HoyaSaxa.com: Georgetown Basketball

The latest entrant to the Georgetown podcast community, "Bulldog Banter", launched its second episode this weekend.

Gene Smith (C'84), host of the weekly "Hoya Locker Room" podcast, was this week's featured guest. Topics discussed the season opener versus UMBC, Jamorko Pickett's role on the team, the University's struggle to embrace social media, and the ability to teach the next generation about Georgetown basketball.

Eight years ago: one of the more unusual finishes in Georgetown basketball history.

GAME RECAP

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On November 30, 2012, #20-ranked Georgetown led Tennessee with 4:10 to play in the Big East-SEC Challenge series. The two teams failed to score for the rest of the game, ending with a 37-36 Georgetown win. Joseph White, writing for the Associated Press, called it "an offensive display of offensive basketball."

With 10:13 to play in the first half, the Hoyas led 12-4, and despite not scoring a field goal for the remainder of the first half, it held Tennessee to an 18-16 mark at intermission. Georgetown responded with an 11-2 run to open the second half, 27-20 before the Volunteers tightened the lead midway through the second half. Leading by one, 33-32, with 7:55 to play, the Volunteers missed four consecutive free throws, while baskets by Greg Whittington and Markel Starks returned the lead to the Hoyas, 37-36. After that, it was a game of attrition.

The key to this game was the lack of points from the foul line. Georgetown didn't take a single free throw in the second half, while Tennessee shot just 3 for 11 from the line.

"As frustrating as an offensive day that I can remember being a part of, we still got stops," said coach John Thompson III after the game. "And that's not the worst thing in the world."

How much of a grind was it? No Georgetown player scored in double figures. The last time that happened was in the 1951-52 season.

The Georgetown half of the box score:


            MIN   2FG   3FG   FT  REB  A  PF  PTS
Starters:                                 
Starks       27   2-5   0-1   0-0   2   2  2    4 
Porter       39   4-10  0-1   0-0   7   4  1    8
Whittington  36   4-9   0-2   0-0   7   1  1    8
Lubick        8   0-0   0-0   0-0   1   2  1    0 
Hopkins      33   2-9   0-0   4-8   6   0  4    8
Reserves:
Smith-Rivera 18   1-2   0-0   0-0   0   0  1    2
Domingo       5   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0  0    0 
Ayegba        3   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   1  0    0
Hayes         1   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0  0    0
Trawick      30   2-2   1-3   0-1   4   1  1    7
DNP: Adams, Allen, Bolden, Bowen, Caprio  
Team Rebounds                       2
TOTALS      200 15-37   1-7   4-9  29  11 11   37

Georgetown's 58 rebounds versus UMBC wasn't a team record, but it was a number unseen on the Hoya stat sheets in nearly two decades.

With both teams shooting under 38 percent for the game, Georgetown and UMBC combined for 96 rebounds on the afternoon Wednesday. Georgetown's 58 were the most in a single game since a Dec. 9, 2000 game at McDonough Gymnasium versus Grambling State. The Tigers shot 4 for 31 in the first half of that game, as Georgetown finished with 59 rebounds and an 88-51 win.

As noted above, the all-time record is safe for now. On March 2, 1965, the Hoyas collected 78 rebounds in a 112-85 win over American at Ft. Myer, VA.

The Georgetown women's basketball team has postponed a Nov. 29 season opener at Richmond following a positive COVID-19 test Friday.

According to a release, the individual is only identified as a "tier 1 member of the team", which could include students, coaches, or staff. No men's players have been identified in this announcement.

The official GUHoyas.com web site has not posted a link to the 2020-21 women's schedule, which included scheduled Big East games at St. John's on Dec. 4 and at McDonough Gymnasium versus Creighton on Dec. 6.

"The status of future games will be announced at a later date," it reads.

Viewers of Wednesday's game with UMBC didn't see any fans at McDonough Gymnasium, but some 500 were front and center.

Following a marketing program seen at college football games around the country, Georgetown has offered the ability for fans to place a cardboard cutout of themselves on the east side seats of the gym. The cost is $40.

Additional information may be found at this link.

Georgetown steered past Maryland Baltimore-County to open the 2020-21 season, 70-62, in a finish that was closer than it should have been before a closed shop at McDonough Gymnasium.

POST-GAME COVERAGE

With only four lettermen who last saw the floor at Georgetown's season ending deflation to St. John's in the 2020 Big East Tournament, new names and faces were the story of this game. By game's end, however, it remains the case the Hoyas will rise or fall this season on the shoulders of veterans Jamorko Pickett, Jahvon Blair, and Qudus Wahab, to which fans saw both peril and promise this afternoon.

