No matter how high the Georgetown men’s basketball team finds itself in the 2007-08 preseason national rankings — it’s difficult to find a poll that has them outside the top five — the goals they’ve set for themselves will always be higher.
“You all can have all the expectations you want,” said senior forward Patrick Ewing Jr. at Georgetown media day Thursday. “We want to be perfect.”
Coming off a 30-7 season and their first appearance in the Final Four in 22 years, this year the Hoyas have four seniors, return four of five starters and an experienced set of reserves whileadding two McDonald’s All-Americans. If Big East player of the year Jeff Green hadn’t jumped to the NBA, Georgetown might’ve been a preseason favorite to win a national title.
“Last year we came from the Sweet 16 and everybody [around campus] said we were going to be good,” said senior Roy Hibbert, an All-Big East center and a candidate for national player of the year. “This year they know we’re good. We just need to play hard. Hopefully we won’t have any mishaps in the beginning of the season where we lose a couple.”
Uncomfortable in the national spotlight last fall, the Hoyas suffered early losses to Old Dominion, Oregon and Duke, which dropped them from a preseason top 10 ranking right out of the polls.
But this year head coach John Thompson III believes his squad is anxious to do the work to keep their place among the nation’s elite teams.
“We have to take care what we have to take care of,” said Thompson. “It’s irrelevant what people are saying about us. We know that, and I don’t think we’re going into this year bright-eyed and bushy tailed. It’s the lessons learned from year to year.”
Fast Freshman
Georgetown head coach John Thompson III used the example of local freshmen Austin Freeman (DeMatha) and Chris Wright (St. John’s), both McDonald’s All-Americans, to demonstrate his team’s determination to succeed.
“They are players that have enjoyed success around Washington for many years but come in as willing freshmen,” said Thompson.
They’ve already helped to make the team quicker, and sophomore forward DaJuan Summers said the team is further along as a result.
“Our freshmen learn way faster than we did last year,” said Summers. “And I can say that because last year I was a freshman.”
