Georgetown’s Sportsbook Odds Hurt as Monroe Goes Pro

Sportsbook fans will not see center Greg Monroe at Georgetown next season as he has declared for the NBA Draft. Monroe was a third-team All-American this past season as he averaged 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.  He led Georgetown to a successful season vs. the sportsbook odds.

Sportsbook odds on Georgetown are likely to be affected next season since Monroe was arguably the best player for the Hoyas. He is leaving for the NBA with two years of eligibility left at Georgetown. “It was mentally what I wanted to do,” Monroe said, “I feel like I’m ready to make this step after working with our coaches for two years.”  Monroe was the Big East Conference rookie of the year in 2008-09 and he was even more impressive this season. “Greg and I, along with his family, have examined the situation, and he has made an educated decision,” Hoyas coach John Thompson III said. “We have watched him grow as a player and as a young man while here at Georgetown. We support him and I look forward to watching and cheering him on for many years to come.”

Monroe is considered the top center in college basketball and he should be a lottery pick.  He averaged 14.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in his career at Georgetown.  The Hoyas were rolling along this past season and were a team that many sportsbook handicappers picked to do well in the NCAA Tournament.  It didn’t happen though as Georgetown was upset vs. the point spread odds by Ohio in the first round.

Monroe is expected to be one of the top picks in the NBA Draft.  Many scouts are saying he will go in the Top 10. “Where he goes is an inexact science,” Thompson said, “But coupled with his desires and his family’s desires and needs, he came to the conclusion and decided this was the right time for him to leave.”

Georgetown probably would have been the favorite next season at the sportsbook to win the Big East with Monroe.  Without him they will probably just be a team that can contend. They will still have Chris Wright and Austin Freeman but they are going to be hurting upfront without Monroe. Georgetown will have to hope that top recruits Nate Lubick and Moses Abraham are ready to play right away.

 

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