Hoyas Find Success Despite Growing Pains

Despite a 68-65 loss Dec. 9 at Temple, Georgetown has played solidly throughout its early schedule, utilizing multiple players in whatever role deemed necessary at the time in order to achieve success.

Entering this season, coach John Thompson III knew how tough his team's early matchups would be.

"Our schedule is extremely difficult, possibly more than we can chew. We'll see," Thompson said at preseason Media Day. "I know that this team has to grow. And I know that this team will be tested early, and hopefully we can have success early while we are growing. That being said, I would not have put together the schedule that we did if I were not confident we can figure it out on the fly, but we're going to be tested."

And they have been. The difference between Thompson's preseason words and the Hoyas' early execution is they were able to meet the challenge with an 8-1 record to begin the season.

Go-to guy Greg Monroe's loss to the NBA was anticipated to be a tough adjustment, but the Hoyas responded and found different ways to make plays and win games. The team's success can be attributed to a couple of factors Thompson stresses constantly: depth and focus.

The Hoyas' bench did not make an immediate impact in games, but slowly started to make plays that, while they were not highlight-worthy, certainly contributed to the overall team effort in close wins. In Nov. 30's 111-102 overtime win against Missouri, Georgetown's bench recorded a season-high 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.

"This team I think surprised a lot of people that we have a very athletic team," tri-captain and senior point guard Chris Wright said Dec. 2. "We weren't the best defensive team [against Missouri], but I think that's something that we really need to focus on. I just think we're adjusting to different situations, different teams, different styles and I think that's going to be important down the stretch because a lot of teams play different ways. It's important for us to adapt and end games."

Ranked No. 10, the team has surprised fans with its performance and ability to compete early on.

"As a fan, the early start is a good indicator of a successful season especially with the OT win against Missouri," SIM masters student Ashley Forrester said. "The main reason for success -- John Thompson III and our confident young leaders in Austin Freeman and Chris Wright. It's important to remember Big East conference play has the toughest competition, and will remain a challenge through the later part of the season," said Forrester.

Which is why the team needs to remember the second part of Thompson's teachings -- staying focused. Thompson has talked numerous times about not only taking each game one at a time, but taking every play, every shot at a time and focusing on a specific moment as they key to success.

"We have to stay even-keel," Wright said Dec. 2. "We didn't win a national championship. We didn't win a Big East championship. We haven't won anything yet, so it's just a matter of understanding that it's just another game that we had to win and that we know that we got tested and came out on the good side. We just want to continue with that path and get back to work today and go hard."