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Georgetown Hoyas (2001: 25-8)

The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I teams, be sure to order the 2001-02 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.

Program overview

All those who doubted whether Craig Esherick was the man to lead Georgetown back to national prominence need only look at last season, when the Hoyas bolted to a 16-0 start, finished with 25 wins, hung in the Top 25 for most of the season and then advanced to their first Sweet 16 since 1996.

Not bad, eh?

Esherick, who took over in mid-ride when John Thompson decided to abandon coaching for a career as a radio host and part-time college athletics conscience, was originally viewed as a Bill Guthridge -style compromise candidate, called upon to lead only because it would have been impossible to find someone more "qualified" during the middle of a season.

Even though he had been a trusted Thompson lieutenant for years and had performed countless important tasks on and off the court for the program, many considered Esherick a stopgap. He would coach for a few seasons until things became so bad that a big name would be recruited to stop the bleeding and bring Georgetown back to its rightful position atop the Big East.

Shows how much we know. Just because a man hasn't directed a program doesn't mean he isn't capable. And during his two-plus years in the top job, Esherick has proven himself more than capable, building the team from a national afterthought into a program now which deserves some serious consideration.

The Hoyas aren't yet back to their fire-breathing, mid-'80s days and probably will never repeat that run, when they played in three NCAA championship games in four years. That's magical stuff. But a quick look at the team's roster and its most recent recruits would indicate that plenty of good times are ahead.

Last year was proof of that. Using a deep rotation filled with mix-and-match parts, Esherick brought Georgetown to the next logical step, after its strong 2000 NIT showing. The Hoyas played outstanding defense, limiting foes to a meager 38.8 percent success rate from the field, locked down the backboards, to the tune of a plus-9.3 rebounding margin and scored an unheard-of (for Georgetown, at least) 78.0 points per game.

Even though four major components of that team are gone, the Hoyas remain in good shape, thanks to the returns of three starters and three more key reserves and the arrival of a recruiting class that Esherick believes will eventually produce four starters, not a bad success rate for any newcomer crop.

While it's hard to predict another Sweet 16 berth, given the unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament, it isn't hard to forecast another trip to the NCAA Tournament and perhaps even a Big East title, especially given the conference's lack of overwhelming favorite.

Projected starters

PG - Kevin Braswell (6-2, 190 lbs., SR, #12, 11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 6.1 apg, 2.9 spg, 31.5 minutes, .378 FG, .302 3PT, .742 FT, Maine Central Institute/Baltimore, Md.)

With Demetrius Hunter gone to UNLV, Braswell becomes the Hoyas' top backcourt weapon. Although he would appear to have that title by default, Braswell would have been looked at as a huge contributor, even if Hunter had not headed back to Glitter Gulch.

Despite struggling with his shooting percentage last year, Hunter was a second-team All-Big East selection that fills a stat sheet like few other guards in the country. He can score, pass, defend and rebound. And, if Esherick's prediction comes true and Braswell shoots better, he might threaten the all-conference first team and be one of the more productive guards in the nation.

As it is, Braswell is already one of the more underrated backcourt performers. That should change, because the Hoyas are without any other real scoring options, besides Mike Sweetney. The key, of course, to increased production is improved accuracy from the outside.

SG - Tony Bethel (6-2, 160 lbs., FR, #22, 18.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 5.0 spg, Montrose Christian/Fort Washington, Md.)

Although Esherick must rely on both Bethel and Drew Hall, it's more likely that the skinny Bethel would get the start, because he could play both guard spots.

Of course, it's also possible that Esherick might swing Gerald Riley to the two and employ one of his many forwards at the three spot. For now, we'll go with Bethel.

Bethel underwent wrist surgery during the summer, but he's expected to be fine by the start of the season. He's aggressive and energetic and can score inside and out. If Bethel doesn't start this year, he'll be in the first unit next, when Braswell is gone, and he and Hall step up.

