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Dismal 2016-17 Season Capped by Firing of JTIII MATT SACHS
Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown men’s basketball team finished the 2016-17 season 14-18 with a 5-13 record in the Big East, making it the third year out of the last four in which the team did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Graduate student guard Rodney Pryor, who averaged team-highs 18.0 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game, led the Hoyas. Starting alongside Pryor in every game was junior guard L.J. Peak, who averaged 16.5 points per game. Both Pryor and Peak left Georgetown and declared for the NBA draft last summer, but ultimately went undrafted. The Hoyas experienced ups and downs early in the 2016-17 season. Georgetown split its first four games, which included an upset loss to Arkansas State (20-12, 11-7 Sun Belt) at McDonough Arena and a victory over the injury-plagued NCAA Final Four qualifier Oregon (33-6, 16-2 Pac-12) at the Maui Invitational Tournament in November. In Maui, Hawaii, Georgetown followed up the big win against Oregon with backto-back losses to Wisconsin (27-10, 12-6 Big Ten) and Oklahoma State (20-12, 9-9 Big 12) by a combined 43 points. After
2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER
the tournament, Georgetown went on a season-high, six-game win streak, with its biggest win during that streak coming against Big East rival Syracuse (18-14, 10-8 ACC) 78-71. Peak led the way with 23 points. The Hoyas marched into Big East play with a record of 8-4. However, the Blue and Gray had little success early on. The squad lost its first four conference contests before finally finding its first win in January against St. John’s (14-19, 7-11 Big East) 83-55 The highlight of Georgetown’s season came with three consecutive Big East victories over Creighton (25-9, 10-8 Big East), DePaul (9-23, 2-16 Big East) and Butler (23-8, 12-6 Big East). The team held a 1310 record after Jan. 31. However, in February the season took a turn for the worse. The Hoyas lost six of their last seven games, losing any chance of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Their last hope was crushed after a 86-80 loss to St. John’s in the opening round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. For the season, the Hoyas finished seventh in the Big East in points per game and in three-point field goal percentage. However, the team’s defense proved substandard. Georgetown’s mark of 72.2 points allowed per game ranked 178th in the NCAA.
NO. 0 JAHVON BLAIR
NO. 12 CHRIS SODOM
6’3”, 189 LBS FRESHMAN GUARD
7’3”, 220 LBS FRESHMAN CENTER
NO. 1 JAMARKO PICKETT
NO. 13 TREY DICKERSON
6’7”, 190 LBS FRESHMAN FORWARD
6’0”, 185 LBS GRADUATE STUDENT GUARD
NO. 2 JONATHAN MULMORE
NO. 15 JESSIE GOVAN
6’4”, 185 LBS SENIOR GUARD
6’10”, 270 LBS JUNIOR CENTER
NO. 4 JAGAN MOSELY
NO. 20 GEORGE MURESAN
6’3”, 205 LBS SOPHOMORE GUARD
6’9”, 210 LBS SOPHOMORE FORWARD
NO. 5 ANTWAN WALKER
NO. 24 MARCUS DERRICKSON
6’9”, 230 LBS FRESHMAN FORWARD
6’7”, 250 LBS JUNIOR FORWARD
NO. 10 RA’MOND HINES 6’4”, 175 LBS SENIOR GUARD
NO. 32 KALEB JOHNSON 6’6”, 205 LBS JUNIOR GUARD/FORWARD
NO. 11 GREG MALINOWSKI 6’5”, 215 LBS JUNIOR GUARD
NO. 33 TREY MOURNING 6’9”, 230 LBS SENIOR FORWARD
FILE PHOTO: CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA
Former graduate student guard Rodney Pryor started every game last season and led the Hoyas with 18.0 points per game, adding 5.0 rebounds per game. The late-season collapse led Georgetown to part ways with Head Coach John Thompson III after 13 seasons. The Hoyas went on a head coaching search led by Athletic Director Lee Reed and Georgetown alumnus and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (CAS ’62).
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The two decided on NBA Hall of Famer and former Hoya Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85) to start the next chapter for Georgetown basketball. The 2017-18 season starts Sunday as the Hoyas take on the Jacksonville Dolphins at the Capital One Arena.
JACKSONVILLE MOUNT ST. MARY’S UMES RICHMOND MAINE COPPIN STATE HOWARD NORTH CAROLINA A&T SYRACUSE NORTH TEXAS ALABAMA A&M BUTLER MARQUETTE DEPAUL CREIGHTON ST. JOHN’S SETON HALL VILLANOVA ST. JOHN’S DEPAUL CREIGHTON XAVIER PROVIDENCE SETON HALL BUTLER XAVIER PROVIDENCE MARQUETTE VILLANOVA
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Govan’s Size and Skill Key to Success DAN BALDWIN Hoya Staff Writer
Standing at 6-feet-10 and 270 pounds, junior center Jessie Govan is larger than life. To put this in perspective, the average American male stands at approximately 5-feet-9 and weighs around 196 pounds. Govan’s physicality is difficult to miss, whether he is on the court or walking to class. However, Govan’s impressive measurements pale in comparison to his coach’s Patrick Ewing, who stands at 7 feet and weighed in at 240 pounds during his playing days. Yet Ewing’s influence and status as a top-50 NBA player of all time and as an NCAA champion surpass these measurements.
“If he does not step up and have a great year for us, we won’t be successful.” PATRICK EWING Head Coach
Govan insists he is focused on absorbing information from his new coach rather than being intimidated by his legend. “I just got to try and listen to everything he says, because everything he is saying is with a message and with a purpose,” Govan said. “He’s not wasting his breath. So I’m just trying to listen to everything he says and then go out there and do my thing.” Govan has seen his role on the team grow in each season he has been on the Hilltop. As a sophomore last season, Govan’s 10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game ranked in the team’s top three for each category despite his only playing 21 minutes per game. Then-Head Coach John Thompson III used Govan as the Hoyas’ tertiary scoring threat after then-junior L.J. Peak and graduate student Rodney Pryor.
