the
BASKETBALL
PREVIEW 2021-22
K I R K Z I E S E R / T H E H OYA
Georgetown women’s basketball begins the season with a goal of improving on last year’s 2-15 performance. Coach Howard emphasized that offensive improvement is vital for the team’s success given the team’s poor scoring last year.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2021-22 Season Preview Carrie McDonald and Rushil Vashee
Hoya Staff Writer and Special to The Hoya
The Georgetown women’s basketball team hopes a return to post-pandemic normalcy will bring a return to winning for the program, which has struggled in recent seasons. Last season, the Hoyas finished 2-15 overall, enough to land them last place in the Big East for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Now, the team looks to use last season’s frustrations as a motivator. According to Head Coach James Howard, the team has its eyes set on one goal: winning early. “The first and only goal is to get winning back in the taste of our mouths,” Howard said in a Zoom interview with The Hoya. “When we kick off, we really need to play like a championship game. Everything this year is about just trying to get more wins so that our confidence will continue to rise.” The Hoyas’ defensive prowess has been their most valuable asset in recent seasons. To win games, though, Georgetown must also prioritize improving offensive efficiency. “We have to score more than 49 points,” Howard said, referring to the team’s dismal season average in points per game last year.
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“In order for us to take that next step and turn our success back into winning ways, we have to finish. We have to knock down shots.” That growth should be easier for the Hoyas this season than in years past. Unlike last season, Georgetown has had little roster turnover heading into its 2021-22 matchups. The team is missing just one regular starter from last year in 6-foot-2-inch forward Taylor Baur (GRD ’21), a graduate student from Princeton who started nine games for the Hoyas, totaling 110 rebounds and 58 points. The team’s returners, led by graduate forward Anita Kelava, offer lots of hope for a revamped post presence. Kelava, a 2019-20 team captain who missed last season because of visa issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, started 25 games and topped the team in minutes played the year prior. She also led Georgetown with 223 rebounds and 53 blocks, adding 197 points and 22 steals. Howard recognized the importance of Kelava, who also plays for the Croatian national team, for Georgetown this season. “Having Anita back just brings back experience,” Howard said. “That word experience is probably the biggest thing when you play in the Big East. Before she left, I thought she
was playing her best ball.” The increased team chemistry that Kevala’s return will bring should help the Hoyas find success in scoring. The return to normal practices with an experienced roster will be a crucial factor in improving consistency, especially offensively. Thanks to returning talent, Georgetown had limited space for new players this season. That said, the Hoyas’ new additions could make important contributions. Graduate guard Mary Clougherty is a new name to watch, especially following her final season at Lehigh, where she totaled 191 points and 41 assists in nine starts as a team captain. Clougherty’s performance will be a key factor for the team’s success this season, according to Howard. “She’s a kid that could stretch the floor for us,” Howard said. “She is a really good shooter out there and has a high basketball IQ.” Georgetown has five other new additions to the team. Along with graduate transfer Kaylin West from Coastal Carolina, the Hoyas list four first-years on their roster: center Ariel Jenkins, forward Brianna Scott, forward Kaliyah Myricks and guard Natalie Jasper. Jenkins, a 6-foot-3-inch rebounding
force, headlines the group, though Howard spoke highly of all the new players. “We’re very, very pleased with our young players right now,” Howard said. “I would be really surprised if they didn’t do some special things here at Georgetown.” In addition to their work on the court, though, Georgetown players remain committed to advocacy off the court. Last season, the team made headlines for its collaboration with Marquette’s women’s basketball team in a discussion centered around social justice and unity in communities across America. This season, the Hoyas will continue to encourage their players to combat these ongoing issues, as Howard explained. “When it comes down to fighting for social justice and building their platform, we’re going to give them all the support we can,” Howard said. “There’s a lot of little things that we have set up each year to let their name and likeness and everything else be supported.” Georgetown (1-0) started its season on a high note with a 73-62 victory over Navy (01) in its first matchup of the season Tuesday, Nov. 9. Georgetown will face off against Salem University at home Friday, Nov. 12.
THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021
MEN’S BASKETBALL 2021-22 Season Preview Tim Brennan and Conor Geelan
Hoya Staff Writer and Special to The Hoya
Following last season’s stunning run to the Big East tournament crown, Georgetown men’s basketball will look to build upon its momentum this year. A disappointing regular 2020-21 season was quickly overshadowed by the most impressive stretch of Georgetown men’s basketball Head Coach Patrick Ewing’s (CAS ’85) coaching career at the Hilltop. Even with the season’s positive ending, outsiders are down on the team’s chances of a repeat: the Hoyas are power ranked ninth, or thirdto-last, in the Big East. The loss of Jamorko Pickett (graduated), Jahvon Blair (graduated), Chudier Bile (graduated) and Qudus Wahab (transferred), the team’s top four scorers from last year, definitely contributes to that belief. Even so, this Georgetown team has hope in last season’s Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, sophomore guard Dante Harris, and preseason Big East Freshman of the Year first-year guard Aminu Mohammed. Replacing Blair, Pickett, Bile and Wahab is a tall task, but thankfully, Georgetown has brought in its highest-rated recruiting class since 2014, headlined by five-star recruit Mohammed. The rest of the new Hoyas are first-years center Ryan Mutumbo, son of Hoya legend Dikembe Mutumbo (COL ’91), guard Jordan Riley, guard Tyler Beard and forward Jalin Billingsley and graduate transfer guard Kaiden Rice. Hailing from Washington, D.C., Mohammed was ranked 24th in the nation because of his strong physique, high-motor hustle and ability to score off the dribble. He is the highest-ranked recruit to come to the Hilltop since 2014 and is expected to make shots for the Hoyas all season long. Center Ryan Mutumbo, son of Georgetown and NBA legend Dikembe Mutumbo, provides a powerful interior presence on both ends. The four-star seven-footer from Atlanta, Ga., has a soft touch around the basket and looks like an instant high-impact KIRK ZIESER/THE HOYA
Georgetown men’s basketball’s run last year led to the team’s first NCAA tournament appearance under Head Coach Patrick Ewing.The Hoyas will look to go dancing again this year.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | THEHOYA.COM
player. Riley, a shooting guard, can blow by defenders and has the athleticism to finish above the rim. Beard, a point guard, and Billingsley, a power forward, round out the first-year class. Rice transferred to the Hilltop after graduating from The Citadel and should bring some perimeter shooting to the squad. Outside of the newcomers, the Hoyas return some talent from last year’s group, most notably Harris. Harris went up a level in the postseason, notching three of his seven double-figure scoring games in th e Big East Tournament. Coach Ewing said he saw that talent in Harris all of last season and he “came in with a chip on his shoulder” and “had an outstanding freshman year.” Ewing anticipates further growth from Harris, saying he “expects a great year and a significant leap” out of the sophomore guard. If Harris makes that leap, the Hoyas could be scary this season. Other key returners include graduate guard Donald Carey, who will play an important role as a very young team’s elder statesman. After naming him captain, Ewing referred to Carey as a great role model for the new guys. Another key contributor will be junior center Timothy Ighoefe, who will fill Wahab’s spot as the Hoyas’ starting center with interior dominance on both ends. Also to look out for are secondyear breakouts in sophomore forwards Collin Holloway and Kobe Clark; the two did not see much playing time last season but will definitely have the chance to earn it this year. The new Georgetown team will have its work cut out for this season in a competitive Big East. Villanova is the favorite, ranked fourth in the country, with UConn as the consensus number two in the conference. Still, the Hoyas can shake things up. Ewing noted the conference will be competitive. “Everyone in the Big East is capable of knocking everyone else out,” Ewing said at Big East media day. Outside of Villanova and UConn, the conference is as wide open as ever. Xavier, St. John’s, Creighton and Seton Hall could all end up in the running for a regular season title. The conference may not be top-heavy, but it is deep. Thankfully, the Hoyas do not face much competition to start out the year. Their out-of-conference schedule is light, beginning with a home bout against Dartmouth this Saturday, Nov. 13. Their toughest non-conference game will come against archrival Syracuse, again at home, Saturday, Dec. 11. As for Big East play, there will be an important stretch in January. How the Hoyas fare during early games against St. John’s, Villanova and UConn in January and February will be hugely indicative of how successful the rest of their season can be. There is a lot that points to improvement for this year’s men’s basketball team. With the arrival of a talented recruiting class, improvements from returning players and strong coaching from Ewing, the Hoyas look poised to parlay last season’s Big East Tournament run into long-term success.
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GUHOYAS
After a last-place preseason ranking turned into a surprise Big East Tournament title, Georgetown basketball must capitalize on its newfound underdog status.
