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Georgetown Basketball: July 2007 News Archive

Pan Am Games Wrap-Up 7/30/07 

Following two losses that eliminated them from medal contention, the U.S. men's basketball team rebounded with three wins to close out the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janiero this past weekend.

On Friday, the U.S. upset a strong Argentina team, 74-71, followed by an 84-58 win over the U.S. Virgin Islands and a 77-74 win over Panama in the 5th place final.

Roy Hibbert's stats varied considerably in these games. Against Argentina, he scored only three points on 1-6 shooting, was 5-7 for 11 points against the U.S Virgin Islands team, then played only 11 minutes in the Panama game, shooting 1-1 and finishing with four points and six rebounds.

Among other Georgetown connections, Andrew Campbell (F'06) earned a gold medal in sailing. His web site, www.campbellsailing.com, provided regular updates during the games.

Mutombo's Travels 7/30/07 

The off-season is a time for travel for many NBA players, none more so than Dikembe Mutombo (SLL'91). The travel magazine Concierge.com provides a recent discussion with Mutombo on his international journeys.

"I have a passion for travel," Mutombo said. "I love to see the world and learn the history of other cultures. Every year, my children and I take a trip to South America or Europe. They love southern France. You can get on a boat and cruise the Mediterranean. Daddy leaves the phone behind. It's great to get away from everybody."

Mutombo also gets a mention in an ESPN.com column listing some of the good news in sports that gets passed over among recent headlines. "I'd list all the other things Mutombo does for charity," said Gene Wojciechowski, "but I've got a 900-word column limit."

Pan Am Games: Panama 75, U.S. 67 7/27/07 

Roy Hibbert scored 19 points and nine rebounds to lead his team, but it was not enough as the U.S. men dropped their second straight game in the Pan American Games, a 75-67 loss to Panama. Hibbert's inside effort powered the U.S. to a 45-36 rebounding edge, but 37% percent shooting proved the team's downfall, losing a 14 point lead early in the second quarter to fall behind by as many as 13 in the third quarter.

As a result of the loss, the U.S. will not advance to the medal round, and ends play Friday versus Argentina. Links from the USA Basketball.com site covering the team are found below.

Pan Am Games: Uruguay 81, U.S. 72 7/26/07 

The U.S. team lost its opening round game in the Pan American games to Uruguay, 81-72. Roy Hibbert scored nine points but played only 14 minutes due to early foul trouble. Overall, the U.S. team shot 41% from the field but only 3-21 from three point range.

Links from the USA Basketball.com site covering the team are found below.

Big East Scheduling Discussed 7/25/07 

Scheduling for sixteen teams is difficult enough, but this article from CSTV.com illustrates the particular challenges the Big East faces in developing a fair yet competitive schedule that will consider fan interest as well as that of TV.

"Nine of our teams play some or all of their home games at an arena that they share with a pro team," said Big East associate commissioner Tom Odjakjian, noting that dates and times cannot be set until August.

Mescheriakov Sets Off-Season Goals 7/21/07 

Freshman forward Nikita Mescheriakov is the subject of a feature article at MDVarsity.com discussing his offseason efforts to prepare for the upcoming season.

"I am working out two, three days a week with the players at Georgetown," said Mescheriakov. "My goal is to play 5 or 10 minutes a game next season."

Coach Thompson Debuts Blog Page 7/21/07 

In conjunction with America Online's AIM Pages, a social networking site similar to News Corp's MySpace.com, head coach John Thompson III has debuted a blog-style page which will be updated throughout the season.

"Throughout the year, I hope that I'll be able to post messages to fans so you can learn a little more about what we do and who we are," Thompson posted on his page. "There will be photos updated throughout the year, links to your favorite team and information on something that is very personal to me."

Schedule Talk Updated 7/20/07 

American University and Georgetown have met 48 times since 1939, but not since the 1986-87 season. That may be changing: the AU 2007-08 summer prospectus lists Georgetown as a non-conference opponent, at a date and time to be announced. The Eagles were 16-14 last season in the Patriot League with an RPI of 177.

In other schedule news, the Roanoke Times reports that Georgetown will host a home game against Radford University this season, at a date and time to be announced. The Highlanders were 8-22 last season in the Big South Conference with an RPI of 318, and have since added former Virginia Tech assistant Brad Greenberg as its new coach.

Center Of Attention Updated 7/18/07 

With younger and comparatively lesser known names competing for the final spots on the U.S Pan American Games team this week, one name has been getting his fair share of attention: senior center Roy Hibbert. Tuesday's Philadelphia Inquirer has a feature on Hibbert and his growth as a player.

"He's really bright," said Villanova coach Jay Wright, who is leading the U.S. team to Rio de Janeiro later this month. "I think he's got an appreciation for the game. He loves passing. He's not just a big guy who likes to dunk and rebound. You can almost run your offense through him like a point guard. It's a thrill to coach a guy like him."

Hibbert wasn't heavily recruited as a high school senior at Georgetown Prep, but has worked his way to where he is today.

