Jan. 30, 2006
They're not feeling their way through things. They're not looking to others to show them the way.
That much was told of them when they stepped on campus last year.
When the current Georgetown University sophomore class--guards Tyler Crawford and Jonathan Wallace, forward Jeff Green and center Roy Hibbert --got to the Hilltop last year, they were thrust into roles they may not have anticipated.
Since it was the first year under John Thompson III, the head coach leaned on his newcomers.
And while it may not be typical to expect so much of your freshman class, they did not shy away from the responsibility that was thrust upon them.
As a matter of fact, they kind of enjoyed it.
So much so that now, a year later, it's made them even more indispensable.
Last year, that quartet combined for 81 starts and each of them appeared in every game. They were key players in Georgetown's turnaround from a team that won 13 games in 2003-04 to a team that won 19 in 2005-06 and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
In the midst of the 2005-06 season, with Georgetown 10-4 through 14 games, three of those sophomores--Green, Hibbert and Wallace--have started every game, while Crawford has been a key figure off the bench.
Wallace, who originally was looking at Princeton, came to the Hilltop after Thompson became the head coach. He has started every game since his arrival.
"I think since we came in last year, with a new coach, he put a lot of responsibility on us," Wallace said. "It may have been a lot for such a young group of guys, but that adversity made us grow a little faster than expected.
"Having to take those challenges, day-in and day-out in practice and off the floor, brought us closer as a class and as a team. I think they (the upperclassmen) respect us, even though we're younger."
That respect is evident, especially in Green's case. Last year, Green, who is one of two players among the group to start every game, was named the BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year after averaging 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. When practice started this year, he was named one of the team's captains, along with senior guard Ashanti Cook.
"It was a surprise," he explained. "The team follows behind me in a lot of ways, so I have to go show it every day. It's a big thing (being named captain). There's a lot of history here, so there's a lot to follow. I'm really proud of it, especially being a sophomore."
And despite being just sophomores, the coaching staff has leaned on those four to show the way for the newcomers.
"I feel like we're older because we've had to accept more," Hibbert said. "On the road, the coaches paired us with the freshmen. We've been able to show them the ropes and how we do things. On the court, we make sure to talk a lot to one another and it's brought us together."
Having success on the court has also brought them together with their teammates. Echoing the words of their coach, the sophomores know that they still have to work hard. For the Hoyas to be successful, the team needs to work hard in practice and carry that to the floor.
"It feels great, but every day, what we do in practice determines how successful we are," Crawford said. "As long as we play hard in practice, that's all that matters. Not everyone does things in games, so me shooting a three or Jeff (Green) posting up and scoring all comes from hard work in practice.
"You just watch and learn and pay attention to details."
And those details are what have helped the Hoyas get off to a strong start this season. Much of that success goes to the sophomore class.
Hibbert leads the team in scoring (12.8 points per game), was second in rebounding (5.9 per game) and has a team-high 29 blocked shots. Green has been a Mr. Everything, averaging 10.1 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds, and is second on the team with 3.0 assists. Wallace has quietly gone about his way, averaging 9.1 points and a team-best 3.3 assists while hitting a team-high 25 three-pointers. Crawford, meanwhile, doesn't have the numbers of his classmates, but has made key contributions when called upon.
"It's a lot more exciting this year," Wallace said. "We have a lot more continuity and guys know each other. Things are flowing a lot better."
"We give it our all every time we're out there," Hibbert said. "There's no bad talk on this team. We didn't have that last year and we don't have it this year. That's how teams lose--if someone is thinking about himself."
The drive to win and bring Georgetown back to the top of the BIG EAST is what drives them, just like their coach.
"I love it," Crawford said. "He's my style of coach--he wants to win. I've always played for winning teams and I don't want it to stop in college." And while they are still just sophomores, the quartet has come out and played like they have been around here for years. They still know that they have a lot to learn, but they also know that a lot is expected.
"You have to go out and play each game and play it hard," Green explained. "Every game is not easy and it can wear you down. It's a long season too, so you have to go out each day and keep playing.
"You have to keep your mind focused on what you have to do. Sure, there's a lot of pressure on us, but we're used to it and we'll do whatever we can to help this team."
By Mike "Mex" Carey
Sports Information Director
