2000-01 record: 25-8; 10-6 in Big East (t2nd in West) Final Ranking: No. 17 ESPN/USA Today; No. 21 AP Postseason: Lost to Maryland in third round of NCAA Tournament. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Sweetney 12.8 ppg | Rebounds: Sweetney 7.4 rpg | Assists: Braswell 6.1 apg | FG %: Sweetney 51.6% | 3pt %: Braswell 30.2% | FT %: Braswell 74.2% 00-01 Stats: Georgetown | Big East

		Monday, Oct. 29 The Hoyas are similar to last year's team with different problems. Hoyas need consistency from team leader and starting point guard Kevin Braswell as a compliment o rugged forward Mike Sweetney. The Hoyas will rebound, and run when the opportunity presents itself. Georgetown must show they can block shots and intimidate on defense as they always have.

Georgetown No. 18 in ESPN.com Top 25
Outlook
A year after guiding the Hoyas to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since John Thompson roamed the sidelines -- with a Sweet 16 appearance against eventual Final Four team Maryland -- fourth-year coach Craig Esherick has the personnel to make another run at it, despite the surprising transfer to UNLV this summer of starting shooting guard Demetrius Hunter (9.2 ppg).

With or without Hunter, the Hoyas lack star power, but they are one of the more unselfish teams around, as evidenced by this fact: Mike Swetney led the Hoyas in scoring as a freshman with just 12.8 points a game, while senior guard Kevin Braswell (11.8 ppg) was the only player to average more than 25 minutes. And still this team won 25 games overall, and 10 in the Big East.

The 6-foot-2 Braswell, who will become a four-year starter this season, is the Big East's top returning assist man at 6.1 per game. He will be feeding a post centered around sophomore forward Mike Sweetney. The 6-8, 260-pound Sweetney averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds last season and made the Big East All-Rookie team, and this season ought to get considerable help from 6-8 freshman Harvey Thomas as well as 6-11 junior Wesley Wilson, who occasionally showed glimpses of his awesome potential in 12 minutes per game last season.

Gerald Riley, a 6-6 small forward, is back as a starter. Thomas is one of three freshmen from Montrose Christian in Rockville, Md., joining 6-2 guards Tony Bethel and Drew Hall. Bethel could help a lot this season, but summer wrist surgery might sideline him until November, and could slow his development the rest of the year.

What we like: Many key figures from last season are back, and chemistry and team play is a strength under Esherick. Thomas and Bethel could be impact freshmen, and Sweetney is of All-Big East caliber.

What we don't like: A team looking to play in March, as Georgetown is, generally needs a go-to scorer. Hunter could have been the guy, but in his absence, Sweetney will need to be the guy, or Braswell. It better be someone.

The bottom line: The Hoyas may have overachieved last season, but with the way they play under Esherick, they may do it again this season. Then again, if they do repeat last season's success, they probably couldn't be called overachievers any more, could they?

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Mike Sweetney	So.	F	6-8/260	PTS: 12.8 | REB: 7.4 | AST: 1.8
Kevin Braswell	Sr.	G	6-2/190	PTS: 11.5 | REB: 3.4 | AST: 6.1

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje	C	7-0/257	PTS: 9.1 | REB: 6.8 | AST: 0.9
Lee Scruggs	C	6-11/216	PTS: 7.5 | REB: 4.4 | AST: 0.6
Demetrius Hunter	G	6-2/208	PTS: 9.2 | REB: 2.5 | AST: 2.2

Georgetown Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Tony Bethel	G	6-2	Rockville/Montrose Christian (Md.)
Drew Hall	G	6-2	Rockville/Montrose Christian (Md.)
Darrel Owens	F	6-6	Napoleanville/Assumption (La.)
Harvey Thomas	F	6-8	Rockville/Montrose Christian (Md.)