2006-2007 Big East Preview: #1

#1- Georgetown Hoyas

Last season: 23-10 (10-6), lost to Florida in the Sweet 16.
Coach: John Thompson III (3rd year). 42-23 at Georgetown.

After spending years in the shadow of his father, John Thompson III is emerging as one of the best coaches in America. After recruiting one of the best classes in the country, Thompson and Georgetown are primed for success in 2006-2007. With a lot of returning talent going along with this recruiting class, the Hoyas will be thrilling the Verizon Center crowds all season long.

This year's recruiting class includes transfer Patrick Ewing Jr. Thompson? Ewing? Is this a flashback to 1984? In all seriousness, JTIII has a gem in the younger Ewing. He will provide rebounding and help out 7-2 center Roy Hibbert in the paint. Also included in this class are DaJuan Summers, Vernon Macklin (22.4 ppg in high school), and Jeremiah Rivers, son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers. This talented bunch will be the toast of Washington for the next few years.

Two very talented frontcourt players return for Thompson this year in Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. Both of them have the potential to be All-American selections. I am not totally sold on Hibbert yet, as every time I saw him play last season he did not impress. However, another year under his belt should help him tremendously. The strength of this Georgetown team will be up front. Freshman Vernon Macklin will also look to contribute up front.

Jonathan Wallace and Jeremiah Rivers will see a good amount of time in the backcourt. Wallace, who averaged 7.9 ppg last year, will have to be a pass first point guard, looking to get the ball down on the low blocks where Hibbert, Green, Macklin, and Ewing can take care of it. Rivers will experience some growing pains, but he will be a solid player for the Hoyas in the years to come.

Georgetown has a fairly easy non-conference schedule, aside from a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium and Ann Arbor, Michigan. In Big East play, they will have two games against Villanova, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. A 5-1 record in those six games is not an unrealistic goal for Georgetown, considering how much talent is on the roster. All in all, I expect Georgetown to be the class of the Big East and compete for a national title.

Schedule and predictions:

11/11 vs. Hartford- W
11/15 @ Vanderbilt- W
11/19 vs. Old Dominion- W
11/22 @ Fairfield- W
11/27 vs. Ball State- W
11/29 vs. Oregon- W
12/2 @ Duke- L
12/5 vs. James Madison- W
12/9 vs. Oral Roberts- W
12/16 vs. Winston-Salem State- W
12/20 vs. Towson- W
12/23 vs. Navy- W
12/30 @ Michigan- W
1/6 vs. Notre Dame- W
1/8 vs. Villanova- W
1/13 @ Pittsburgh- L
1/17 @ Rutgers- W
1/19 @ Seton Hall- W
1/24 vs. DePaul- W
1/27 vs. Cincinnati- W
2/1 @ St. John's- W
2/7 @ Louisville- W
2/10 vs. Marquette- W
2/12 vs. West Virginia- W
2/17 @ Villanova- W
2/21 @ Cincinnati- W
2/24 vs. Pittsburgh- W
2/26 @ Syracuse- W
3/3 vs. Connecticut- W

Projected record: 27-2 (15-1).
Postseason: NCAA Final Four.