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The BIG EAST hosted their annual men’s basketball media day today, virtually. Earlier, the BIG EAST released scheduling news for December, the coaches poll, and Patrick Ewing spoke to the media.
Later in the day, Jamorko Pickett and Qudus Wahab were made available to the media by Georgetown.
The @GeorgetownHoyas are embracing the underdog mentality.
— #BIGEASThoops (@BIGEASTMBB) October 28, 2020
“We have a special group here.” - @JamorkoP1 on @GeorgetownHoops #BEmediaday pic.twitter.com/f8ldGXjxTi
Hoyas senior Jamorko Pickett with a great line:
— Bobby Bancroft (@BobbyBancroft) October 28, 2020
This isn't tennis. We need everyone.
Hoyas soph big Qudus Wahab says he's comfortable playing both the 4 and the 5.
— Bobby Bancroft (@BobbyBancroft) October 28, 2020
This would allow Wahab and Tim Ighoefe to play together at times.
Aidan Curran of Hoyas 247 also has a nice thread of notes:
Qudus Wahab on what he worked on this offseason: "Coach told me what I needed to do. Coach told me I need to do what I did last year but do it on a better level."
— Hoyas247 (@Hoyas247) October 28, 2020
Including an answer to his very poignant question:
Qudus Wahab says that the team has been working a lot more on drop coverage in pick-and-roll defense so far since they've been practicing.
— Hoyas247 (@Hoyas247) October 28, 2020
That would seem notable. Last year's centers played hedge a lot of the time when guarding the PNR.
From GUHoyas Press Release:
Senior Jamorko Pickett
On John Thompson Jr.’s legacy and the John Thompson Award ...”I think, coming from Georgetown and the big deal surrounding the passing of Coach Thompson is huge and holds a lot of weight. We want to go as far as we can this year in honor of his passing. As [Qudus Wahab] said, he has been a father figure to a lot of players that have come through here and he has given me a lot of encouraging speeches to help lift me at times that I was done or started to not believe in myself or what was going on here at Georgetown.”
On his role and the versatility of the team this year…”I think I pretty much can play every position. Maybe not point guard or center, but 2, 3 or the 4 I think. It is pretty much the matchups and how [Coach Ewing] feels that we should be playing ... This is a very versatile team, we have a lot of different guys that can play a lot of different positions.”
Sophomore Qudus Wahab
On playing for a former center in Patrick Ewing …”It has been great. I have been learning a lot from him since last year. Defensively, he’s telling me what to do. Offensively, he’s telling me what to do. I have been watching a lot of his tapes just to learn more from him. It has been great so far.”
On John Thompson Jr.’s legacy and the John Thompson Award ...”It says a lot because John Thompson has been a great father figure to a lot of players that have come to this school. It’s just a great way to honor him this year and play for him.”
On taking precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic ...”For me, it just reminds me of what Coach says - ‘we have to be unselfish.’ The COVID-19 rules like wearing a mask and saying six feet apart. Just not to jeopardize the season because of any positive tests or anything like that. So we have just tried to do that for the past few months and it has been good so far.”
HOYA SAXA