This was a rough start for both teams, as the teams combined to miss nine of its first 12 shots and picked up seven turnovers in the first seven minutes. With a frosty opener from Pickett (2 for 7, 4 turnovers), outside play from grad transfer Don Carey steadied the Hoyas, with three threes and 11 of his 13 points by halftime. Georgetown led by as many as 11, 34-23 with 4:11 to halftime, before the Retrievers closed to 34-30 heading into the final two minutes of the period. A late put back from sophomore Malcolm Wilson closed the scoring at 36-30.

Both teams were undistinguished in their first half play. Georgetown shot just 40 percent, 5 for 16 from three, and missed four of five free throws by halftime. UMBC was a meager 32 percent from the floor, 3 for 12 from three. The teams combined for 17 turnovers.

UMBC scored the first three points of the half and that was about it for an offense that couldn't decide between outside play and driving inside. Georgetown started to take advantage of UMBC's defensive difficulties and turnovers to sustained success. A three from Blair extended the lead to 39-33 and a pair of easy dunks from Wahab followed, 45-33. Two more baskets from Blair and a three from Pickett pushed the lead to 17, 52-35.

The Hoyas led 58-44 at the 10 minute mark but could not put it away. Much as was the case in the 2020 Big East tournament, the Hoyas went into offensive cryogenics and Ewing did little to adjust. Georgetown missed 13 consecutive shots over the following six minutes, but for its part UMBC scored just five points in return over that same period. As Georgetown continued its poor shooting, UMBC picked up the pace and closed the lead to six in the final 13 seconds before free throws closed out the game.

With three field goals over the final 9:36 of play, Georgetown finished the game shooting 37 percent from the field and 25 percent from three point range. Reporter Bobby Bancroft noted that Georgetown was 0-13 last season in games scoring under 73 points, and in fact it was the fewest points GU has scored in a win since the 2018-19 season opener versus Maryland-Eastern Shore, 68-53.

The game was won on the boards, where the Hoyas held a 58-38 advantage, giving UMBC few second chances given its equally bad shooting (35 percent from the field, 25 percent from three). Brandon Horvath and Darnell Rogers each scored 13 for the Retrievers, whose 16 turnovers were matched by 20 for the Hoyas, one fewer than during its loss to St. John's in March.

Fortunately for the Hoyas, these were the Retrievers, not the Redmen.

Four Georgetown starters posted in double figures. Jahvon Blair led all scorers with 23, followed by 13 from Carey, 12 from Wahab, and 10 from Pickett. As a starting five, Georgetown shot 35 percent from the field and 7 for 25 from three against a smaller UMBC lineup than it will see from nearly every opponent remaining on the abbreviated 2020-21 schedule. Wahab's 12 points and 12 rebounds was a sign of strength but foul trouble was, and will remain, a concern all season. Backup center Timothy Ighoefe visibly struggled in a reserve role and picked up four fouls in limited action.

Two prominent recruits were conspicuous in their absence--top 125 recruit Jamari Sibley and grad transfer Chudier Bile. In post-game comments, Ewing cited a coach's decision not to play Sibley and a previously undisclosed injury to Bile.

Five of the eight scholarship newcomers saw action in the game. Carey, easily the veteran of the octet, led the way with 13 points. The other four scored just six points between them, with grad transfer Jalen Harris going 0 for 6 in his first start in blue and gray. Guards Dante Harris and Collin Holloway each saw spot action and combined for five points, while 6-4 freshman Kobe Clark picked up 10 rebounds in his debut.

"It is still a work in progress," Ewing added.

Here's the Georgetown half of the box score:


            MIN   2FG   3FG   FT  REB  A  PF  PTS
Starters:
J. Harris    28   0-5    0-1  0-0  3   6   4   0
Blair        38   7-14   2-8  3-3  8   4   2  23
Carey        35   2-4    3-8  0-0  4   1   2  13
Pickett      35   1-7    2-8  2-4  8   2   1  10
Wahab        21   6-8    0-0  0-1 12   0   4  12
Reserves: 
D. Harris     7   1-2    0-1  0-0  0   1   2   2
Ighoefe      16   2-4    0-0  0-0  5   0   4   4
Holloway      4   1-2    0-0  1-2  2   0   0   3
Clark        12   0-1    0-1  1-2 10   1   0   1
Wilson        4   1-1    0-0  0-1  4   0   0   2
DNP: Bile, Azinge, Sibley, Berger, Robinson, Muresan
Team Rebounds                      2         
TOTALS      200  21-48  7-27 7-14 58  15  19  70

Fans who hoped to have seen the 2020-21 Georgetown Hoyas in action Thursday evening will wait another week instead.

