The Georgetown Voice, 11/3/23 Men's Preview by The Georgetown Voice

THE BASKETBALL ISSUE

November 3, 2023

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Cooley preaches patience as he looks to resurrect the Hoyas

BEN JAKABCSIN

Meet the new players: Men’s basketball recruits

NINABELLA ARLIS AND ANNA CORDOVA

BIG EAST men’s basketball predictions

HENRY SKARECKY

Men’s basketball seeks a fresh start with new faces

ANDREW SWANK 7

Roundup with Ryan: A Q&A with Ryan Mutombo

LUCIE PEYREBRUNE

2023-24 season poster

DANE TEDDER

COVER BY TINA SOLKI

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COOLEY PREACHES PATIENCE AS HE LOOKS TO RESURRECT THE HOYAS

BY BEN JAKABCSIN

On March 20, 2023, Georgetown announced Ed Cooley as their next men’s basketball head coach, ending his 12-year tenure as head coach of the Providence Friars. The announcement came weeks after Georgetown and former head coach Patrick Ewing parted ways after six years.

College coach Al Skinner. (Cooley was an assistant of his at Boston College from 1997-2006.)

“This now being the fourth organization that I’m part of, rebuilding from basically the roots up, that has incredible tradition and legacy. I’ll carry some of those things that Coach Skinner taught me, and what I’ve learned along the way

connection, and enthusiasm. Those things will also be staples of our organization,” he said.

Given the men’s team’s recent struggles, many are craving instant success and contention. But, similar to his previous stops at Fairfield and Providence, Cooley is looking to build a program with staying power, not a flash in the pan. While Cooley said that the Georgetown program is “different based on the history and the tradition” from ones he’s rebuilt in the past, those advantages don’t mean it’s going to be a quick process.

“It’s not gonna happen overnight. I can’t preach patience enough. I know our fans, our students, our alumni, and our supporters want instant success. But at the end of the day, the process is what it is and we’re going to go through it,” he said.

Cooley ended the interview with a message for the Georgetown community, and particularly the students, on what is to come.

“It is my hope that our students give us an opportunity to grow together, to come to the games no matter who we’re playing, but cheer for what we’re doing,” he said. “Come with some energy, enthusiasm. It is our goal to try to get 4,100 students per home game. Everybody’s saying, ‘Okay, are we going to win?’ Do you win first, then be supported, or do you support and then win? I think it’s a balance of both, and playing in the number one conference in the country is going to take us some time, but I need everybody to buckle up, put their seatbelt on, and let’s go through this rocky beginning together.” G

MEET THE NEW PLAYERS:

MEN’S BASKETBALL RECRUITS

Rowan Brumbaugh G | Freshman

Rowan Brumbaugh returns to his hometown after redshirting for the 2022-23 season at the University of Texas. An ESPN Top 100 prospect in high school, the D.C. native blended his pass-first mindset, scoring ability, and impressive handles to separate himself as a must-see player in this year’s Kenner League, where he was awarded the 2023 Championship MVP. Brumbaugh should be an exciting player to watch out for this season.

Four-star Drew Fielder hails from Boise, Idaho, and followed Cooley to Georgetown after an initial commitment to Providence. Rated as ESPN's No. 20 center for the class of 2023, the 6’10” Fielder brings the necessary footwork and physicality to dominate against smaller defenders. “Obviously, it’s crazy that I’m coming in as a freshman and have the opportunity to get a lot of minutes,” he told the Voice on BIG EAST Media Day. “But I’ve been putting in the hours, I’ve been in the gym. I feel like it’s my time.”

Dontrez Styles G | Junior

Dontrez Styles comes to Georgetown from UNC, where he struggled to find a permanent role in the team’s rotation, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game on 41.9 percent shooting from the field in 45 games over two seasons. Styles will look to rewrite his story with Cooley, whom he cited as a major player in his decision to commit to Georgetown. “I’m excited to go out there and have a better opportunity for myself, and for the team. I can’t wait for it,” he told the Voice on BIG EAST Media Day. With his combination of athleticism and physicality, Styles is looking to make his mark on Georgetown basketball.

