Two-week trip includes four games, sightseeing
Before a crossroads season, Georgetown is ready to embark on a crossroads cultural exchange.
The Hoyas embark on a two-week trip to China on Saturday, a journey that is part educational and part marketing tour for the university and the team's outfitter, Nike. More importantly, it's a chance for a young team to forge the crucial bonds it will need this season as John Thompson III enters the most uncertain phase of his tenure as Hoyas coach.
"We got a lot of new guys, and a lot of things are up in the air," junior forward Hollis Thompson said. "We don't know who is going to be filling what role. This gives us a good opportunity to find out what's going to happen in the future."
Coming off back-to-back years that have ended in opening-round upset losses in the NCAA tournament, Georgetown also extended its run of premature departures with two more transfers this offseason. The retooled roster includes five freshmen and five sophomores.
Fortunately, NCAA rules allow 10 days of practice before their international trip, but things haven't gone as planned there, either. Sophomore center Moses Ayegba is out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, freshman center Tyler Adams is sidelined with a right ankle injury and sophomore forward Nate Lubick is coming off a separated right shoulder.
John Thompson said the time on court with has been "invaluable," but basketball instruction won't be the focus once the team boards the plane for its 13-hour flight to Beijing.
"In all honestly, I think most of it may be cultural," John Thompson said. "We're going to play four games while we're there and a possible fifth, but how often do we get the chance to take a trip like this, to experience something like this? I think that's the most important thing."
Because of the injuries and inexperience, Thompson will tinker with his lineups and rotations over the course of two games in Beijing and two more in Shanghai, all of which will be against professional competition.
"We hope to come home, in a perfect world, not with four losses," Thompson said.
Favoring cheat sheets full of translations over playbooks, the Hoyas are excited to see the Great Wall, take in China's version of Rucker Park in Shanghai and expand their own horizons.
"I can't use chopsticks to save my life," senior guard Jason Clark said. "My favorite food is sesame chicken, but I heard that doesn't really exist. I'm looking forward to trying something new."
But the returning players also know the basketball side will be important for developing a collective identity and personality.
"We're there for business," Lubick said. "This is the start of the season. We've got to look at it that way, and I think everybody is ready to treat it that way."
The team is scheduled for a State Department briefing Thursday, and then it will be down to last-minute preparation.
"At this point, it's nonexistent," John Thompson said of his Chinese. "Before I get on the plane, I'll make sure I've got the pleases and the thank yous down."