SF - Gerald Riley (6-6, 205 lbs., SO, #32, 6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.7 spg, 17.8 minutes, .357 FG, .261 3PT, .731 FT, Baldwin HS/Milledgeville, Ga.)

Riley had what Esherick considers a "normal" freshman year, suffering many of the same ups and downs that other first-year players endured last year. Unlike Sweetney, who was a rock throughout the season, Riley had trouble shooting for much of the year. Expect that to change.

One thing that won't change is Riley's ability to defend. He'll also become a better rebounder; he's already pretty good on the offensive boards. Riley can play the two or the three, and he has the ability to defend bigger men, too. He blocks shots and can pass pretty well. As Esherick said, he can also handle it. A role player who could blossom into more as he gains experience, Riley is a nice fit for the Hoyas' style.

PF - Mike Sweetney (6-8, 260 lbs., SO, #34, 12.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.7 spg, 24.2 minutes, .516 FG, .619 FT, Oxon Hill HS/Oxon Hill, Md.)

Now for the "abnormal" freshman. Sweetney made a huge impact last year, and not just because of his super-sized, 260-pound frame. He led the Hoyas in scoring, and what was even more impressive was that his scoring average swelled to 14.0 points in Big East play. For a freshman to improve like that in league play is nothing short of remarkable.

Sweetney needs to improve on last year's 61.9 percent free-throw accuracy. He shot 168 times from the free-throw line last year, easily the most on the team. If he can get up to 70 (and beyond), he could be a more productive point producer. He could also improve his shooting range, something which Esherick believes is certainly possible.

C - Wesley Wilson (6-11, 235 lbs., JR, #50, 5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.9 bpg, 12.1 minutes, .482 FG, .554 FT, Maine Central Institute/Vallejo, Calif.)

With Ruben Boumtje Boumtje gone, it's Wilson's time to step up in the pivot. After sitting out the 1999-00 season, because of NCAA clearinghouse problems, Wilson had a solid debut last year. He didn't overwhelm anyone, but he did have moments when he proved he could be a force. Now, Wilson needs more consistency.

Wilson is a mobile big man who can defend well and runs the floor like someone a few inches shorter. He'll get a stiff challenge from Freeman during the preseason camp and will likely split the center position with him, but Wilson must step up, especially on the backboards, if the Hoyas are to compete for a tournament berth.

Key reserve

G - Drew Hall (6-2, 170 lbs., FR, #5, 15.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, Montrose Christian Academy/Silver Spring, Md.)

A true point guard, Hall is absolutely being groomed for future starting assignments. He may even get some time with the first unit this year, if Esherick decides to use Braswell at the two spot, the better to take advantage of his scoring.

Because of Hall's defense and unselfish play, he'll get minutes this year. He's quick, has good size for the point and he'll fit into the Hoya style of play quite well. Next year, he takes over the job. For now, he'll get 15-20 minutes of good apprentice work.

Bottom line

After struggling on the national fringes for the late 1990s, Georgetown is again a major player.

Esherick has done a good job improving recruiting and installing a system which actually embraces scoring. That's something old Blood and Guts Thompson didn't exactly care for.

Because the Hoyas will run and shoot now, some talented recruits are filling the program's roster, most notably Sweetney, who has the potential to be a dominant collegiate player, should he stick around another couple years. Even if this is his last season, Sweetney should be highly productive.

Still, Braswell is the key. His mission is to continue distributing the ball well while improving his shooting accuracy, and thus, his point output. He's a talented player who can be extremely disruptive defensively and hurt rivals many ways with the ball. If he's healthy and gets some ball handling support, the Hoyas will be dangerous.

It's hard to predict from where the main assistance will come. Riley has experience and could sneak into double figures, while Freeman has potential up front. Both Hall and Bethel will have their moments, but it's tough to predict sustained success for freshmen.

Figure on a group effort, with plenty of different lineups and new supporting heroes every night. Esherick will milk the Braswell/Sweetney axis for all he can and help the complementary parts come through. If they do, the Hoyas have a good shot at another solid tournament run. Though title contention is a ways off, the Hoyas have returned.