Georgetown’s NCAA hopes in serious jeopardy
Coming from Georgetown head coach John Thompson III, it was the ultimate compliment — but it wasn’t for his own guys.
Asked after the Marquette game about the difference between his team and the Golden Eagles, who put the Hoyas’ NCAA hopes in severe jeopardy by handing them their eighth loss in 10 games, Thompson responded, “They are completely in sync with what they want to accomplish.”
His comment was also a stark contrast to what Georgetown faces with four regular-season games to play and postseason plans hanging in the balance tonight when seventh-ranked Louisville (21-5, 12-2 Big East) visit Verizon Center.
“Not just at Georgetown, yes,” Thompson also said when asked if this has been his most difficult season as a head coach. “But we will get through this. It is trying.”
The dissimilarity with Marquette was distinct. With four seniors in his starting five, Golden Eagles first-year coach Buzz Williams didn’t even consider calling timeout after watching his team surrender a 9-2 first-half run to the Hoyas (14-11, 5-9).
“If you can’t overcome the runs, you can call timeout every single run, and it’s not going to matter,” said Williams. “That may be inexperience-slash-immaturity on my part. But I have great faith in my players.”
Thompson has no such luxury. Already limited in the experience department, his bold coaching move three games ago was to swap slumping lone senior Jessie Sapp out of the starting backcourt. It produced the desired effect, freeing Chris Wright to run the show — the sophomore point guard has averaged 19.7 points per game since.
But overcoming the erratic play of the Hoyas’ only other upperclassman, junior forward DaJuan Summers, could be more difficult. Summers (14.0 points per game) leads the team in scoring. But in the five games following his season-high matching 22 points at Marquette on Jan. 31, he’s reached double figures only three times while averaging more than three fouls and three turnovers per contest.
Summers committed a trio of errors in the final eight minutes against Marquette — the third time fouling out after having the ball stolen from him by Dominic James with 2:47 to play.
In games and in seasons, the latest judgments always overshadow earlier steps forward.
“I think we showed improvement in a few areas,” said Thompson. “But coming down in these type games, we have to execute better.”
