Inside Slant
This wasn't supposed to be the way the season ended for the Hoyas, with a loss to 14th-seeded Ohio University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Then again, a week before the tournament tipped off, it was hard to imagine Georgetown getting that kind of seed at all.
It was that kind of year for the Hoyas, who alternated stretches of good and bad play all season. It lost four of five in the Big East heading into its regular-season finale, then pounded Cincinnati, won three consecutive games in the conference tournament, and lost a heartbreaker for the title to West Virginia.
That had everyone optimistic about the team's chances in the postseason, but it laid an egg at the worst possible time to provide an early start to an offseason that will be dominated by one key question: What will Greg Monroe do?
Georgetown's standout sophomore center would be a lottery pick if he declares for the NBA Draft in all likelihood. That was the situation a year ago as well, and he chose to stay in school and pass up on the pros. Coach John Thompson III is hoping that lightning can strike twice and he'll get his big man back for at least one more season.
If that happens, the Hoyas should be a national title contender in 2009-10. Chris Wright and Austin Freeman will both be back to anchor the backcourt, along with the underrated Jason Clark. Adding Monroe back to anchor the inside game makes this one of the most formidable teams in the country.
Should Monroe elect to leave, that will put more pressure on Julian Vaughn to contribute on the offensive end, after a year where he mainly served to play defense, rebound, and pick up whatever scraps of offense that remained when everyone else had gotten their plays. Hollis Thompson should be improved as a sophomore, and Henry Sims may be ready to take on a bigger role in the paint if needed.
Either way, the planning for 2010-11 started at least a week earlier than anyone at the school expected.FINAL RECORD: 23-11, 10-8, tied for seventh in the Big East.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Georgetown made it back to the NCAA Tournament after fading into the NIT in 2008-09. The Hoyas were ranked for most of the season, beating Butler, Temple, Washington and Duke in nonconference play to bolster their Big East performance and earn a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Greg Monroe, Austin Freeman and Chris Wright formed as effective a trio as there was in the country, combining for nearly 65% of the team's points.
WHAT WENT WRONG: For the third year in a row, the Hoyas suffered through a disappointing season. Georgetown lost to Davidson as a No. 2 seed in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, and fell in the first round of the NIT in 2009. Though the run to the Big East tournament finals was impressive, the Ides of March have brought nothing but heartache for the Hoyas lately.
The season itself was a mixed bag. The strong week at Madison Square Garden masked a less than impressive Big East campaign that saw the team finish 10-8 in the conference.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There are many people who can see and have the ability to notice what's there. He also has the willingness to make the passes, and the caring and understanding and the ability to be a facilitator. The kid sees everything that's going on on the court. He's a step or two ahead of everyone else on the court, in terms of understanding what's going to happen." Georgetown coach John Thompson III told The Washington Post, about center Greg Monroe.THE GOOD NEWS: Put it like this there was no need to have Senior Day at Georgetown this year, because there were no players to be honored.
Though Georgetown was a good team in 2009-10, it is a squad that was designed to really hit its peak next year. With Chris Wright, Austin Freeman and Julian Vaughn entering their senior seasons, and Greg Monroe and Jason Clark in their sophomore campaigns, the Hoyas could return a squad that is battle-tested and prepared to make one last run at an impact in March.
THE BAD NEWS: For two years in a row, the Hoyas have been frustratingly inconsistent for a team with its talent level. March is the most obvious sign that there's still a way to go, but there were plenty of moments in the regular season where Georgetown looked bad against inferior competition; losing at Rutgers, for example, and blowing a lead to fall to South Florida at home.
The Hoyas also had no margin for error in 2009-10. If Monroe, Freeman or Wright were ineffective, Georgetown had a hard time making up for the loss of production.
KEY RETURNEES: All of the Georgetown big three are eligible to return. Assuming that happens, the Hoyas should be a national title contender in 2009-10.
The player to watch this offseason is Greg Monroe. The Hoya center will be a lottery pick if he declares for the NBA draft, and though he resisted that temptation a year ago he'll have another chance to take the cash if that's what he wants. If he returns for his junior season, look for the Hoyas to be ranked in the top five in the preseason polls.
Even if that happens, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman will form one of the top backcourts in the conference, especially with Jay Wright also back. Hollis Thompson will be counted on to take the next step after averaging 4.4 points a game in his freshman season.
ROSTER REPORT:
G Austin Freeman was diagnosed with diabetes late in the season, and missed the team's game against West Virginia on March 1. He came back to play well in the conference tournament, but obviously managing that condition with the demands of Big East basketball will be a priority for the Hoyas medical staff next season.
C Greg Monroe continued to evolve his game as a sophomore, earning a spot on the All-Big East First Team. He finished the year with 14 double-doubles, and also displayed his considerable passing skills. He had 12 assists in a victory over Providence, the most for any Hoya since 2002 and the most of any center in the history of Big East conference games.
C Henry Sims will be counted on to take over minutes in the pivot if Greg Monroe leaves for the NBA. The 6-10 sophomore averaged 1.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in limited action in 2009-10.
