Cooley: A "Transformational Change"
Next Tuesday, the curtain rises on a season unlike anything in the last 51 years of Georgetown basketball. And head coach Ed Cooley is up to the challenge."Georgetown, the board [of directors], they have put all their chips in the middle of the table, and I don't want to let them down," Cooley told Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press. "They made a substantial, substantial investment in me and my family, to combine with them and try to resurrect Georgetown basketball...To me, it's not a matter of if. It's not. Failure is not an option, right?"As few as two players remain from the Georgetown squad which took the floor on November 13, 2021 for its season opener. Dartmouth College won its first game over a major college opponent since 1989 in a 69-60 win that afternoon, setting into motion the long, painful, and inevitable end of the Patrick Ewing era, as the defending Big East tournament champions dropped 50 of its next 65 games and finished a combined 2-39 (.048) versus Big East opponents, including losses in the 2022 and 2023 Big East tournaments. The institutional status quo that survived through three coaching changes since John Thompson's resignation in 1999 would no longer be maintained, and with it, Cooley and his staff are set to not merely reload or rebuild, but reconstruct the Georgetown program. "Our wins won't come on the scoreboard" in Year 1, he said. "Our wins are going to come in transformational change of students, alumni, faculty, staff, advertising, ticket sales, promotions... It's going to be tough. But I think we will improve." Ten Years After
From Sports Business Journal, an exhaustive look back at the whirlwind of change that reconstituted the Big East in 2013."I remember going to a [2012] meeting of presidents and ADs in New York City," said Georgetown athletic director Lee Reed. "You're looking around the room and you're seeing these people from different parts of the country and you're thinking, man, this is the Big East? This doesn't feel right. You had the gentleman from [Navy] that was in a military uniform. You had the president from one of the other schools that had cowboy boots. And you're thinking to yourself, how in the heck is this going to work?"A year later the basketball schools were on their own. Of the ten football schools that split off to form the American Athletic Conference, just three remain with the conference after this upcoming season, a league now comprised of schools such as Rice, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, and Alabama-Birmingham. For the "new" Big East, it was a start-up. "To call [Big East commissioner Val] Ackerman's undertaking herculean is almost underselling it," it writes. "Forget membership, conference tournaments or coaches. The league didn't even have its own internet domain, email infrastructure or bank account when Ackerman came on." "I was on my Gmail account for months," she said. "We had no website. We had no checking account, Georgetown was managing our finances until I hired a CFO and we got [JP Morgan Chase] to give us a checking account. We had no benefits plan, so everybody I was hiring, I was promising benefits to." "Val and I have talked about this a lot," said Joe D'Antonio, now the commissioner at the CAA. "It's a very, very rare opportunity that you literally get a chance to be involved in something like this literally at the ground level. Like, you are building it from nothing." Ten years and three NCAA championships later, it is as good as ever. Recommended reading. Akok Collapses At West Virginia Exhibition GameFormer Georgetown forward Akok Akok is undergoing medical tests at a Morgantown, WV hospital after collapsing in the second half of an exhibition game with George Mason."Akok collapsed while he was waiting with his teammates for the game to continue after an offensive foul call against the Patriots at the 15:56 mark of the second half," according to ESPN.com. "West Virginia medical personnel rushed toward him as he was lying on the court. Akok was moving on the ground but seemed disoriented as he tried to get back up, prompting West Virginia medical personnel to stop him.""The crowd at WVU Coliseum fell silent while Akok was treated and placed on a stretcher. He was transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital." He was released from the hospital Sunday. A 6-9 forward, Akok played three seasons at Connecticut from 2019 through 2022 and one season at Georgetown before transferring again this summer to West Virginia. His bio at WVUSports.com indicates he is pursuing "a second undergraduate degree in multidisciplinary studies," which allows him to play this season without a waiver. Big East Media Day Coverage
Coaches Ed Cooley and Rick Pitino were the centers of attention as the Big East held its annual Media Day Tuesday.