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With Peak and Pryor declaring for the NBA draft last summer, Govan is set to step into the primary scoring role for the Hoyas this season. Ewing understands Govan’s importance to Georgetown’s success on both sides of the ball. “Jessie is one of the keys to our success,” Ewing said. “If he does not step up and have a great year for us, we won’t be successful. You know, I’ve put a lot on his shoulders, a lot on his plate. If he, as an upperclassman, if he does not step up and dominate on both ends of the court we won’t be successful.” Govan was originally recruited from Wings Academy in Manhasset, N.Y., as the No. 43-ranked recruit by 247Sports and was considered the top prospect to help round out a solid 2015 recruiting haul. Despite his inconsistencies throughout his first two seasons, Govan flashed dangerous offensive potential during conference play late last season. In Georgetown’s 80-62 victory over Marquette last season, Govan led the charge, scoring in a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds and one steal. This offseason, Govan has been focusing on shot selection and letting the game come to him. “Coach has been emphasizing when I get the ball and if I have a chance to get one-on-one, to put the ball in the basket,” Govan said. “He sees my scoring ability and my teammates see it as well.” Now an upperclassman, Govan must not only take on the role as the team’s primary scorer, but also as vocal leader in the locker room. Ewing will rely on Govan to unite the Hoyas, helping the team play as a unit that believes in itself while ensuring that the pressure of playing for a former NBA star does not intimidate the team. Ewing understands Govan’s importance to this year’s Hoya team. Govan realizes that he must step up if Georgetown wants to bring back Hoya Paranoia this season. While Ewing’s stature may be larger than Govan’s, the Hoyas will only go as far as Govan’s 6-feet-10, 270-pound frame can carry them.
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With the departure of leading scorers L.J. Peak and Rodney Pryor, junior center Jessie Govan will take on a much larger role for the Hoyas after only averaging 21 minutes per game last season.
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Around the Big East: Preview and Rankings EMILY DALTON Hoya Staff Writer
ALL LOGOS FROM UNIVERSITY WEBSITES
1. VILLANOVA Despite the loss of first team All-American Josh Hart and 2016 national championship hero Kris Jenkins to graduation, Head Coach Jay Wright’s Wildcats still sit in a solid position to extend their Big East regular season title streak to five. With no scholarship seniors on the roster, Villanova will be reliant upon its trio of guards, junior Jalen Brunson and redshirt juniors Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges. They are joined by sophomore guard Donte DiVincenzo and redshirt freshman forward Omari Spellman, a five-star recruit. Booth and Spellman were both sidelined last season, but their contributions during the 2017-18 campaign will be critical if Villanova wants to rectify last year’s disappointing second round exit from the NCAA tournament with a deep post-season run.
2. XAVIER After finishing seventh in the Big East last year, the Musketeers went on to win three NCAA tournament games, making an Elite Eight appearance with the help of then-junior guard Trevon Bluiett. Bluiett, after pulling out of the NBA draft pool, chose to return to Cincinnati for his senior year where he will lead Xavier’s offense and compete with Villanova for the conference’s top spot. If Bluiett improves on his average of 18.8 points per game last season, he will likely be Brunson’s biggest challenger for Big East Player of the Year.
3. SETON HALL Even when sitting toward the bottom of the Big East standings last year, Seton Hall still managed to upset top-ranked teams when it mattered most. The Pirates defeated No. 1 Villanova in 2016’s Big East Tournament Championship and proceeded to take the Wildcats to the final seconds of the 2017 Big East semifinals, only to fall by a score of 55-53. This year, senior forward Angel Delgado and senior guard Khadeen Carrington will lead No. 23 Seton Hall toward the top of the table with the hopes of rattling the Wildcats once again.
4. PROVIDENCE The Friars are set to return four senior starters this season and are positioned to be top contenders in a conference with three of The Associated Press’ preseason top-25 teams. Senior guard Kyron Cartwright returns to Providence after leading the Big East in assists during the 2016-17 season. He is joined in the backcourt by the former UConn signee and guard Makai AshtonLangford, who was rated No. 39 in the class of 2017 Recruiting Services Consensus Index. Together, the pair hopes to carry Ed Cooley and the Friars to another winning season.
5. CREIGHTON Under the guidance of Head Coach Greg McDermott, Creighton is hoping to hold its own in the talent-laden Big East. Junior transfer guard Kaleb Joseph will head to Omaha, Neb., after shooting just 35 percent from the field during his 50-game run with the Syracuse Orange. He will likely take a back seat in the Bluejays’ top-50 offense, as he joins a squad of shooters in senior guard Marcus Foster, senior forward Toby Hegner and junior guard Khyri Thomas. Foster led Creighton with 18.2 points per game in the 2016-17 campaign, while Hegner and Thomas both shot over 40 percent from three.
6. ST. JOHN’S The combination of sophomore Shamorie Ponds and redshirt sophomore Marcus LoVett forms one of the most dangerous returning backcourts in the conference. The two averaged 17.4 and 15.9 points per game respectively, and are joined by transfers in redshirt sophomore guard Justin Simon and redshirt junior forward Marvin Clark II, from Arizona and Michigan State, respectively. Under Head Coach Chris Mullin, the Red Storm will look to rise in the Big East ranks while improving upon last year’s 7-11 conference record.
8. BUTLER
7. MARQUETTE Marquette will need to see some breakout performances from its freshman class as well as meaningful contributions from its returning players in sophomore guards Sam Hauser and Markus Howard if the Golden Eagles want to finish higher than seventh place in the Big East this year. Howard is currently ranked in the top 1o of Sports Illustrated’s list of projected top 100 scorers in the nation after averaging 13.2 points per game last season. Senior guard Andrew Rowsey, who shot 92.6 percent from the line during the 2016-17 campaign, will also need to be an anchor for the Golden Eagles.
9. DEPAUL DePaul has struggled for years to find success in the Big East conference. The Blue Devils went 9-23 (2-16 Big East) last year, but are anticipating a talented freshman class featuring four-star guard Justin Roberts. Roberts is also joined by three transfers in sophomore guard Austin Grandstaff, junior guard Marin Maric and graduate student center Max Stras. After placing last in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll, Head Coach Dave Leitao says his underrated Blue Demon squad will use their ranking as motivation.
tough undertaking.
