NBA Draft Prospects: Greg Monroe, Georgetown

Click here to find all of our 2010 NBA Draft prospect breakdowns.

Stats: 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3.3 t/o's, 1.5 bpg, 52.5% FG

Listed Size: 6'11", 240 lb, 20 yrs old


About Him: Out of every prospect in this draft, I probably know Greg Monroe's game the best. I live in DC, which has afforded me the opportunity to see him in person a good 20-25 times the last two years, watching him play countless other games on TV.

Perhaps the most important thing to note about Monroe is that he is big enough to play the center position in the NBA. He's 6'11" in shoes, he has a 7'2" wingspan, and he weighs almost 250 lbs. This is important because athletically, Monroe may have problems matching up with power forwards. His 29" max vertical isn't the worst we've seen, but it does confirm the fact that Monroe has, at best, average explosiveness. Dwight Howard, he is not.

Monroe's most noteworthy skill is his passing ability. He has a tremendous feel for the game, great court vision and court awareness, and is capable of making pinpoint passes out of the post, the high post, or on the perimeter. Playing in Georgetown's Princeton offense really allowed Monroe to show off this aspect of his game.

The rest of Monroe's game is a bit hit and miss. He's mobile, he has quick feet, and he has good footwork in the post, and when he goes over his right shoulder (to his left hand; he's a lefty), he's can be an effective scorer. He has a solid lefty hook and can get a good shot off equally well using his finesse or a power move. The issue is that Monroe is not a great finisher, especially if there is contact. He may power through a defender and draw a foul, but he does not earn an and-1 as well as one would like. Monroe's right hand is virtually non-existant. If he goes over is left shoulder, odds are good he will bring the ball back to his left hand. Teams overplayed Monroe's right shoulder heavily the past two years, and far too often he would settle for a tougher, low-percentage shot going to his left hand.

The rest of his offensive repertoire is equally questionable. He has decent form on his jumpshot, but he doesn't knock it down all that consistently. He has the mobility and the quickness to have a decent face-up game -- especially when he is going up against centers -- but he doesn't have a good enough handle to take advantage of it, especially going right.

Defensively, Monroe will likely never be a shot blocking presence or an all-defensive team kind of player, but he has good size, mobility, and footwork. There is no reason he cannot be a capable defender at the next level.

The biggest knock on Monroe has always been passion. Does he love the game? Does he care? Does he play hard? As someone that has seen him play in person quite a bit, I don't question his passion for winning. The kid plays hard all the time. This season, he really seemed to be tougher, both physically and mentally. He was more effective holding position in the post, he was more aggressive on the glass.

I cannot, however, comment on his work ethic. Word is that Monroe came into this season really out of shape, and it will scare teams off if they believe that a player that so obviously can make a huge improvement skill wise with some hard work (handle, right hand jump shot) doesn't put in the effort.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Brad Miller in his prime, which would make him a pretty good player. A less perimeter-oriented Lamar Odom is another comparison I like.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: The comparison a lot of websites have been using is Josh McRoberts, who actually had a similar profile coming out of Duke. Monroe is much more talented, however.
  

Outlook: Greg Monroe is not going to be a franchise player in the NBA. He doesn't have the demeanor to be a star. But he will be an excellent role player (assuming he puts in the work). He's unselfish, he's heady about the game, and he has a skill set that would allow him to blend in nicely in a lot of systems. Big men that can pass, rebound, defend a pick and roll, and get you 12-15 ppg are a commodity. There's no reason Monroe can't be that kind of player.

Highlights:





(I couldn't find a lot of good videos of Monroe, so if you know of any, please share them in the comments section.)

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Georgetown won't be a top five team, but Michigan State should be

Earlier this week, we took a look at the three biggest names that we were still waiting to hear from in regards to the NBA Draft.

Today, we got an answer from one of those three.

Georgetown's sophomore center Greg Monroe has declared for the NBA Draft. He will be signing with an agent, eliminating any possibility that he could return to DC for his junior year. After the Hoyas were upset by Ohio in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Monroe said that he would be returning to school for his junior season.

Greg Monroe will be in the NBA next season.
(photo credit: iSportsWeb)

Monroe is making the right decision. As much as I hate seeing talent from the college ranks leave with eligibility remaining, the goal is to make a career out of playing basketball. Monroe has a chance to make a life-changing amount of money -- and with the impending lockout, the same may not be true if he stayed for his junior season -- and he should capitalize on that opportunity.

If Monroe had stayed, Georgetown would have been the favorite to win the Big East and likely a consensus top five team in 2011. Without Monroe, the Hoyas are probably going to hang around the top 25. They bring back one of the best back courts in the country with Chris Wright, Austin Freeman, Jason Clark, and Hollis Thompson. Julian Vaughn is a solid post player, and is one of Henry Sims, Moses Abraham, or Nate Lubick can become a solid contributor, the Hoyas have a team that could possibly be able to compete for a Big East title.

While today brought bad news for Hoya fans, it brought fantastic news for basketball fans in East Lansing.

Both Kalin Lucas, the 2009 Big Ten player of the year, and Durrell Summers, the 2010 Midwest Region MOP, decided to forego the NBA Draft and return to school for their senior seasons.

