Greg Monroe can't point to one particular game last season as to when the Hoyas season reached their low point.

"That whole stretch," said the 6-foot-11, 247-pound Georgetown sophomore. "We were in position to win a lot of games." 

But the Hoyas, after a 10-1 start that included a Dec. 29 victory at UConn, were literally eaten up and spit out by the Big East.

Georgetown lost seven of its next nine games following the victory against UConn and went onto drop 12 of its final 16 contests.

There was talk there were chemistry issues.

"I don't think that's accurate," Monroe said. "There wasn't any turmoil. Every team goes through ups and downs."

Monroe doesn't plan on having another season like his freshman campaign.

He had a chance to leave college after one season and go to the NBA but felt he wasn't quite ready. He's worked to add muscle to his long frame in the offseason and has also become adept at scoring in the post with either hand.

"I didn't think I was ready to make that step yet," Monroe admitted. "I felt it would do me best to come back for another year and work on my game and get a little bit of experience."

"I wouldn't say it was an easy decision, but I didn't go back and forth, either," he added.

The Hoyas lose DaJuan Summers, the team's leading scorer, and also veteran guard Jessie Sapp, who lost his starting spot for a stretch last season.

But with Monroe and guards Austin Freeman, Chris Wright and Jason Clark, the Hoyas could well be in the Big East title chase.

"The league definitely isn't as loaded as it was last year, but it's still the Big East," Monroe said. "I think we have a chance to make a run with our talent and experience we have coming back.”

Big man Julian Vaughn and Henry Sims each have a year under their belt in the program, and freshman Hollis Thompson joined the program in the middle of last season, although he didn't play.

"We are going to use what happened last year to our advantage," Monroe said. "This team is a lot older, and learning from our mistakes will be key this year."

LONG BEACH STATE MAKES QUICK TURNAROUND

Dan Monson took over a team a couple years ago that was in shambles.

Two years later, Monson and Long Beach State are being picked by many as the odds-on favorites to win the Big West.

The 49ers lose leading scorer Donovan Morris (14.8 ppg) off last season's 15-15 team, but Monson brings back four key freshmen and senior guard Stephen Gilling.

"We have the same team that was .500 last year," Monson warned. "We have to be better."

Larry Anderson was a first-team all-league guy in his first season after averaging 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds last season and coming off the bench most of the year. Fellow frosh T.J. Robinson (11.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Casper Ware (9.1 ppg, 4.1 apg) both made the league's all-freshman team.

Monson is also hopeful that 6-foot-9 Lin Chang, a native of China who spent last season at Mira Coast College and has three years of eligibility remaining, could come in and make an immediate impact.

"He can shoot the three, post up and is a good passer," Monson said. "If he can make the adjustment, he'll be a big key for us."

Monson also said he's prepared to involve 7-foot, 270-pound senior Andrew Fleming more into the offense.

"When you have a guy like that, you have to change a lot – and we weren't ready to do that last year," Monson admitted. "But my plan is to stick with him. He can change shots, finish and block shots."

ELLINGTON A HUGE GET FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

While mentioning the commitments of Phil Pressey and James Johnson, we somewhat overlooked the importance of South Carolina landing a commitment from athletic 5-foot-9 point guard Bruce Ellington.

Ellington (Scout.com, No. 52) is an in-state kid who is also a two-sport star at Berkeley County.

There are those who continue to speculate that Ellington, who had interest from the South Carolina football program and offers from ACC schools on the gridiron, will play football in college.

He had 209 yards and five touchdowns on just a dozen carries this past weekend.

However, both camps – the Ellington one and also the South Carolina staff – maintain that Ellington wants to focus solely on basketball at the next level.

"Basketball has always been my first love," Ellington said in a statement.

RANDOM NOTES: Cameron Clark has trimmed his list to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Marquette, according to Scout.com's Dave Telep. ... LSU picked up a pledge from Alabama wing Ralston Turner. ... The Long Beach Press-Telegram's Frank Burlison reports that Long Beach State coach Dan Monson has gone back to Minnesota to pick up a pledge from Jacob Thomas, a shooting guard out of Columbia Heights High. ... Toledo freshman forward Hayden Humes is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in workouts.