Down, But Never Out: Hoyas Should Learn To Embrace Underdog Mentality Austin Barish and Caden Koontz Hoya Staff Writers
Entering its fifth year with Head Coach Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85), the Georgetown men’s basketball team is in the process of redefining itself. The Hoyas, in the midst of their longest AP Top 25 drought since 1972, are entering the season with much uncertainty, including the lack of a steady identity. To succeed, Georgetown will have to continue to embrace the same status that propelled them to the 2021 NCAA Tournament as underappreciated overperformers. The first time Georgetown demonstrated an underdog-based mentality was with former Head Coach John Thompson Jr.’s hiring in 1972. Thompson took a struggling Hoya basketball program and thrust it into the national spotlight, signing top recruit Ewing in 1981 and winning the NCAA tournament in 1984. He ensured that Georgetown basketball was synonymous with excellence both on and off the court, emphasizing the importance of academics and social activism to all of his players, and setting the tone for Georgetown’s identity to develop. Thompson’s impact on his players cannot
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be understated; one of his most iconic stars, Allen Iverson, thanked him for saving his life in his Hall of Fame speech. Furthermore, Thompson endured open racism from fans and spoke out against discrimination. In one case, he walked off the court to protest Proposition 42, an NCAA regulation that would have disproportionately affected student-athletes from low-income backgrounds. Under Thompson, Georgetown stood for bold, disciplined play and the defense of social justice. Fondly nicknamed “Hoya Paranoia,” the program was a national phenomenon and the team quickly became one of the most polarizing in sports. College basketball fans loved, hated or feared them, but no one could deny Georgetown was one of the most dominant teams in the country. Thompson led the Hoyas to a 596-239 record across his 27 seasons as head coach. Years after Thompson left the program, his eldest son, John Thompson III, took over as head coach. Under the younger Thompson, the program returned to the forefront of college basketball, routinely bringing in top recruits and rarely dipping out of the top 25 rankings. Despite a few Big East Championships and deep tournament runs, Thompson III’s era
was marred with disappointing finishes as Georgetown found themselves on the wrong end of a series of NCAA tournament upsets. Off the court, though, the program continued the elder Thompson’s legacy, never failing to shy away from social issues. In 2014, Georgetown was the first college team to wear “I Can’t Breathe” warmup shirts in protest of police brutality in the wake of Eric Garner’s death at the hands of the police. Since hiring Ewing in 2017, the Hoyas have dealt with myriad challenges. Just as the program began to build momentum in the fall of 2019, Ewing’s first two seasons — meant to be rebuilding years — three players left the program to allegations of burglary, sexual harassment and assault. Star guard James Akinjo left the program the same season via the transfer portal, while star guard Mac McClung transferred after the season’s end. Despite significant departures and injuries to two starters, though, Ewing and the remaining Hoyas never backed down. At the beginning of the 2020-2021 season, with much uncertainty surrounding the team and little returning talent, Georgetown was selected to finish last in the Big East in the annual conference coaches’ poll. The Hoyas
took this ranking in stride and proved all of the doubters wrong, winning the Big East Tournament in a dominant 73-48 drubbing of the No. 17 Creighton Bluejays. Georgetown fully embraced the underdog mentality; in the locker room after the victory, Ewing belted out the Drake lyric “Started from the bottom, now we’re here,” as his team rejoiced. Ewing’s current Hoyas are far away from the perennial powerhouse of Georgetown’s past. Instead, they have the opportunity to cement a new Hoya mentality. Georgetown’s roster is not stocked full of surefire first-round draft picks, but perhaps the Hoyas’ identity does not need to rely on superstars. Georgetown was picked to finish 10th in the Big East in the preseason coaches’ poll. With remarkably low expectations set for the reigning Big East champions, Ewing and the Hoyas have a chance to silence any doubters by making some noise in conference play. Building upon its conference championship run with a decent year in which the roster remains largely intact would do wonders for the Hoya program. The 2021-2022 season is a pivotal chance for the Hoyas to lean into their underdog status and rise to the occasion.
THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021
I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y: T I M G O H / T H E H OYA
WNBA Star Sugar Rodgers Returns Home to the Hilltop Eli Kales and Maisy Liles
Hoya Staff Writers
Sugar Rodgers never intended to be featured in the history books. Rodgers (COL ’13, GRD ’21), who played for the women’s basketball team for four years from 2009 to 2013, came to Georgetown for its educational prestige. She looked to play basketball while pursuing a degree in English. Yet Rodgers graduated with not only a bachelor’s degree but also the Georgetown University basketball all-time points record. “I didn’t even come on an official visit,” Rodgers said in an interview with The Hoya. “I just, like, got on Google, saw the top prestigious schools in the country and was like ‘I want to go here.’ It was the knowledge as power for me, and then basketball has just been a vehicle that has created opportunities for me.” Now, after eight years in the WNBA playing for the Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, Rodgers has become an assistant coach for Georgetown women’s basketball and looks to boost the program that helped launch her career to the professional level a decade prior. Rodgers’ return to Georgetown signifies the arrival of a pas-
sionate and dedicated voice determined to elevate the women’s program. “I got a taste of the pros and what it’s like, and once I got this opportunity, I was like ‘Okay, cool, I’m going to the collegiate level,’” Rodgers said. “This is kinda my forte. This is where I want to be, just helping young ladies develop into young women. I don’t look at myself as a basketball coach; I look at myself as a life coach.” Before launching a professional career, in her time at Georgetown, Rodgers earned accolades, including Big East Rookie of the Year in 2010 and First Team All-Big East all four years. Georgetown reached the NCAA tournament three times with Rodgers, marking all but one of the program’s tournament appearances. Rodgers amassed 2,518 points at Georgetown, becoming the first Georgetown women’s basketball player to eclipse 2,000 career points and the first Georgetown basketball player to reach 2,500. Comparatively, Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85) ranks third in career points with 2,184. The thought of competing for records with legends like Ewing is surreal to conceptualize, according to Rodgers. “I came here to just get a great education, so that I could possibly get a great job after I finished,” said Rodgers. “I mean, I was just
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | THEHOYA.COM
so good at basketball that I was able to make history in some of those things. It feels good to have all those things in the record book, but records can be broken.” Rodgers racked up achievements well beyond her career at Georgetown. She became just the third player in Georgetown women’s basketball history to be drafted into the WNBA when she was selected 14th overall by the Lynx in 2013. Rodgers won a WNBA title in her rookie season, appearing in five of the Lynx’s seven playoff games. Rodgers was traded to the New York Liberty in the offseason, where she remained until moving to the Las Vegas Aces in 2019. Rodgers made her first All-Star appearance in 2017, and the WNBA named her the Sixth Woman of the Year for her contributions off the bench that year. Rodgers attributes her professional success to lessons learned throughout her time at Georgetown, adopting a dedicated mentality focus ed on work ethic. “Georgetown saved my life,” Rodgers said. “It just shaped me all around into the human I am today and the woman I am today. You just learn a bunch of life lessons, like you learn how to work as a team, you learn how to be organized, you learn how to be on
time, all those things that you need in life.” Rodgers said specifically that the mentorship from the late former Georgetown men’s basketball Head Coach John Thompson Jr. helped guide her career. “I had John Thompson who was just shaping me to be the woman I am,” said Rodgers. “A lot of things he said stuck with me on my journey to where I am now. No matter what happens, just keep going forward, keep pushing through. There’s going to be hard times, but at the end of the day, you can make it through.” After deciding to retire from the WNBA after the 2020 season, Rodgers became an assistant coach for the Aces in May 2021, joining her former WNBA Head Coach Bill Laimbeer. When an opportunity arose to become an assistant coach for the Hoyas, however, Rodgers did not hesitate to accept. Rodgers admitted coaching at the collegiate level has been an adjustment, but she’s excited to impart wisdom to her players. “I’m just happy to be back, hanging out, just being able to relate to the young ladies on the basketball team,” said Rodgers. “I think that’s a big thing as well because I sat in these same classrooms. So I’m not just speaking it, I’ve actually done everything that the ladies here are doing.”