With those two back in school, the only player that Tom Izzo loses from a team that has made back to back Final Fours is Raymar Morgan, adding two top 50 recruits -- guard Keith Appling and big man Adreian Payne -- to the mix. Michigan State should be a top five team in the preseason, and depending on what happens with the players from Purdue and Illinois with their names currently in the draft, they should be considered the favorite in the Big Ten as well.

Will Lucas and Summers lead Sparty to third straight Final Four?
(photo credit: NYDN)

It will be interesting to see what happens with Lucas and Summers. Lucas may have snuck into the back of the first round if he had left school after his sophomore season, but decided to return to school. This year, Lucas really had no choice but to return. There are quite a few players clustered in the 20-45 range, and with Lucas' injury (torn achilles), he would be unable to improve his standing with workouts, even in a draft short on point guards. Lucas is not the kind of player that is going to be a lottery pick -- his size limits hit NBA potential -- but earning a guaranteed contract isn't out of the question.

Summers is a different story. He has a ton of talent -- he can score in bunches, he is an NBA athlete, and he can knock down shots from the perimeter. Summers has the potential to be an all-american next season. The issue is whether he will ever live up to that potential.

If he does, don't be surprised to see Sparty in a third straight Final Four.

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Not everyone has declared for the draft yet. Who are we waiting on?

If it seems like everyone and their brother has declared for the NBA Draft this year, well, that's because its true. Currently, 52 players with eligibility remaining have declared for the draft (here is a complete list), with Butler's Gordon Hayward the most recent to join the party.

The reason that so many players are declaring for the NBA Draft this season is the NBA's impending lockout. A lockout means no paychecks, and isn't the main point of declaring for the draft early to get paid?

If the NBA loses the entire 2011-12 season, that means that not only will the player's go without compensation for that season, it would also reset their "rookie clock". The 2012-13 would be the first year under their rookie contract, delaying their opportunity to negotiate their second contract -- when the real money is made -- for another season. That means that two full seasons worth of earning potential would be lost.

Gordon Hayward has declared for the NBA Draft. Will Greg Monroe follow suit?
(photo credit: Zimbio)

That's a lot of money.

A few guys have actually decided to return to school. The biggest names to do so are probably Scotty Hopson, Elias Harris, Kalin Lucas, and Jeff Taylor. Malcolm Lee, Corey Fisher, and William Buford are also returning.

So who is still left?

The way I see it, there are three big names we are still waiting to hear from -- Greg Monroe, Kyle Singler, and Solomon Alabi.

Greg Monroe said he was going back to Georgetown for his junior season immediately after the Hoyas were upset by Ohio in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but few are convinced. Draft Express's Jonathon Givony believes Monroe is currently 50-50, while Jeff Goodman echoes that same sentiment. If Monroe does return, the Hoyas will likely be the favorite to win the Big East, and one of the top five teams in the country.

Monroe's skill set makes him a lock for the lottery whenever he decides to go pro, meaning his only decision is whether or not he is willing to risk that payday.

Kyle Singler is a more interesting prospect. He is a borderline first rounder, projected by most to fall somewhere in the 20-35 range. But after playing great over the final six weeks of the season, culminating with a fantastic performance in the Final Four, Singler's stock may never be higher than it is right now. Singler has said that if he declares, he will likely be in for good, but is it the best decison? If he returns, Singler will be a preseason all-american for a Duke team that will likely be the favorite to win a second straight national title. He'll be able to play more at the combo-forward spot again with Seth Curry and Kyrie Irving coming in, which should help to boost his production. And with the number of players entering this year, Singler would be much more likely to be near the middle of the first round after next season.

But will that be enough to persuade him not to chase the money?

We may not have to wait long to hear from Alabi, as Givony tweeted earlier that he is hearing Alabi will declare, possibly this week. The Florida State big man is your typical 7-foot prospect. He has potential for days, as he is long and athletic but still quite raw. Alabi is closer to being a first round lock than Singler is -- the NBA does love size -- but he may be in more danger of losing his draft stock than the other two players. The younger you are, the more potential you have, and if Alabi comes back for his junior season and fails to be a dominating force, that could be a red flag for NBA teams.

Our guess?

All three go pro.

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Greg Monroe: An unselfish superstar

It was just three possessions in a 40 minute basketball game, but they meant so much more.

Three possessions was all it took for Georgetown to put this game away. Those same three possessions are all you need to see if you're wondering why Greg Monroe is sitting in the lottery on most NBA Draft boards.

With 6:58 left on the clock, Monroe drove baseline from deep in the left corner and finished at the rim with a dunk. On Georgetown's next possession, he buried a three from the wing. On the ensuing possession, Julian Vaughn blocked a shot by Mo Acker. Monroe picked up the loose ball, led a 2-on-1 break, and dropped a pretty bounce pass to Austin Freeman for an and-one layup that gave the Hoyas a 70-52 lead with just 5:32 left.

Should I mention that he also blocked Jimmy Butler's shot on the next Marquette possession?

