Greg Monroe's homecoming forms the backdrop where Georgetown is hoping for a few more things to find its way back home: namely, the team play and inner confidence that set the Hoyas soaring in John Thompson's first four years at the Hilltop. With a new season comes a fresh start, but more than a few will be watching to see if the Hoyas' "blip" in 2009 was an aberration or something deeper in the program that will test it in 2010.

Its opponent is a small but quick Tulane team that will seek to take full advantage of its home court advantage. Much like last season's NIT finale against Baylor, Georgetown must guard against a defensive surge that throws its offense off stride and with it, elevate the chance for the biggest upset for the Green Wave in a decade.

Tulane returns three starters from last season's 14-17 record, with guard play figuring to carry much of the laid this season. 5-10 Kevin Sims was the most productive player for TU last season, averaging 13 points on 42 percent shooting, 51 threes, and an 81 percent mark from the foul line. Sims scored 17 in an exhibition tune-up with neighboring Loyola, but it was the play of guard Kris Richard that has Green fans excited.

Richard scored 27 points on 9-11 shooting and five threes in the game, and if Richard can offload some of the defensive pressure off Sims and have a big game, Tulane can stay close with anyone, including Georgetown. An able two point shooter (55 percent), Richard's 2008-09 three point range was poor (28 percent), so a 5-5 effort in an exhibition raises a lot of hopes for better things to come this season. Richard led the team in steals (59) in 2008-09, but also in turnovers (76).

Tulane's troubles this year will be up front, starting no one taller than 6-7 and liable for some real trouble underneath the basket. With 6-5 juco transfer Aaron Holmes likely to set up outside, 6-7 David Booker will start only his second game Friday night and look to improve on a 2.3 rebounds per game average last season. 6-7 Asim McQueen averaged 5.4 per game and is the team's leading returning rebounder. The Green Wave return seven off the bench, with Illinois state transfer Eric Vianney as a capable sixth man in the backcourt. Its tallest player, 6-9 Jon Anderson, averaged less than a point or rebound in 14 games last season, so the Wave cannot afford foul trouble in this one.

Georgetown will try to return to form by reemphasizing Monroe inside and start to see if Henry Sims or Julian Vaughn is up to the task at hand. Also worth watching: jason Clark. The 6-2 sophomore enters the starting lineup this year and will need to improve his three point shooting (34 percent), which failed him late in the season.

Some keys to the game:

1. Who's Sixth? Which players will make an early impact off the bench? Look for a pair of freshmen, Hollis Thompson and Vee Sanford, to have a good start. 
2. Good shooting: When its percentage shooting trailed the opponent, Georgetown was 1-9 last season. The Princeton offense doesn't give either team second chances.
3. Offensive rebounds : Last year's Hoyas allowed 12.9 offensive rebounds a game. Not this year.

For Tulane to win, it leverages its quickness and a hot hand from Sims and Richard to rattle the Hoyas, benefiting from any foul trouble on monroe and a shaky stand-in from Sims. Georgetown will look to its veterans--juniors Chris Wright and Austin freeman, to step up and steer the ship forward. As said last year, Georgetown's opening games are generally closer than expected, but the outcome is what matters, and fans should be patient. It's a long season, but hopefully not as long as the last one.