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Team: Georgetown Hoyas
2015-16 Record: 15-18, 7-11 in the Big East
2015-16 Big East Finish: 8th
Final 2015-16 KenPom Ranking: #184
Postseason: Uh, no.
Key Departures: D`Vauntes Smith-Rivera (16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists)
Key Returners: L.J. Peak (12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists), Isaac Copeland (11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists); Bradley Hayes (8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, returning from injury)
Key Additions: Rodney Pryor (graduate transfer from Robert Morris; 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1.7 assists); Jonathan Mulmore (JUCO transfer; averaged 26 points for Allegany College)
Coach: John Thompson III, in his 13th season at Georgetown (264-133 at Georgetown, 332-175 overall)
Outlook: Last season was just the fourth time in his 13 seasons in Washington where John Thompson III did not get the Hoyas to 20 wins. It was also the second time in three seasons that it happened. Four seasons ago? The loss to Florida Gulf Coast as a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. It might take a lot to get JTIII out of his office on campus (especially with Big John still looming - literally - at Georgetown), but the last half-decade or so has done an awful lot to start the cracks forming in the foundation.
I get the feeling that people are thinking good thoughts about the Hoyas for this coming season. For example, Jon Rothstein slotted them 5th in his summertime power rankings and declared them to be his sleeper pick. For me, I don’t see it. Yes, you can make the argument that they’re bringing back nearly their entire team from last year and yes, they caught a break with Bradley Hayes getting a waiver on an extra year of eligibility, and yes, getting “The Big Show” Paul White back will be important for them.
They’re also losing D`Vauntes Smith-Rivera, the only player on last year’s team that struck any kind of fear into anyone. Maybe there’s a certain amount of Ewing Theory at work with DSR departing. Maybe Georgetown will end up being a team where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. You’re still talking about bringing back 78% of the scoring of a team that lost to Radford in double overtime to start the season and only beat St. John’s and DePaul once the calendar flipped over to February.