Monroe celebrates with Jason Clark after drawing a foul.
(photo credit: NJ Star Ledger)

Monroe finished with 23 points, 13 boards, 7 assists, and 2 blocks in an 80-57 win for the Hoyas. A sterling performance no matter how you slice it, just the kind that has gotten Monroe mentioned in the same breath as the great Hoya centers of the past -- Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutumbo, Alonzo Mourning.

"I'm honored to follow people that were so good here," Monroe told reporters after the game, "but I don't compare myself to them."

"Me being here just two years, I can't put myself in the same category as those players."

Monroe is different than his Georgetown predecessors, however.

Where Mutumbo, Ewing, and Zo thrived on their ability to intimidate in the paint, be it via an emphatic dunk or a blocked shot, Monroe's biggest weapon is his versatility. How many players do you know that can get you 13 rebounds and 7 assists on the same night and have it be considered par for the course.

"He is the best skilled big man in the country," West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said after his Mountaineers beat Notre Dame in the other semifinal.

"He passes the ball, he finds open people, he can lay it down, he can score in the post."

With that much ability, it would be very easy to let individual success go to your head. But Monroe has stayed grounded, his mentality as unselfish as his passing ability.

"I just come out and try to do things for my team," Monroe said.

Its not just Monroe.

This team first aspect is something that JT III preaches, something that he has ingrained in his players. You ask him a question about a certain player's performance, he will say it is a function of the team, proof that his system is working the right way. The saying goes "there's no I in team", but with Thompson, there's no I, you, he, or me; its always we, us, or the team.

A perfect example came when he was asked about Monroe's aggressiveness early and whether it helped set a tone for the team and the game.

"I think the same thing happens when Austin comes out aggressively, when Chris comes out aggressively. When we come out aggressively and focus, it sets the tone in general."

That's a pretty standard answer from Thompson.

And its refreshing. Incredible, really.

In the day and age of early entry, Sportscenter top 10, and youtube, its not that easy to find a player, let alone a team, as devoted to the team concept as Georgetown is.

What's more important is that it shows through in their play.

When the Hoyas are playing at their best, its due to that team-first mentality. Georgetown runs what is known as a continuity offense, meaning they don't run a lot of set plays. You're not going to see Chris Wright and Monroe running pick-and-rolls. Austin Freeman won't be getting isolations on the wing. Jason Clark isn't going to be curling off of double screens.

Monroe had 23 points, 13 boards, and 7 assists last night.
(photo credit: SNY TV)

Georgetown runs a system with a set of rules and reads given the situation. The Hoya players know where in this system they are going to be able to get scoring opportunities. Put another way, it is very difficult for the Hoyas to call a play for a certain player.

JT III can't, or won't, run a play to 'feed the hot hand', so to speak. Where their selflessness shines through is that the players on the court do it themselves. When Freeman gets it going, they look for him. Yesterday Chris Wright was hot, and Georgetown got him the ball in spots he could score. Today, it was Monroe.

The Hoyas have won a lot of games this year playing that way.

After beating Marquette, who hadn't lost by double digits all season coming into tonight, by 23, the fourth straight impressive win by the Hoyas, its safe to say this team is playing their best basketball of the year.

But they aren't satisfied just yet.

"Its March," Thompson said, "there's no time to take a breath and pat yourself on the back in March."

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12/14 - College Hoops Week in Review: The A-10 can play

What we learned this week: The A-10 is always considered one of the best conferences in the country outside of the Big Six. That will happen when you count the likes of Xavier and Dayton in your ranks.

But with Xavier expected to be down this season (and playing like it early on) and Dayton not looking as good as they were predicited to be, the A-10 looked for a while like a league that may get just one bid this season.

After this past week, that sentiment is bound to change.

It started last Saturday, as Charlotte, a team that had lost to Duke by 42 earlier in the season, went into Louisville and knocked off the Cardinals. The 49ers are now 8-1 on the year, and with Shamari Spears, Chris Braswell, and DiJuan Harris playing as well as they are, Bobby Lutz looks like he may finally have a team ready to compete for a conference title.

But what really put the A-10 on the map was their performance on Sunday.

First was Rhode Island, who went into BC and came out with an 80-69 win. The Rams are now 8-1 on the season, with their only loss coming to a good VCU team by two points on the road. Next was Xavier, who, as we will chronicle in the game of the week, beat Cincinnati at home in a double overtime thriller. But the explamation point was Temple, who knocked off then-undefeated and then-No. 3 Villanova in a Big 5 rivarly game.

Throw in teams like Richmond, Duquesne, La Salle, and even the surprising George Washington team, and we are looking at a league that is very deep and very balanced.

While these big early season wins are nice, having a balanced conference is not necessarily a good thing for the league as a whole. Yes, competitive games are always great, but that does not necessarily correlate to more teams getting into the tournament. The issue is league play. The eight teams I mentioned, and likely the six other I did not, are going to beat each other up during league play. There really is no favorite in the league this season. Let's say that there end up being four or five teams that are in the 12-4 to 10-6 range in conference play.

Will there be enough quality wins by the teams with a desirable number of acceptable losses to make this a multiple bid league?

GAME OF THE WEEK: Xavier 83, Cincinnati 79 2OT

The Crosstown Shootout is as vicious as any rivalry in the country, and we got an example of that on Sunday night. In the first half, two near brawls broke out, one of which resulted in the benches clearing and a riot very nearly breaking out. The second half was just as physical as the first, although both teams seemed to regain their composure.