With the departure of former Head Coach Chris Holtmann in June to Ohio State, along with their top recruit Kyle Young, Butler will turn to senior forward Kelan Martin and sophomore guard Kamar Baldwin to lead its offense this season. With the additional losses of four of its top seven scorers from last year, Butler will likely fall in the rankings under new Head Coach LaVall Jordan, who returns to his alma mater with a
10. GEORGETOWN The 2017-18 campaign will most likely be a rebuilding year for Head Coach Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas. Arguably handed the toughest coaching job in the conference, Ewing is faced with a team that won a combined 29 games over the past two seasons and lost six players from last year’s rotation, including transfers and decommits. Despite the tough outlook, the Hoyas landed ESPN 100 prospect JaMarko Pickett, a former Ole Miss signee, who will help contribute to their lineup.
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Hoyas Hopeful as Team Enters Ewing Era george brennan Hoya Staff Writer
Tabula rasa — a clean slate. When the ball tips off for the 2017-18 Georgetown men’s basketball season, it will mean more than just the start of another season — it will be a turning point in the program’s storied history. The arrival of Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85) as head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas has prompted low short-term expectations but high long-term optimism. As the national spotlight shines brightly on Ewing and his new gig, Hoya fans can only hope Ewing can deliver in his tenure as head coach what he accomplished as a player: a national championship. After being introduced as head coach April 5, Ewing had his work cut out for him. Junior guard L.J. Peak and graduate student guard Rodney Pryor were headed to the NBA Draft, while junior forward Akoy Agau transferred to Southern Methodist University. Toward the end of the late signing period, Ewing’s critics forecasted that his recruiting inexperience would be his biggest problem. “It’s going fine. We’re working hard,” Ewing said at Georgetown’s Media Day. “It’s funny because when I first got the job, all people talked about was recruiting, recruiting, recruiting was going to be the hardest thing. And you know recruiting is recruiting, and it has been. Dealing with people is dealing with people.” Following the firing of former Head Coach John Thompson III, Ewing was unable to convince four-star guard Tremont Waters to recommit. However, Ewing solidified four-star forward Antwan Walker’s signing and picked up a pair
of freshman three-star commitments in center Chris Sodom and guard Jahvon Blair. The Hoyas also added graduate student guard Trey Dickerson from the University of South Dakota. Ewing’s inaugural summer of recruiting was highlighted by the late addition of four-star forward Jamarko Pickett, who decommitted from Ole Miss in July. A product of the Washington, D.C. metro area, Pickett was won over by Ewing and the assistant coaches, Robert Kirby and Louis Orr, over a former assistant coach, Kevin Broadus, at rival Maryland. Ewing praised his two four-star freshmen, citing their ability to pick up his instructions quickly. “They’re both still learning,” Ewing said. “We’re going to count on them to do a lot for us, especially Jamarko on the offensive end. Antwan, he’s still learning, but I think Jamarko is a little bit more advanced on the offensive end than Antwan is, but like I tell him, ‘Do all the things I want you to do, which is rebounding and playing defensive.’” Ewing’s recruiting has continued to trend upward. During Hoya Madness, Ewing picked up a pair of 2018 commitments in four-star, top-100 forward Josh LeBlanc from Mississippi and explosive three-star point guard Mac McClung from Virginia. Orr’s connections throughout the South and Kirby’s history across the Big East have reinvigorated Georgetown’s recruiting network. The Hoyas return three starters from last year’s squad in senior guard Jonathan Mulmore, junior forward Marcus Derrickson and junior center Jessie Govan. Sophomore guard Jagan Mosely and junior forward Kaleb Johnson also come back from last year’s rotation. Govan will be instrumental to institut-
ing Ewing’s quasi-pro-style offense. Govan’s unique skill set for a big man will be imperative for the Hoyas to play more up-tempo and fast-paced. “You know I’ve put a lot on his shoulders, a lot on [Govan’s] plate. If he, as an upperclassman, if he does not step up and dominate on both ends of the court, we won’t be successful,” Ewing said. Derrickson will also be a featured piece with his unique frame that can both punish people down low and stroke it from outside. “Marcus is one of those guys doing an outstanding job. He’s here early, working on his game. Sometimes we have to kick him out of the gym, especially in the summertime,” Ewing said. “He’s another guy, if we are to be successful, he’s going to be another one of those guys that’s going to have to step up and have a great year.” Despite the hype regarding Ewing, the Hoyas are projected to struggle. They were picked to finish ninth out of 10 teams according to the Big East preseason coaches’ poll, ahead of only DePaul. In The Hoya’s preseason predictions, Georgetown finishes 10th. KenPom, ESPN and Sports Illustrated have the Hoyas nationally ranked 79th, 92nd and 125th, respectively. The team is well-aware of outsiders’ projections. “We love it,” Mosely said. Govan reiterated his teammate’s optimism. “Preseason rankings don’t really mean much,” Govan said. “My freshman year, we were projected to finish second, my sophomore year we were projected to finish fourth, so it’s all about how you play in the end.” The Hoyas’ preseason strength of schedule is also notable. Measured as the second-weakest nonconference schedule in the country,
Georgetown will play 10 of its first 11 games at home. All of them, except the game against Syracuse, will be against teams outside the preseason Top 100. Ewing stressed the need to establish a cohesive unit in nonconference play because the strength of the Big East will be enough of a test. “Who knows how far we can go if we are successful in the Big East?” Ewing said.
FILE PHOTO: GENEVIEVE GRESSER/THE HOYA
Junior forward Marcus Derrickson averaged 8.3 points and 4.1 rebounds last season.
Will Soft Nonconference Schedule Weaken Hoyas? carter owen Hoya Staff Writer
Striving for a promising first year under the tenure of new Head Coach Patrick Ewing, the Georgetown men’s basketball team has a great opportunity to re-establish itself as a winning program this year — especially in games outside league play in the highly competitive Big East conference. This year’s Hoya squad opens the season on Saturday, Nov. 12 at home against Jacksonville, the first of 11 nonconference opponents Georgetown will play. Georgetown is set to face 10 of the 11 nonconference opponents at home, with its lone road game at Richmond on Nov. 25. The Hoyas’ battle with longtime rival Syracuse will take place Dec. 16. Over the summer, Ewing pulled his squad out of November’s Phil Knight PK80 Invitational, which included games against UConn, Oregon and No. 2 Michigan State, and replaced them with opponents that went 130-231 last year, a .360 winning percentage. For Ewing, the evaluation of the team was an important factor in constructing the nonconference schedule. “My guys are coming off two poor years, and
it is my job to mend their egos and to get them to believe in themselves again,” Ewing said at Georgetown’s media day. “Making our nonconference schedule is to get our team to be better, to be a more cohesive team.” Ewing also stressed that nonconference play is not his team’s ultimate concern.
