Georgetown coach John Thompson III doesn’t like the tag of having the “Princeton offense,” but he also explains why it makes his players better pros.
Huh?
Let the quotes gathered from CSN Washington’s Ben Standig take you through it. Standig was hoping to get a glimpse into the team’s offense that has become a sore spot for its fans, given the team's recent failures in the NCAA Tournament, but he got a lengthy, perhaps puzzling explanation from the Hoyas coach instead.
First came Thompson’s “Why is my system getting criticized?” answer.
"I bet you (Maryland coach Mark Turgeon's) beat writer has never said, 'can I come sit down and talk about the Maryland offense.' I bet (Villanova coach) Jay Wright's beat writer has never done that. But because there is this word, 'The Princeton Offense,' people want to come dissect and break it down and understand. We're just playing basketball. It's not rocket science.
"The one thing that we do do that I think is different than a lot of people is that everything we do is based on reads. From day one, our guys are taught to read the game. How are you being played, how is your teammate being played and make a decision based off of that.”
Then, the “Time to pat myself on the back for running a smart system” answer.
“That is one of the reasons why our guys, whose names you see on trophies around this room, have had success in the pros because once they get to the league, with the 24-second clock, they're used to making decisions,” Thompson said. “You come into the league, it's not like they're running structured (plays)—do (NBA teams) run plays, yes. Is there structure, yes, but they have to make more reads and more decisions in the NBA, quicker, faster than we do in college and our guys are used to doing it because of how we do things.”
One would think if Thompson is so proud of his system, he would embrace having a special name attached to it. But it’s clear that the name feels more like a Scarlet Letter than a badge of honor.
In other Georgetown news, the Hoyas are still awaiting word from the NCAA on whether UCLA transfer Josh Smith will be allowed to play at the start of this season or need to wait until the second semester.
"We're approaching it as if he may or may not be with us. It's quite as simple as that," Thompson said of the 6-10, 350-pound junior. "I mean, we're going about it as something that he may be there, he may not. We have no idea when we're going to hear anything."
Thompson also said there is no timetable for the return of Greg Whittington; Georgetown announced in June that the 6-8 junior forward tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Whittington played in only 13 games last season before being suspended for academic reasons. He averaged 12.1 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Thompson said Whittington has been cleared academically but now must come back from the knee injury.
"Only God knows when Greg's going to be able to play. ... I have no idea when he will be able to get back on the court. I know that he will not step on the court one second before he's 100 percent physically and mentally ready to go through it," Thompson said. "How is his rehab going? It's going fine. Do we have a timetable? No. That's him, our medical staff and God."
A HOWLAND SIGHTING
It’s been eight months since Ben Howland was fired as coach of UCLA, and he used some of his free time recently to pay a visit to one of his former longtime assistants, Jamie Dixon, who’s now entering his 11th season at Pitt, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
"That was the first time that it really hit me," said Howland, whose coaching career began 32 years ago as an assistant for Gonzaga. "I've never had time off at this time of year. (This visit) is special for me with Jamie, obviously, because of our close relationship."
Howland’s run at UCLA came to an end after a fifth consecutive season of failing to reach beyond the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, but it’s all too easy to forget about his three straight trips to the Final Four in 2006-08 with players like Kevin Love, Darren Collison, Russell Westbrook, Aaron Afflalo, Alfred Aboya and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and the seven conference championships he’s won over his entire head coaching career.
When Howland wants to get back into the game, he will have his share of suitors. And Howland wants this hiatus to last only one season.
"I'm hoping someone will hire me," he told the Post-Gazette. "Whoever that is, I have no idea."
INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO
BYU guard Tyler Haws’ play in 2012-13 inspired us all when he dropped a career-high 42 points in a blowout win over Virginia Tech.
Now, the nation’s No. 7 leading scorer from last season, is bringing feeling to all our lives by lip synching to Chicago’s 1984 hit song, “You’re The Inspiration” with teammate Skyler Halford and what appears to be fellow Couga Luke Worthington without his cool glasses.
We also assume Haws will be singing “If You Leave Me Now” to any opponent who leaves him open for a shot. And if he connects on several consecutive, watch “Hard Habit to Break” rain down in Provo.
Contributors: Roger Kuznia and The Associated Press