There was nearly an all-out brawl during the Xavier-Cincinnati game.
(photo credit: SLAM)

Lost in the chest thumping and posturing was what turned into the best game of the young season. With Cinci up 55-51 with five minutes to play, Xavier used a 6-0 spurt to take a two point lead. The teams would trade baskets until Lance Stephenson tied the game with a jumper with 15 seconds left. Terrell Holloway would miss a jumper at the other end, and Dante Jackson followed that with a five footer in the lane, but after reviewing the shot it was clear it came after time had expired. In the OT, the Bearcats would take a five point lead with 55 seconds left, but Terrell Holloway scored seven straight points, including an and-one layup with 19 seconds left to tie it. Stephenson missed a pretty tough step back three at the end of the overtime that would have one the game.

In the second OT, Jason Love would score back-to-back layups, the second off of an assist from Holloway that gave Xavier an 81-79 lead, before grabbing his 19th rebound of the game and hitting a free throw to seal the win. This was a huge win for Xavier, not only because it came against arguably their biggest rival, but because it was the first win over a power conference team for a Xavier team that always as NCAA aspirations. Holloway had 26 points and innumerable big plays down the stretch, including locking up Lance Stephenson, who needed 19 shots to score 22 points, and Love added seven points and five blocks to his 19 boards.

They were also good:

• Purdue 73, Alabama 65: Robbie Hummel had 23 points and 9 boards and E'Twuan Moore added 15 as the Boilermakers used a late 10-0 run to complete a comeback from a 16 point second half deficit. Chris Kramer, who had 14 points for Purdue, had two steals that led to open layups in the decisive run.
• Kentucky 64, UConn 61: This game has already had too much written about it, so just read our write-up from the day after.
• Oral Roberts 60, Missouri 59: Michael Craion scored on a layup with 0.9 seconds left as ORU overcame a 57-47 deficit in the final four minutes for the win.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Greg Monroe, Georgetown

Monroe led the Hoyas to a 2-0 week as they knocked off their first two ranked teams of the season, going to NYC to beat Butler in Madison Square Garden and to Anaheim to beat Washington. What was most impressive about Monroe was how he led Georgetown. Against Butler, the Hoyas pounded the ball inside, and while he was far from as efficient as would be ideal, his 24 points (on 20 shots and 10 free throws) and 15 boards was the difference.

Greg Monroe showed why he is an all-american candidate in two wins this week.
(photo credit: AP)

It was a different story against Washington. Monroe still managed 15 points and 8 rebounds, but it was his 6 assists and ability to orchestrate the Georgetown offense that was the key in the Hoyas win. Monroe proved a lot to his doubters last week, and while he still has a way to go before he is a finished product, he put his versatility was on display.

They were also good:

• Jamel Jackson, Seton Hall: Jackson was the best player on the floor in the Pirates 134-107 win over VMI. He had 40 points and hit 12 3's off the bench while adding 6 assists and 4 steals, which was more than enough to over come the fact he had just one points against UMass on Monday.
• Xavier Henry, Kansas: John Wall isn't the only great freshman this season. Henry averaged 20 ppg on the week, including a 31 point outburst against La Salle. Henry is the leading scorer for the #1 Jayhawks.
• Jeremy Lin, Harvard: Lin averaged 27.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 3.5 apg as the Crimson had a 1-1 week, losing by six at UConn and upsetting Boston College.
• Roman Martinez, New Mexico: Martinez has been the biggest reason that the upstart Lobos are 10-0. It continued this week, as Martinez had 26 points on 8-9 shooting (all from three) in a win at San Diego and then went for 22 points and 7 boards in New Mexico's win over Texas A&M.
• Juan Fernandez, Temple: Fernandez averaged 21.5 ppg and 4.0 apg in a 2-0 week for the Owls. But it was his 33 points and 7-9 shooting from three against then-undefeated Villanova that puts him on this list.
• Jacob Pullen, Kansas State: Pullen averaged 22 ppg as K-State beat Xavier and UNLV.
  

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Temple Owls

Temple went 2-0 on the week, including notching a win over Big 5 opponent Villanova. It wasn't just a big win for the Owls, but for the Atlantic 10 as a whole. The league has a number of good teams this season, and a win over Villanova gives lends the league more credibility in the eyes of the selection committee. Temple is now 8-2 on the year, with their only two losses coming to Georgetown and St. John's. When you consider their wins over Virginia Tech, Siena, and Penn State, the Owls look like they have a good shot at earning themselves an at-large spot in the tournament should they fail to win the A-10's automatic bid.

They were also good:

• Kansas State: Kansas State won two games this week against Xavier and at UNLV. The Wildcats look like a legitimate contender in the Big XII this season, especially when you consider that Denis Clemente seems to just now be hitting his stride.
• New Mexico: With road wins against San Diego and Texas A&M, it looks like New Mexico may be for real. Throw in the win over Cal, and Lobos look like they could be a contender not just for a MWC title, but for an at-large bid to the dance.
  

MATCH-UPS OF THE WEEK:

Not a lot here, as this week is finals week.

