Ancient Egypt. The Roman Empire. Georgetown. All great dynasties that fell to ruin.

Hyperbole? Perhaps. But true nonetheless.

The once mighty Georgetown Hoyas -- the team that made three Final Four appearances in a four-year period in the 1980s, the team that boasted All-Americans Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Allen Iverson -- are now a middle-of-the-pack (at best) Big East team.

The Hoyas' final record last season was a respectable 19-15, but that mark was padded by four wins in the NIT. The Hoyas went 6-10 in Big East play last season, suffering through their fourth losing conference record in the past six seasons. In the Big East's first 18 seasons, Georgetown finished with a losing conference record just once.

The Hoyas' Big East record since 1997 is 43-57. That's not Georgetown. That's Rutgers. And much like Rutgers, players started leaving Georgetown in droves last spring. Forward Mike Sweetney entered the NBA draft a year early. Then starting point guard Tony Bethel transferred to NC State. Reserve guard Drew Hall left for Gonzaga.

Finally, Brandon Bowman asked for his release but then decided to stay at Georgetown. Bowman's decision might have saved the program from complete collapse. Although he averaged just 7.6 points per game as a freshman, Bowman boasts the second-highest scoring average among Georgetown's returning players.

The 6-foot-8 swingman gives coach Craig Esherick a legitimate talent to hinge his hopes on entering the upcoming season. In fact, some doubted whether Esherick would return for his fifth full season at Georgetown, but school officials gave the embattled coach a contract extension last season.

FRONTCOURT

Georgetown's entire starting frontcourt from the beginning of the 2002-03 season is gone, but the real loss is Sweetney. The strong and savvy post player ranked ninth in the NCAA in scoring and blocks and 15th in rebounding, and he finished second in the Big East in all three categories. In short, Sweetney was a load.

Esherick is looking at a frontline of Courtland Freeman, Bowman and Gerald Riley or one of two incoming freshmen. Esherick knows he doesn't have the talent to make up for Sweetney, so he's going for the complete makeover instead. "The style of play's definitely going to be different," Esherick said. "Last year, I'd tell them if we didn't have a clear break, wait for Mike. This year, there's no waiting for anyone."

Riley started at the off-guard spot last season but could return to small forward this year. Solidly built and an able ball-handler, Riley has versatility and experience that will be in demand.

Bowman can defend four positions and poses matchup problems with his 3-point shooting ability. "I think Brandon is very talented," Esherick said. "He's capable of doing a lot of things."

Freeman is a workmanlike post player who isn't the normal imposing Georgetown center. The other frontcourt options include Amadou Kilkenny-Diaw, who redshirted last season, and Yugoslavian-born Sead Dizdarevic.

BACKCOURT

The departures of Bethel and Hall leave Georgetown with the experience of a freshman senator in the backcourt.

There's sophomore Ashanti Cook. Or junior Darrel Owens. Or senior RaMell Ross. But those three players combined to average just 8.7 points per game in 2002-03. None was a starter last season, and none played the previous year. Cook was in high school, Owens sat out for academic reasons, and Ross was hurt.

Cook, a very quick ball-handler who can stroke it from outside, figures to start at one of the two guard spots, but incoming freshmen Matt Causey and Rayshawn Reed will have to help out immediately.

"Both incoming kids can play both guard positions," Esherick said. "But what we lose most in Tony and Drew is both guys had experience."

FINAL ANALYSIS

In the past three years, Georgetown has seen the departures of big men Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Lee Scruggs, Wesley Wilson and Mike Sweetney. Get ready for a new-look Georgetown as Esherick attempts to rebuild the Hoya program.

"We're going to be perimeter-oriented," Esherick said. "We're gong to be a different team. We're going to press more. We'll extend defenses more in both the halfcourt and fullcourt."

Esherick doesn't have the right tools for the rebuilding job yet. Cook may improve and the freshmen may be good, but they're too young and the power's lacking up front.

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