LINKS: Conference Rivals Begin Practice

Last season, your Georgetown Hoyas were the last team in the BIG EAST conference to begin practices. This year, as conference rivals proudly announce the start of their formal workout programs—with abundant press coverage, of course—there’s no easy way for fans to know if Patrick Ewing and his team have held their first practice of the season, yet.

Moreover, anyone holding their breath for a Midnight Madness announcement is probably bound to turn a new shade of Hoya Blue right now. People close to the program, however, have indicated that COVID has forced a cautious cancelation to another fun event for fans and recruits in the form of a Hoya Madness. Still, there are some loud whispers that a couple really interesting early events are on the horizon, so stay tuned.

Fans gladly welcome any more news from the folks at McDonough—even if it’s simply promotions at the AD’s office.

While asking the Georgetown program for more media availability and information may be often likened to trying to draw blood from a stone, fans did get some social media news about a schedule change yesterday! The Siena game is moved from Saturday to Friday night. Hooray.

All kidding aside, there is a very big opportunity for Georgetown fans to attend the opening game against Dartmouth for FREE—only requesting tickets if you’re sure to go (please don’t ruin this, scalpers). To request your free ticket for the Hoyas’ home opener on November 13th, fill out the form at wearegeorgetown.com/freehoyasgame. Some more info can be here, and it appears that Season Ticket Holders do not need to fill out this form—they will have another.

The season is right around the corner! HOYA SAXA!

Here are the links:

These are the top 10 returning 3-point shooters in men’s college basketball | NCAA

3. Kaiden Rice, Georgetown 3-point field goals per game in 2020-21: 3.68 Rice transferred from The Citadel to Georgetown in the offseason after a senior season in which he shot a career-high 10.8 threes per game, making 3.7 on average, which was a 34.8-percent clip. Rice has shot 34.5 percent from deep for his career, so his senior-season average was roughly in line with his career average, even as his attempts increased.

Rice finished the season averaging 17.6 points per game — an increase of almost six points per game from his junior season. Rice’s most prolific 3-point shooting game last season came in The Citadel’s season opener when he shot 9-for-18 from deep against Piedmont. Last season, Georgetown shot 36.5 percent from deep, which ranked 54th nationally, per kenpom.com, so Rice will be a welcome fit with the Hoyas.

Burning questions for all 11 Big East teams | BIGEASTCOASTBIAS

Donald Carey got a good amount of playing time last season, as did Dante Harris, who earned Big East Tournament MVP honors as a freshman. Both guards averaged 8.0 points last season, and it will be interesting to see how they take a step up. Timothy Ighohefe got some burn in the rotation, but the 7-foot center should see a huge uptick in minutes after averaging just 9.1 minutes last season.

The Hoyas also have some newcomers that should make an impact right away. Graduate transfer Kaiden Rice comes to Georgetown after a successful career at The Citadel and will bolster the Hoyas’ perimeter game. Tre King comes in after three years at Eastern Kentucky and should add to the frontcourt.

However, out of all the new additions, most of the buzz will be around Aminu Mohammed, the crown jewel of the incoming freshman class. Mohammed is Ewing’s first five-star commit and was a McDonald’s All-American. He should be an impact player right away and possibly an early front-runner for Big East Freshman of the Year.

Detroit Pistons roster set (for now) with Luka Garza, Jamorko Pickett contracts | PISTONPOWERED

Their ceiling is: Garza likely becoming a legitimate backup center in the league and Pickett turning into a rotation player. Since these are not kids, you can expect to see Garza and Pickett in action for the Pistons sooner than most rookies if needed. They have a lot more experience under their belt than the average first-year player.

Hurley, Huskies ready to turn the page | JOURNALINQUIRER

“We have to be a top-15, top-10 team defensively in the country. We have to be one of the top rebounding teams in the country,” Hurley said. Of course, Bouknight’s biggest contribution last season was scoring in bunches. The Huskies will need points, after all.

“We feel like there’s multiple guys that give us 15 (points) or more on a night. Our depth, our balance on offense, the amount guys that can beat you on a given night has got to replace the dynamic James. I don’t see that as being a problem because we return so many guys and we’ve got some talented new guys,” Hurley said. Which of those players gets the chance to contribute will be determined over the next few weeks of practice, the coach said.

Other than identifying center Adama Sanogo as the team’s best player right now and saying point guard R.J. Cole is perhaps close to assured of a primary role, Hurley said the field is rather wide open.

Seton Hall basketball: 5 pressing preseason questions for 2021-22 | APP

On paper, the Pirates possess enough firepower for a sixth NCAA Tournament campaign under Willard. Here are five pressing questions as the curtain rises on the 2021-22 preseason.

1. Can this team stay healthy enough? Prized freshman Brandon Weston is still on the way back from ACL surgery last winter; he’ll likely suit up, but it’s unclear when. Sophomore guard Jahari Long has a knee injury. Syracuse transfer Kadary Richmond missed some time over the summer. Bryce Aiken’s past is injury-riddled, though he had a good offseason. The Hall’s rotten luck on this front continues to hover like a dark cloud.

Syracuse Basketball: Despised Big East rival in the fray for big-man target | INSIDETHELOUDHOUSE

Talented and under-rated 2023 big man Papa Kante continues to see his list of scholarship offers expand, presenting an even greater challenge for Syracuse basketball to win out for the 6-foot-10 power forward/center. Kante, a top-125 prospect nationally in his class, landed an offer from the Orange last month while attending the team’s annual Elite Camp. As we’ve documented, the ‘Cuse doled out several offers at its Elite Camp. For Kante, two of his newest offers are from long-time Big East Conference adversary Georgetown and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Miami, according to recruiting services.

Court is back in session for excited Cooley, Friars | THESUNCHRONICLE

Best of all, according to Cooley, is the experience that he will put on the floor, having no less than a half-dozen players that transferred into Friartown from other Division I programs — Al Durham (Indiana), Justin Minaya (South Carolina), Brycen Goodine (Syracuse), Ed Croswell (LaSalle), Jared Bynum (St. Joseph’s) and Horchler (North Florida).

“I’m excited to coach a very, very veteran team, it’s an exciting time for us,” said Cooley, who is starting his 11th season. “I’m happy and, hopefully, the Friars can have a great experience and lead us to a place where we haven’t been in a long time. “It started this summer, we had an opportunity to have everybody here (for summer sessions of academics and athletics), so the chemistry was there,” he added. “When you have veteran guys like that, it’s easy for the terminology to pick up.

Wildcats Conduct First Full Practice - Villanova University | VILLANOVA

“The way the NCAA has it set up now, where we can get our short workouts in during the summer, it’s not really the same start it was years ago,” stated Wright. “I feel like we’ve been in a little bit of a rhythm. But we did get our first full-length practice today and we will be able to get practices back-to-back now. “This was a good first day. We’ve got a good group. Our assistants did a good job with this group in the summer while I was away. We’re in a good place. I think we have a really difficult early season schedule. We can be prepared for an early difficult schedule.”

Wright talked about the return of graduate students Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels, both of whom graduated in May. The pair elected to return for an extra season of eligibility in the aftermath of injuries that hampered each of them at points in 2020-21.

“It is a luxury to have them back,” said Wright. “Those guys know what we’re doing, they’re teaching our younger guys. It’s the same way for guys like Brandon Slater and Justin Moore. They’ve been around. It makes practice a lot more enjoyable as a coach. You can be more patient with the younger guys. I think it makes it more enjoyable for everybody.”