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The Big East May Expand. Here’s Who They Should Consider. Peter Dicioccio and Sam Wirth Specials to The Hoya
It has been eight years since the original Big East Conference folded, with the basketball-focused socalled “Catholic 7” forming a new non-football conference. Yet a wave of conference realignment across the NCAA leaves the Big East with a crucial decision of whether expansion will prove profitable. Expansion would be beneficial for the league’s ability to create more excitement around the Big East’s current product and elevate existing brands. Every other power conference has added programs in the last decade, including the Big East. Adding either one or three additional universities would enable the Big East to retain an even number of teams in the standings. The Big East currently includes 11 universities following the return of the traditional Big East power UConn to the league in 2020 after seven years in the American Athletic Conference. Nine of the Big East universities are private, Catholic schools, with the exception of Butler and UConn. Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman said the prospects of expansion are tempting but travel and financial logistics may foil plans for the conference if it expands to programs located farther away from most Big East universities. “You have to have the whiteboard and come up with a variety of options,” Ackerman said. “The idea of a national conference in a sport other than football, in my judgment, is tricky because you’re
dealing with tougher travel.” Potential Big East candidates’ acceptance to the conference seemingly depends on their ability to boost television revenue, institutional fit with existing members and competitiveness on the hardwood. Ultimately, conference expansion decisions will come down to money for both the schools and the conference. Regardless, do not expect the Big East to be the same five years from now. Here are some programs the Big East may consider: Loyola University Chicago: The Ramblers’ thrilling trip to the 2018 men’s Final Four commanded the college basketball world’s attention. A premier program in the Missouri Valley Conference, Loyola would offer the Big East an immediately marketable brand as well as fit the archetype of a prestigious Jesuit university. Conference executives, however, might balk at the cost of adding another team in the Chicago media market, which DePaul University already occupies. Additionally, the Big East may want to wait and see if the Ramblers’ success continues without Head Coach Porter Moser, who left this offseason to take the same job at the University of Oklahoma. University of Dayton and St. Louis University: The Flyers and the Billikens are both competitive members of the Atlantic 10 Conference, the former home of current Big East members Butler and Xavier. Both schools are mid-sized Catholic universities located near urban centers, giving them a similar profile to most of the Big East’s existing members.
It remains unclear, however, whether either school would boost television revenues enough to justify their addition to the conference. Wichita State University: The American Athletic Conference’s dramatic reconfiguration resulting from realignment announced this summer may motivate the Shockers to leave a conference now quite different from the one they joined in 2017. Wichita State joined the AAC thinking it would retain the program’s relevance after a thrilling Final Four appearance in 2013. Yet Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco has made realignment difficult. To come to the Big East, Wichita State would need to provide a 27-month notice as well as forfeit $10 million dollars. Like VCU, Wichita State’s dissimilarity to existing Big East members would also give university commissioners pause. Gonzaga University: Head Coach Mark Few has built a powerhouse in Spokane, Washington, with Gonzaga retaining a No. 1 national ranking all of the 2020-21 season. The addition of Gonzaga would be a dream come true for the Big East, significantly boosting conference money and recognition, not to mention its fit as a mid-sized Jesuit university. Unfortunately, the Zags have little incentive to make the switch. Losing tournament money, playing nontraditional opponents and incurring a greater travel cost to join the Big East does not make sense for Gonzaga. Kansas: Images of a Georgetown-Kansas Big East Tournament championship matchup under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden
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The Big East should consider expansion after national conference realignment. tempt loyal Hoya fans. Kansas may be built on basketball, but many of its Big 12 peers are not. After the stunning departures of the University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma University for the Southeastern Conference earlier this year, the Big 12’s uncertain future left some wondering if Kansas would try its luck elsewhere, with the Big East floated as a possible fit. Unfortunately for Big East fans, the Big 12’s addition of four new universities and Kansas’s investments in football have all but removed it from the candidate list.