• 12/16 - 8:00 pm: UTEP @ Ole Miss
• 12/19 - 12:00 pm: Michigan @ Kansas
• 12/19 - 2:00 pm: UNC @ Texas
• 12/19 - 2:00 pm: Xavier @ Butler
• 12/19 - 2:00 pm: UCLA @ Notre Dame
  
• 12/19 - 4:00 pm: Gonzaga vs. Duke
• 12/19 - 4:00 pm: Western Kentucky @ Louisville
  
• 12/19 - 6:30 pm: Richmond vs. Florida
• 12/19 - TBA: Kansas State @ Alabama
  

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Hoyas fans should proceed with caution

Let's jump back to Dec. 13th, 2008.

On the strength of 21 points and 7 boards from DaJuan Summers, Georgetown knocked off then No. 15 Memphis 79-70 in the Verizon Center to run their record to 7-1. Sixteen days later, after the Hoyas went into Hartford and knocked off then No. 2 UConn, Georgetown was sitting pretty. They were 10-1 and ranked 8th in the country with wins over UConn (a #1 seed in the tournament), Memphis (a #2 seed), and Maryland (a #10 seed).

Georgetown moved into the top 10 after opening the Big East season with an emphatic win in Hartford last season.
(photo credit: Obsessed with Sports)

It was difficult to find someone that wasn't smitten with the Hoyas as many considered them a real threat to unseat Louisville, UConn, and Pitt atop the Big East.

Fast forward three months, and a loss to St. John's in the Big East tournament seals Georgetown's fate as an NIT team.

Finishing a season losing 13 of 19 games will do that to you.

Why am I bringing this up now?

After winning two games against ranked teams this week, Georgetown is once again on the precipice of the top ten. And once again, shop owners on M Street can hear the rumblings of a Hoya fan base expecting a run at another Big East title.

Its not unwarranted, as Georgetown is sitting pretty as one of just 12 teams (four in the Big East) still undefeated. But keep in mind, this Georgetown team is not much different than last year's group.

And wins over Butler and Washington are not quite the same as Syracuse beating UNC and Florida. Or Kentucky rolling through the Heels and the Huskies. Hell, one could even argue that Kansas State's wins over Dayton, Xavier, Washington State, and UNLV are more impressive.

Simply put, neither the Butler Bulldogs nor the Washington Huskies are playing anywhere near the potential that made them borderline top ten teams in the preseason. Butler has yet to get anything out of Matt Howard, who can't seem to stay out of foul trouble, and does not appear to have the size, length or athleticism up front to compete with the best teams in the country. Their win over Ohio State came with out Evan Turner in the line-up.

Washington simply isn't playing defense right now. No matter how well Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter are playing (which is debatable at times), the Huskies are not going to be a great team until they start getting stops and scoring in transition.

My point isn't to say the Hoyas did not impress me in these two wins.

They did.

They flew to New York and took down Butler in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday before flying out to Anaheim to beat Washington on Saturday. That is a lot of miles to travel in one week.

It was more than just the wins that caught my attention, however.

It was how they won.

On Tuesday, Greg Monroe dominated Butler inside, and while he was less efficient than the ideal (24 points and 15 boards on 9-20 from the floor and 6-10 from the line), it is a good sign that Monroe is capable of over powering a smaller team inside.

Greg Monroe dominated Butler inside.
(photo credit: ESPN)

Then on Saturday, Monroe was playing a bigger, more athletic Washington team that has a tendency to gamble on defense, and Monroe was able to play facilitator in the Hoyas offense, finishing with 15 points, 8 boards, and 6 assists.

Against Butler, Austin Freeman finally snapped out of his offensive funk, hitting 4-5 from three and scoring 18 points. Against Washington, Julian Vaughn scored a career-high 18 points while grabbing 7 boards, proving that the Hoyas finally have some help in the paint for Monroe.

In fact, it now seems like the Hoyas have five guys on their team that are legitimate scoring threats.

Combine that with the stifling defense that the Hoyas played in both games, and it wouldn't be a stretch to think that Georgetown could be in the hunt for a Big East title come February.

But isn't that what we all thought on December 30th last season?

As the Hoyas still have a major, and possibly fatal, flaw - their lack of depth - I caution any Georgetown fan currently contemplating purchasing Final Four tickets to wait.

Wait until January 18th.

On January 18th, the Hoyas will be a third of the way through their Big East schedule, having hosted St. John's, UConn, and Seton Hall (who is also undefeated) as well as having traveled to DePaul, Marquette, and Villanova. Also thrown in that mix are home dates against solid mid-majors in Harvard and Old Dominion.

While that isn't quite the same as the gauntlet that was last season's Big East, it is a tough eight game stretch nonetheless. Go 7-1 or 8-0, and yes, I will be convinced that this is a team that can fight for a Big East title.

But go 4-4 or 3-5, which is a conceivable possibility, and this may be a team that has to fight to get into the NCAA Tournament.

And while I think that the former is a much more likely outcome than the latter, I caution Georgetown fans to take a wait-and-see approach before assuming that the Hoyas will be a title contender.

