It's time for change at Georgetown and that starts with John Thompson III (Credits: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) |
Frustrating is a word used to describe a situation that may infuriate, upset, anger, annoying an individual. Frustrating is also not a word appropriate enough to describe the Georgetown Hoyas.
Not just this year, no not just this year. This team has been built on frail foundations, coached by a guy who is only in his position because his father is the greatest coach in the school's history. They play an outdated system that folds their athletic, high talent players into a little box that they can't escape. Put them down 10, they can't come back. Put them in a late game situation, they crumble. Make them sweat on the offensive end and they're colder than the Arctic. Georgetown needs a facelift.
It won't happen though. John Thompson III is going nowhere, not while his father still sits next to the bench and still consults the team. Not when his father's resume still includes the only National Championship in school's history. Not when his own shiny record of 209-88 includes three regular season Big East Championships, one Big East Tournament title and one epic Final Four run. On paper there's really no reason to fire him. But basketball isn't played on paper. And basketball hasn't embarrassed himself by losing to Florida Gulf Coast, Ohio, VCU and N.C. State before they even reach the Sweet Sixteen.
For Thompson, Jeff Green is not going to magically reappear. There's no 7'2" Roy Hibbert or a quick, explosive guard named Jonathan Wallace walking through the door. You're not going to recreate that tournament run ever again. There was too magic involved, too much right place, right time going on. This system has given the Georgetown nothing but embarrassing upsets, shattered brackets and broken dreams in the last five years. I don't care about the regular season Big East title or the fact we thrashed bitter rival Syracuse both times this season. How does that matter after you get shellacked by a team who just received Division 1 eligibility three years ago? Pure disgrace.
I know Georgetown is a Jesuit, private, mostly conservative University, but dear lord can we just get rid of this Princeton offense and let these boys run and gun. I don't blame the players at all, they're just trying to do there job. A team can't rely on one player to carry them for every single contest of a 40-plus game season. This system can help get the most of out of a high energy, solid all-around guy like Nate Lubick, but it's just completely handcuffs shooters like Markel Starks and D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera. Not only is it mind-bogglingly boring to watch, but it doesn't work. The proof is in the pudding with all these embarrassing losses in the first and second rounds.
So either JTIII or his Princeton offense goes. It's time to step out of the time machine, Georgetown.
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