Georgetown Pilots NIL Training Program for Athletes Jack Lonergan and Saar Shah
Special to The Hoya and Hoya Staff Writer
Before June 30, you couldn’t get a birthday shoutout on the Cameo app from Georgetown men’s basketball first-year center Ryan Mutombo or see him promote a brand on his Instagram story despite his 13,600 followers. Now, thanks to legislation allowing student-athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, often referred to as NIL, you can. Historically, the NCAA has held the strict policy that student-athletes could not profit off their NIL. The organization argued that since student-athletes were amateurs, they shouldn’t be compensated for their athletic commitments. However, after years of public pressure and a Supreme Court ruling against the NCAA, the Division I Board of Governors, which is chaired by Georgetown President John J. DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95), made a groundbreaking decision that has changed the game for college athletes. In response, Georgetown’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has introduced The Blueprint, a program to help student-athletes handle this new opportunity for monetary gains. Student-athletes will be trained in public-image
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branding, financial literacy and the full implications of the new NIL legislation. The Blueprint features a partnership with Athliance, a company that provides software to help student-athletes and Georgetown staff manage endorsements and deals. Georgetown is one of five schools in a pilot program for Athliance to test its software. While NCAA athletes are still not allowed to accept money directly from their college, they can now market their brand, advertise for businesses and profit off social media. This is mostly notable for the nation’s most famous college football and basketball players. Clemson University quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is already on our TV screens in Dr. Pepper commercials; University of Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux released his own NFT; and University of Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers has filed for the trademark “Paige Buckets.” Many Georgetown athletes have already gotten to work and begun to take advantage of the new rules. Men’s basketball players sophomore guard Dante Harris, first-year guard Tyler Beard, firstyear forward Jalin Billingsley and Mutumbo are all available to give shoutouts on the app Cameo. A
number of men’s basketball players were also paid by Casual Hoya, Georgetown’s SB Nation affiliate, to promote its blog. Though these particular players are doing well independently, The Blueprint is intended to maximize their off-the-court earning potential during their college years. As part of this new program, Georgetown will also work with the brand-building platform INFLCR, an affiliation that will feature an exclusive deal with Cameo and other offers. The NIL rules apply to student-athletes of all teams and levels, not just basketball. As Georgetown’s men’s and women’s soccer programs sit atop the national rankings, their players have begun to gain fame and the potential for sponsorships. The NIL legislation’s main significance is allowing student-athletes to earn money while playing at the collegiate level, which some would say is long overdue, but the legislation also provides schools with a new way to recruit players. Take Georgetown men’s basketball for example. Recently, the team has been going through a relative slog, with a slew of transfers making the upcoming season more uncertain. With the new rules, the program can recruit players by pitching Georgetown’s
historic significance, the attractive business opportunities in Washington, D.C., and Georgetown’s support of student-athletes’ brands. The significance of NIL in recruiting has already been made apparent for men’s basketball. Georgetown was heavily recruiting Chris Livingston, a top player in the class of 2022, but he ultimately committed to the University of Kentucky. Kentucky made its NIL efforts a key focus of its pitch, which seemed to impress both Livingston and his grandfather. “We had a media meeting for name, image and likeness, and they talked about the fan base, how many games they have televised and the media [covering the team],” Livingston said in an interview with The Athletic. “That was a really big part.” If Livingston’s recruitment is any indication, addressing and advertising the NIL is key in the recruiting process. With the introduction of The Blueprint and partnerships with INFLCR and Athliance, Georgetown is making an investment in its student-athletes and showing an understanding for what will dominate recruiting in the coming years. How Georgetown addresses NIL will define the future of its athletics. The Blueprint is just the start.
THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021
K I R K Z I E S E R / T H E H OYA
Following pandemic-related restrictions that prevented fans from attending Georgetown basketball games last year, this season’s tipoff against Dartmouth reinvites students to Capital One Arena.
‘It’s Been So Long Since Last We Met’: GU Basketball Fans Return to Stands Demi Pappas, Brendan Quill and John Whelan Hoya Staff Writer, Hoya Staff Writer, and Special to The Hoya
Following over 600 days since spectators were last allowed to attend Georgetown basketball games, Hoya fans will once again be able to cheer on their beloved basketball teams in person. With last year’s NCAA regulations banning spectators from stadiums due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hoyas were forced to compete in empty stadiums. Men’s basketball opened Big East play against Villanova in a silent McDonough Arena, and the women’s season didn’t start until Dec. 19, 2020, after seven canceled or postponed games. Not a single Hoya was present for Georgetown’s Big
East Championship triumph over Creighton, an event that would have elicited busloads of Georgetown students traveling to New York in a non-pandemic year. Thus, the return of fanfilled arenas will be a welcome change for both athletes and students. The last time Georgetown fans made the journey to the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood was March 2020. Since then, a lot has happened. While the women’s team struggled with a dramatically shortened season, now-sophomore guard Kelsey Ransom emerged as a young star, earning Big East All-Freshman Team honors. For the men’s team, a mercurial regular season culminated in a Cinderella run to win the Big East Tournament, leading the Hoyas to their first NCAA tournament berth since 2015.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | THEHOYA.COM