“I’m just going to do what’s in the best interests of this program.” Patrick ewing Head Coach
“The Big East is what it’s all about,” Ewing said. “Get our guys believing in themselves and get ready for the Big East competition. Do well in the Big East, and the sky’s the limit.” Ewing extended this sentiment to his decision to pull the Hoyas from the PK80. “I thought it was in our best interests that I mend our guys and get them ready for the Big East,” he said.
Ewing’s words reflect a clear focus on using the nonconference schedule to prepare his players to thrive when conference play begins. The Hoyas are coming off a disappointing 14-18 season — including an abysmal 5-13 conference record — the firing of longtime Head Coach John Thompson III and the loss of their top two scorers from last year, L.J. Peak and Rodney Pryor, without the addition of an official top-100 prospect. The team will undoubtedly need time to acclimate to Ewing’s new offensive and defensive systems while building chemistry with each other. For Ewing, the first half of the season serves as a great opportunity for the team to work on developing consistency and compiling wins against subpar competition. After their season opener against Jacksonville the Hoyas take on Mount Saint Mary’s on Nov. 15. The Mountaineers won the Northeast conference last year with a 20-16 record, but lost their top scorer Elijah Long to the University of Texas. From there, Georgetown takes on Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 18, a midmajor that finished 14-20 last year and also lost their top scorer Bakari Copeland, who graduated in the spring. Afterwards, the Blue and Gray faces Richmond, a solid squad that finished fourth in a tough Atlantic-10 conference
last season, but lost its top two scorers, T.J. Cline and ShawnDre’ Jones. Amid a litany of games against pedestrian opponents, the classic Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry returns to the Capital One Arena this year in what is already shaping up to be the game of the year. The Orange did not make the NCAA Tournament last year despite having wins against three of the top-10 teams, while also losing their best player, Tyler Lydon, to the NBA. Coach Ewing expressed excitement at the opportunity to revisit old Big East rivalries in anticipation of the contest. “Teams like Syracuse — it’s going to be great to play against them,” Ewing said. “Jim Boeheim is an outstanding coach. He’s stood the test of time, and he’s done an outstanding job with his program.” Beyond a chance to boost team morale and chemistry, the easy schedule also allows a much easier transition to the college game for Ewing. After playing in the NBA for 16 years and working the sidelines as an assistant coach for 15, Ewing has deep roots in both facets of the game and is very aware of their differences. “I’m just going to do what’s in the best interests of this program,” Ewing said. “I’m going to be just like any other coach.”
Legend Returns, 2016The Election and Policies Spark DC Demonstration A New Chapter Begins
aidan curran Hoya Staff Writer
‘Home Sw33t Home’
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georgetown university
The phrase that has become synonymous with Georgetown men’s basketball this year. You can spot the phrase in many places, whether it’s a hashtag on Twitter or the new slogan featured on this year’s “We Are Georgetown” Tshirts. New men’s basketball Head Coach Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85) is returning home, leaving the NBA behind to coach his alma mater, a onceproud basketball program that has fallen on tough times. Ewing, who was a member of Georgetown’s lone national championship team in 1984, has been called upon to bring the program back to heights not reached since Ewing himself donned a Georgetown jersey over 30 years ago. For a team that was picked to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the conference in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Ewing faces a daunting task. The word “home” indicates a certain level of familiarity. However, the home that Ewing returns to is anything but the home he knew when he played at Georgetown from 1981 to 1985 as one of the most physically imposing and dominant centers to ever play the game of basketball. Times have changed since then. The patriarch of Georgetown basketball, John Thompson Jr., still remains, but most other things have changed, from the recruiting methods to the style of play in college basketball to the Hoyas’ home arena. Ewing is stepping into an unfamiliar world, one where the X’s and O’s of basketball are not all that matter. Ewing’s former mentor and Knicks Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy thinks Ewing has what it takes to make the adjustment, but also warned of challenges ahead. “I don’t underestimate the size of the rebuild that’s ahead of him,” Van Gundy said in an interview with The New York Post. “Georgetown’s not going to cheat, and that in and of itself makes it a challenge in college sports. Everybody does it different in college, and it’s always not a level playing field.” Indeed, college basketball has found itself embroiled in controversy before the 2017-18 season has even begun. In late September, the FBI’s ongoing investigation into college basketball uncovered mass corruption, bribery and wire fraud involving several top college basketball programs, with more charges sure to come in the following weeks. Ewing not only has to guide his team on the court, but he also has to manage what is quickly becoming a treacherous recruiting landscape that could prove to be a difficult challenge to overcome for an NBA lifer who has never coached or recruited at the college level before. It has been seven months since Ewing was hired as Georgetown’s new head coach to replace John Thompson III. Already there are signs of Ewing’s effort to change the culture of the men’s basketball program; an attempt to make Georgetown the powerhouse program it once was. One of the main talking points regarding the team so far in the preseason is the expected switch in offensive systems. Under Thompson III, Georgetown ran an offense predicated on principles associated with the Princeton offense. The outdated system clogged up the team’s offensive pace and failed to correctly utilize the athletic abilities of players such as former Georgetown guards L.J. Peak and Rodney Pryor.
