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Freshman center Greg Monroe

Heading into the Hoyas’ season opener against Jacksonville, many of the questions surrounding the team were justifiably focused on sophomore guard Chris Wright and freshman center Greg Monroe, and while the team’s newest starters had excellent individual performances, their ability to jell with the rest of the squad should most encourage the Hoya faithful.

The season’s first points came on a textbook Wright to Monroe pick and roll, and the duo hooked up on the same play a few minutes later so effortlessly that it looked as if they had been playing together for years.

Even without a sweet Wright feed, Monroe’s efficiency and confidence on offense looked nothing like your usual college debut. As a 6-foot-11 center, perhaps it is not surprising, but Monroe’s offensive strength was in his diversity.

Georgetown’s newest highly touted big man did show off the kind of power dunking Hoya fans have grown accustomed to, but he also put the ball on the floor and attempted a wide array of post moves, from teardrops to spinning layups. Jacksonville Head Coach Cliff Warren extolled Monroe’s offensive talents saying, “He can face up. He can pass. He can think the game. He’s just a very poised young man.”

Not all of his shots fell, but when they did not, Monroe was quick to grab the rebound and try, try again.

Commenting on how the debut went for his boys, John Thompson III was perhaps most critical of the team’s failures to get Monroe the ball.

“We have to get the ball in his hands,” the coach said. Bemoaning the team’s inability to get the ball in to the big guy has been a familiar Thompson refrain, and while 14 points sounds good for a freshman’s first game, Thompson’s disappointment reveals how crucial Monroe is in his plans for the team.

As was evident from both coaches’ postgame interviews, Monroe is central to the Hoyas’ offense, and the freshman seemed totally comfortable with the role. Even in the game’s first five minutes he was emphatically calling for the ball down low and creating his own looks.

Defensively, Monroe set the tone early with three first-half blocks, but it was his defensive position and coverage that was most impressive. He did a good job one-on-one with talented Dolphins forward Marcus Allen, but Monroe was also quick to help the defense and even quicker to find his man and flow back into the defense when help was no longer needed.

The freshman center’s seven rebounds also don’t tell the full story in the paint. With junior forward DaJuan Summers relying on his vertical leap and fouling rather than positioning to grab a meager four rebounds, Monroe’s strong effort on the boards was the Hoyas’ lone bright spot on the glass. When Monroe was on the bench, his efforts were sorely missed, and if the Hoyas don’t find another big man willing to be aggressive on the boards, Monroe’s rebounding may be the make-or-break factor in close games.

Sophomore guard Chris Wright’s offensive performance was also promising. With only one turnover and four assists, Wright certainly took care of the ball. Though he was an abysmal 3-of-8 from the free-throw line and Thompson was critical of his reliance on the three-ball in the second half, Wright’s five-of-eight shooting carried the offense when senior guard Jessie Sapp and sophomore guard Austin Freeman struggled from the field.

When anyone not named Chris Wright put the ball on the floor, a turnover seemed imminent. As much as Monroe’s time on the bench hurt the team’s rebounding, when the quick point guard was off the floor, watching the Hoyas try to beat the press or penetrate off the dribble was often painful.

Wright even seemed like the field general on defense, chastising his teammates after fouls and even calling for huddles during stoppages. Jessie Sapp showed his leadership down the stretch with a clutch steal and perfect foul shooting, but the young point guard was the vocal leader for much of the game.

As is his custom, Thompson emphasized the areas for growth that he saw in his young Hoyas, but even after an ugly opener, seeing the team’s two biggest question marks in action makes the uncertain future of the 2008-2009 Hoyas seem a little bit brighter.

Discussing his teammates’ performance, Wright pointed out: “Greg has a lot on his shoulders.” So does Wright, but for now, they both seem up to the task.

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