Yesterday the AP poll came out with the Hoyas at No. 20. Mike DeCourcy’s instant analysis in Sporting News listed Georgetown in the underrated category, and today the publication backed him up, listing the Hoyas at No. 11.
They cite Greg Monroe, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman as the reasons why the Hoyas deserve the 11 spot. Here’s what they had to say about Monroe:
Things should be much better this season because the Big East isn’t such a meat-grinder of a conference anymore. The other reason for optimism is the return of three players who will be among the best at their positions in the league.
Sophomore center Greg Monroe is the team’s leading returning scorer. He averaged 12.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Monroe, who stands 6-11, is not a dominating inside presence capable of controlling the paint with his size.
However, he does play an overall game that is impressive when you consider he was the Hoyas’ leader in rebounding, blocked shots and steals and was second on the team in scoring and assists. Monroe is one of the best passing centers in the game and a perfect fit for Thompson’s Princeton-style offense.
Even though Monroe is a finesse player, he has to show more of a willingness to defend and rebound. In his matchups against two of the best centers in the league last season, Monroe allowed DeJuan Blair (20 points, 17 rebounds) and Luke Harangody (31, 10) to get the better of him.
Monroe says that he has been in the weight room all summer working on his explosiveness. He is already an excellent defender, but the extra strength should help him on the glass. The Hoyas’ were 13th in rebounding margin in the Big East last year, as Hoya columnist Parimal Garg points out. Monroe, who will spend more time on the court than any other big this year, must be part of rebounding solution.
In DeCourcy’s Quick Facts about Georgetown, he calls out the Princeton offense. No matter what Thompson or his players say, people will question the Princeton offense until they win three straight titles. Though it is hard to blame DeCourcy for bringing it up after a season in which the offense fell apart down the stretch. Here’s what he said:
Reason to mope
Yes, here we go again, lamenting the Princeton offense. The principle objection to this scheme in the Georgetown setting always has been that it tends to keep opponents with less talent in games. Last season Georgetown defeated eventual No. 1 seed Connecticut, No. 2 seed Memphis and No. 3 seed Villanova. Two of those teams made the Final Four. But the Hoyas lost to St. John’s, Notre Dame, Seton Hall and Cincinnati (twice), none of which made the NCAAs. Georgetown has won the Big East averaging 69 points, so it can’t be said success is impossible at that pace. But the Hoyas are making it harder than it needs to be.
Other teams of note in Sporting News’ top 25 (which they are revealing one at a time from 25), include No. 25 Cincinnati, No. 15 UConn, No. 14 Butler and No. 13 Washington.