Like Ransom, now-sophomore guard Dante Harris cemented himself as a top point guard, winning the Big East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. The most important storyline in the climactic return of fans will be its impact on two incredibly young rosters. Nine of the 14 men’s players are first-years or sophomores who have never played a collegiate game in front of a crowd before, let alone an electrifying home crowd at Capital One Arena. The same can be said for the women’s team, where eight of the 15 players on the roster are first-years or sophomores. While they were all top players in high school and have surely played in big emotional games, the transition to playing before thousands of fans in person and on television will be critical. For Georgetown, the importance of home-
court advantage should not be understated. In the last five years with fans, the Georgetown men’s team had a .578 winning percentage at home compared to a .341 winning percentage in away games. Similarly, the women’s team had a .468 winning percentage at home and a .368 winning percentage on the road. In spite of the bolstered home-court advantage, the return of fans could see a regression in scoring across college basketball overall. In the National Basketball Association (NBA) bubble, an isolated campus for players during COVID-19, average scoring saw a remarkable increase, including improvements to overall free-throw and field goal percentage. Average offensive efficiency saw a jump from 110.7 points per 100 possessions to 114.2 points. Arenas without fans mimic practice conditions, a setting which boasts undeniably lower stakes, perhaps providing an explanation for offensive prowess without fans present. However, college basketball players will be eager for the return of fans. In the 2020-2021 season, home teams only won 57.3% of the games with limited fan capacity, the lowest percentage since the statistic has been measured. Basketball fans across the country can find solace in knowing their in-person support has tangible effects on the performance of their team. This statistic wouldn’t surprise Quentin Fidance, communications officer for Hoya Blue, Georgetown’s official student section. “Throughout the whole semester, I’ve emphasized buying the season tickets. We have an opportunity to go back to Capital One Arena in full force,” Fidance said in an interview with The Hoya. “The vast majority of the club are sophomores and freshmen who have never experienced a basketball game. There is a desire to recreate past year’s enthusiasm, and to go beyond it. “ It’s not hard to see basketball is on the mind of Georgetown community members; John Thompson Jr.’s “I Came As A Shadow” is one of the most popular books on campus, Ewing sightings on campus warrant whispers and discreet photographs, and one can’t walk five steps without seeing a vintage or faux Etsy-find Georgetown basketball crewneck. Georgetown basketball is an institution in its own right, and its return is welcomed across campus and beyond.
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WOMEN’S BIG EAST POWER RANKINGS By Julia Cannamela and Ritika Mandavilli
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UCONN
UConn finished last season with a perfect 18-0 conference record. The Huskies are poised to be even more powerful this season, as all of their starters are returning, including Big East Preseason Player of the Year Paige Bueckers. The squad is adding the talented first-year guard Azzi Fudd, the top high school women’s basketball prospect from the class of 2021.
DEPAUL
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DePaul stands as the most likely threat to UConn’s dominance. The Blue Demons returned all of last season’s starters after finishing fourth in the conference. With its high-scoring offense, ranked eighth in the country last season, and experience, expect DePaul to contend for a top conference finish.
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SETON HALL
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VILLANOVA
Seton Hall has been a strong opponent in the Big East for the past couple seasons. Four of the Pirates’ top five leading scorers are returning, including Big East First Team forward Andra Espinoza-Hunter and guard Lauren Park-Lane. In the past eight years, the Pirates have either met or exceeded preseason poll expectations six times.
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UConn looks to build on a strong 2020-21 season. Losing an explosive scorer James Bouknight to the NBA, the Huskies will turn to a returning core of players. Although Bouknight did provide an offensive push, UConn returns its top five scorers of the season, led by guards RJ Cole and Tyrese Martin to pick up the slack.
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MARQUETTE
Marquette follows closely behind Seton Hall in preseason rankings. Last season, the Golden Eagles faced UConn in their fifth consecutive Big East conference final and clinched an at-large NCAA tournament berth. Two new transfers, combined with Marquette’s history of deep Big East tournament runs, should position the Golden Eagles to compete with top Big East programs.
VILLANOVA
5
The Wildcats found success late last season, reaching the semifinals in the Big East tournament after upsetting DePaul. Villanova star forward Maddy Siegrist, who led the Big East in scoring both overall and in the league, will return, giving the team a dangerous offensive edge.
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ST JOHN’S
While St. John’s finished last season’s conference play 4-12, the Red Storm brought themselves to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. The Red Storm have four starters returning, and are adding transfer forward Danielle Cosgrove and guard/forward Danielle Patterson from Notre Dame and Indiana.
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CREIGHTON
Creighton are hovering in a similar position to St. John’s The Bluejays struggled to play
games last season because of COVID-19 complications, but they ended on a high note by beating Seton Hall in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament. Creighton has three returning starters and looks to hone the talents of young players like forward Emma Ronsiek, who finished second on the team in scoring last season.