Ewing’s coaching experience only comes from the NBA, with his most recent stop in Charlotte. He spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Hornets under Head Coach Steve Clifford, one of the brightest minds in the NBA today. Ewing has professed his desire to switch to a more modern style of play associated with the NBA, with a focus on dribble-drive penetration, pick-and-rolls and a faster pace. “I have my own style I want to play. It’s an up-tempo style. It’s an NBA style,” Ewing said at Georgetown’s Media Day. “Coming from the NBA, that’s basically what my background is, what my knowledge is.” His players have already noticed a change under their new head coach. “He’s a different type of coach than we had before,” junior center Jessie Govan said. “We watched a little film on how he used to play,” junior forward Marcus Derrickson said. “It’s real up-tempo, just like how we’re working towards now. That’s what we work on every day.” For Ewing’s new offense to work, he will need to find talented players to go out and execute his schemes, which ties into Ewing’s biggest challenge: recruiting. “People say how tough it is,” Ewing said in an interview with The Washington Post. “But I don’t really see it being that tough. It’s all about being able to communicate with people, and I think I can communicate.” Georgetown secured commitments over the summer from four-star forward Jamarko Pickett, three-star Canadian guard Jahvon Blair and three-star, 7-feet-3 center Chris Sodom. The early returns are encouraging for Ewing and his coaching staff and indicate that his message is starting to gain traction in recruiting circles. Pickett’s commitment, in particular, raised eyebrows. Pickett chose the Hoyas over the Maryland Terrapins, an established program that is one of Georgetown’s main competitors in the Washington, D.C. metro area. This fall, Ewing has continued to impress, garnering commitments from three more players from the Class of 2018: three-star forward Grayson Carter, three-star guard Mac McClung and four-star forward Josh LeBlanc. “I’m looking for great players,” Ewing said. “I want hard-working, great skill, can play multiple positions, big, athletic, can shoot.” A trend is already emerging in the type of players Ewing is recruiting. Pickett and Walker are two long, versatile freshmen who should be able to guard multiple positions. LeBlanc and Carter also fit that profile, indicating Ewing wants to build a team with big, athletic players with more versatile skill sets that will allow for greater flexibility, both offensively and defensively. If Ewing’s strategy goes according to plan — if he continues to succeed on the recruiting trail and gets his current players to buy in to what he is trying to do — home will indeed be “Sw33t,” for Ewing and Georgetown fans alike. There is a shift underway on the Hilltop. There is a new man in charge of the men’s basketball program, and whether Patrick Ewing can change the culture on campus and get this program back to its winning ways will shape his legacy at Georgetown. Ewing understands this better than anyone. “Success is winning,” Ewing said. “If I don’t win, people could call me the greatest Hoya ever, but as you know, if I don’t win, there will be another coach here sooner or later.”
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woMen’s Basketball
Adair Departs After 2nd Straight Postseason Appearance Brendan dolan Special to The Hoya
After several seasons of inconsistent play that ultimately resulted in four coaches over the past six years, the 2016-17 women’s basketball team improved its win total for the second straight year. The team followed up its 16-14 overall record the previous season with a 17-13 record and an identical 9-9 record in the Big East. Furthermore, the team managed to make its second consecutive appearance in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, a significant improvement from securing only four wins in former Head Coach Natasha Adair’s first season in 2014-15. Adair eventually left the head coaching position at the end of last season. The Hoyas returned some of their most talented players from 2015 in then-junior guard Dorothy Adomako and then-sophomore guard Dionna White and saw increased production from then junior forward Faith Woodard. Head Coach James Howard, who served as the associate head coach last season, cited an added emphasis on defense as a main reason for last season’s improvement, evidenced by the Hoyas surrendering only 63 points per game. Additionally, only four seniors departed from the campaign prior, which allowed the teammates to have a better understanding of how to play with each other. “Chemistry, defensive toughness — a lot of teams in our conference love to score the ball,”
2017-18 woMen’s Basketball roster
said Howard. “Defense and chemistry all comes together because if you’re not talking, if you’re missing a rotation or if you’re late on this rebound, then all of that is just going to add up to more points.” Yet early on, the Hoyas struggled out of the gate, as they dropped two of their first three games. However, the team kicked it into gear quickly, winning seven straight games in the remainder of their nonconference schedule. One of the highlights of this stretch included a 23-point, eight-rebound performance by Woodard against Wright State (24-8, 15-3 Horizon). Woodard’s consistently high level of output during the season earned her high praise from the coaching staff. Howard noted that replacing Woodard would be a tall task. “That’s one of the questions that I wrestle with every day. Faith and her length at 6-foot-2, athletic, the way she ran the floor, the way she rebounded the basketball, is going to be hard to replace; she’s a kid that averaged 14-something points a game, and she knew the Big East,” Howard said. However, the Hoyas fell back to Earth at the start of conference play, as they stumbled to a 0-4 record in the Big East, including blowout losses to DePaul (26-7, 16-2 Big East) and Villanova (16-14, 11-7 Big East). Senior guard DiDi Burton attributed the early conference struggles to playing on the road, an area where the team needs to improve going forward. “I definitely think that that’s going to
NO. 0 BRIANNA JONES 5’9” JUNIOR GUARD
NO. 1 TATIANA THOMPSON 6’0” FRESHMAN FORWARD
NO. 2 DIDI BURTON 5’5” SENIOR GUARD
NO. 3 MORGAN SMITH 6’0” SOPHOMORE GUARD
NO. 5 CYNTHIA PETKE 6’2” SENIOR FORWARD
NO. 10 LEXI KIMBALL 5’10” FRESHMAN GUARD
NO. 12 MARVELLOUS OSAGIE-ERESE 5’4” SOPHOMORE GUARD
NO. 13 ANITA KELAVA 6’3” SOPHOMORE FORWARD
2017-18 woMen’s Basketball Schedule
NO. 15 MIKAYLA VENSON 5’8” SENIOR GUARD
NO. 21 BREONNA MAYFIELD 6’5” FRESHMAN CENTER
NO. 25 SARI CURETON 6’1” FRESHMAN FORWARD
NO. 32 YASMINE BELK 6’3” SENIOR CENTER
NO. 11 DIONNA WHITE 5’5” JUNIOR GUARD
help us in the long run,” Burton said. “Because every time we went to play in the Big East conference and things like that, we were on the road. So we have to be acclimated to being in different atmospheres and being able to stick together.” The women managed to regain their composure in the next seven games, as they tallied six wins. The team displayed a balanced attack on both ends of the floor, allowing only one team to score 70 points on them during this stretch, even holding rival Villanova to 49 points. Moreover, the team put up point totals largely in the high 60’s and 70’s. These games starkly contrasted the efforts of the four-game losing streak, as the Hoyas gave up well over 70 points per game and threw in two 50-point offensive clunkers. This efficiency on both ends of the floor would subside yet again when the Hoyas fell into a slump that caused them to end the regular season 3-4 in their last seven games. To make matters worse, their dreams of playing in the NCAA Tournament were officially squashed after falling to Marquette (25-7, 13-5 Big East) in the opening round of the Big East Tournament. However, the Hoyas were rewarded for their efforts with a trip to their second straight WNIT appearance. Unfortunately, the excitement of postseason play was short-lived, as the sixth-seeded Hoyas were upstaged by Fordham (21-11,
NO. 34 DOROTHY ADOMAKO 6’1” SENIOR GUARD
Home Away * challenge in music city
11-5 Atlantic 10) 60-49 in McDonough Arena, ending the team’s season. Just months after the conclusion of the 2016-17 campaign, Adair left for the head coaching position at Delaware, and Associate Head Coach James Howard assumed the Georgetown head coaching position soon after. Hiring in-house demonstrated the university’s desire to keep a degree of continuity in the program after several years of turnover. Howard sees himself as a player’s coach, which he feels was instrumental in his promotion. “I think that’s what players like about me, and that’s why they went and recommended me because I’m there,” Howard said. Howard feels confident about the communication between the players and coaches. “They’re on the same page with our vision of what we’re trying to accomplish this year,” Howard said. “By me still being around, they know that that dream is still alive. And that dream was to continue that success.” Howard also wants to build on what was laid down before him and take that next step, but he also realizes the challenges that may come along the way. “We’re hoping that this will be the breakout year — that maybe it’s not the NIT, maybe it is the NCAA — but it’s going to take a lot of time, commitment and health and chemistry to get us there,” Howard said.
