College basketball countdown: No. 37 Georgetown

THE FIRST WORD: When asked what went wrong for Georgetown in 2013-14, John Thompson III cut straight to the point.

"We were one of the worst defensive teams I've ever had," he said.

That's not a bad way of summarizing the Hoyas' roller-coaster season, which included a five-game losing streak in January before dropping six of their last nine games.

Georgetown was expected to reign supreme in the new Big East Conference like it so often did in the old one, but last year's seventh-place finish was the product of a string of injuries and the midseason loss of big man Josh Smith, who was ruled academically ineligible.

The prognosis for the 2014-15 season is back to championship form, by Thompson's count.

"I'm very, very excited about this group. I like our mix," he said. "We have a group of veterans back who've won and had success. Then we throw in a highly talented freshman group. I think we'll be an extremely versatile team.

"Two years ago, we had a very good defensive team and won the Big East. We could play multiple zones and full-court pressure teams. This year's group can get back to that. We're similar in length, depth and understanding. Same thing applies offensively, we need to get back to the way we were before last season."

D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, a contender to win Big East Player of the Year, leads a cast of returners, and Georgetown will welcome the most talented freshman class in the conference (rated No. 9 in the country via Rivals). Isaac Copeland, L.J. Peak and Paul White should be ready to contribute right away as the Hoyas recharge. Villanova will be the clear front-runner in the league, but look for Georgetown to separate from the pack — Xavier, Seton Hall and St. John's — en route to a return to the NCAA tournament.

2013-14 IN REVIEW: 18-15 overall, 8-10 (seventh in Big East), lost in NIT second round to Florida State.

PATH TO THE DANCE: Big East Conference at-large bid.

PROJECTED TOURNEY SEED: No. 10 seed.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE GRADE: B. See full schedule here.

The Hoyas will have a tough slate in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, which starts with Florida on Nov. 26. Then they get Kansas at home and Indiana on a neutral court. And their lower-tier opponents won't be cakewalks either, with home games against Robert Morris, Towson and Charlotte.

PLAYER BREAKDOWN:See full roster here.

STAR WATCH: Smith-Rivera (17.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) had a nice backcourt partner in Markel Starks last season, but now there will be more room for him to take over. Not like Smith-Rivera wasn't doing that plenty last season anyway — going for 32 points in an NIT win vs. West Virginia on March 18 and 31 in a Jan. 4 game against St. John's. The 6-3 guard won't have as much pressure to perform, though, with a much better frontcourt. His consistency and offensive production will be key in how far Georgetown goes in 2014-15.

X-FACTOR: Josh Smith (11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg in 13 games) is set to return, and Thompson said he's noticed the 6-10, 350-pound big man seems to have added motivation. "He's in great shape, because he knows it's his last go-around," Thompson said. Georgetown's depleted frontcourt was a weakness last season. If Smith can stay eligible and healthy, he'll be a major difference-maker and paint presence.

KEY NEWCOMERS: This freshman class will have three players ready to make an immediate impact. Copeland (6-9) and White (6-8) are the quintessential combo forwards with length and athleticism. Then there's Peak, who will be one of the team's best defenders as a 6-5 wing.

TEAM STRENGTH/WEAKNESS: Georgetown has a nice mix of experience and youth. Senior role players like Mikael Hopkins (6.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Aaron Bowen (6.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) will be counted on for production and to help the youngsters develop. How well — and fast — everything comes together will be the major question.

Thompson said he likes the camaraderie he's seen early on. One area of concern comes at the point guard position. The Hoyas have guards who can handle the ball in Smith-Rivera and Jabril Trawick (who averaged 12 points per game over the last 12 games last season) but there's a significant void with the loss of Starks. Last season, Georgetown ranked 251st nationally with 5.5 made three-point field goals per game, but better outside shots should come with the improved interior presence.

FUN FACT: In 1798 Georgetown students were required to bring six shirts, six pair of stockings, six pocket-handkerchiefs, four cravats, four towels, one hat and three pairs of shoes with them to campus.

BASICS: Georgetown University is in Washington, D.C., and the Hoyas play their home games at the Verizon Center, which also houses the Washington Wizards since opening in 1997. It seats 20,308.

About this post: Every week day for the next three months, one of the 68 teams in USA TODAY Sports' projected field will be dissected. In November, the final bracket will be revealed.