"I was [seen as] just a 7-2 guy," he told the Inquirer. "I had to work my way up the totem pole. It motivated me because I didn't want to be just a big body. I put all that aside and said I just want to do what's best for Georgetown...I took part in rebuilding Georgetown, and I take satisfaction in being listed as a top center in the country."

Additional articles on Hibbert are found in links to ESPN.com, Sports Illustrated.com, Fox Sports.com, and Yahoo Sports.

Georgetown Still Scheduled At Ball State 7/16/07 

Prior to Ronny Thompson's resignation at Ball State, Georgetown was committed to a game at Ball State in 2007-08 as part of a two game series. Monday's Muncie Star-Press reports that Ball State officials expect the game to go on as planned, noting that Georgetown would have to pay $100,000 to break the contract.

Mourning: One More Year 7/16/07 

In NBA news, Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning (C'92) has announced he will play one more season, than retire after the 2007-08 season, according to the Miami Herald.

Hibbert Named A Finalist For Pan Am Games 7/16/07 

Senior center Roy Hibbert (C'08) is one of 14 finalists for the US National Team that will play in the Pan American Games later this month in Rio de Janeiro.

Training for the team will continue this week in Philadelphia and Washington (with a stop at the Verizon Center July 19-21) before the 12 man team will depart for the games the following week. Though the games have already begun in other sports, the basketball competition takes place in the final four days of competition from July 25-29.

Hibbert is seeking to be the third Georgetown player on a Pan American Games squad, joining Steve Sullivan (1967) and John Duren (1979).

Big East Games Set 7/13/07 

The Big East Conference has announced the home and away scheduling for the 2007-08 season as part of its expanded 18 game setup.

Georgetown will face all 15 Big East schools, with home and away games with Louisville, Syracuse, and St. John's. In addition to these three, the Hoyas will host Cincinnati, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, South Florida, and Villanova, while going on the road to play DePaul, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, and West Virginia.

The conference played an 18 game schedule from 1991-98. Dates and times for the games were not announced.

ODU Game Date Set 7/13/07 

In other schedule news, the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot has confirmed a Nov. 28 game at Old Dominion, who upset the Hoyas last season at McDonough Gym. Meanwhile, the two year series with the Naval Academy has ended. The 2007-08 schedule for Navy, posted this week, does not include a game with the Hoyas.

Ronny Thompson Resigns At Ball State 7/13/07 

Former Georgetown guard Ronny Thompson (C'92) resigned Thursday as head basketball coach at Ball State University.

The Ball State program has taken a beating in the Indiana press following a series of news accounts in the 2007 off-season. In April, the Ball State Daily News reported that BSU was cited for NCAA violations following disclosure that Thompson's staff had improperly viewed pre-season workouts in both 2006 and 2007. In June, BSU officials reported that racially harassing notes were found under the basketball staff's office door following the disclosure of NCAA violations. A report on the investigation was scheduled to be announced next week.

The bad press spilled into July. Last week, the Muncie Star Press reported that Thompson was not seen on campus and his departure as coach was imminent, which was quickly denied by school officials. A columnist for the nearby Wabash Plain Dealer criticized Thompson in an unusually angry tone. And on Wednesday, following his own dismissal, Ball State volleyball coach Randy Litchfield told the Muncie Star Press he was fired for disclosing the NCAA violations and was considering legal action against the university.

Earlier in the week week, athletic director Tom Collins told ESPN.com that Thompson's absence from campus was due to a vacation and said that "I'm committed to Ronny Thompson, and Ball State is committed to him. We want to see this thing through, and we're all behind him 100 percent." On Thursday, a quote from Collins at the school's athletics web site simply noted that "We were disappointed to learn today that coach Ronny Thompson has resigned from the university... Coach Thompson has expressed concerns about the recent NCAA investigation as well as other issues."

Prior to Ball State, Thompson served as a Georgetown assistant from 1998-2003 and an assistant at Arkansas from 2003-2006.

Additional links follow below.

Brunson Named WNBA All-Star 7/10/07 

Former Georgetown forward Rebekkah Brunson (C'04) returns to Washington next week as a member of the WNBA All-Star Team, as the reserve teams were announced Monday.

"It's just a great opportunity, and I'm excited about it," Brunson told the Sacramento Bee. The game will be played July 15 at Verizon Center.

Spann Transfer Finalized 7/3/07 

Former Georgetown forward Octavius Spann will enroll at Marshall, according to the Charleston Daily Mail.

Spann, who played with the Hoyas from 2005-07, will be eligible for the Thundering Herd in the 2008-09 season. His older brother Emmanuel is a wide receiver on the Marshall football team.

"I wanted to be on a team where I could be the man and help my team," Spann told the Charleston Gazette. "Nothing against Georgetown, I'll always be a Hoya for life. But there were some personal things I had to take care of.”

A Call To Arms 7/2/07

For those who did not receive the printed copy of the Hoya Saxa newsletter (no relation to this site), Pat McArdle's commentary on the past, present, and future needs of Georgetown athletics is recommended reading.

 
 

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