High Post Hoops
Fansided

BIG EAST Conference preview: Marquette the team to beat

By Erica Ayala

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 03: Faith Woodard
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 03: Faith Woodard /

Georgetown

Preseason predicted ranking: 5th, up one spot from 2016-17 finish

2016-17 Record: 9-9

2016-17 Overall Record: 17-13

Biggest Losses:

In her senior campaign, Faith Woodard posted 14.2 ppg for the Hoyas. Additionally, three-time All-BIG EAST Dorothy Adomako will miss what would have been her senior season due to injury. Finally, head coach Natasha Adair is a loss for Georgetown. The team will have its fifth coach in seven seasons. However, the Hoyas will be under familiar guidance for 2017-18.

Key returners:

Eight letterwinners return for Georgetown, including Dionna White who led the conference in steals while averaging 14.2 points per game. She was named to the BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team. Yasmine Belk and DiDi Burton are two other players likely to step up for Georgetown.

Newcomers:

Transfers Mikayla Venson (Virginia) and Tatiana Thompson (Florida) are expected to add depth to a Hoyas team trying to stabilize after multiple head coaching changes. If media day in any indication, the returning players are eager to work with their new head coach.

Head coach:

Associate head coach James Howard will take over this Hoyas team. Howard has worked with the program for the past two seasons under Adair. He spent six years at Wesley and posted a 75-69 (.521) record. He has also worked at Bethune-Cookman and his alma mater Howard University, among other schools.

Key non-conference games:

Matchups against Northwestern, Minnesota, and NC State will be good tests for the Hoyas. Georgetown will open conference play at Providence on December 28.

Outlook:

If this can be a regroup year, as opposed to a rebuild, the Hoyas can be successful. Georgetown is quite literally in the middle of the proverbial BIG EAST pack. A more disciplined, refined Hoyas team can make a case for a top 3-4 finish.

Home/Big East