and program) and then complain about a soft OOC schedule? I would be shocked if our team looks at all like a cohesive unit before mid January. We desperately need early cupcakes to figure out our starting five, our rotations, and our offensive and defensive schemes. Plus, and this is something we really haven't talked about, with so many guys trying for so few minutes Ewing is going to have to be a genius to keep egos in check and quell mid season transfer rumors. The last I checked we have 5 guys vying for the guard position. After last year I've become a Ewing doubter but if he can pull off a respectable record this year (10-10, 9-11 BE record) my opinion of him will dramatically change.

[SDHoya]

Jul 29, 2022 9:59:57 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Jul 29, 2022 5:34:32 GMT -5 daveg023 said:

My one gripe remains the Jamaica Classic.  If we are in a better MTE instead of GB, Loyola, Wake/Lasalle, we'd be getting 3 better games.  I am not sure when we committed we knew who else was going to be in it, but it fits a pattern that since Ewing has been here we have been in some very weak MTEs.  Unfortunately the only two times we were in a stronger field we bowed out of the PK80 and we had the Wooden Classic cancelled (UCLA, Kansas, UVA) on us.

The basketball office is not good with optics. A return visit to Jamaica looks a little like when John Thompson scheduled games in Las Vegas--it wasn't for the competition.

Ewing doesn't schedule strategically--maybe scheduling is handled by the general manager in the corner office. There are no recruits in Montego Bay, and fewer fans--in the scope of ESPN Thanksgiving events, it's altogether forgettable. Over the next couple of years, when the Gavitt Games and Big 12 series expire and Syracuse may roll off the schedule, Georgetown is going to have a more difficult time getting Quad 1 opponents before Christmas.

Depends on what you mean by "strategically". If you mean that switching out a couple 300+ opponents for 200+ opponents would raise our computer numbers a tad, perhaps. Although its worth noting that just because some internet guru predicts these will be 300+ teams, doesn't necessarily mean that's where they'll be in March. Note that UMBC and Siena were in the mid-200s NET last year, Coppin ended pretty strong last year including a run to the MEAC tournament title game, and American returns 4 starters.

If you mean that you'd have preferred some more enticing OOC home games--I suppose that's fair to an extent. Seeing a blue blood or two come to CapOne is always fun and brings out a better crowd (anyone else there for the Duke-Obama game?). NW and SC are likely to be good early season tests, but not as likely to get big numbers into the seats.

But if you see the OOC mainly as an opportunity to prepare for the conference slate, then the schedule makes a lot more sense "strategically". Two "cupcakes" (Coppin and GB) to start the season, build confidence and team dynamic, and get a rhythm. Then a test at home against NW. Off to Jamaica for a game against a likely mid to high 100s team in LMU, and then hopefully a neutral court test against a solid Wake. Back home for some confidence builders and a chance to work out the kinks against American and UMBC, before we start to kick into high gear with the stretch including TT away, SC home and Cuse away (with Siena interspersed). Taken in that light, even if the OOC is not "equivalent" to the BE schedule, it certainly appears designed to prepare for it.

I'd also quibble that this year's scheduling will have significant impact on the Hoyas' ability to schedule down the road. Just because Gavitt and BE/B12 series runs out at some point doesn't mean they won't be renewed, nor that the BE won't look for alternatives (they will). Same with Cuse. On the other hand, if performance gets better (understood this is a big if), we instantly become a very attractive home and home proposition for a lot of high majors due to our location and history/brand.

[Lethal_Interjection]

[DanMcQ]

[hoyaboya]

Jul 29, 2022 9:59:57 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Jul 29, 2022 5:34:32 GMT -5 daveg023 said:

My one gripe remains the Jamaica Classic.  If we are in a better MTE instead of GB, Loyola, Wake/Lasalle, we'd be getting 3 better games.  I am not sure when we committed we knew who else was going to be in it, but it fits a pattern that since Ewing has been here we have been in some very weak MTEs.  Unfortunately the only two times we were in a stronger field we bowed out of the PK80 and we had the Wooden Classic cancelled (UCLA, Kansas, UVA) on us.

The basketball office is not good with optics. A return visit to Jamaica looks a little like when John Thompson scheduled games in Las Vegas--it wasn't for the competition.

Ewing doesn't schedule strategically--maybe scheduling is handled by the general manager in the corner office. There are no recruits in Montego Bay, and fewer fans--in the scope of ESPN Thanksgiving events, it's altogether forgettable. Over the next couple of years, when the Gavitt Games and Big 12 series expire and Syracuse may roll off the schedule, Georgetown is going to have a more difficult time getting Quad 1 opponents before Christmas.

Pretty sure the press release for Jamaica Classic said it's on CBS Sports Network, not the ESPN Family.

[hoyaboya]

Looking at the tournament field, frankly, I see no reason why the Deacs shouldn’t dominate win this thing...Wake Forest is obviously the best team in the event. In fact, Wake Forest is the only team in the tournament that finished in the top 100 in KenPom last season and is 1 of 2 teams with a winning record in Division I last season.

www.bloggersodear.com/2022/7/28/23282973/wake-forest-to-play-in-2022-jamaica-classic-deacs-wfu-basketball-demon-deacons

[hoyaboya]

Apologies if this has been posted already, but a pretty good overview of the schedule here...

www.bigeastcoastbias.com/big-east-basketball/2022/7/26/23279420/georgetown-hoyas-basketball-nonconference-schedule-syracuse-texas-tech

Some highlights...