MEDIA DAY REPORTS
The questions of his departure from Providence College continue to be offered to the 53 year old Providence native, but Cooley reiterated that "in our world, change is OK.""Georgetown is change. And change is healthy. I understand the bitterness that comes with that. I promise you I'm excited to go back there this year. But I'm not apologizing for taking care of my life. End of discussion." Both coaches had kind words for each other, a contrast perhaps, to some commentary during the online broadcast that Georgetown and St. John's (along with DePaul) had under-contributed to the success of the Big East over the past ten years. "I think Rick Pitino is probably the greatest college coach in the history of the sport," Cooley said. "[Madison Square Garden] will be humming pretty soon. Can't you hear it? You can hear it right now. Every seat in here will be taken." Pitino, on his third tour as a Big East head coach after visits at Providence (1985-1987) and Louisville (2001-2017), returned the compliment. "I know Ed's going to build [Georgetown] into a power, there's not a doubt in my mind," Pitino said. "And there's not a doubt in my mind St. John's is going to be a power. How soon we can do that, I don't know," though Pitino noted he wants as many as 10 home games in the Garden by next season, up from eight this upcoming season. In other news, commissioner Val Ackerman confirmed the demise of the Big East-Big Ten Gavitt Games series, citing Big Ten schedule challenges, though one Big Ten coach told NJ Advance Media that the issue was that "they're going to play their best teams [every year] and our best teams are not always going to play." In comments during the presentation, Ackerman confirmed that media rights negotiations with Fox Sports begin soon, conversations are already underway to extend the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden through at least 2032 with "strong mutual interest" in an extension, and while the Big East is not expanding under its current media deal, it maintains communication with Gonzaga University, which is weighing pursuit of a deal with the Big 12, which is adding Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah in 2024. "There's no better fit for Gonzaga than the Big East, if you look at the kind of school they are," Ackerman said. "It's clear from what we read that other factors may have come into play for them in terms of money, alignment with maybe a football league. That's their decision to make." In the whirlwinds of realignment, Pitino added that he sees the Big East as the "last bastion of common sense." "The Big East has stability," he said. "They have Madison Square Garden for the tournament, nobody else has had what the Big East has had throughout the years. The Big East has sensible travel, the Big East has a great commissioner, they have great teams, four teams ranked in the top 25, great rivalries. It has everything you'd want in a great conference, and nobody is looking to leave." "One thing is for sure," Ackerman concluded, "If college basketball today has a soul, you'll find it in our league." Big East Media Day: Georgetown #8
Georgetown was picked 8th in the 2023-24 Big East pre-season poll announced Tuesday morning at Madison Square Garden.Big East Poll
2. Creighton 3. Connecticut 4. Villanova 5. St. John's 6. Xavier 7. Providence 8. Georgetown 9. Seton Hall 10. Butler 11. DePaul Georgetown had no selections for the Big East's first team, second team or honorable mention. Marquette guard Tyler Kolek was named preseason player of the year. First Team Trey Alexander, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-4, 190, Oklahoma City, OK Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, C, Sr., 7-1, 270, St. Louis, MO Bryce Hopkins, Providence, F-G, Jr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, IL. Joel Soriano, St. John's, C, Sr., 6-11, 255, Yonkers, NY Justin Moore, Villanova, G, Gr., 6-4, 210, Fort Washington, MD Second Team Donovan Clingan, Connecticut, C, So., 7-2, 280, Bristol, CT Baylor Scheierman, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-7, 205, Aurora, NE Oso Ighodaro, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-11, 225, Chandler, AZ Kam Jones, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-5, 200, Memphis, TN Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, R-Sr., 6-8, 255, Willow Grove, PA Honorable Mention Alex Karaban, Connecticut, F, R-So., 6-8, 220, Southborough, MA Devin Carter, Providence, G, Jr., 6-3, 195, Miami, FL Zach Freemantle, Xavier, F, Gr., 6-9, 227, Teaneck, NJ Additional media coverage follows later today.