One of Georgetown's five walk-ons, Hashem Asadallah committed to Georgetown after playing for the FIBA West Asia Kuwait Club. A graduate of the American School of Kuwait, the 6 '1'' guard made his mark at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship–GBA Qualifiers with 11.6 points and 4.9 boards in seven games.

Donovan Grant G | Junior

Walk-on Donovan Grant transferred from Oregon State, where he did not see action in the 2022-23 season. Prior to college, he participated in the NBA Academy for two years where he led his team in minutes played, rebounds, and assists every season played. Fans, especially those behind Hilltop Hoops, are excited to see Grant suit up for the Hoyas following his nonstop hustle during Kenner League this past summer.

Jayden Epps G | Sophomore

Jayden Epps could be in for a breakout season under Ed Cooley, whose Providence Friars he committed to at one point in 2021. Before transferring to Georgetown, Epps spent one season with Illinois, where he averaged 9.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 41.4 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from three. While he went through an up-and-down first year, including a late-season concussion, there’s no denying Epps’s ability to create his own offense and score from multiple levels of the floor. If he can leverage this scoring ability and improve his passing, Epps can be a difference-maker for the Hoyas this season.

Supreme Cook F | Senior

Supreme Cook comes to Georgetown from Fairfield University. A strong rebounder with a low-post presence and high energy that allows him to score and take control of the ball, Cook averaged 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. “He brings an incredible physicality to the game,” junior center Ryan Mutombo said about Cook. “He’s pushed me to get a lot better this summer and be way more physical and vocal.” Cook will hopefully bring valuable experience to Cooley’s roster of new faces.

Ismael Massoud is using his final year of eligibility to join the Hoyas from Kansas State, where he shot 37.4 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from deep. In this year’s Kenner League, Massoud got hot from the 3-point range, finishing with 24 points and shooting 6-of-10 from three in a week 3 matchup. Unfortunately, during a recent scrimmage against Pitt, Massoud broke his shooting hand and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, costing the Hoyas one of their top shooters for the start of the season and weakening an already-thin frontcourt. Hopefully, the 6’9” forward will be ready in time for BIG EAST play.

Jonathan Kazor G | Graduate

Maryland native and walk-on Jonathan Kazor transferred from Division III Macalester College. In two seasons with the Scots, he appeared in 22 games, averaging 9.6 minutes of action per game, scoring 1.3 points and grabbing 1.2 rebounds per game. He graduated from Georgetown Prep in 2020.

Georgetown's second walk-on, Cam Bacote, comes to the Hoyas from Western Carolina. Bacote played in an injury-shortened season last year, averaging 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 34.9 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from behind the arc. With impressive 3-point shooting, Bacote will be an exciting player to watch this season.

Austin Montgomery F | Sophomore

The Hoyas’ fifth and final walk-on, Austin Montgomery, transferred from LSU, where he did not play during the 2022-23 season. Montgomery graduated from Newman High School in New Orleans, where he averaged 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game as a senior, ultimately winning the state title. G

Cam Bacote G | Graduate

Hashem Asadallah G | Freshman

Drew Fielder F/C | Freshman

Ismael Massoud F | Graduate

1 Marquette, which topped both the BIG EAST regular season standings as well as the conference tournament last season, is the consensus pick to return to the top of the conference ranks this season. With the exception of first-round NBA draft pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper, much of the roster is returning for this season, including 202223 BIG EAST Player of the Year Tyler Kolek. Putting Shaka Smart’s Golden Eagles among the conference’s elite is a safe bet.

BIG EAST men’s basketball predictions

BY HENRY SKARECKY

Tier Two: On the Bubble

4 Putting St. John’s this high is my boldest prediction in these rankings, and it all has to do with their new head coach: Rick Pitino, the only head coach in men’s college basketball to win a national championship at multiple schools.

Described as “the greatest college coach in the history of the sport” by none other than Georgetown’s own Ed Cooley at BIG EAST Media Day, Pitino cleaned house when he arrived at St. John’s, with only big man Joel Soriano remaining on an otherwise brand-new roster. I could have put the Red Storm anywhere on this list, but I believe in the power of Pitino and think they could make an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.