Nov. 14 Howard 7:00 p.m. Nov. 16 Loyola Maryland 7:00 p.m. Nov. 19 George Washington 2:00 p.m. Nov. 24 Auburn* 8:30 p.m. Nov. 25 Chattanooga* 8:30 p.m. Nov. 26 Northwestern* 3:00 p.m. Nov. 29 Florida International 7:00 p.m. Dec. 7 Minnesota 7:00 p.m. Dec. 10 North Carolina State 2:00 p.m. Dec. 21 VCU 6:00 p.m. Dec. 28 Providence 7:00 p.m. Dec. 30 Creighton 2:00 p.m. Jan. 2 Xavier 2:00 p.m. Jan. 5 Butler 7:00 p.m. Jan. 10 Villanova 7:00 p.m. Jan. 12 St. John’s 7:00 p.m. Jan. 14 Seton Hall 1:00 p.m. Jan. 19 Marquette 7:00 p.m. Jan. 21 Depaul 2:00 p.m. Jan. 26 Butler 7:00 p.m. Jan. 28 Xavier 2:00 p.m. Feb. 3 Villanova 1:00 p.m. Feb. 9 Seton Hall 7:00 p.m. Feb. 11 St. John’s 2:00 p.m. Feb. 16 Depaul 8:00 p.m. Feb. 18 Marquette 3:00 p.m. Feb. 23 Creighton 11:00 a.m. Feb. 25 Providence 2:00 p.m.
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Howard Brings Personal Style to New Coaching Role TYLER PARK
Hoya Staff Writer
James Howard has coached basketball since 1987. Even after three decades of coaching experience, he still finds himself flipping on his television to watch a basketball game any chance he gets. “Every day you’re watching NBATV, you’re on Synergy watching the NBA, a lot of people run a lot of the same stuff,” Howard said. “I’m always looking to try to tweak other people’s stuff and make it my own.” Howard is a true basketball lifer. He began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Division III Greensboro College, and over the ensuing 30 years, he has soaked up advice and knowledge from a variety of coaching mentors. Now, as Georgetown’s new women’s basketball head coach, Howard enters his first opportunity as a Division I head coach still focused on the same basic skills he taught in assistant roles over the past three decades. “The game doesn’t change,” Howard said. “The teaching of everyday fundamentals is what makes the kids better, and I believe that I am blessed to be in the era of coming up with coaches taught it the right way. That helps me in teaching it today.” After graduating from Greensboro College in 1991, Howard served as women’s basketball head coach at Wesley College for six seasons before moving onto assistant roles at Georgetown, Maryland, George Mason, Delaware State, Howard and Bethune-Cookman. He has spent the last two seasons as Georgetown’s associate head coach under his predecessor, Natasha Adair. On the court, Howard takes pride in his ability to adapt his team’s strategy within games.
“I’m used to coaching and making adjustments,” Howard said. “A lot of coaches sometimes coach on what they see in the scout; I can make adjustments on the fly. And I think that’s what we’re looking for — my eyes are trained to see what the opponent is doing, I’m not just looking at what we’re doing.” Meanwhile, he has focused on building a strong team culture based around energy and teamwork off the court, as his players can attest. “I know we are focusing on being a team,” junior guard Dionna White said. “We have this motto, ‘We are one,’ so it’s being together, playing together, no woman or man left behind.” Howard is aiming to build on the improvements that Adair and her staff made in lifting the Hoyas from a four-win team in 2014-15 to back-to-back postseason appearances in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. “I feel as though I was blessed by Coach A, because she gave me the opportunity to implement a lot of things,” Howard said. “So with some things, we will continue. There are other things we will try to put out a blueprint on. We’ll continue our upbeat transition game. We’ll continue our focus on defense. I believe that you have to defend in order to win.” Even as he aims to foster continuity, Howard has made some changes as he implements his own coaching philosophy. One of the key adjustments that Howard and his staff have worked to implement is a matchup zone defense, which diverges from Adair’s attacking man-to-man defense. “We’re tweaking it every day in practice,” senior guard DiDi Burton said of the team’s zone defense. “Things like that, it’s just getting reps with it, communicating, talking, chemistry with the team.” A deliberate and thoughtful speaker, Howard
has built success around his ability to form connections with players. Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, who worked with Howard for four seasons, spoke favorably of his ability to connect with athletes. “Coach Howard is a people person,” Blair-Lewis said. “And he’s a one-at-a-time people person, meaning he’ll take time to make sure that if it’s just one player that needs his attention, that no matter what else he has to do, that player will get his attention.” Throughout his coaching career, Howard’s interpersonal skills have allowed him to make a positive impact on the recruiting trail. In the first few months of his tenure as Georgetown’s head coach, he has already found success on the road, securing the commitments of five student-athletes who are expected to join the team next season. Although Howard cannot discuss those recruits at this time due to NCAA rules, reports indicate that the class will be led by Shanniah Wright, a forward from Brooklyn, N.Y., who ESPN ranks as the No. 92 player in the country for the Class of 2018. “I’m a personality guy that is built on faith. I’ve been a recruiter all my life. From the time of being a head coach at a Division III program, I had to recruit without scholarships, and be able to go into households and sell yourself and sell that university,” Howard said. “I just think it’s identifying from that point what student athlete fits the mission statement here at Georgetown, and that’s academics and then athletics.” Both in the recruiting process and continuing once players arrive on campus, Howard focuses on forming relationships with players that go beyond the game of basketball. “When he goes into a parent’s home, he doesn’t sell them on just Georgetown, he sells
them on Georgetown, plus ‘I’ll be here for the rest of your life’,” Blair-Lewis said. “‘When you have that baby, when you go get married, I’ll be here.’ He has always fostered relationships like that with his players that are way deeper than basketball.” In the long run, Howard hopes that the relationships he forms with players and recruits will lead to winning, and that winning will help further solidify those relationships. Even as a first-time Division I head coach, he is not shy about his ambitions for the future. “My vision is to do something special here, and that’s build a program that people can be proud of, and you can hang your hat on Georgetown women’s basketball,” Howard said. “We’re going to build it, we’re going to try to put it together and hopefully get the right kids, but our plan going forward is to win.” GU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Venson’s Transfer to Hilltop Adds Experience ALLIE BABYAK Hoya Staff Writer