This post can also be seen here, where the author is the featured columnist for Georgetown.
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Greg Monroe may be living up to his potential

"Greg Monroe is one of the most talented players in the country."

Pretty tough to argue with that statement, isn't it? I mean, we are talking about a kid that is 6'11", left-handed, and an excellent passer with a solid jumper and a developing post game. That sentence alone is probably enough to get a player drafted.

But what if I were to say this:

"Greg Monroe is one of the best players in the country."

Up until last night, I would have argued that point feverishly.

Greg Monroe showed a glimpse of how good he can be last night.
(photo credit: Yahoo!)

Living in DC, I've seen Monroe play enough over the last year and change to be able to break down his game pretty effectively. He relies a little too much on his left (dominant) hand, especially when finishing a drive. His strength and athleticism can stand to be improved. He has god-given potential for days, but he needs to improve his back-to-the-basket game, adding more advanced moves and counter moves.

But he's 19.

What 19 year old is a finished product?

Not too many.

If Monroe keeps working hard, there is no reason he can't live up to that potential.

This issue with Monroe has always been his aggressiveness. His assertiveness. For all that potential, it was rare to see the big fella take a game over.

He did last night.

Monroe scored 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, shut down Matt Howard defensively, and, perhaps most importantly, took 20 shots from the floor, a career high.

"[Monroe] was playing with a real authoritative spirit," Butler head coach Brad Stevens said after the game. "He's a tough guy to guard."

Part of what makes Monroe's aggressiveness so important is his ability to pass. You want opponents to be forced to double team Monroe on the block. At 6'11", he can see over the defense and will find the open shooter or the cutter. The Hoyas have a savvy, unselfish basketball team that knows how to move the ball. If Monroe gets doubled and kicks the ball out, odds are good Georgetown is going to end up with a high percentage shot.


"Greg is an unselfish player," coach John Thompson III said after the game. "We have an unselfish team. We have a lot of people in that locker room that can score. The number of shots one takes is not important to this group. It is how we play and if it is the right shots and if we get victories. That is what important."

It is more than just scoring, however.

The Hoyas last season really struggled on the glass, especially at the defensive end. Butler is not a big team by any stretch of the imagination, but Georgetown dominated the boards last night, finished with a 43-30 rebounding and 12 offensive rebounds.

Monroe was also the biggest reason that Howard struggled so much. It was obvious watching the game that the reigning Horizon player of the year was cognizant of Monroe's presence as a shot blocker. He missed his first eight shots, the majority of which came right at the rim.

With as well as Monroe played, it is clear there is still room for improvement. He only made 9-20 shots, missing a number of easy lay-ups.

"If you had told me he was 9-for-20," Stevens said, "and he shot ten free throws and he ended up with 24 points, I would have said that's not all bad against us."

That will come with time. Monroe is still learning how to score in the post and how to handle being a guy that Georgetown needs to post a double-double every night.

But if you can go for 24 and 15, and people are saying you still have a great deal of room for improvement, what happens when you reach that threshold?

Only time will tell.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Power Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
There are the power forwards.

Best Freshman:

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
• DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
• Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova
• Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State
  

Best of the Rest:

• Samardo Samuels, Louisville
• Luke Babbitt, Nevada
• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
• Stanley Robinson, UConn
• Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech
• Deon Thompson, UNC
  

Top 10:

• 10. Matt Howard, Butler: Howard is a guy that doesn't get a lot of press playing for Butler. But make no mistake, Howard is as good as any four in the country. Howard is what you might refer to as a land warrior - he isn't going to outquick or outjump anyone in the country, but he is so strong. An excellent rebounder with a solid back to the basket game, Howard's strength offensively is his ability to seal and hold position in the post. He is the rock for a talented Butler team.
  


• 9. Damion James, Texas: A lot was expected out of James last season, but he didn't quite live up to the hype he received in the preseason. A big reason for that is James was asked to play more minutes on the perimeter with the emergence of a big front line for Texas. The biggest strength of James' game is his ability to rebound the ball on the offensive end and how well he cuts to the basket and finishes at the rim. His back to the basket game is decent, but playing more minutes on the perimeter will limit his touches inside. James is dangerous offensively because he is not only able to shoot the ball, but he has some ability to put the ball on the floor and go around a bigger defender. James is forever a tweener - not really big enough to be a four, but lacking the true perimeter skills to be a three.
  


• 8. Lazar Hayward, Marquette: Last year, all anyone talked about when it came to Marquette was their guard play. While those three were definitely talented, Hayward might have been the most valuable player on the roster as the only real big man. Hayward, who is a converted small forward, in dangerous because of his perimeter skills. Without much in the way of a post game, Hayward does his damage shooting the ball and taking advantage of the mismatches when a big forward guards him on the perimeter. Also an excellent rebounder, expect big numbers out of Hayward this year as Marquette's go-to player offensively.
  

Lazar Hayward is counting to be counted on heavily by Marquette.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• 7. Devin Ebanks, West Virginia: Ebanks is as raw as a prospect comes. In terms of tools, there are few forwards that match him. He has the wingspan of an albatross, can run the floor, has above average athleticism, and plays hard. All of that made him an excellent defender and rebounder, especially on the offensive end. But the rest of his game still needs to be developed. His ball handling ability is not much more than the one or two dribbles it takes to for to get to the rim. His jumper was so inconsistent last year that he himself actually decided that he would not longer shoot outside jumpers. But with Alex Ruoff gone, and an offseason of developing his skills, Ebanks should be ready to turn into one of the best forwards in the Big East.
  


