Still, Hoyas coach Craig Esherick was not too displeased with his team's effort.

"We battled the entire game," Esherick said. "They forced us to do things we were not comfortable doing."

Which is sharing the ball and putting it into the basket. Instead, the Hoyas tried playing physical against the Terps, committing almost twice as many fouls (28-15) as Maryland.

Next season, point guard Kevin Braswell will be a senior for Esherick, and every starter except center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje will also return. Boumtje Boumtje had five fouls, three rebounds, one assist and no points against Maryland.

"I feel good about the people coming back next season," Esherick said. "Whoever is on the team next season will have a lot to learn ... we should have a great season next year.

"In the next couple of days, once I can look at things more objectively, I won't be sorry about the way our guys played. All season, our guys worked extremely hard."
-- Rob Miech, SportsLine.com Staff Writer

A Glance at 2001-02

First, there is the good news: The Hoyas are due to return four starters, with the lone departing player being senior center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, who will take his 7-foot frame to the NBA.

But with the toll of graduation bells comes some bad news: Three-fifths of one of the country's deepest benches -- a bench that helped carry the Hoyas to the Sweet 16 -- will be lost: guard Anthony Perry, forward Lee Scruggs and role player Nat Burton.

Nonetheless, the Hoyas should be fine, since success breeds good recruiting.

Kevin Braswell and Demetrius Hunter have played together for two years in the backcourt, while Boumtje Boumtje, freshman forward Mike Sweetney and sophomore center Wesley Wilson will comprise a potentially dominant frontcourt.

Add a few talented newcomers, and the Hoyas could start making NCAA Tournament appearances a tradition again.

They'll Be Back

With another year of running the offense to his credit, Kevin Braswell should be one of the top point guards in college basketball in 2001-02. Combined with Demetrius Hunter, the Hoyas should have one of the Big East's best backcourts.

Up front, Mike Sweetney needs to use the off-season well to build upon this season's success. That's even more true about sophomore center Wesley Wilson and freshman forward Gerald Riley, both of whom faded badly down the stretch.

They're Gone

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje will likely be a first-round draft pick, but he must develop a stronger mental approach if he wants to reach his potential.

Pro scouts have talked about Scruggs as a potential first-round pick, falling in love with the 6-11 forward's uncommon inside-outside game.

Don't count on seeing Burton or Perry playing in the NBA next season, but both were solid collegiate players during their time at Georgetown.

Newcomers

The Hoyas secured four early signees, including three who once played together at Montrose Christian Academy in nearby Rockville, Md. -- 6-2 guards Tony Bethel and Drew Hall, and 6-8 forward Harvey Thomas.

Although Thomas comes in highly rated -- he transferred to Emmanuel High in Durham, N.C., in November -- the Hoyas certainly need backcourt help.

Bethel and Hall have received plenty of acclaim and should be able to help immediately. Each has been selected to play in the 28th Annual Capital Classic Basketball All-Star Game on April 7, which will be played on their future home floor at the MCI Center.

They also landed 6-6 small forward Darrell Owens of Assumption High in Napoleanville, La.

The Coach

There is no question that Craig Esherick will return for a fourth season on Georgetown's sideline. The administration likes him and he seems to have the Hoyas on the verge of becoming a perennial Top 25 team again.

Since taking over for John Thompson in January, 1999, he's gone 49-33 while leading the Hoyas to two NIT appearances and one NCAA berth.