Georgetown coach John Thompson III’s “baby steps” approach has turned the Hoyas into Big Foot.
In Thompson’s three years, Georgetown has risen from the NIT to Sweet 16 to Big East champion. The Hoyas now face Vanderbilt tonight in the NCAA Tournament’s East Regional semifinal. A victory would likely pit Georgetown versus North Carolina on Sunday for rights to the Final Four.
They may not be the Hoya Paranoia of old with the younger Thompson showing a little more humor and less obstinate than the former coach now known as “Big John,” but this team is every bit as dangerous. It just took some maturation as a program to fuel its rise.
Peaking in the tournament is the real breakthrough. Georgetown waited a year to return to the Sweet 16 after losing to eventual champion Florida in 2006. Guard Jonathan Wallace said reaching the tournament’s second weekend is no longer the goal, though.
“Right now, we know that last year we lacked intensity at this point,” he said. “This year, we know there’s a little more out there.”
It’s all in front of the Hoyas. They have a legit chance to win their first national championship since 1984 by playing the same defensive style as the past titlist. It’s not surprising given Thompson is the son of the last championship coach.
Indeed, the coach sounds like his father when downplaying current success. The Hoyas have won 16 of 17 and are two wins from a Final Four. Yet, Thompson doesn’t permit himself to imagine anything other than simply playing another game.
“I don’t think about it in terms of Sweet 16,” Thompson said. “We have a game on Friday. I’m going about preparing for that game on Friday like any other game. … I don’t get caught up in we’re one of 16 teams still playing. That’s a very good thing. I’m extremely proud of that, but the way I’m preparing about it is no different than the way I’ve gone about anything else.”
The old Hoyas peaked in the mid-80s when sandwiching the 1984 championship with title game losses in ’82 and ’85. They remained successful, but the last Elite Eight was 1996. The team needed a swagger that only defense provides. There’s something about stopping opponents that fuels the Hoyas’ offense, too. Gradually, they’ve become dominant on both ends.
“The growth process, the maturation is natural,” Thompson said. “Our offense has gotten significantly better off. As we move along to help and support how this team is going to play, we’ve gotten better on both ends of the floor.”
That’s because baby steps have taken giant strides.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
