Despite dissappointing loss, consistency remains the key to Otto Porter's freshman success

Freshman aren't supposed to walk into Madison Square Garden for the first time in their lives and put on a dominant performance. Not in the Big East Tournament, not ever.

But nobody told Georgetown's Otto Porter. Maybe he just didn't know any better. The native of Sikeston, MO, a town with a population of just under 18,000 people, isn't used to big city lights or the grandeur of the Big East Tournament.

"New York is amazing. Playing in Madison Square Garden is a dream come true," said Porter, who scored a career-high 20 points on Wednesday in the second round against Pittsburgh. "I've never really experienced anything like this."

(Photo Source: Getty Images)

Freshman aren't supposed to get blinded by the bright lights. It's part of the learning process. But so far, Porter has showed little signs of growing pains. 

Maybe he's just too consistent to get rattled by even the grand stage at "The World's Most Famous Arena". "I just stay level-headed. I don't get into a 'zone' or anything, I just try to play at a consistent level all game. Consistency is really important"

Consistency is something that Porter does best. While he may not put up gaudy scoring numbers, he's turned into one of the best "stat-sheet stuffers" in the the league. He never has an off night. When he only scores four points, he makes up for it by grabbing 15 rebounds, like he did in the Hoyas 83-75 win at DePaul earlier in the year. Widely considered one of the best freshman in the conference, he was left off the All-Rookie Team, despite ranking eighth in the conference in terms of rebounding. Porter has logged three double-doubles and has grabbed at least ten rebounds in seven games this season.

On Thursday night, in the Hoyas'double-overtime loss to Cincinnati, Porter scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, had four assists, two blocks and two steals. "Whatever my team needs is what I will do. Tonight it was a couple of shots late in the game. "Sometimes it's a rebound or a steal, or playing defense. But we didn't do enough tonight, so we have to go harder." The loss was tough on all the Hoyas, who sat in disbelief and in disappointment in the locker room. They weren't silent, as much as they were empty. There was nothing in their eyes. 


They had let a ten point second half lead dwindle away, and were forced to spend ten extra minutes fighting to get back the victory that they thought was theirs. "I'd rather be in here talking about a win," said senior Jason Clark. "But they did a better job tonight. I can say a lot of things, but I'd just rather be in here talking about a win."


Porter made the tying basket in regulation and overtime, but a Henry Sims 3-point attempt caromed off the rim at the buzzer, ending Porter's short but productive experience in New York.

"Every game is a new experience. But I just have to do my best to replicate it the next time out."

Consistency. Few freshman have it, and even fewer realize how important it is. Maybe that's why Otto Porter has been such a valuable part of Georgetown's unexpected success this year.

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Otto Porter, Frank Haith's violaton, and a reporter mistake?

Missouri's new head coach Frank Haith has not had the greatest start to his tenure.

This afternoon, less than two weeks after he was named Mike Anderson's successor, Haith lost Otto Porter, a top 100 recruit in the class of 2011 and a Missouri native, to Georgetown. Losing an in-state star likely won't ingratiate Haith with the good folks of the Show Me state, who were displeased with his hiring. To top it off, Haith committed a secondary violation in the process.

Haith responded to a text message from Mike DeArmond of the Kansas City Star that asked if Porter was still in play for Mizzou by saying "No, he did go to Georgetown". He followed that up with another text saying "Did speak by phone and the process was all but over. (He) just needed to see Georgetown, which they visited this weekend."


The problem?

Coaches are not allowed to talk about recruits until they have signed a National Letter of Intent. That is a violation, one that every Division I coach is keenly aware of. Its only a secondary violation, and will likely result in nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

Now, Haith should not be discussing kids that he is recruiting. There is no way that he is not aware that this is a violation. That said, DeArmond should shoulder his load of the blame. Coaches text and talk about recruits all the time. Its not a rare occurrence. The issue is that he is on the record talking about it.

DeArmond writes on the Campus Corner blog, which is where the KC Star's coverage of colleges and recruiting can be found. He should have been aware of the fact that by publishing Haith's name he would be getting Missouri into trouble with the NCAA. I'm going to assume that there was a miscommunication about whether the text was meant to be on the record, because I truly doubt that Haith would have sent that text if he had known his name would have been published.

DeArmond just cost himself all of his Missouri sources. Proof?

This isn't the first time that the media covering Missouri has been in the news.

Bernie Miklasz, an excellent reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, wrote that Matt Painter was going to go to Missouri, which ended up being incorrect. To his credit, he owned the mistake gracefully.

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Otto Porter is a great get for Georgetown. Along with DeAndre Daniels, he is one of the two best players that had remained uncommitted in the class of 2011.

Georgetown now has one of the best incoming classes in the country, which includes 6'9" Tyler Adams, 6'9" Greg Whittington, 6'8" Mikael Hopkins, and 6'5" Jabril Trawick in addition to the 6'8" Porter. Porter had an official visit lined up with Kansas for next weekend, but he will not be making that trip.

Of note for Hoya fans -- Georgetown will have at least one scholarship player transferring out of the program. Porter is their 14th scholarship player.
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