A silky smooth baseline jumper by senior Courtland Freeman on Saturday marked the first two points in the Georgetown men’s basketball team’s season. As the Hoyas ran back on defense with a bounce in their step, the crowd at McDonough Arena felt excitement knowing that Georgetown hoops had finally arrived.
Granted, the Hoyas were playing against an Israeli All-Star team that could have been beaten by a Yates intramural squad. Regardless, the Hoyas showed those in attendance a glimpse of their new style. With the departure of a dominant inside presence in Mike Sweetney and a new plethora of skilled guards, the Hoyas new run-and-gun style had their opponents requesting oxygen tanks. The shot clock rarely dipped below 20 seconds for the fast-paced Hoyas as they trounced the Israeli All-Star team 101-64.
“We have good quickness,” Head Coach Craig Esherick said after the game. “We want to take advantage of it, and I don’t mind a quick shot as long as it’s a good shot.”
Sophomore Brandon Bowman led the way in the first half with nine points and seven rebounds. He started alongside sophomore guard Ashanti Cook, senior guard Gerald Riley, sophomore guard/forward Darrel Owens and senior center Courtland Freeman. Coach Esherick hasn’t committed to this starting five when the season starts, but said he liked the way they played together to start the game.
“Those five played well together but I haven’t made my decision yet,” Esherick said. “However, I am very comfortable with Courtland, Brandon and Gerald starting for us.”
The game saw a lot of new faces for the Hoyas. First-year guards Ray Reed and Matt Causey saw significant time, as did sophomore forward Amadou Kilkenny-Diaw. Reed finished the game with 10 points, six assists and six rebounds, four coming on the offensive end.
“Ray Reed gave us a big boost,” Esherick said. When the score was 20-13 he got some big offensive boards that got us going. He’s capable of compensating for being smaller with his ability to get to rebounds.”
Matt Causey, a wily first-year from Gainesville, Ga. displayed his quickness in fourteen minutes of action. He seems to be the kind of guard capable of shutting down opponent’s scorers with his quick hands and feet once he fully recovers from off-season surgery.
“He’s not at 100% yet in terms of quickness and stamina,” Esherick said.
Kilkenny-Diaw, who was red shirted last year, looked like a different person on the floor on Saturday. He’s gained a significant amount of muscle and could be the back-up presence to Freeman that the team needs. Seven minutes into the game, Kilkenny-Diaw came out of nowhere to block a wide-open lay up attempt by guard Malcolm Smith.
“Amadou worked harder than anyone over the summer,” Esherick said. “He has come a long way since this time last year.”
It’s this hard work during the off-season, a commitment to rebounding and an ability to take advantage of their quickness which will determine how successful the Hoyas will be this season. Bowman is a major key to this formula. At a little under six-foot-nine and the ability to jump through the roof Bowman will need to crash the boards often this year.
“Brandon’s a big part to adjusting to life without Mike [Sweetney],” Esherick said. “He rebounded the ball very well and is our best power-forward right now.”
In a showing of things to come this year, senior co-captain Gerald Riley led the Hoyas in scoring with 19 points in 22 minutes of action.
“Gerald played well and ended the Israeli team’s chance to comeback with some key plays in the first half,” Esherick said.
With their first exhibition game under their belts, the Hoyas will face some stiffer competition when they travel to Princeton, N.J. this Sunday to participate in a closed-door scrimmage against the Princeton Tigers.
Hoyas fans should be prepared for a completely different look this season. The Hoyas may not lead many games in time of possession, but with their pressing defense and run-and-gun offense they should be fun to watch.