"Continuing with the cupcakes against Wisconsin Green Bay. They’re the first part of the Jamaica Classic, being the home game for the series. Nine of their guys are new, and they’re widely expected to be one of the worst ten teams in the country. Not much else to say here...

Northwestern in Capital One Arena as a part of the Gavitt Tip-Off Games is next. This might just be the marquee non-conference home game. That’s pretty sad. Boo Buie is an excellent college basketball name and the dude just gets buckets. They lose two of their top four scorers from a team that was 7-13 in Big Ten play, with Pete Nance transferring to UNC and Ryan Young transferring to Duke. From teammates to rivals, that’s somewhat cool.

In games decided by 10 or fewer points, Northwestern was 5-12, which is just remarkably poor. They just couldn’t win close games. In some of these games, they weren’t all that competitive until a late comeback (sound familiar?), but in others, the win probability graph is just tragic.

They’re not expected to be any good next season. Since their first NCAA tournament bid in 2017, Northwestern hasn’t finished a season above .500 and hasn't finished above 10th in the Big Ten. Losing Pete Nance to UNC just makes this team much worse...

The next game for the Hoyas is a home game against South Carolina. The Gamecocks have made headlines in recent days with the signing of five-star recruit GG Jackson, who also reclassed from the 2023 class to play for the Gamecocks this year. Jackson will be the team's best player and this is a massive acquisition for new Head Coach Lamont Paris. Jackson was widely regarded as the top recruit in the 2023 class, so bringing him on campus is huge.

The rest of the roster leaves a ton to be desired, however. Before getting Jackson, this roster was considered the worst Power 6 (Big East plus Power Five) roster in the country. Ohio State transfer Meechie Johnson was set to lead a team that lost just about everyone after Coach Frank Martin was fired. Getting someone like Jackson should keep them competitive, but South Carolina looks to be a bottom-tier SEC team."

[hoyazeke]

Jul 29, 2022 9:57:08 GMT -5 kghoya said:

Jul 29, 2022 9:12:55 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

The November tournaments can only have one team per conference. For this reason, even bad teams can get invites to some of the better November tournaments. I agree that while last year may have been uniquely bad, we never played in the more competitive tournaments before then anyway when we were easily a top 100 (though not great) team.

Georgetown was scheduled to play in the PK80 - a three game tournament - in Ewing's first year. He took the Hoyas out and they have yet to play in a similar event. No Maui, Battle 4 Atlantis, or even Charleston Classic.

Now Ewing did put them in a nice 2 day event in NYC where they played Texas & Duke. They were set to play in another solid event that was wiped out with covid. I think the other teams were Kansas, UCLA, and UVA.

For whatever reason Ewing doesn't want to play in a 3 game early season event. We'll have to wait until he retires to possibly see the Hoyas back in Maui.

I believe the issue has more to do with what Ewing thinks of the team. When we were trending up Ewing scheduled the NYC event with quality opponents. The next year was not looking good with us not having a PG to start the season so less challenge early to get the Harrises ready. I believe if he keeps signing studs he'll start testing them early.

[KenteKrazies]

Jul 29, 2022 14:54:59 GMT -5 hoyazeke said:

Jul 29, 2022 9:57:08 GMT -5 kghoya said:

Georgetown was scheduled to play in the PK80 - a three game tournament - in Ewing's first year. He took the Hoyas out and they have yet to play in a similar event. No Maui, Battle 4 Atlantis, or even Charleston Classic.

Now Ewing did put them in a nice 2 day event in NYC where they played Texas & Duke. They were set to play in another solid event that was wiped out with covid. I think the other teams were Kansas, UCLA, and UVA.

For whatever reason Ewing doesn't want to play in a 3 game early season event. We'll have to wait until he retires to possibly see the Hoyas back in Maui.

I believe the issue has more to do with what Ewing thinks of the team. When we were trending up Ewing scheduled the NYC event with quality opponents. The next year was not looking good with us not having a PG to start the season so less challenge early to get the Harrises ready. I believe if he keeps signing studs he'll start testing them early.

Would add the minor point that technically Jamaica is a 3 team event because of Green Bay. Assume the cupcake is built in so that everybody can maximize on the 3 games the NCAA allows for each MTE yo add to their non-con schedule.

[prhoya]

Jul 29, 2022 13:16:01 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Looking at the tournament field, frankly, I see no reason why the Deacs shouldn’t dominate win this thing...Wake Forest is obviously the best team in the event. In fact, Wake Forest is the only team in the tournament that finished in the top 100 in KenPom last season and is 1 of 2 teams with a winning record in Division I last season.

www.bloggersodear.com/2022/7/28/23282973/wake-forest-to-play-in-2022-jamaica-classic-deacs-wfu-basketball-demon-deacons

Our KenPom from last year is worthless... our projected top 7 players where not here last year...

[kghoya]

Jul 29, 2022 15:08:07 GMT -5 KenteKrazies said:

Jul 29, 2022 14:54:59 GMT -5 hoyazeke said:

I believe the issue has more to do with what Ewing thinks of the team. When we were trending up Ewing scheduled the NYC event with quality opponents. The next year was not looking good with us not having a PG to start the season so less challenge early to get the Harrises ready. I believe if he keeps signing studs he'll start testing them early.

Would add the minor point that technically Jamaica is a 3 team event because of Green Bay. Assume the cupcake is built in so that everybody can maximize on the 3 games the NCAA allows for each MTE yo add to their non-con schedule.

3 game event as in a tournament with 3 games in 3 days (or 4 days - Charleston).

Backing out of pk80 was not a one off decision. Hoyas should have been in Maui again and have def missed their turn in the Bahamas

[KenteKrazies]