At a quarter past six Thursday night, as he fought traffic, icy conditions and the general feelings of malaise that accompany a nightly commute home in pitch-black December-evening darkness, Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III was asked to pick one thing on which his team could improve following his Hoyas’ sloppy 70-60 win over unranked Alabama the night before. “I could give you a laundry list,” the fourth-year coach said, holding an impromptu press conference on his cell phone as he drove. “But if I had to pick one I would say turnovers. Turning the ball over early.” His fifth-ranked team had indeed shown a penchant for letting the ball slip away – 15 times to be exact. Even senior point guard Jon Wallace – Thompson’s ever-steady floor hand – finished the game with more turnovers than assists. But Thompson, both literally and figuratively, was focused on the road ahead. The next obstacle in undefeated Georgetown’s path is a 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon tip with the floundering Jacksonville Dolphins – a team that as of Thursday was riding a four-game losing streak. Head Coach Cliff Warren’s Dolphins – whose four wins have come against Clark Atlanta, Savannah State, South Carolina State and Concordia – appear to be yet another creampuff in the Hoyas’ buffet of early season cupcakes. But outside of a 74-52 manhandling of Michigan, Georgetown has yet to fully dominate a lesser opponent, and Thompson could care less. “As a fan, you look and want to see the game over in the first five minutes – you want a blowout,” Thompson said. “But the thing is that there is a lot of parity in college basketball now. The gap is shrinking with each year. I’m not looking for a blowout. I am looking for us to improve and get better.” Sophomore forward DaJuan Summers is the one man who has continued to improve through the early season. Summers has accounted for 35 points over the past two games including a game-high 18 against the Crimson Tide. Although he has been impressed by his forward’s scalding streak, Thompson wants to see his second-year stud turn up the heat on D. “DaJuan is shooting and rebounding well, and that is what I expect out of him,” Thompson said. “He’s going to continue to score points and continue to make rebounds but I want him to be able to be a great team defender as well.” Jacksonville – a school that counts Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith and former slam-dunk contest-winner Dee Brown amongst its alumni – prides itself on an overpowering press defense. But after an exhausting four-game, eight-day road trip, sophomore guard Ben Smith – who has a team-high 15 steals – and freshman forward Ayron Hardy – who leads the team with 10 blocks – may be worn thin. Sunday’s game at Verizon Center will be the team’s second against a ranked opponent. Jacksonville began its barnstorming with a Dec. 1 spat with then-No. 13 Michigan State in East Lansing, returned to the Sunshine State to grapple with the Gators in Gainesville two days later and will play American Friday night in Friendship Heights as part of their weekend in the nation’s capital. “You’ve got to give Jacksonville credit,” Florida head coach Billy Donovan said after the Gators’ 88-72 win. “We knew that this was going to be a tough game. Coach Warren and his staff have done a great job with that program after winning one game two years ago.” Thompson believes Jacksonville’s withering press will be a good tune-up for his team’s Dec. 22 showdown with Memphis at the FedEx Forum. The Tigers run a similar full-court scheme and will try to throw the Hoyas off-balance. Thompson knows Warren – who grew up in Silver Spring, Md., and played at nearby Mount St. Mary’s – will have the fledgling Fins ready and willing. “They aren’t coming in here bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,” Thompson said as he hurried home to catch his beloved Washington Redskins take on the Chicago Bears. “They have played some quality opponents and they believe in what they are doing. They are a well-coached team, and they play hard and they play together. We have to come ready to play.”