Averaging 15.1 points per game and scoring 837 points over two seasons, senior guard Mikayla Venson led the University of Virginia Cavaliers as a sophomore. This season, the Hoyas welcome Venson to the Hilltop. After a year of sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules, Venson will finally wear number 15 for the Georgetown women’s basketball team. Venson had a successful career with the Cavaliers and quickly became a leading force on the team. She was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference AllFreshman Team in 2015. Now, joining the Hoyas as a senior, Venson brings her experience and intensity to the team. “Her experience of playing at a high level like in the ACC, we’re hoping that experience will help our guards and help our team in knowing each and every day how to prepare and be ready to go,” Head Coach James Howard said. “If she can bring that side of it and can help us
get across that little fine edge of knowing when you’re playing top teams like DePaul, when you’re playing the Marquettes, the Creightons and the Villanovas of the world, how you prepare mentally to be ready from the start.” At UVA, Venson was known for her sharp-shooting, especially from beyond the arc. In her sophomore year, Venson set the program’s single-season three-point record with 70, ranking No. 9 on the team’s all-time three-point scoring list. In addition, Venson led the ACC by shooting 87.4 percent from the free-throw line. Despite her impressive run with the Cavaliers, Venson decided to transfer after her sophomore year. She graduated in 2014 from Yorktown High School, less than six miles away from the Hilltop, and being closer to home was an important factor for Venson in making her decision to transfer. “I chose to come to Georgetown just because of the family atmosphere, I’m huge on that,” Venson said. “And it’s close to home; I wanted to be back home, I missed it. I missed being in the city, of course. And as soon as I met everybody
on the team, I loved it here, and it felt like family.” Though it is her first season with the Hoyas, Venson will join seniors guard DiDi Burton, forward Cynthia Petke, center Yazmine Belk and guard Dorothy Adomako as leaders of the team, roles essential for making postseason play for the past three years. The Hoyas will also need to compete offensively with teams in the Big East, such as Marquette and DePaul, which are ranked No. 17 and No. 25 respectively in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. The Hoyas hope that Venson can open up offensive opportunities for players like Adomako and junior guard Dionna White. White led the team with an average of 15.2 points per game and Adomako ranked second in scoring on the team with 14.8 points per game. “She opens up the offense a lot,” Howard said. “It will create more driving lanes because of her ability to drive the basketball.” Additionally, Howard has been stressing the importance of a strong defense in winning games. During her year off, Venson got a feel for her new team’s style
of play. “We love to push the pace. As soon as we get the rebound everybody is ready to get out and run,” Venson said. “Coach Howard is emphasizing defense a lot, so we’re going to be keying in on that. We’re excited to get some stops and be able to push it out easily.” Though her exact place in the lineup is uncertain, Venson is ready to contribute in any way she can. “Expect a lot of energy out of me, and talking and impacting the team as much as I need and as much as the team needs me to,” Venson said. GU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
10 | THE HOYA
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Around the Big East: Preview and Rankings JUSTIN CHEN
Special to The Hoya
ALL LOGOS FROM UNIVERSITY WEBSITES
1. MARQUETTE The Marquette Golden Eagles, who won the Big East Tournament last year, are poised to dominate the conference again this year. Their entire core returns, including junior guard Allazia Blockton, who averaged 17.1 points per game her sophomore campaign and was unanimously voted the Big East Preseason Player of the Year. Look for them to make a run for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament come March.
3. CREIGHTON Creighton had a very strong 2016-17 season, going 16-2 in conference play and 24-8 overall. They ended up making the tournament as a No. 7 seed and defeated Toledo in the first round, before exiting in the second against Oregon State. They lost three starters, Marissa Janning, Brianna Rollerson and Lauren Works, but retained the talented junior offensive forward Audrey Faber, who averaged 12.8 points per game last year. It may take some time for this new team to gel, but look for another strong season for the Bluejays.
5. GEORGETOWN The Hoyas are coming off two successful seasons that resulted in WNIT berths and winning records, as the finished the 2016-17 season 17-13. They hope to take a step farther this year under new head coach James Howard, who served as associate head coach under Natasha Adair. Junior guard Dionna White, a Second Team All-Big East selection, and senior guard Dorothy Adomako, an Honorable Mention AllBig East selection, will lead the way. The Hoyas also inherit transfer senior guard Mikayla Venson, who averaged 15.1 points per game her sophomore season at the University of Virginia, and will likely provide an immediate scoring punch.
7. SETON HALL After three strong seasons that ended with national postseason berths, the Pirates had a down year in 201617, suffering a losing season at 12-19. However, they have the potential to return to their winning ways. Sophomore guard Kaela Hilaire looks to build off a strong freshman campaign in which she was a unanimous selection to the Big East All-Freshman Team. She is joined by last year’s third leading scorer in the conference, redshirt senior guard Ja Quan Jackson, and transfers Donnaizha Fountain, a graduate student guard, and Taylor Brown, a redshirt sophomore forward.
2. DEPAUL Despite an injury-plagued 2016-17 season, the Blue Demons still made a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the 15th consecutive year, but ultimately fell to Mississippi State in the second round. They hope to do the same this season, despite losing three key starters in Brooke Schulte, Jessica January and Jacqui Grant, who have all graduated. The talented backcourt of junior guard Ashton Millender and senior guard Amarah Coleman will likely play a large role for the team going forward. This team easily has enough talent to compete for the Big East Championship.