PROVIDENCE
8
Providence is predicted to see another mediocre season after finishing seventh in the conference and making it to the conference tournament quarterfinals last year. However, changes on their roster may give Providence the boost needed to stay competitive in conference play. The Friars boast eight new players, including two-time Maine Gatorade Player of the Year and forward Emily Archibald. Providence’s additions must make up for the team’s loss of 48% of its scoring, 46% of rebounding, and 63% of its assists from last season.
GEORGETOWN
The Hoyas struggled last season, only winning two games and getting knocked out in the first round of the Big East tournament. However, this season Georgetown has graduate forward Anita Kelava returning. In addition, leading scorer Kelsey Ransom should steer the Hoyas. Georgetown has the potential to cause major upsets this season.
XAVIER
10
The Musketeers finished ninth in the conference last year, recording two conference wins out of just 10 conference games. With many new players and transfers, like former JUCO All-American Shaila Beeler, Xavier has the opportunity to reinvent itself to be a serious conference threat this year.
11 BUTLER
Butler did not find its footing last season, finishing 3-15. The Bulldogs’ second leading scorer, Genesis Parker, is returning, and they are adding the transfer talent of Furman’s Celena Taborn and Eastern Kentucky’s Kendall Wingler. These new weapons will help try to improve their standing this season, but they may not be enough to help Butler earn conference wins.
MEN’S BIG EAST POWER RANKINGS
Last year, Villanova fell in the Sweet 16 to champion Baylor University. Star guard Collin Gillespie is now healthy and hoping to lead the Wildcats to a national championship in his final season. Despite losing forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova picks up where it left off with four upperclassmen starters returning from 2020-21.
UCONN
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ST JOHN’S
The return of guard Julian Champagnie should put St. John’s in the mix for a March Madness bid. The Red Storm had the highest-scoring offense in the conference last season, and hope Champagnie and guard Posh Alexander, who averaged 10.9 points per game last year, will help prolong St. John’s offensive dominance.
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By Christian Baldari and John Nelson
XAVIER
With a disappointing Big East ranking last season, Head Coach Travis Steele hopes to bring success back to the Musketeers. One of Xavier’s strengths will be its roster’s continuity. Seven seniors make their way back to the Musketeers this season, so Xavier is banking on that experience and age facilitating a rise in standings.
BUTLER
5
The Bulldogs had a disappointing 202021 season, but the return of their four double-digit scorers suggests they are likely to improve this campaign. However, Head Coach LaVall Jordan still has work to do, as Butler’s offense finished last in points per game and field goal percentage in the Big East last season.
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SETON HALL
The Pirates should expect another solid season with a chance at the NCAA tournament. While forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has moved on to the NBA, the Pirates expect star guard Jared Rhoden to step into Mamukelashvili’s shoes.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | THEHOYA.COM
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PROVIDENCE
The departure of point guard David Duke, fifth in the Big East in points per game and firsts in assists per game last season, to the NBA leaves Providence with a massive hole to fill. Friars fans should not despair, however, as veteran Head Coach Ed Cooley knows the ins and outs of Big East basketball, which should prevent the Friars from falling to the bottom of the Big East.
GEORGETOWN
8
Coming off a Big East championship, the Hoyas look to ride a wave of momentum. Despite losing key contributors Jamorko Pickett and Jahvon Blair, and the shocking transfer of Qudus Wahab, Georgetown expects a fusion of young talent and returning players to carry the torch. Look for a strong performance from guard Dante Harris, the 2021 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and an impressive rookie campaign from guard Aminu Mohammed to help Georgetown fill its holes this season.
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CREIGHTON
With a lot of turnover from last year, the Golden Eagles are in for a transition season. Returning only two starters from last year, Marquette has lost all five of its leading scorers. The current season may look bleak, but with an influx of young talent, Marquette hopes to build experience.
MARQUETTE 10
The Golden Eagles are in for a transition season. Returning only two starters, Marquette has lost all five of its leading scorers. The current season may look bleak, but with an influx of young talent, Marquette hopes to build experience.
11 DEPAUL
DePaul played the fewest games of any Big East team last season because of COVID-19 and finished last in the conference. The Blue Demons’ top scorer, guard Charlie Moore, transferred in the offseason. DePaul will struggle to compete offensively.
SPORTS | B8