Strong start leads to a spot in the polls Georgetown reveled in its unknown status before the season. The Hoyas knew it was deserved. Pedigreed stars Chris Wright and Austin Freeman had graduated and left. The top returners, Jason Clark and Hollis Thompson, were passed over for Big East preseason accolades. The Hoyas were picked to finish 10th in the conference.
“We’re the laughing stock, and that’s fine,” sophomore guard Markel Starks said before Georgetown’s season opener last month.
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| Up next |
| Howard at No. 18 Georgetown |
| When » Saturday, noon |
| Where » Verizon Center |
| TV » MASN |
Nobody’s laughing any more. The Hoyas (7-1) justifiably burst into the Associated Press poll at No. 18 this week thanks in part to a two-point road triumph at then No. 12 Alabama. With Howard (3-5) and American (8-2) as the only games that separate them from a rematch with No. 21 Memphis (5-2) and the start of Big East play, Georgetown is now adjusting to its changed status.
“I think it changes for the teams that play us,” said sophomore forward Nate Lubick, who preferred to start the season unranked. “I don’t think it changes anything for us. Our motto is that coming in here every day has got to be the same. To be honest, I think that was something that motivated us, not being ranked and not being respected at all.”
What has earned the Hoyas their newfound stature isn’t just their trademark efficient offense, which is tied for the best field goal percentage in the Big East (.499). Georgetown is also sixth in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.387), including first in guarding the 3-point line, where opponents are shooting just 27.3 percent.
At the other end of the floor, Clark has bounced back from shooting at a 34.7 percent clip from the arc last year to a career-best 43.5 percent. Thompson, the Big East player of the week, is shooting nearly 59 percent (20-for-34) from 3-point range, second best in the conference.
“I haven’t seen it statistically, but in my opinion he’s the best shooter in the country,” Clark said of his junior teammate.
“I don’t know if I could call [Clark’s comment] putting a bull’s-eye on me,” Thompson said, determined to play no differently whether the Hoyas are underdogs or rising favorites.
Thompson’s coach had an inkling Georgetown had potential, but he would rather no one knew.
“I have the luxury of spending the summer with them, so I kind of had a feel where we could be,” John Thompson III said. “But for people not to expect much from us this year, I don’t think that was unwarranted. We can keep it that way.”
