Nov. 12, 2009

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Georgetown University men's basketball team opens the 2009-10 season on Friday, Nov. 13 at Tulane, with the game slated to tip off at 9 p.m. (ET). The game can be heard locally on ESPN 980 AM. Fans interested in listening to listen to Rich Chvotkin, in his 35th year of broadcasting Hoya basketball, can click on the "Listen" click from the team's schedule on the Georgetown Athletics website, www.guhoyas.com.

Georgetown opens the 2009-10 season ranked No. 20 in the country in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll.

The Hoyas, under the direction of sixth-year Head Coach John Thompson III, return three starters from last year's team, including sophomore center Greg Monroe (New Orleans, La./Helen Cox), who was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year in 2008-09. The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Monroe, who grew up in the city.

Monroe, who averaged 12.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season, was the only underclassmen named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team and is on the preseason watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award.

Also returning are junior guards Austin Freeman (Mitchellville, Md./DeMatha) and Chris Wright (Bowie, Md./St. John's College HS). Freeman started 30 games last season and finished fourth on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game and was second in rebounding with 4.1 boards per game. Wright, one of only three players to start all 31 games last season, finished third on the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game and led the team with 3.70 assists. He ranked 13th in the BIG EAST Conference in both assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

Also back for the Hoyas this year are a group of players who saw extensive playing time last season, including sophomore guard Jason Clark (Arlington, Va./Bishop O'Connell), who averaged 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season. Junior forward Nikita Mescheriakov (Minsk, Belarus/St. John's Prospect Hall [Md.]) started nine games last season and averaged 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season.

Sophomore center Henry Sims (Baltimore, Md./Mount St. Joseph) and junior forward Julian Vaughn (Vienna, Va./Oak Hill Academy) are expected to play big roles this season. Sims appeared in 28 games last season, averaging 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds, while Vaughn, who transferred to Georgetown from Florida State last season, appeared in 30 games and averaged 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds.

A trio of freshmen will also see time, led by Hollis Thompson (Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola). Thompson joined the program in January 2009 and practiced with the team during the second semester. Forward Jerrelle Benimon (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) and guard Vee Sanford (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) are also expected to contribute.

This will be the first meeting between Georgetown and Tulane. It will also be the first visit to the state of Louisiana for the Hoyas since 1989, when the Hoyas played LSU in front of 68,000 fans at the Louisiana Superdome in an 82-80 loss. Georgetown has an all-time record of 5-6 in games played in the state.

Under Thompson, the Hoyas are 4-1 in season openers, winning games in the last four years. During his career, Thompson has a 6-3 record in season openers, including a 2-2 mark at Princeton.