In late March, D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera announced that he’d decided to turn pro following a season that featured individual marks of 16.3 PPG, 39 percent shooting from 3-point range and 86 percent shooting from the free throw line. A month later, he was like: “Just kidding, Hoyas fans. I’m staying.”
That reversal may have changed the Big East race, and it certainly elevated the hopes of a Georgetown program that hasn’t reached the second weekend of the NCAA tournament since 2007. Smith-Rivera can carry Georgetown all season, but he’ll need youngsters Jessie Govan, Paul White and Isaac Copeland to step up early. Mikael Hopkins and Joshua Smith are two key post pieces that coach John Thompson III will miss, but Smith-Rivera and the talented youngsters around him might boast a slightly higher ceiling than the previous group. — Myron Medcalf
Best Case: Georgetown plays in the second weekend of the NCAA tournament if D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera takes over as a leader and plays like a possessed senior with a chip on his shoulder. He had 5.6 win shares last season, the most in the Big East, and had the highest offensive rating in the conference. L.J. Peak, Paul White and Isaac Copeland should be prepared to take the next step and be big-time players.
Worst Case: Georgetown has lost enough NCAA tournament games (since the Hoyas’ Final Four berth in 2007) that perception has taken hold and the Hoyas are scarred with the “can’t win the big one” tag. You know they will be good, but they have to win in the NCAA tournament to shake the perception.
“D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera coming back was huge for them. He’s one of the best guards in the league. They will have so much length and versatility with guys like Isaac Copeland, Paul White and L.J. Peak. They’ll be a lot different without Josh Smith — more well-rounded and also older.”
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