Thompson: Georgetown needs to get tough inside
As harbingers go, rebounding rightfully is the first item to make the Georgetown faithful at least a little nervous.
The Hoyas were outdone on the boards in every defeat they suffered last year except one — when Davidson’s Stephen Curry went crazy on them in the second round of the NCAA Tournament — and then lost two of their top three rebounders, Roy Hibbert and Patrick Ewing Jr., to graduation.
After a 44-37 disadvantage in Monday’s season-opening win over Jacksonville, the task that lies ahead is clear. Only one pseudo tuneup remains before next week’s Old Spice Classic in Orlando, where the 22nd-ranked Hoyas are virtually certain to face as least one ranked opponent.
“The defensive rebounding — to give up 19 offensive rebounds is unacceptable,” said Hoyas head coach John Thompson III on Monday. “If you look for one thing that we’re disappointed in, it’s that. We have to group rebound. We have to gang rebound. Everyone has to get in there: guards, forwards, little guys, big guys, we have to do that.”
Julian Vaughn’s first-half putback was an impressive play but it also was his only rebound in 11 minutes on the floor, not nearly enough for the 6-foot-9 sophomore transfer. DaJuan Summers, who was second on the team last year with 5.4 rebounds per game, also was limited by early foul trouble and finished with four boards.
The less efficient Summers and Vaughn are, the more responsibility heaped on Greg Monroe, not that he would be surprised to hear it.
“Greg has a lot on his shoulders,” said sophomore guard Chris Wright. “He listens well, and I think he’s going to do fine.”
Up next
No. 22 Georgetown vs. Drexel
Where » Verizon Center
When » Saturday, 1 p.m.
Radio » 1260 AM
