Georgetown & The 2010's
With its loss Tuesday, Georgetown ended the 2010's just two games over .500 in Big East conference play.The Hoyas' combined record in Big East conference games from Jan. 3, 2010 (a 67-50 win over DePaul) to Dec. 31, 2019 was 91-89 (.506), net of a 7-10 record in Big East Tournament play which would have totaled to 98-99 (.497). Since the 2013 realignment, the Hoyas are just 46-63 in conference play (.422).For all games combined, its record in the decade is 196-132 (.597). Here are the 2010-2019 Big East regular season records by school:
Providence 76, Georgetown 60
The Georgetown Hoyas were no match for the Providence Friars in a 76-60 loss at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
The Friars (8-6) put this game away early, hitting three straight shots over 61 seconds to go up 8-0. Jahvon Blair, starting in place of an injured Mac McClung, picked up two fouls in 23 seconds and one could literally hear the exhale from the Georgetown bench. The Hoyas (10-4) began the game shooting 0 for 6 and didn't get its first field goal until a Qudus Wahab tip-in at the 12:52 mark, already down 12. Back to back threes from Luwane Pipkins and David Duke pushed the PC lead to 22-4 at the 11:18 mark. A first ever dunk from senior George Muresan at the 9:43 mark brought the score to 26-8 but the Hoyas would not score another basket for the next 4:10. Georgetown missed six shots and gave up three turnovers as the Friars extended the lead to 38-10 at the 6:29 mark before Omer Yurtseven added a basket, 38-12. PC forward A.J. Reeves scored the last 11 points of the half for the Friars, including three consecutive threes in a 1:27 period, to carry the home team to a 31 point lead at the break, 54-23. While the statistic is not actively tracked, it is believed to be the largest deficit Georgetown has ever faced in the Big East era (1979-present). The halftime numbers were grim. Georgetown shot 28 percent for the half; starting guards Terrell Allen and Jahvon Blair were a combined 0 for 13. The Hoyas managed just seven field goals with 10 turnovers. PC rode 10 first half threes compared to just one for Georgetown. Clearly, this was a bigger issue than merely the absence of McClung. The team was outplayed at every position and at nearly every possession--two PC players, Alpha Diallo (14 pts.) and Reeves (13), outscored the entire GU team. While the second half didn't alter the final outcome, it showed some promise. From a deficit of 33 early in the second half, Georgetown began to chip away at the total. Down 60-29 early in the second, the Hoyas went on a 11-0 run capped by a four point play from Blair to close to 60-40 at the 16:02 mark. The Hoyas failed to take further advantage, missing its next seven shots while the Friars scored just two baskets in a six minute run of the second half. A basket by Yurtseven brought the score to 64-49 at the 10:28 mark, but the two teams struggled for the next five minutes, combining for just one field goal between them. By the time Blair hit a three pointer with 4:27 to play, Georgetown was still down 19 and running out of time. Even though the Friars made just one field goal in the final 4:05, Georgetown could close to no more than 16 at the end. Yurtseven led all Georgetown scorers with 14, followed by 10 each from Allen and Blair in the Hoyas' lowest scoring effort of the season. The Friars placed four in double figures, led by 20 from Diallo. PC shot just 38 percent in the second half and missed all seven attempts from the three point line, but the damage had already been done. McClung's status for Friday night's game at Seton Hall has not been disclosed, but if the Hoyas play anything close to this effort over the next three games to open Big East play (at Seton Hall, home vs. St. John's, and at Villanova), a 0-4 start is not out of the question. Here's the Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Allen 37 3-12 0-4 4-4 3 4 4 10
Blair 31 0-6 3-8 1-1 5 3 4 10
Mosely 36 1-3 1-2 4-4 2 4 3 9
Pickett 34 0-4 3-5 0-0 2 1 1 9
Yurtseven 14 6-8 0-0 2-3 10 0 1 14
Reserves:
Ighoefe 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Muresan 13 1-2 0-0 0-0 4 0 1 2
Robinson 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Wahab 6 3-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 6
Team Rebounds 4
DNP: McClung, Azinge, Wilson
TOTALS 200 14-39 7-19 11-12 31 12 15 60
Georgetown 80, American 60
A 14-3 run to end the first half helped Georgetown pull away to a 80-60 win over American in the non-conference finale Saturday before 7,424 at Capital One Arena.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
Both teams started out strong, at least from two point range. Neither team could master the three point shot early, and Georgetown's size favored it inside as the Hoyas opened a 10-4 lead at the first media time out. From an 18-11 lead at the 12:09 mark, Georgetown hit a lull in scoring, with three missed threes and three turnovers, that enabled the Eagles to rally back on an 12-2 run of its own to take the lead at the 8:09 mark, 23-20. The Eagles led by as many as four, 28-24 before a late Georgetown run that was amplified by an injury to sophomore guard Mac McClung.
