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Hibbert, Georgetown open season as Big East favorites

Nov 10, 2007 - 1:56 PM William & Mary (0-0) at No. 5 Georgetown (0-0) 12:00 pm EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Georgetown made the Final Four last season. This season, Roy Hibbert is set to lead them back among the nation's elite.

Hibbert and the No. 5 Hoyas open the 2007-08 campaign on Saturday by hosting William and Mary.

With a trip to the Final Four and Big East regular season and tournament championships in 2006-07, Georgetown thrust itself back among the top programs in the country. Though leading scorer Jeff Green moved on to the NBA, the 7-2 Hibbert elected to return for his senior season.

Hibbert averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds last season and was a unanimous All-Big East first-team selection. He shot 67.1 percent from the field overall and set a Big East record by connecting at a 71.2 percent clip in conference games.

The front-runner for Big East Player of the Year this season, Hibbert, who blocked 90 shots last season, could become the first Hoyas player to claim the honor since Alonzo Mourning in 1991-92.

Senior guard Jonathan Wallace will shoulder the perimeter scoring responsibilities. He averaged 11.3 points last season and led Georgetown with 73 3-pointers.

William and Mary will also be looking to improve this season. With four senior starters returning from a team that managed a 15-15 record in 2006-07, the Tribe will be attempting to finish with more than 15 victories for just the second time in the past 20 seasons.

Laimis Kisielius is the top returning scorer at 11.3 points per game. Fellow senior Nathan Mann, who is one of the best 3-point shooters in school history, ranking sixth with 140 made in his career.