Wright, Freeman return to anchor backcourt
Austin Freeman and Chris Wright grew up minutes apart and have known each other since they were in elementary school. So it was fitting that, after starring for rival local high schools DeMatha and St. John’s, they took advantage of a twist of fate to end up together at Georgetown.
This year, with Greg Monroe leaving early for the NBA, the pair of senior guards will now do what always seemed predestined: share center stage for a Hoyas team that may lack a premier big man but still figures to be a contender in the Big East.
“We understand it’s on our shoulders, and we’re excited,” Wright said. “It’s nothing to be scared of, nothing to think, ‘Aw, man.’ That’s what we came here to do.”
The departure of Monroe, who was selected seventh overall in the 2010 NBA Draft, has changed both the expectations and the dynamic for the Hoyas, whose dramatic run to last year’s Big East tournament final was spoiled by perhaps the biggest upset of the NCAA tournament, a blowout first-round loss as a No. 3 seed to No. 14 Ohio.
With Freeman (16.5 points a game), Wright (15.2) and junior guard Jason Clark (10.5), the Hoyas return three of their top four scorers from last season. It’s a good bet they’ll be the top three this season.
“There’s no secret that the backcourt is the heart and soul of what we’re going to do,” Hoyas coach John Thompson III said. “But at the same time, even having lost Greg, I think we have more depth up front. Now they have to come along, figure out situations, but it’s a totally different group.”
Thompson has welcomed five freshmen, led by Nate Lubick and Moses Ayegba, who are both 6-foot-8 and need to grow up quickly, not only as support for lone senior forward Julian Vaughn but also to contend with a difficult nonconference schedule that includes away games against Temple, Old Dominion and Missouri (in Kansas City).
But there is no shortage of confidence in Wright and Freeman, neither of whom ever seemed meant to miss this chapter of their co-authored story.
“They’ve been intertwined for many moons now,” Thompson said. “They have done a very good job of pushing each other down through the years and maybe more so this summer and this fall than ever. I think they can look across the court at each other and know [they’re] going to have someone that can push [them] in ways that not too many people can.”