Report: Massoud Out 6-8 Weeks With Hand Injury
On the eve of Big East Media Day, news of a hand injury suffered by 6-9 forward Ismael Massoud which may keep him on the sidelines through the end of the fall semester.As reported by Fox Sports' John Fanta, "Massoud left Saturday's scrimmage [versus Pitt] with his hand in a soft splint, with further testing revealing the broken hand. This setback comes as a significant blow to a Georgetown team that was already projected in the back half of the Big East standings and is lacking size and depth, as former Providence coach Ed Cooley enters his first year at the helm."Remaining players for the Hoyas' front court include graduate transfer Supreme Cook, junior Ryan Mutombo, and freshman Drew Fielder. LaTasha R. Butts (1982-2023)
Sad news from the Hilltop, as women's basketball head coach Tasha Butts died early Monday morning at the age of 41.
COVERAGE
A 2004 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Butts joined the Georgetown family in April as its new women's basketball coach following the dismissal of James Howard at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. A former assistant at Duquesne (2007-08), UCLA (2008-11), LSU (2011-19), and most recently Georgia Tech (2019-23), this was her first role as head coach and one which she was excited to be a part of. Butts had survived metastatic breast cancer in 2021 but symptoms returned and she took a leave of absence on September 21. "Tasha's passing is a devastating loss," said Georgetown University president Jack DeGioia (C'79, G'95) in a statement. "She was extraordinary: Tasha was a person of character, determination, vision, and kindness. She will be deeply missed by our community and by so many people around the country who have been inspired by her life. We offer her family our most sincere condolences." Assistant coach Darnell Haney will represent the program tomorrow at Big East Media Day as its interim coach for the 2023-24 season. Report: Gavitt Games Not Extended
An extension of the challenge series between the Big East and Big Ten past the 2023-24 season appears "doubtful", according to Jon Rothstein at College Hoops Today."The Gavitt Games will not be played during the 2024-25 season and while beyond that is uncertain, the future of the event is doubtful as of today," Rothstein reported Sunday evening. With the Big Ten moving to 18 schools next fall, "the Big Ten expressed concern regarding future scheduling flexibility with UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington set to join the league for the 2024-25 season," he continued.Georgetown's November 15 game at Rutgers will take place as the series concludes. Three Hoyas On NBA Rosters
Three former Georgetown players are on NBA rosters at the debut of the 2023-24 season, two at a new home.First is Jeff Green (C'12), coming off an NBA championship with the Denver Rockets. A more competitive offer has sent Green, now 37, to the Houston Rockets, his 11th team in 15 seasons. Otto Porter (ex'15) returns with Toronto, having played only eight games there last season due to injury. Omer Yurtseven (C'20) was traded from Miami to Utah in the off-season.Jamorko Pickett (ex' 21) was signed to a G-League contract with Cleveland while former Georgetown guard Mac McClung (ex '22) was waived Saturday by the Orlando Magic, after having played four games with the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of last season. He is expected to sign with a G League team this week. Associated Press Pre-Season Poll
Three Big East teams number among the top eight in the Associated Press pre-season poll announced Monday.While Kansas earned 46 of 63 first place votes, Marquette (5th), Connecticut (6th) and Creighton (8th) are all major contenders, with Villanova (22nd) as the conference's fourth entry.It's been over eight years since Georgetown has reached the top 25, its longest drought since 1978. Here's a look at each Big East team and its last appearance in the poll:
CBS Sports.com: Georgetown 9th
With a week until Big East Media Day, CBS Sports.com posts its picks in this Big East preview.CBS' Picks
2. Connecticut 3. Creighton 4. Villanova 5. St. John's 6. Providence 7. Xavier 8. Seton Hall 9. Georgetown 10. Butler 11. DePaul Across six reporters, Georgetown was picked as follows: 8th: Cameron Salerno 9th: Gary Parrish, David Cobb, Jerry Palm, Matt Norlander 11th: Kyle Boone Blue-Gray Scrimmage Returns October 27
For the first time in 40 years, an intrasquad scrimmage will be open to students later this month at McDonough Gymnasium.The Blue-Gray Scrimmage, which began in the early 1950s as an annual event before the start of basketball season, saw its last public game in 1983 before head coach John Thompson opted for exhibition games: first against a traveling foreign team from Cibona, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) and later, a U.S. Army team from Ft Hood, Texas, which appeared at Georgetown well the late 1990s. In recent years, however, pre-season activity for students was nonexistent and not considered further in the John Thompson III and Patrick Ewing administrations.Not so for Ed Cooley, whose experience with the annual Mal Brown Scrimmage at Providence College has led to a new event at Georgetown on October 27.