Tier Three: Maybe Next Year

8 Head coach Shaheen Holloway’s first year at Seton Hall resulted in an extremely average campaign, with the Pirates finishing seventh in the BIG EAST standings and making an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. After losing three of their starters but retaining top scorer Al-Amir Dawes and team assists leader Kadary Richmond, the Pirates seem to be bound for another mundane season in the middle of the BIG EAST.

UConn lost three of last year’s starters to the professional ranks this offseason, including All-BIG EAST First Team guard Jordan Hawkins, but they’ve brought in five-star recruit and BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Stephon Castle, as well as Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer to compensate. It’s hard to bet against the defending national champions, so look for the Huskies to dominate the BIG EAST standings this year and make yet another successful run in the NCAA tournament.

5 Villanova was the king of the BIG EAST for the past decade, but it will take some time to return to dominance under second-year head coach Kyle Neptune. The departures of Cam Whitmore, Brandon Slater, and Caleb Daniels open the door for many questions about the Wildcats this year. But Villanova has been a great team for decades—I can’t imagine them being terrible. I think this year will be another step toward the Wildcats returning to elite status.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how well Georgetown will do this season, but I guarantee that the Hoyas will be better than they were last year. Most of us have seen Cooley and his players around campus or have at least heard of their efforts to reenergize the Hoya fanbase. However, their on-court performance may leave more to be desired. A brand-new roster featuring Texas transfer Rowan Brumbaugh and Jayden Epps from Illinois will make noise, but depth is a major concern for this team with only nine scholarship players on the roster.

3 Creighton is another easy pick for the top tier of the BIG EAST, especially after making an impressive run to the Elite Eight last season. While the Bluejays lost starters Arthur Kaluma and Ryan Nembhard to the transfer portal this offseason, they’ll return pivotal playmaker Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is a two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Their powerful defense will continue to earn Creighton wins throughout conference play.

6 Coming off a second-place

BIG EAST finish and an exciting run to the Sweet Sixteen last season, the big question for Xavier this time around is whether or not they can continue that momentum into this season. It will be a challenge—star guard Colby Jones went to the NBA, and Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter are starting the season out with injuries. The Musketeers will have to rely on sophomore guard Desmond Claude and a strong incoming freshman and transfer class to pick up the slack.

10 Butler was among the bottom-feeders in the BIG EAST last season, with the Bulldogs accomplishing the embarrassing feat of losing to Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown team in February. The offseason was not kind to them either, with eight players transferring out. The BIG EAST’s 2021 Freshman of the Year Posh Alexander will transfer in from St. John’s to save Butler from complete disaster, but I can confidently say that this team will not be good.

In addition to being the name of a city in Rhode Island, Providence is also a word that means divine guidance, or care under God. I think that’s interesting, considering Providence may be in need of some divine guidance after losing three of their starters as well as head coach Ed Cooley. The Friars retain Bryce Hopkins, their best player from last year who was First Team All-BIG EAST, but it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where the Friars will land in the standings under first-year coach Kim English.

Like Butler and Georgetown, DePaul also saw a lot of key players leave in the transfer portal this offseason, including top scorer Umoja Gibson. Head coach Tony Stubblefield is going to need to have something up his sleeve to make this team decent, and considering he hasn't made much noise in his first two years as head coach, the Blue Demons are likely bound for yet another campaign at the bottom of the conference. G

MEN’S BASKETBALL SEEKS A FRESH START WITH NEW FACES

BY ANDREW SWANK

Anew era under head coach Ed Cooley is underway for Georgetown men’s basketball, and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the 2023-24 season. However, many key players left the team last season, and it’s not clear if new additions will be enough to turn things around.

The bar for success is low, however, since the 2022-23 season was nothing short of abysmal. The Hoyas started the season by barely squeaking past Coppin State in overtime in a game where Georgetown was favored by 18.5 points, according to CBS Sports. The Hoyas finished the season with a 7-25 (2-18 BIG EAST) record, a performance poor enough for Georgetown to fire head coach Patrick Ewing at the end of the season.

