2005 Georgetown Hoyas Basketball Preview

2005 Georgetown Hoyas Team Preview

Last year in his first season as Georgetown coach John Thompson III went 19 and 13 and brought excitement back to the Hoya basketball program. It wasn’t just his basketball pedigree— in 27 years his father John Thompson led the Hoyas to 20 NCAA Tournaments, three Final Fours, and one National Championship—it was also his ability to make his young team over-perform. The Hoyas were a big surprise last year and if it weren’t for a five-game losing streak at the end of the season, they probably would have been in the tournament.

If last season was filled with good times and good news for the Hoyas and their fans, this season should be the same but better, Thompson has all five starters returning, including senior forward Brandon Bowman and sophomore forward Jeff Green. They are a scary tandem—Bowman’s stats last season were 15.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 50.1 FG%, 71.4 FT% and 36.5- 3PT%, while Green’s stats were almost identical with 13.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 50.2 FG%, 69.9 FT%, and 40.0- 3PT%. Green, who most feel will just get better, shared Big East Rookie of the Year honors with Rudy Gay of UConn. Senior Bowman and sophomore Green can be an amazing combo this season!

At guard senior Ashanti Cook offers a reliable outside shot and, last season, almost 11 points a contest. Teaming up once again with guard Jonathan Wallace, another steady force in the backcourt, the Hoyas should have a solid if unspectacular backcourt.

At center stands seven-foot, two-inch, 272-pound Roy Hibbert, who everyone agrees is a “project.” The massive Hibbert showed promise in his first year but will have to make amazing progress to be a real factor this year.

Swingman senior Darrel Owens adds depth and reliability at guard and forward, while three promising first-years players—Jesse Sapp (G), Octavius Spann (F), and Josh Thornton (G)—are the finest group of new players in the Big East.

This season John Thompson III and the Hoyas are expected to be and do even better than they did last year. If they don’t make it to the Tournament there will be a lot of surprised Hoya fans and college basketball experts.

For more info on the 2005 Hoyas check out the official Georgetown athletic site.