Gavitt Games Extension StalledAn extension of the challenge series between the Big East and Big Ten is stalled, according to sources."According to a source, there is expected to be at least one more discussion between the two sides before an official decision is made, but the event continuing during the 2024-25 college basketball season now seems less likely than a few weeks ago," writes Jon Rothstein at College Sports Today. At issue is where the soon to be 18 team Big Ten will go with intra-conference scheduling and how it will affect non-conference scheduling such as this series.Georgetown meets Rutgers on November 15 in the series, which will expire after this season without a renewal. Assistant Coaches Appear On Hoya Locker RoomSaturday's (Not So) Secret ScrimmageThe NCAA bylaws allow Division I teams to practice amongst themselves, "provided it is conducted in privacy without official scoring."In 2023, a little less so.Georgetown's Saturday scrimmage with Wake Forest at the Thompson Center received its share of social media attention following an unverified but otherwise reported 46 points from sophomore guard Jayden Epps in an 81-77 Georgetown win. Both teams were missing key scorers in the contest (Georgetown's Jay Heath and Wake Forest's Efron Reid) but the score was received favorably by Georgetown fans eager to see the rebuilt Hoyas against major competition.
Ewing Returns To NBA Coaching
Six months after his firing, former Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing has a new home in one of his former NBA addresses.Sports Illustrated reports Ewing has been hired as a coaching consultant to Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford. The role of a "consultant" and not an "assistant coach" may allow the former coach to continue to receive a full payout from his Georgetown contract, as a coach's salary following termination can be applied as an offset against a buyout in some coaching contacts.Ewing served as an assistant coach in Charlotte from 2013 through 2017 under Clifford, who was rehired by the club last season. Ackerman: No TV Negotiations Yet
The Big East has not begun its TV media rights negotiations with Fox, said commissioner Val Ackerman."We have a spectacular deal right now because we've got every one of our men's games on linear," she told Xavier's 247Sports affiliate. "We've got 22 games this year on the Fox broadcast network, which is more on broadcast than any other conference. And that's grown year by year. [It] didn't start that way 10 years ago, but Fox has given us that platform, in part because the games are so compelling...We've tried to be good partners to them and vice versa. So we're very hopeful that we will remain in business with Fox in a significant way. The deal goes through next year. We've not really started negotiating with Fox with respect to the renewal."As to expansion, the Big East is pleased where it is in the waks of rampant change elsewhere. "We don't have our eyes really set on any other schools," she said. "We've had inquiries but our schools want to stand pat. One reason, it's not as important as some of the financial drivers, but we really like the double round robin in basketball. Even if we went to 12 (schools) at any point we would probably still do that and have a 22-game conference schedule. Right now it's a 20-game conference schedule and it allows for some non-conference challenges and the like." As to the 16 to 18 team conferences ahead, "I'm sort of intrigued by what some of these expansion moves will mean for their conference basketball scheduling and their conference tournaments if everyone comes to the conference tournament. Because I don't know that the conference tournament would be less than six days, and that's a long time that you're playing back-to-back days." Bulldog's Cause Of Death ListedThe cause of death of the eighth Jack The Bulldog has been identified, according to The HOYA.The canine formally known as "John F. Carroll" died in July from intestinal lymphangiectasia, the newspaper reported in its September 28 issue. "Jack's intestinal disease [was] characterized by the dilation of lymphatic vessels, which leads to the leakage of lymphatic fluid into the intestine."A replacement has not been announced to date. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||