• 6. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Aminu is another guy I'm not completely sold on. Right now, he relies almost exclusively on his tools. He is long, athletic, plays with energy, and has excellent body control. Last year he was at his best when he was able to get out in the open court and outrun the defense. His skills were quite raw, however. While his handle and his jump shot no doubt improved with an off-season of working out, Aminu has a long way to go before he can be considered "talented" skillwise and a threat in the half court. All that said, we are talking about a guy that averaged 12.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg on a team with a big front line, Jeff Teague, and James Johnson. Imagine what he will do as the first offensive option.
  

Al-Farouq Aminu will need to rely on more than just athleticism this season.
(photo credit: freewebs)

• 5. Trevor Booker, Clemson: Booker is one of the best athletes in the country. While there are a number of guys at the power forward position that have more talent than Booker, there are few that play with his aggressiveness and determination. Every second he is on the court, he is going hard - whether it is defensively, posting up, hitting the glass, cutting to the rim. Booker seems to have an endless supply of energy. He doesn't have the best back to the basket game, relying heavily on his physical tools (strength holding position, jumping over a defender) to score. Where he has become more effective, and where he needs to improve to make it at the next level, is in his perimeter game. If he can continue to get better putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket and keep improving his jump shot, Booker has a shot at winning the ACC player of the year award.
  


• 4. Greg Monroe, Georgetown: Monroe is the perfect fit for the Princeton offense that JTIII likes to run. Standing 6'11", Monroe has the offensive skills of a point forward. He can use the dribble to get to the basket, he can knock down a perimeter jumper, and he has excellent court vision and passing instincts. There are really three aspects of his game that Monroe needs to improve to become a dominant forward in the Big East. He needs to improve his ability with his right hand - he struggles dribbling and finishing in that direction. He needs to improve his strength and toughness in the paint offensively, defensively, and on the glass. Most importantly, he needs to be able to assert dominance on a game. There are few players with the talent that Monroe has, but how many times last season did you find yourself thinking "Greg Monroe has taken this game over"?
  


• 3. Craig Brackins, Iowa State: Brackins, at the college level, is a match-up nightmare. Standing 6'10", Brackins has the ball handling and the quickness to get by bigger defenders that try to come out and guard him on the perimeter. If you don't guard him, or if a smaller, quicker defender is on him, Brackins is a very dangerous shooter out to about 17 feet. Where Brackins has really developed during his first two seasons is with his toughness and his aggresiveness. He came with 17 rebounds of averaging a double-double last season, and has the makings of what could turn into a solid back-to-the-basket game.
  


• 2. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: Patterson proved last season to be one of the most dominant and efficient players in the country. Patterson's just 6'8", but his length, his athleticism, and his strength make him so difficult to handle on the block. He has a solid righty hook and an above average turn around jumper, but his ability in the post centers around how good he is at establishing position. He seals hard, and really understands how to use his body to hold off his defender. He showed some improved ball skills last season, and if he can develop a consistent jumper this season, Patterson will be near unstoppable this year.
  

Harangody's biggest improvement during his career has been his jumper.
(photo credit: basketme)

• 1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: If there is an argument against Luke Harangody as the best power forward in the country, I cannot think of it. The guy can average 25 and 12 this year, and I won't be surprised. By now, you should know Gody's game. An underwhelming athlete, Gody struggles going against bigger opponents with his back to the basket. But over the course of his career, the big fella has developed an excellent face-up game. He has developed range out beyond the three point line (and showed NBA three point range during the draft process). The biggest improvement in his game is his fitness - Gody looked as svelte and in shape as he ever has during the draft process.
  

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2009-2010 Team Preview: Georgetown Hoyas

This preview is brought to you by Trizzle, BIAH's resident Hoya fanatic.

2008-2009 Record: 16-15, 7-11 Big East (11th)

Key Losses: DaJuan Summers (13.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 39% 3-pt.), Jessie Sapp (6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 apg)

Key Returners: Greg Monroe (12.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 bpg, 1.9 spg), Chris Wright (12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.5 apg), Austin Freeman (11.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 apg)

Newcomers: Hollis Thompson, Vee Sanford, Jerrelle Benimon

Greg Monroe might be the most versatile big man in the country.
(photo credit: ESPN)

This is a very telling year for the Hoyas. Last year's collapse was a huge indication that this team was and still is very young. But with a year of college experience under his belt, Conference ROY Greg Monroe and the Hoyas have a chance to be a threat in a watered down Big East.

If DaJuan Summers had opted to return to Georgetown for his final year, the Hoyas would arguably be the best team in the conference. But without a legitimate power-forward, the Hoyas will struggle inside, even if Monroe is the offensive focal point. Greg Monroe is one of the most versatile players in the country. While he still needs to add some strength to be a dominant low-post force, Monroe has quite a variety of finesse moves down low. His biggest strength, especially in John Thompson III's system, is his perimeter ability. Monroe can knock down a perimeter shot, but when a big man at this level steps out to defend him, Monroe has enough handle to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim.