4. VILLANOVA After a solid finish to last season in which they advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, the Wildcats will rely on experience this season. Four out of five starters return, as does over 90 percent of the team’s scoring from last season. Expect talented junior guards Adrianna Hahn, a preseason All-Big East First Team pick, and Jannah Tucker to be the offensive focal points for the team this year.
6. ST. JOHN’S The Red Storm had an impressive 2016-17 season, going 22-12, marking the fourth year in a row they have won over 20 games. Though it is surely possible, it will be tough for them to have the same success with the loss of starters Jade Walker and Aaliyah Lewis. They will likely have a balanced attack on offense with last year’s leading scorer, junior guard/forward Akina Wellere, leading the way.
8. PROVIDENCE The Friars finished 12-18 last year, which was their best season record in five years. Now that Head Coach Jim Crowley has one season under his belt, look for this team to continue to grow in a positive direction. They return three starters, including sharpshooter junior guard Jovana Nogic, who led the team in scoring last year. Junior transfer forward Ny-Asia Franklin and junior guard Clara Che also figure to be key players in this rebuilding season.
9. BUTLER
10. XAVIER
The Bulldogs had a very rough 2016-17 season filled with injuries, finishing just 2-16 in conference play and 6-25 overall. This year, however, they return with their top six scorers, including senior guard Sydney Buck, junior forward Tori Schickel and junior guard Michelle Weaver. Their experience will likely pay dividends for this team, and it looks as if they will do better than last year.
Xavier figures to be in for a long season this year. After finishing 4-14 last year, they only return one starter in junior guard Kindell Fincher, and few of their current players had significant minutes last season. The team has brought in six talented newcomers, but it will likely use this year to build. Expect them to grow over the season.
The Hoya |
woMen’s Basketball
11
FILE PHOTO: DERRICK ARTHUR-CUDJOE/THE HOYA
Senior forward Cynthia Petke averaged 6.5 rebounds per game last season for the Hoyas, ranking No. 2 on the team in that category. Petke is one of four returning seniors from last season who, under new Head Coach James Howard, are aiming to reach postseason play for the third consecutive season.
New Coach, Experienced Players Lead Hoyas tyler park
Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown women’s basketball team’s senior class has led the team to a steady rise over their four years on the Hilltop. In their freshman season in 2014-15 under former Head Coach Natasha Adair, the Hoyas struggled to a dismal 4-27 record before rebounding to earn back-to-back Women’s National Invitation Tournament bids in the next two seasons. Now, under first-year Head Coach James Howard, the team is relying heavily on its experienced seniors as it aims to make the next step: earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. “What I want to be able to give them as graduating seniors is three straight years of postseason play,” Howard said. “They can leave their legacy behind, and they can hang their hat when they come back and say, ‘We put those three banners up there.’ We would love to try to reach for that NCAA banner up there, but I know it’s going to take chemistry. It’s going to take health, but I think they’re on board, and they want that as well.” Georgetown’s senior class includes three regular starters from last season in forward Cyn-
thia Petke and guards DiDi Burton and Dorothy Adomako and will also add high-scoring senior guard Mikayla Venson, a transfer from the University of Virginia. These players, in addition to making up 80 percent of the Hoyas’ projected starting lineup, also provide invaluable leadership to their younger teammates. “[That is really important just because they have the experience to coach the younger players,” junior guard Dionna White said. “With a new coach it can be hard to try to adjust, so just having that person that you can talk to other than a coach is very helpful.” The Hoyas are built around their guards, led by White, Burton, Venson and Adomako, three of whom are seniors. White and Burton, both Baltimore natives, will begin their third straight season as Georgetown’s starting backcourt. White, a two-time All-Big East Second Team nominee, led last year’s squad with 15.2 points per game and 46 three-pointers last season, and her 3.3 steals per game led the Big East and ranked seventh in the nation. Burton, a fouryear starter at point guard, led last year’s team with 3.4 assists per game. “DiDi and Dionna played together I think since they were seven years old,” Howard said. “So the chemistry that they have is great. They’re two young women from Baltimore that
have a tough mentality when they come on the floor, and we all know that their speed is really great. And it really helps us because they push the ball, and we can get into our transition game with both of them.” Venson played two seasons at Virginia before transferring to Georgetown and sitting out last season under NCAA transfer rules. As a sophomore, she led the Cavaliers with 15.1 points per game and set a single-season school record with 70 three-pointers at a 41.2 percent conversion rate. She is expected to be a dynamic addition alongside White and Burton. Adomako, a three-year starter, is currently battling an injury but will bring a skilled scoring presence when she returns to the court. A 6-foot-1-inch wing player with athleticism and versatility, Adomako has already piled up 1,228 points in her three seasons at Georgetown. Alongside Georgetown’s cache of talented guards, Howard expects Petke, another senior, to be this season’s breakout player. Last year, in her first season after transferring from Chipola College in Florida, Petke displayed significant improvement down the stretch of the Big East slate and has continued that improvement in offseason workouts and practices. “Cynthia Petke is really, really playing well,”
Howard said. “She had an outstanding summer. She went out and worked on some things that’s really going to enhance her game. She could be the sleeper in the Big East this year, barring no injuries and she stays healthy.” Freshman forward Tatiana Thompson, a 6-footer forward out of Winter Haven, Fla., is also expected to make an immediate impact in her debut season. “Tat has the ability to make a major impact here during her four years at GU in the Big East conference,” Howard said. “She’s a high-skilled player. At 6-foot-0, 6-foot-1, that can do a lot of different things. I think the fans will enjoy watching her play.” The Big East preseason poll listed Georgetown at No. 5 out of 10 teams in the Big East, which includes two nationally ranked teams in No. 17 Marquette and No. 25 DePaul. However, built around an experienced core, the team has higher expectations for its potential. The Hoya projects Georgetown to finish fifth in the conference. “We don’t get caught up into that, but definitely I think we should be No. 1 in that,” Venson said of the team’s Big East preseason ranking. “We have a lot of people who have come in who are really going to be strong for us, and just with our backcourt and pushing the pace and everything, we should be No. 1.”
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