The university announced that it had hired Cooley, then the Providence head coach, on March 20. Cooley’s hiring has created palpable excitement on campus about the upcoming season, but it’s still not clear if the changes underway will translate onto the court. Cooley has recruited some impressive names: four-star freshman forward center Drew Fielder switched his commitment from Providence to Georgetown, and former four-star junior guard Dontrez Styles is joining the Hoyas from the UNC.

Cooley’s biggest recruiting win thus far has been getting sophomore guard Jayden Epps from Illinois. Epps averaged 9.5 points in just under 25 minutes per game for the Fighting Illini, but he looks set to have a starring role for the Hoyas. BIG EAST insider John Fanta reported that Epps scored 46 points in a secret scrimmage between Georgetown and Wake Forest. Epps is a talented recruit who has the potential to be Georgetown’s go-to scoring option this season.

Another new face is graduate forward Ismael Massoud, a transfer from Kansas State. Unfortunately, Massoud broke his hand in a closed scrimmage against Pitt, according to a report from Fanta. The forward will miss between six and eight weeks of the season, a huge blow to the Hoyas who were already struggling with frontcourt depth given how few returning players the team retained from last season.

Gone are Georgetown’s two leading scorers from last season, guards Primo Spears and Brandon Murray. The same is true for former center Qudus Wahab, who averaged 9.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and is using his fifth year of eligibility at Penn State.

Despite the departure of several key players, some returners may be able to bring experience and familiarity with the school and program.

Senior guard Jay Heath is the leading returning scorer, with an average of 12.3 points per game last season. He was the most accurate 3-point shooter for Georgetown last season, making 37.3 percent from behind the arc on 4.6 attempts a game.

Senior guard Wayne Bristol Jr., senior forward Victor Muresan, and junior center Ryan Mutombo

are the only other returners this season. None of them are huge scoring threats and only Bristol Jr. averaged more than 10 minutes a game last year, meaning Heath is the only returner who was more than just a role player last season.

All of Georgetown’s returners could get minutes this season, but the Hoyas’ fresh faces will likely be the biggest contributors. Fans can expect to see Epps, Heath, Styles, Supreme Cook (or Massoud if healthy), and Drew Fielder as regular starters, with Mutombo, Rowan Brumbaugh, Donovan Grant, and Austin Montgomery rounding out the rotation.

Georgetown has a relatively easy nonconference schedule this year; none of their opponents are ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. TCU, who will visit Capital One Arena on Dec. 2, is Georgetown’s strongest

non-conference opponent of the season, ranked 30th out of 362 Division I teams, according to KenPom.

Georgetown kicks off the regular season with a game against Le Moyne College at Capital One Arena on Nov. 7 in Le Moyne’s first men’s basketball game as a Division I school. They’re ranked second to last out of all D1 teams in KenPom’s rankings, so Georgetown should expect a win, although, as last year’s opener against Coppin State showed, the first game of the season can be hard to predict. Preseason scrimmages provide some insight, although the Hoyas’ performances in their two secret scrimmages sent some mixed signals. According to Fanta, the Hoyas beat Wake Forest 81-77 thanks in large part to Epps’s scoring performance. In another scrimmage, Pitt beat Georgetown 78-64, according to Hilltop Hoops and Pitt Sports Network.

Georgetown will have a difficult BIG EAST schedule, though. The Hoyas have No. 5 Marquette, No. 6 UConn, No. 8 Creighton, and No. 22 Villanova on the conference schedule. St. John’s, with new head coach Rick Pitino, and Xavier, with its strong class of newcomers, will also be tough tests for Georgetown, although neither team was ranked in the preseason Top 25.

Amid a rough season, there are a few rivalry games—against both old and new foes—to look forward to. The Hoyas travel to Providence on Jan. 27 for a matchup against Cooley’s former team in what will surely be a heated atmosphere, given all the hate Cooley has received from his former fans. The Friars come down to Washington on Tuesday, March 5, a tough matchup for Hoya fans because the game falls right in the middle of Georgetown’s spring break. To make matters worse, the Hoyas face off against longtime rival Syracuse at Capital One Arena on Saturday, Dec. 9—smack-dab in the midst of finals. The games may not have a true rivalry atmosphere, which is disappointing for such marquee matchups.