Billed as an virtual open practice, a Q&A format was the focus of a 30 minute pre-recorded presentation, narrated by Big East analyst John Fanta. Participants included seniors Jamorko Pickett and Jahvon Blair, junior Qudus Wahab, head coach Patrick Ewing (C'85), Patrick Ewing Jr. (C'08), and Hoya Hoop Club president Mark Guerrera (C'91). Despite the title, an actual practice was not shown.

Ewing Sr. called his team "a work in progress" and made no predictions on the course of the season. Blair joked that Georgetown was "starting from the bottom", a reference to its 11th place finish in the pre-season poll.

"Don't count us out," said Ewing Jr.

The 1980's are fondly remembered by CBS Sports.com, rating Georgetown fourth in the Big East and #20 overall in a pre-season list of its 68 greatest all-time programs.

The ranking focused on NCAA and NIT tournament appearances in its methodology.

"A 10-time winner of the Big East regular season championship, Georgetown remains a program with massive national appeal thanks to what John Thompson Jr. built it up to be, which was a highly respected, highly intimidating, irrepressibly proud style of basketball dubbed "Hoya Paranoia," said the article.

Other Big East teams ranked in the survey include Connecticut (8), Villanova (9), St. John's (17), Marquette (35), Xavier (46), Providence (54) and DePaul (67).

The latest COVID-19 casualty in the Big East is DePaul, which has cancelled its first three games of the 2020-21 season.

"We are disappointed the men's basketball program will be unable to start the season as planned after all the hard work our student-athletes, coaches, and staff have put into preparing for these games," said DePaul athletic director in a news release. "Flexibility and patience will continue to be paramount this season as we navigate these unique times. I appreciate the hard work and support of our medical staff and athletic trainers as they work closely with each of our programs to ensure a safe and healthy environment to study, train, practice and compete."

The Blue Demons' opener will be Dec. 6 at Iowa State.

No Georgetown players were selected in Wednesday's NBA draft.

Center Omer Yurtseven (C'20), seeking to become Georgetown's first draft pick since Otto Porter in 2013, will pursue a free agent contract, according to sources.

Fellow teammates Jagan Mosely (B'20) currently plays in Hungary and Terrell Allen (G'20) is in Turkey.

Two Big East players were selected: Villanova sophomore Saddiq Bey (19th pick, 1st round to Brooklyn) and DePaul junior Paul Reed (58th pick, 2nd round to Philadelphia).

Georgetown University announced a 97 percent graduation success rate for its student athletes in the latest NCAA study.

"Our graduation success rate is an indicator of our student-athletes' commitment to excellence," said athletic director Lee Reed in a news release . "This number cannot be achieved without the help of our support systems from our faculty and administration, coaches and staff. Even during this difficult time, our student-athletes have continued to be dedicated to both their athletic and academic pursuits and I am confident that this drive is what builds champions on the field and within their communities."

The NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) tracks freshmen and inbound transfers for a percentage of graduation from the inbound freshman classes of 2010-11 through 2013-14. It does not penalize a school for an outbound transfer who left in good standing.

The Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) is more strict, in that it does not count inbound transfers in its calculation and counts an outbound transfer as a non-graduate. Both differ from the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate, which penalizes schools for transfers and jeopardizes low-performing programs with NCAA tournament bans.

Graduation rates by sport are below:

	GSR	FGR
Baseball	100	89
M Basketball	83	69
W Basketball	100	71
M Cross Country/Track	100	93
W Cross Country/Track	100	100
Field Hockey	91	90
Football	100	92
M Golf	100	100
W Golf	90	89
M Lacrosse	86	81
W Lacrosse	100	93
M Soccer	100	89
W Soccer	100	97
Softball	100	93
M Swimming	NA	NA
W Swimming	100	100
M Tennis	NA	NA
W Tennis	100	90
Volleyball	100	100
Overall	97	90

Men's basketball scored an 83 in the GSR in the dates specified above. Here is the long term GSR by Big East school:

School	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Butler								100	100	100	91	89	89
Creighton								90	92	100	100	92	93
Connecticut	33	27	31	25	10	8	17						90
DePaul	36	40	46	67	80	80	64	60	60	60	55	58	58
Georgetown	82	70	82	78	70	80	67	70	67	71	73	80	83
Marquette	89	100	100	91	91	87	77	71	67	67	80	88	78
Providence	67	67	77	80	67	80	67	67	70	40	62	64	82
St. John's	56	56	60	70	83	86	100	83	82	82	89	91	82
Seton Hall	60	47	53	69	69	86	100	83	82	82	91	100	100
Villanova	89	89	92	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Xavier								89	91	91	100	89	86

For the FGR, men's basketball scored an 69. This rating was much more severe across Big East schools:

	GSR	FGR
Butler	89	50
Connecticut	90	50
Creighton	93	77
DePaul	58	15
Georgetown	83	69
Marquette	78	38
Providence	82	46
St. Johns	82	50
Seton Hall	100	50
Villanova	100	67
Xavier	86	30

The status of the spring 2021 semester was announced by Georgetown Monday.

Noting what were called "profoundly hard decisions", University officials announced that only 500 students, seniors who live outside the area, will be brought back to campus for the spring. Freshmen will be invited to a summer residential semester with further details forthcoming. All classes will remain virtual.

"I know that this is not the message that many in our community hoped to hear when looking ahead to next semester," said University president John DeGioia (C'79, G'95). We understand the disappointment in not being able to fully return to campus and how eager our community is to be together in person. We recognize how important a residential experience can be in the lives of our students and appreciate the strong desire to return to residential life."

Earlier this semester, a group of parents circulated an online petition to restore all students to campus, citing the mental health needs of their children.

Georgetown has recorded 145 positive cases of COVID-19 this semester, up from 121 the last week. The majority of recent cases are among students living off-campus. This compares to 840 at Marquette and 613 at Creighton, for example, where the majority of students are in residence.

Left unsaid in this decision: the status of other Georgetown teams. While men's and women's basketball have been green lighted to play this winter, such a setup does not provide the numbers to bring back students for fall sports like football and soccer, and for second semester sports.

A former Georgetown player announced Sunday a book on his life story will be published in February.

Michael Graham, who played for the Hoyas in the 1983-84 season, told Gene Smith (C'84) on the "Hoya Locker Room" podcast that his story, titled "The Forgotten Hoya", is scheduled to debut in February.

"When this book comes out, I don't want anyone thinking I'm trying to bash Coach Thompson because I love him," Graham said. "But I am going to tell the truth about my experiences at Georgetown."

Graham is raising money for the book, per a web site. "I would like to thank everyone that is contributing to this book it means a lot to me," he said, "but I wanted to me more for the kids that's coming up wanting to play this game to let the kids know that basketball is a way of life but it's not the only thing in life."

A publisher was not named during the podcast.

The posthumous autobiography of John Thompson, "I Came As A Shadow," has been moved to a December 15 debut, up from a previous scheduled release of January 26.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim announced a positive test for COVID-19 this weekend:

I wanted to share the following statement from me: pic.twitter.com/cwop38MhyN
— Jim Boeheim (@therealboeheim) November 15, 2020

Boeheim, 75, is expected to recover well in advance of Georgetown's travel to Syracuse on Jan. 9.

Two Baltimore-area opponents round out the 2020-21 non-conference schedule, announced Friday.

Georgetown will open play Nov. 25 versus Maryland-Baltimore County, returning four starters from a 16-17 team that advanced to the America East semifinals last season. The two teams have played three times, GU winning all three, with its most recent meeting on Dec. 17, 2019, a 80-58 Georgetown win.

A new addition to the schedule will be Navy, returning four starters from a 14-16 team last season. The game marks Navy's first visit to Washington since Dec. 23, 2006, a 65-44 Georgetown win at Verizon Center.

Also announced: a confirmed date for a return game at Syracuse for Jan. 9, a change from previous discussions about the weekend of Jan. 16.

Georgetown's first five games will be played at McDonough Gymnasium without fans. A future decision on public events at Capital One Arena is pending D.C. governmental review.

Seton Hall University has suspended pre-season practices following multiple COVID-19 cases within the men's basketball program.

"The Seton Hall men's basketball team has paused all team activities due to positive COVID-19 test results among the program's Tier 1 personnel, which consists of student-athletes, coaches, staff and managers," reads a school release. "Our priority throughout this pandemic has been the health and safety of our community. We are currently following all state, local and University guidelines in response to these positive cases."

According to the Asbury Park Press, "NCAA guidelines call for a two-week team quarantine and Big East officials have confirmed their intention to enforce that timeline. The period could stretch longer if more positive tests arise. That means the scheduled season opener vs. Winthrop on Nov. 25 is in jeopardy. Any extension could impact the enormous weekend that follows: Nov. 27 at Louisville and Nov. 29 vs. second-ranked Baylor at the Prudential Center."

