Georgetown Hoyas: How Far They Have Fallen

John Thompson: The name alone jolts memories of the days when the Georgetown Hoyas reigned supreme over college basketball.

Coined “The Beast of the East,” Thompson led his team into memorable battles during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Nose to nose man defense...pressure...pressure...pressure…

A gritty in your face attitude that even made Rayful Edmond respect it…

The bullies...ferocious rebounding...shot blocking...

All synonymous with Thompson’s teams of yesteryear—but today’s Hoyas are a far cry from tough, great defenders, shot blockers or good.

Rather, like today’s Washington, DC, the 2011 Hoyas are a more relaxed, demure, sophisticated squad—a gentrified, watered-down version of a once great program. Today their defense resembles the matador style: I’ll let you score so I can jack up another three-pointer when we get the ball.

Gone are the days of the patented white t-shirt under the Georgetown jersey—the fierce front line that dared opponents to enter the lane. Away has the attitude gone that said, we will beat you physically, mentally, but more so psychologically because we want it more—we deserve it more.

Alas, my fair Hoyas are outmuscled, overpowered and outhustled on a nightly basis.

The offense, once a battering ram, now resembles an Ivy League puzzle flowing off three-point shots and ill-advised passes—turnovers and fluttering faces.

On Wednesday night at the Verizon Center against Pittsburgh, the Hoyas defense was passive enough to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The Hoyas’ 222nd national ranking in rebounding was never in jeopardy, as the Panthers outrebounded and outhustled the Hoyas all night.

Coming into the game, I expected a sense of urgency from the struggling Hoyas, who were in 1-3 in conference play, but it appeared as if the Panthers, from the opening tip, wanted it more, had a deeper desire and deserved the win.