2001 NCB Preview

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Wednesday, October 3
Updated: October 10, 10:02 PM ET
 
ESPN.com Preseason Top 25

ESPN.com

Friday, Oct. 12
Craig Esherick did a great job last season, and won without many skilled players. Georgetown won in 2001 by owning the paint and the backboards and throwing bodies at you. The long and strong Hoyas were patient in pounding people, and led the Big East by outrebounding their opponents by over 9.2 per game, and blocking over six opponent shots per game. The Hoyas will not be as big and deep up front in 2002, but will still have bodies and still be formidable. Mike Sweetney will be the Hoyas best player, and is an absolute load inside. Sweetney is a power player who gets wide inside, shoots a lot of free throws and has good hands and a nice touch. Lefty point guard Kevin Braswell is an outstanding leader, defender and passer, but needs to improve upon his shooting percentages. Without Demetrious Hunter, sophomore Gerald Riley needs to raise his game by making shots and some of the younger players, like Drew Hall and Harvey Thomas need to contribute. If the Hoyas ever shoot it, look out.
18
Georgetown
LAST SEASON: 25-8
2001 FINAL RANKING
ESPN/USA Today: No. 17

Why No. 18?
The Hoyas slipped a bit with us because of Demetrius Hunter's transfer. They needed the experienced shooting guard to go next to Kevin Braswell. But don't think they'll slide too much. Mike Sweetney is still one of the top finishers in the country and the Hoyas are still long and lean inside. Georgetown will be tough to score against and has the confidence of getting to the Sweet 16. Expect them back in the NCAA Tournament and ready to make noise again.

Will Rise If ...
The Hoyas can get a breakthrough season out of Wesley Wilson. Michael Sweetney will be the focal point of the offense but Wilson needs to take pressure off him and also be even more of a defensive presence. He can and if he does then the Hoyas will have the inside depth that makes them tough to matchup against in the post. Gerald Riley or Drew Hall have to take up for Demetrius Hunter's scoring and athleticism on the wing.

Will Fall If ...
The Hoyas don't give Kevin Braswell help on the perimeter and they go through scoring droughts again. Georgetown's offense can disappear at times. The talent drops off a bit after last season, but the personnel are still in place to make another run in the NCAA Tournament. But the Hoyas need more production from role players after losing players like Hunter, Lee Scruggs, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Nathaniel Burton and Anthony Perry.

-- Andy Katz, ESPN.com

SCOUTING REPORT: One Big East coach's take on the Hoyas

It's good to get them into an uptempo game. Kevin Braswell doesn't shoot the ball as well. They've got quickness but you've got to make them make shots. It's not a bad idea to zone them because they can't shoot. They're inside game is strong especially Michael Sweetney, but they need more help from the perimeter. They can rebound and have good shot blockers and quickness so they're tough to score on offensively."

2001-02 GEORGETOWN ROSTER
Player Yr. Pos. Ht./Wt. Key 2000-01 Stats
(22) Tony Bethel Fr. G 6-2/175 May find PT at both backcourt positions
(12) Kevin Braswell Sr. G 6-2/190 PTS: 11.5 | AST: 6.1 | 3PT%: 30.2
(3) Omari Faulkner So. F 6-6/215 PTS: 1.2 | REB: 0.5 | FG%: 37.5
(2) Courtland Freeman Jr. F 6-9/222 PTS: 2.7 | REB: 3.2 | FG%: 35.7
(5) Drew Hall Fr. G 6-2/175 Best bet of freshman to pick up minutes left behind by Hunter
(20) Darrel Owens Fr. F/G 6-6/192 Versatile wing player who can handle the ball very well
(32) Gerald Riley So. F 6-6/205 PTS: 6.7 | REB: 2.8 | FG%: 35.7
(10) RaMell Ross So. G/F 6-4/185 PTS: 2.0 | REB: 1.3 | FG%: 31.6
(13) Victor Samnick Jr. F 6-8/208 PTS: 3.8 | REB: 3.4 | FG%: 40.5
(34) Mike Sweetney So. F 6-8/260 PTS: 12.8 | REB: 7.4 | FG%: 51.6
(15) Harvey Thomas Fr. F 6-8/220 Can play the four spot as a rebounder, as well as step out and shoot the trey
(50) Wesley Wilson Jr. C 6-11/235 PTS: 5.5 | REB: 3.3 | FG%: 48.2
Head Coach: Craig Esherick (52-33, 3 years)
Assistant Coaches: Mike Riley, Ronny Thompson, Chip Simms
Home Court: MCI Center (20,600); Washington, D.C.

2001-02 GEORGETOWN SCHEDULE
November
16: Marymount
19: Georgia (a)
21: Coastal Carolina
24: Towson (b)
26: Grambling
28: Bethune Cookman
December
6: at South Carolina
10: Morgan State
15: Norfolk State
17: Howard
20: Virginia (c)
29: at UCLA

January
2: Miami
5: at Rutgers
12: at BC
16: Seton Hall
19: Pittsburgh
21: at Notre Dame
26: at Pittsburgh
28: Syracuse
February
2: West Virginia
9: Notre Dame
12: at Seton Hall
16: at Villanova
19: Connecticut
24: at Syracuse
27: at West Virginia
March
2: Rutgers
6: Big East Tournament

(a) Hall of Fame Tip Off Classic: Springfield, Mass.
(b) John Thompson Classic: Washington, D.C.
(c) John Thompson Classic: Washington, D.C.

REST OF TOP 25
No. 1 Duke Blue Devils
No. 2 Maryland Terrapins
No. 3 Florida Gators
No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats
No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks
No. 6 Illinois Illini
No. 7 UCLA Bruins
No. 8 Missouri Tigers
No. 9: St. Joseph's Hawks
No. 10: Memphis Tigers
No. 11: Iowa Hawkeyes
No. 12: Michigan State
No. 13: Stanford Cardinal
No. 14: Temple Owls
No. 15: Virginia Cavaliers
No. 16: Oklahoma State Cowboys
No. 17: Boston College Eagles
No. 19: Oklahoma Sooners
No. 20: North Carolina Tar Heels
No. 21: USC Trojans
No. 22: Texas Longhorns
No. 23: Connecticut Huskies
No. 24: Alabama Crimson Tide
No. 25: Gonzaga Bulldogs

The ESPN.com Preseason Top 25 was selected by a panel made up of ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz, ESPN's Jay Bilas and ESPN.com college basketball editor Ron Buck.






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