We've got a #BIGEASThoops December ?? schedule!

?? Conference play tips off with a @CBBONFOX doubleheader on Dec. 11, featuring @UConnMBB's return

?? Tripleheaders on Dec. 14 and 17

?? #BIGEASThoops Holiday Marathons on Dec. 20 and 23

Check it out: https://t.co/eAbrNLxExW
— #BIGEASThoops (@BIGEASTMBB) November 11, 2020

Still no news from Georgetown, but two opponents have confirmed games with the Hoyas in the next 30 days.

Georgetown will host #15-ranked West Virginia (21-10 in 2019-20) at McDonough Gymnasium. The Big East-Big 12 series splits tv coverage between Fox and ESPN; owing to this as a Big East home game in this case it is likely to be available on FS1 or FS2.

The teams have met 52 times since 1922, with Georgetown holding a 27-22 edge. The last meeting was at McDonough for the 2014 NIT, with Georgetown winning 77-65 on March 18, 2014.

A second game has been reported, as Georgetown will meet Coppin State (11-20 in 2019-20) on Dec. 8, per HBCU Gameday. Georgetown is 58-0 all time against current schools from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

In just over two weeks, Georgetown is expected to begin the 2020-21 season; this we know. But little else.

Time is running short on a number of logistical plans for the team, and at some point communicating what they will do. While much of Patrick Ewing's time has been spent figuring out the pieces of a team that did not even meet each other until a few weeks ago, a depth chart may be the least of its concerns right now. Here are some open items that should be clarified over the next two weeks:

A non-conference schedule. Georgetown has indicated they will not participate in a multi-team event (MTE) regionally and reports suggest they will only play five of a possible seven games out of Big East play. Only 70 of 355 Division I teams have finalized schedules to date and Georgetown is not on any of them. Two games of interest remain open for Georgetown fans: the timing of a game, presumably at home, versus West Virginia, and a road game at Syracuse. Some web sites have penciled in a game for the Orangemen with the Hoyas in January but it has not been confirmed. The series with the Big Ten has been postponed to 2021-22, which would have been a road game for Georgetown this season.
A conference schedule. Georgetown will be staying along the East Coast for the first four games of Big East play in December, but the issues of quarantines and rising COVID rates in the Midwest continue to be significant unknowns. A further complication was announced Saturday, when New York State will mandate four day inbound quarantines for all visitors beyond the Tri-State area and a 14 day quarantine upon a positive test.
A home facility. Georgetown has not announced a home court for 2020-21. While McDonough Gymnasium was suggested on a previous Zoom call with Georgetown athletic officials, it is unclear if its contract with Capital One Arena will supersede any moves out of the downtown arena, or if DC law may restrict any games whatsoever within the District. St. John's, Connecticut, Villanova, and Providence have announced or strongly suggested they will play games on-campus, while Seton Hall, Creighton, and DePaul are expected to play at off-campus sites as they have in the past.
A television schedule. Without a schedule, TV networks cannot plan for games nor announce times.
Tickets. While it can be assumed, for now, that fans will not be admitted to Georgetown home games, the Big East has not discussed any plans for limited ticket distribution at other sites. Although some schools have posted ticket information on its web site, Georgetown has not.
Hoop Club gifts. Gifts to the Hoya Hoop Club, primarily for season ticket priority, are a part of the men's basketball budget. However, there has been no communication from the University or the Hoop Club volunteer leadership to solicit or collect gifts for men's basketball at this time. Pre-season and end of year giving account for a large share of gifts to the program.

The NCAA's guidelines, titled "Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball", maintain a 14 day quarantine for any player testing positive. However, Georgetown is not obligated to report if any student is under quarantine.

A message from Georgetown University this election day:

Four ESPN writers picked Georgetown for last place in their 2020-21 preview.

The Poll:
1. Villanova
2. Creighton
3. Connecticut
4. Providence
4. Seton Hall
6. Marquette
6. Xavier
8. Butler
9. St. John's
10. DePaul
11. Georgetown

The Hoyas were not even cited in the writer's reviews of each team down the list.

"Villanova runs the league now," writes Jeff Borzello. "Not that the Wildcats were bad when UConn was last in the league, but they're now clearly the cream of the crop and that doesn't seem likely to change this season. Two national championships in three seasons and a share of all but one league title since UConn left the league have that sort of impact on a program's reputation."