Despite a few scheduling disappointments, there is a lot of hype for the upcoming Georgetown men’s basketball season. Cooley will have his first chance to prove himself to the now-energized Hoya faithful, many of whom have high expectations for the start of his coaching career. A largely overhauled team with a few key returners will have to show it can deal with the pressure and impress. G

ROUNDUP WITH RYAN: A Q&A with Ryan Mutombo

BY LUCIE PEYREBRUNE

The Voice had the opportunity to sit down with junior center Ryan Mutombo, one of the only holdovers from the 202122 Georgetown men’s basketball team, last week before practice to ask him questions about Georgetown basketball, life on the Hilltop, and what his message to the fans is this season. We also learned that Ryan’s favorite class at Georgetown was this reporter’s as well, which we took together last semester. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Lucie Peyrebrune: First of all, could you give me your basic Georgetown introduction that you’d give in a class?

Ryan Mutombo: Ryan Mutombo, Georgetown class of ’24. I’m from Atlanta, Ga., studying government, minoring in women’s and gender studies and African American studies.

LP: So to kick things off, you are one of the only players who’s still around from the 2021-22 roster. What is it like being one of the oldest players on the team, just in terms of how long you’ve been at Georgetown?

RM: I think the transfers have definitely had an adjustment period in terms of academic workload, and just getting adjusted to campus life, especially at a smaller university. So

biggest locker room role outside of being a great teammate.

LP: I was wondering how much you are still in touch with some of the guys who have transferred out or graduated in the past couple of years.

RM: I still talk to the people from my freshman class all the time. Yeah, no, I still talk to them.

LP: What’s your go-to Epi order?

RM: Oh, snap. If I’m spending flex dollars, then the chicken Caesar wrap, but for meal exchange, chicken tenders.

LP: Which new faces on the team are you excited to be playing alongside?

RM: I’m really excited to be playing with Supreme Cook just because I think he brings an incredible physicality to the game. And he’s pushed me to get a lot better this summer and be way more physical and vocal. And I’m also looking forward to playing with Rowan Brumbaugh, because I’ve known him for three years now, but I just haven’t had the opportunity to play with him.

LP: What’s been your class that you’ve taken at Georgetown?

RM: My favorite class since I’ve gotten to Georgetown was international relations with Elizabeth Grimm.

LP: What aspect of your game do you think you’ve improved the most on since Cooley and the rest of the new staff have come in?

RM: Conditioning and general physicality. Just like, throwing elbows, being way more gritty on defense. I think those have taken a big jump for me this year.

LP: What would you say is for you the most memorable on-the-road moment?

RM: Aha! Most memorable on-the-road moment since I’ve been here was probably, I want to say, winning at Butler last year felt really good because it was just a tough season. And you know, to get a road

win with a group of guys that I thought I’d really bonded with despite a tough season.

LP: Do you have any messages for the fans?

RM: Show up to our games. Oh my gosh, show up to our games. We’re going to be good and you’re not gonna want to miss it. So please, please, please show up to our games. We need your support. And you know, the program is only as big as the support from the fans is. Please show up to our games. No more empty stadiums. No more losing. Just good vibes and winning. Show up to the games and I promise you, you will get what you paid for.

LP: Do you have any pickup basketball tips?

RM: Work on your left-hand layups. If you can make left- and right-hand layups, you’ll win every pickup game.

LP: Thank you so much for your time.

RM: Thank you.G

@ UConn @ Xavier vs. Butler @ Providence vs. Marquette @ Seton Hall vs. UConn @ Creighton vs. Villanova vs. St. John's @ DePaul @ Villanova vs. Xavier vs. Providence @ St. John's

vs. Le Moyne vs. Holy Cross @ Rutgers vs. Mount St. Mary's vs. American vs. Jackson State vs. Merrimack vs. TCU vs. Syracuse vs. Coppin State @ Notre Dame @ Butler @ Marquette vs. Creighton vs. DePaul vs. Seton Hall