WASHINGTON 鈥� Georgetown head basketball coach John Thompson III received a Bachelor of Arts in Politics at Princeton, but as he enters his 12th season with the听Hoyas,听Thompson is enjoying his role as a chemistry professor.
“That’s one of the thrills of the job,鈥� he says.听鈥淲hether you lose one person from last year or you lose听four, you have a new group.听Trying to piece this group together and trying to learn the best way for this group to win听is what’s exciting about being a part of a team.”
The听Hoyas听return plenty of talent from last year’s NCAA Tournament team … and face the traditional expectations that have been in place since the 1980s.
Smith-Rivera returns
D’Vauntes听Smith-Rivera’s听decision to enter the NBA Draft听had the Hoya faithful holding their collective breath before the senior opted to return to the school for his final year of eligibility.听Coach Thompson has a proven veteran to produce on the floor (the 6-foot-3 guard has led the team in scoring听the last two years) as well as off the court.
“I’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth in him from last year to this year,鈥� Thompson says of Smith-Rivera. 鈥淛ust in听the aspects听of being a teammate, and how hard he’s pushing, prodding, cajoling听our听younger guys. So he’s been a very good leader.”
Smith-Rivera will be leaned on early and often by a roster with six sophomores and three freshmen.
Super sophomores
But this sophomore class听is not your typical group of second-year players. L.J. Peak and Isaac Copeland averaged over 20听minutes听a game last winter while Paul White and Trey Campbell also saw significant time off the bench.听Any combination of the four could find starting roles, and听each will play a significant part in the coach’s plans.
“We need them to perform like seniors.听As it relates to production, but more importantly in understanding … and caring. I’m putting a lot on their shoulders but I think they can handle it.听In many ways, that class is the core of what we have,” says Thompson.
The “core听four”听played a big part in last听year’s return to the NCAA Tournament and the team’s play this winter will hinge on how this group grows.
Help on the way
Let’s not discount听this year’s incoming trio of听Marcus听Derrickson, Kaleb Johnson and Jessie听Govan.听Even with the limited practices, senior听D’Vauntes听Smith-Rivera sees the potential in this group.
“They can get up and down really well,鈥� he says. 鈥淢arcus can shoot the听ball. He’s听a great rebounder听too.听Kaleb’s great in transition and Jessie can finish at the rim and has great post moves. He has tremendous footwork too.”
Govan听may be needed to help fill the void up front, as the top two听rebounders听鈥� Joshua Smith and Mikael Hopkins 鈥� both graduated last spring.
Banging the boards
One of the keys last season was rebounding 鈥� the听Hoyas听won the battle of the boards 14 times in 18 conference games.
“That’s always a concern,鈥� says Thompson.听鈥淲e don’t have a single person that (does it). D’Vauntes is probably our most instinctual听rebounder. It’s been a point of emphasis.”
Seven-foot senior Bradley Hayes may be tapped early to man the post. After averaging only 3.4 minutes a game during the regular season, Hayes exploded for 8 points and 6 rebounds in the听Hoyas’ NCAA Tournament win over Eastern Washington.听Perhaps Sophomore Trey Mourning (12 minutes played over six games last year) emerges as a presence. Georgetown went 8-12 after losing Smith to eligibility issues as a junior two winters ago, and competing in the Big East minus big men who can battle on the boards would result in one winter of discontent.
The gauntlet awaits
Last year, the Big East听boasted the third best RPI听in Division I. This听year it appears as if everybody’s chasing preseason #9 Villanova, with the听Hoyas听picked second in the league’s preseason poll. Before conference play, though, the听Hoyas听will be tested early and often in a nonleague slate that includes Wisconsin, Syracuse and preseason #3 Maryland.
“We’re making a point to try to get everything in,鈥� Thompson says of his early season approach.听鈥淓verything won’t be fine-tuned for months.听We play a lot of different styles early 鈥� not just good teams, but different styles of play. So we’re going to have to be good at a lot of different ways to play early.”
The eagerly awaited on-campus matchup with Maryland takes place Tuesday, Nov. 17. There are those who will want to see this matchup because it’s two 鈥渋nside the beltway鈥� schools clashing, while there are others who are curious as to how good the highly-touted Terrapins are.
The chemist wants to see if he has the right formula figured out.
