Post by MCIGuy on Dec 6, 2004 14:33:50 GMT -5
These quotes/observations are taken from the Blue Ribbon breakdown of the Hoyas. The writers of the book interviewed JT3 probably months before the season began, which means most likely before he was even able to run his first official practice. Again these are excerpts, not the whole preview.
Special thanks go to LPucci for providing me with the information.
On the burden of pressure :
"Is there pressure? Yes," said Thompson III. "But no one will put more pressure on me than me. And no one will put more pressure on my players than me. Any pressure I face will be more internal than external, but obviously there's a tradition of winning here at Georgetown and we need to restore that."
On learning more about his new team:
"As soon as I was hired, I started watching tape to get a feel for these guys," Thompson III said. "Of course, I talked to my brother, who was an assistant here two years ago, and my father. It's going to be a process to get the players to listen to a new voice and learn a new system."
On the departed team members:
"What we lose with Gerald and Courtland is experience," Thompson III said. "We lose two seniors, including a four-year starter in Gerald. They had experience and the things they've seen are invaluable on the court. We're going to need our younger guys to step up and be leaders."
Breakdown of returning players
Reconstruction begins with three returning starters -- 6-8 junior forward Brandon Bowman (15.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 6-6 senior swingman Darrel Owens and 6-2 junior guard Ashanti Cook.
Bowman is without question the Hoyas most talented player and the one with the potential to single-handedly win a game for his team. Bowman finished second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding last season. He's an excellent shooter for a big man and showed he can pour in the points by dropping a career-high 30 on Delaware State last season.
"In one word, Brandon is talented," Thompson III said. "He has so much God-given ability. But he's got even more potential and we see that on the film. We want to get his numbers up even more this year. If he focuses and puts in the effort he could be a real force for us the next two years."
Bowman is athletic enough to exploit his height. His ability to play either forward position allows him to post up a smaller defender or pull a taller defender out to the perimeter. He's just as dangerous at the defensive end, using his height to block shots and snare rebounds. Bowman also averaged 1.32 assists and 1.32 blocks last season.
When playing the power-forward spot, Bowman will be joined by Owens (8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) in the frontcourt. The coaching staff loves Owens' versatility and his ball-handling skills allow him to play anywhere from point guard to small forward.
Offensively, Owens is a terrific shooter and his coaches would like to see an increase in his statistics. He's also defensively sound, leading the Hoyas in steals (55, third in the Big East).
"Darrell is a very good shooter, but we'd like to see him get involved everywhere on the court," Thompson III said. "As a senior, we need him to do more for us on the floor. We'd like to see him help get more guys involved in the offense."
Cook (9.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.7 apg) returns to lead the Hoyas' backcourt. Thompson III loves Cook's versatility. Cook looks comfortable directing the offense from the point guard or tossing in key buckets from the two-guard spot. He started every game last season, averaging 33 minutes.
Cook is a double threat who excels at creating off the dribble and setting up open looks for his teammates.
"The first thing you notice watching Ashanti is his versatility," Thompson III said. "One minute he's handling the ball and running the offense, and then he's grabbing a rebound under the glass at the other end. He's going to have to wear many hats for us, but he's one of the keys to our success."
Cook and Bowman were teammates at Westchester High School in California and guided their squad to a 32-2 record, the California state championship and the No. 1 ranking in the nation by USA Today. Thompson III hopes that chemistry continues to blossom on the court this season.
Sophomore Ray Reed (4.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg) is one of the favorites to get called up to the starting lineup. A 6-1, sophomore, Reed is another athletic player who can start at either guard spot. Reed can penetrate, but his coaches would like to see more of that outside touch he displayed in high school (where he shot 54 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 24 points per game as a senior at Inglewood [Calif.] High School).
"Ray Reed is extremely explosive," Thompson III said. "We have got to find a way to use his ability on the court."
Special thanks go to LPucci for providing me with the information.
On the burden of pressure :
"Is there pressure? Yes," said Thompson III. "But no one will put more pressure on me than me. And no one will put more pressure on my players than me. Any pressure I face will be more internal than external, but obviously there's a tradition of winning here at Georgetown and we need to restore that."
On learning more about his new team:
"As soon as I was hired, I started watching tape to get a feel for these guys," Thompson III said. "Of course, I talked to my brother, who was an assistant here two years ago, and my father. It's going to be a process to get the players to listen to a new voice and learn a new system."
On the departed team members:
"What we lose with Gerald and Courtland is experience," Thompson III said. "We lose two seniors, including a four-year starter in Gerald. They had experience and the things they've seen are invaluable on the court. We're going to need our younger guys to step up and be leaders."
Breakdown of returning players
Reconstruction begins with three returning starters -- 6-8 junior forward Brandon Bowman (15.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 6-6 senior swingman Darrel Owens and 6-2 junior guard Ashanti Cook.
Bowman is without question the Hoyas most talented player and the one with the potential to single-handedly win a game for his team. Bowman finished second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding last season. He's an excellent shooter for a big man and showed he can pour in the points by dropping a career-high 30 on Delaware State last season.
"In one word, Brandon is talented," Thompson III said. "He has so much God-given ability. But he's got even more potential and we see that on the film. We want to get his numbers up even more this year. If he focuses and puts in the effort he could be a real force for us the next two years."
Bowman is athletic enough to exploit his height. His ability to play either forward position allows him to post up a smaller defender or pull a taller defender out to the perimeter. He's just as dangerous at the defensive end, using his height to block shots and snare rebounds. Bowman also averaged 1.32 assists and 1.32 blocks last season.
When playing the power-forward spot, Bowman will be joined by Owens (8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) in the frontcourt. The coaching staff loves Owens' versatility and his ball-handling skills allow him to play anywhere from point guard to small forward.
Offensively, Owens is a terrific shooter and his coaches would like to see an increase in his statistics. He's also defensively sound, leading the Hoyas in steals (55, third in the Big East).
"Darrell is a very good shooter, but we'd like to see him get involved everywhere on the court," Thompson III said. "As a senior, we need him to do more for us on the floor. We'd like to see him help get more guys involved in the offense."
Cook (9.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.7 apg) returns to lead the Hoyas' backcourt. Thompson III loves Cook's versatility. Cook looks comfortable directing the offense from the point guard or tossing in key buckets from the two-guard spot. He started every game last season, averaging 33 minutes.
Cook is a double threat who excels at creating off the dribble and setting up open looks for his teammates.
"The first thing you notice watching Ashanti is his versatility," Thompson III said. "One minute he's handling the ball and running the offense, and then he's grabbing a rebound under the glass at the other end. He's going to have to wear many hats for us, but he's one of the keys to our success."
Cook and Bowman were teammates at Westchester High School in California and guided their squad to a 32-2 record, the California state championship and the No. 1 ranking in the nation by USA Today. Thompson III hopes that chemistry continues to blossom on the court this season.
Sophomore Ray Reed (4.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg) is one of the favorites to get called up to the starting lineup. A 6-1, sophomore, Reed is another athletic player who can start at either guard spot. Reed can penetrate, but his coaches would like to see more of that outside touch he displayed in high school (where he shot 54 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 24 points per game as a senior at Inglewood [Calif.] High School).
"Ray Reed is extremely explosive," Thompson III said. "We have got to find a way to use his ability on the court."