The souped-up version of this year’s Georgetown may be unfamiliar to those who have become accustomed to the slow-and-steady style that has become synonymous with John Thompson III since he took over as head coach four years ago.
Better get used to it.
The fifth-ranked Hoyas shifted into new, higher gear in front of 8,216 on Sunday at Verizon Center, where their youth-powered transition attack ran Jacksonville into the ground, 87-55.
“When you talk about the ‘Princeton offense,’ the word deliberate usually follows it, and it doesn’t have to be,” said Thompson. “If we can make good decisions at a fast pace, we can play at a fast pace.”
Freshmen Austin Freeman (game-high 15 points, four assists) and Chris Wright (14 points, five assists) paced the Hoyas (7-0), accounting for three baskets during a 30-7 second-half run in which Georgetown made 10 consecutive field goals to lead by 37 points.
Most of the Hoyas’ shots were scored on fast breaks and in secondary transition, a contrast to the back-cuts and inside buckets from Roy Hibbert (eight points) that have defined them over the past few seasons.
“One day in the locker room, coach said to us he thinks we have a chance to be scary good,” said DaJuan Summers (14 points). “I think that’s whathe means because no matter how teams want to play us, we’re going to be effective, whether that’s slowing the ball down and pounding it into Roy, or just being quick in transition.”
The Dolphins (3-6), coached by Silver Spring-native Cliff Warren, lost their sixth straight game.
“Being from the area, being pretty good friends with JT and Robert Byrd and whole staff, we talk all the time,” said Warren. “I think I knew exactly what was coming, but it’s hard to stop.”
