The Case For Georgetown
Some of the heavy lifting was done last year, simply returning the Hoyas to relevance in the Big East and ending a postseason drought of more than a decade. Some of the “whys” should carry over as well. A revamped coaching staff helped make some effective changes, and Georgetown emerged as a team that avoided silly miscues and shared the ball. If that continues, and if a promising attack unit can remain healthy from the start to finish, the Hoyas will head into May with a chance to earn a second consecutive NCAA berth.
The Case Against Georgetown
There isn’t an easy way to replace a first team All-American selection anywhere on the field, but goalie might be as tough a spot as any. Nick Marrocco posted a posted a 7.95 goals against average and stopped 54.5 percent of the shots he faced as a senior. Junior Jack Stephenson, sophomore Owen McElroy and freshman Chris Brandau will continue the competition to take over the starting job throughout the preseason. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Warne said. “I’ll let you know who the starter is after practice on Feb. 8.” A consistent presence in the cage would significantly elevate the Hoyas’ ceiling.
Path to the Playoffs
Georgetown faces only one NCAA tournament from last season in its first nine games (Robert Morris), and while there are some bounceback candidates on its nonconference schedule (Hofstra and Towson), the truth is the Hoyas will have to do much of their heavy lifting from late March on. High-profile games include a visit from Marquette (March 23), a trip to Denver (March 30) and a midweek date with Loyola (April 9) in Baltimore. Lose all three of those, and Georgetown probably will need another Big East tournament title to make the postseason.
Players To Watch
Jake Carraway, A, Jr.
44 G, 20 A
He had four hat tricks during Georgetown’s five-game winning streak late last season, including one against Denver in the Big East title game. He’ll again form a potent tandem with senior Daniel Bucaro on the Hoyas’ starting attack, with senior Robert Clark in line to join them after starting the last five games of 2018.
Gibson Smith, D, So.
59 GB, 19 CT
After an instant impact as a freshman, Smith will be one of the anchors of the Hoyas’ defense. “His best lacrosse is still in front of him,” Warne said. “We used him so much on wings facing off. He has one of the best sticks I’ve ever coached. He’s valuable in so many ways.”
Lucas Wittenberg, M, Sr.
23 G, 20 A
Wittenberg will be the centerpiece of the Hoyas’ midfield. “I think we need to have a big year from him, and he’s built to have a good year,” Warne said. “Confidence-wise, he just blew through the roof last year.”
National Rankings
Category
|
Rank
|
Value
|
Offense |
25th |
11.06 GPG |
Defense |
7th |
8.12 GAA |
Faceoffs |
33rd |
48.7 FO% |
Ground Balls |
50th |
26.06/game |
Caused TO |
25th |
7.18/game |
Shooting |
9th |
33.3% |
Man-Up |
26th |
37.2% |
Man-Down |
16th |
71.8% |
Assists |
14th |
6.82/game |
Turnovers |
17th |
11.65/game |
Clearing |
7th |
91.1% |
Power Ratings (Scale of 1-5)
Offense
⭐⭐⭐
Defense
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goalkeeping
⭐⭐
Faceoff
⭐⭐
1
Only one player in Georgetown lacrosse history has piled up 200 career points: Greg McCavera with 236 from 1996-99. Daniel Bucaro (139 points) has a chance to become the second; he had 55 points in just 12 games before a season-ending injury last year.
5-Year Trend
Clearing Percentage
Year
|
Rank
|
Pct
|
2014 |
4th |
82.9 |
2015 |
42nd |
84.2 |
2016 |
44th |
85.7 |
2017 |
46th |
86.1 |
2018 |
7th |
91.1 |
Coach Confidential
Kevin Warne
“If we’re injury-free, we could put ourselves in a good position to have success. But if we can’t figure out who we are very quickly, we might struggle.”
Enemy Lines
“Can we see Coach Warne cry again? His culture is in place and his players believe in him.”
“Was it the senior class or was it a change in philosophy on the coaching staff that made them better? I have a feeling it’s a little of both. Once you start to win like that, it doesn’t disappear. I don’t think they’re going to allow or the kids will allow them to go back to the old ways. I think they’ll be fine. I don’t think they’ll be as good, but they’ll be right in the hunt, at least in the Big East.”
“Was last year real? Culture change and Bucaro still make them scary.”
“Although they graduated a lot of big-time contributors, they have fresh faces and energy to keep the momentum rolling.”