The reason that Monroe is so effective in this offense is his passing ability. Georgetown's Princeton offense is centered around getting the big man touches in the high post. When Monroe gets the ball here, his versatility takes over. He can find open shooters, attack a gap and kick the ball out, or hit a back door cutter. The Hoyas offense thrives on easy lay-ups off of back door cuts, and the fact that Monroe is able to make this pass is a huge reason that some people think Georgetown could be a top four team in the league.

Monroe however, won't be the only Hoya who will have gained experience from last year's rise and fall. Junior guard Chris Wright, the team's third leading scorer a year ago, will now be the full-time point guard with the graduation of Jessie Sapp. Wright will provide the technical style of JT3's offense with a dose of run-n-gun. He loves to get out in transition and is also improving on his outside shoot. The one flaw in Wright's game is his ball handling. His uptempo pace can sometimes get the best of him in the Hoya's meticulous offensive setup, as he averaged over 2 turnovers a game. Last season was a de facto freshman year for Wright, as the limited time he got his freshman season was hampered by injuries. Wright has the talent to be an elite point guard at this level, and look for him to have a breakout season this year.

Joining Wright in the backcourt will be shooting guard Austin Freeman. Freeman is going to play a pivotal role on offense. He is a terrific shooter but can use his fullback-like frame to get to the rim and muscle through defenders. Freeman is a good rebounder for his size, especially on the offensive end. This is important because the Hoyas were woefully inconsistent on rebounding last season (they ranked dead last in the conference in rebounding last season).

The Georgetown starting five for 2009-2010 gets interesting after Monroe, Wright, and Freeman. Last season, JTIII opted to go with a three guard line-up, although much of that was due to the youth and inexperience of his front line. With Jessie Sapp and DaJuan Summers now gone, the question now becomes does he go small again. If he does, there are really two options - sophomore Jason Clark and freshman Vee Sanford. Both have similar builds (long, slender, 6'3" athletes) and both play the game hard, Clark will be the better defender, while Sanford is more known for his shooting touch. Having both on the roster provides Thompson some versatility in the back court.

Up front, JTIII is going to have a decision to make. He lost Dajuan Summers to the NBA, leaving a big hole at the four spot. What made Summers dangerous was the fact that he was able to easily slide between the three and four spots, especially on the offensive end. Without him, Georgetown really doesn't have anyone to fill that role. Senior Julian Vaughn, who transferred to Georgetown from Florida State two years ago, was a highly touted recruit out of Oak Hill, but hasn't developed into much more than a bruiser at this level. Lefty Nikita Mescheriakov, a 6'7" junior, didn't really break into the rotation until midway through last season. It will be difficult for him to see major minutes up front as he is basically a shooter that struggles in the paint. The front court player with the most upside is Henry Sims, a 6'10" sophomore who was a top 50 recruit coming out of high school. Sims is long and athletic, but had difficulty adjusting to the physicality of the Big East. He showed some flashes by the end of the season, and if he can figure it out - the toughness, the Hoya's offense and defensive schemes - he and Monroe would form one of the more versatile front courts in the country.

Freshman Hollis Thompson, 6'6" small forward, is Georgetown's best recruit this season and could be the x-factor for this team. One of the things Georgetown as been missing the last couple of season's is a wing player with difference-making athleticism. They haven't had anyone that can come flying in for a tip dunk, or chase down a fast break and block a shot, or jump a passing lane and get an easy run out. Thompson can do those things, which is important not just because they are the plays that get teams and fans fired up, but because he is really the only guy on this team that can make those kinds of plays.

Outlook: It will be interesting to see where the Hoyas stack up in a not-as-beastly Big East conference. Georgetown's early season non-conference schedule is a mixed bag. They play some duds (Savannah St., Harvard, ODU, Lafayette, Mt. St. Marys), but participating in both the Jimmy V Classic (first round against Butler) and the John Wooden Classic (first round against Washington) along with games against Temple and Duke should give the Hoyas a ton of experience and time to be able to compete in the conference. The biggest issue for the Hoyas is going to be in the paint. They were, as I said, the worst rebounding team in the Big East last season, and lost their starting power forward. You know what you are going to get form them offensively (technical savvy) and defensively (tough, lock down defenders), but unless they can figure out a way to clean up the defensive glass, they are going to be one of the six or seven teams bunched up in the middle of the league.
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Hasheem Thabeet and DeJuan Blair Share Big East POY

Since I am covering the Big Easy tournament this week, I figured I would pass along this piece of relevant news. UConn's Hasheem Thabeet and Pitt's DeJuan Blair have been named co-Big East Players of the Year. It was the first time since 2001-2002 that the Big East POY was shared. That year, coincidentally, it was shared between a UConn and Pitt player as well - Caron Butler of the Huskies and Brevin Knight of the Panthers.

As you know, I chose Terrence Williams of Louisville as the BIAH Big East POY. I missed on that one, but I nailed the Coach of the Year and the Freshman of the Year as Jay Wright of Villanova and Greg Monroe of Georgetown, respectively, won those awards. Continue reading...