Preseason Preview: Georgetown

(Photo by Ryan Messier/Paint Touches)

The first official practices of the 18-19 college basketball season are in the books and Paint Touches is celebrating by counting down every Marquette opponent from worst to first. Each preview will contain a look at how the opponent did last season, who they lose, who they gain, reasonable expectations for their season, and our own prediction of how their matchup(s) with Marquette will go. This series will start with the most under of underdogs and progress all the way up to most unbeatable of opponents. We will be releasing one a day ending the day before Marquette’s exhibition with Carroll. That’s right, when this series ends, Marquette basketball will finally be here.

Team: Georgetown Hoyas
17-18 Record: 15-15 (5-13 in the Big East)
Postseason?: Nope
17-18 KenPom: 94
Date: January 15, 2019 & March 9, 2019
Location: Verizon Center (Washington D.C.) & Fiserv Forum
Coach: Patrick Ewing (2nd Season)
Projected KenPom Range: 50-100
Projected Conference Finish: 8/10 in the Big East

Departures from 17-18
Marcus Derrickson: Starting PF: 32.0 mpg, 15.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 2.2 tpg, .505 FG%, .465 3P% (Declared for draft, went undrafted)
Jonathan Mulmore: 1st Man off the Bench: 22.8 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.9 tpg, .459 FG%, .469 3P% (Graduated)
Trey Dickerson: 3rd Man off the Bench: 13.4 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.4 tpg, .427 FG%, .275 3P% (Graduated)
Chris Sodom: Benchwarmer: Appeared in 6 games (Dismissed then transferred to George Washington)
Ra’Mond Hines: Benchwarmer: Appeared in 6 games (Graduated)
Tre Campbell: Benchwarmer: Appeared in 0 games (Grad transferred to South Carolina)
32% of scoring, 29% of rebounding, 40% of assists, 44% of steals, 26% of blocks, 32% of 3PM

Arrivals:
James Akinjo: 4-star PG, ranked #90 by 247 Composite
Gregory Malinowski: Transfer SG from William & Mary
Josh LeBlanc: 4-star PF, ranked #123 by 247 Composite
Grayson Carter: 3-star PF, ranked #235 by 247 Composite
Mac McClung: 3-star PG, ranked #245 by 247 Composite
Trey Mourning: Backup PF, returns from redshirt
Jaden Robinson: Walk-on SG

Probable Starters:
PG: James Akinjo: 6’0” 180 lb FR: 4-star PG, ranked #90 by 247 Composite
SG: Jagan Mosely: 6’3” 215 lb JR: 23.2 mpg, 6.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.2 bpg, 2.0 tpg, .486 FG%, .389 3P%
SF: Kaleb Johnson: 6’6” 220 lb SR: 27.1 mpg, 7.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.7 bpg, 1.4 tpg, .542 PF: FG%, .340 3P%
PF: Jamorko Pickett: 6’8” 205 lb SO: 27.5 mpg, 9.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.6 bpg, 2.4 tpg, .363 FG%, .357 3P%
C: Jessie Govan: 6’10” 255 lb SR: 32.7 mpg, 17.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.1 bpg, 1.7 tpg, .508 FG%, .348 3P%

Probable Bench:
Jahvon Blair: 6’3” 189 lb SO PG
Gregory Malinowski: 6’6” 200 lb RSSR SG
Josh LeBlanc: 6’7” 230 lb FR PF
Antwan Walker: 6’9” 215 lb SO SF

Probable Benchwarmers:
Grayson Carter: 6’8” 220 lb FR PF
Mac McClung: 6’2” 185 lb FR PG
Trey Mourning: 6’9” 220 lb RSSR PF
George Muresan: 6’9” 210 lb JR PF
Jaden Robinson: 6’3” 180 lb FR SG
Omer Yurtseven: 7’0” 275 lb JR C (Redshirting due to NCAA transfer rules)

Notes:

• The first year of the Patrick Ewing reunion tour went better than most had projected but still not as well as Hoya fans would have liked. They started the season 12-4 (thanks in large part to a laughable non-conference slate) and two of those losses were in overtime to eventual NCAA teams. They finished 3-11 the rest of the way but played many teams tough and won games against quality opponents such as Seton Hall and Butler on the road. Gone from that team is arguably their second best player, Marcus Derrickson. Derrickson was a wide load with a pretty shot who created nightmare matchups for his opponents. With Derrickson being the only major loss and a solid crop of new players coming in, the Hoyas are expected to make a jump in 18-19, though probably aren’t ready to crawl out of the basement yet.
• With a coach like Ewing, it’s only appropriate that the Hoyas’ best player is their big man. Rising senior Jessie Govan averaged a double double last season. He’s overwhelming in the post but his ability to face the basket and shoot is what sets him apart from other true centers. He can hit baseline jumpers and shots from the elbow with relative ease, and even stepped outside to hit 16 three pointers last season with decent accuracy. Govan toyed with the idea of going pro with Derrickson but he decided to come back for his senior season. There is a solid argument for him being a Big East Player of the Year candidate, if only his team was projected to be a little better. Big East POYs typically come from the top 3 or 4 teams in conference and Govan’s supporting cast likely won’t be able to get him there.
• Point guard play was a big concern for Georgetown last season. Mulmore, the closest thing they had to a point guard, is now gone but he is being replaced by a top 100 freshman. James Akinjo was originally a UConn commit but left for greener pastures after Coach Ollie got his pink slip. He is an attack first point guard who should increase the scoring from the point position significantly. When he needs a break, returner Jagan Mosley is available. He has never shown the scoring chops but he is known as a solid perimeter defender and distributor.
• While Akinjo and Mosely will often play alongside each other, Georgetown features a pair of intriguing 2Gs who will likely be coming off the bench. Jahvon Blair earned a reputation as a microwave type player as a freshman, meaning he could score quick, fast, and in a hurry. He is a bit of a volume scorer so look for him to work on his efficiency this offseason, taking less but better shots. Gregory Malinowki is the opposite. A transfer from a sneaky good William & Mary squad, Malinowski is much more selective with his shots and can hit threes at a high rate. Malinowski hasn’t gotten a lot of press but he should make a significant impact off the bench for the Hoyas this season.
• Rounding out the starting five for Georgetown is a pair of lengthy wings. No one showed more improvement between the JT3 and Ewing era as Kaleb Johnson. The southern Virginia product barely cracked the rotation as an underclassman but was one of Ewing’s go to players last season. He was a very efficient scorer and a disruptive defender. His fellow wingman is rising Sophomore Jamorko Pickett. He was the crown jewel of Ewing’s first ever recruiting class and showed it in his first year in the program. Despite being 6’8”, Jamorko did most of his work on the perimeter, making 56 of his 95 made FGs from beyond the arc. His 2P shooting left a lot to be desired and he was never much of a presence on the boards. With both Derrickson and Govan in the lineup, Pickett’s long and tall frame was allowed to play at the 3 position which created some tough defensive matchups for opponents. With Derrickson gone and his replacements being true freshmen, Pickett may find himself playing in the post more often. How he transitions from wing to stretch forward will determine how successful his season is.

Prediction:
• A season ago, Marquette beat Georgetown handily at home, before winning in OT in DC after giving up the world’s easiest game tying bucket in regulation. Both teams will be better than their 17-18 versions. The difference between the two may rest at the PG position. True freshmen Akinjo is a talent but he has never faced a scorer like Markus Howard before. Howard goes off for 25+ in both contests, Marquette easily winning at home. Marquette goes into the second contest highly ranked but walks out of DC with a stunning defeat. At Georgetown is our pick for next season’s “what the heck?” conference loss.