MR. MONROE LEAVES BUTLER IN THE COLD

Greg Monroe scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for Georgetown last night in the opening game of the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden as the No. 15 Hoyas Dominate Butler, 72-65, In First Real Test of the Season (Washington Post). Austin Freeman added 18 as John Thompson III's club improves to 7-0 on the season.

Monroe Shined on New York Stage (Washington Times) as an Assertive Monroe Steals the Show (ESPN) giving Hoya fans and coaching staff what they had hoped for this season from the potential star. Both his point and rebound totals last night where career highs for the 6-foot-10 center from New Orleans.

The Georgetown defense was also stout, limiting Butler to 31% shooting in the game and outrebounding the Bulldogs 43-30. Monroe and Julian Vaughn limited Butler star Matt Howard, the 2008-2009 Horizon League player of the year, to just 9 points on 1-9 shooting from the field in 25 minutes before he fouled out.

Butler Squanders Opportunity Against Ranked Opponent (Indianapolis Star) as they were out-toughed by the Hoyas of the Big East. Georgetown led by as many as 17 points in the second half and withstood a late Butler rally by making enough free throws. Twenty Hoya turnovers contributed to the Bulldogs making it just interesting enough at the end.

The Hoyas (7-0) will look to match their best start under coach Thompson III with a victory against No. 17 Washington in the John Wooden Classic this Saturday in Anaheim (CA).