With the Hoyas up 30-29, McClung grabbed a long rebound when AU guard Sa'eed Nelson inadvertently raked McClung in his right eye. Struggling to keep the other eye open, McClung made two free throws and left the game thereafter, not to return. Head coach Patrick Ewing had no further report on McClung's condition in the post-game press conference. The Hoyas ended the half with 12 straight points before a late AU three from Nelson closed the lead to 41-32.Yurtseven opened the second half with six of Georgetown's first nine points as the Hoyas extended its lead to 14, 50-36, before taking an early exit in favor of Qudus Wahab in the post. Whatever comebacks American had in the playbook were frustrated by its poor outside shooting, missing all ten attempts from three and 20 of 23 for the game. American leading scorer Sa'eed Nelson was held to just four of his 17 points in the second half. Despite shooting 10-16 from inside the arc, the Eagles managed only three offensive rebounds in the second half and 10 turnovers after halftime did little to its cause. Georgetown got 10 second half points from Jahvon Blair and seven from Jamorko Pickett as the Hoyas extended its lead to 20 midway in the second half and played even down the stretch as the results were not in doubt. Freshman Tim Ighoefe made a late run on the scoring stats, scoring Georgetown's final eight points of the game, all in the final 2:36 of play. Yurtseven led all Georgetown scorers with 17 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes of play. Georgetown also got solid efforts from Terrell Allen (14 points, 5 assists) and Jahvon Blair (14 points, 6 rebounds). The Hoyas end a tumultuous non-conference slate 10-3, winners of six straight. Here's the Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Allen 37 7-10 0-0 0-0 1 5 0 14
McClung 15 2-3 0-3 4-4 3 3 0 8
Mosely 36 2-2 0-0 2-2 5 3 2 6
Pickett 28 3-7 0-0 3-6 7 0 2 9
Yurtseven 22 7-13 0-0 3-5 8 0 2 17
Reserves:
Blair 34 2-4 2-6 4-5 6 0 2 14
Ighoefe 5 3-4 0-0 2-4 2 0 2 8
Azinge 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 0
Muresan 6 0-0 0-0 2-2 2 1 0 2
Robinson 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Wahab 14 1-2 0-0 0-0 4 0 4 2
Team Rebounds 4
DNP: Wilson
TOTALS 200 27-45 2-9 20-28 42 12 15 80
Top Ten Stories Of The Decade (+1)
On Jan. 1, 2010, Georgetown basketball was in a good place. The Hoyas were 10-1, ranked #12 in the nation, and riding its 32nd week in the Associated Press Top 25 poll over the past three seasons. Ranked as high as #7 during the season, Georgetown advanced to its 14th Big East final in 30 years, dropping a two point decision to West Virginia.At the close of the decade, it just seems a long, long time ago. Georgetown hasn't been back to the Big East finals since 2010, and has missed the NCAA tournament in each of the past four seasons. Its average home attendance fell from 12,826 per game in 2009-10 to just 7,212 in 2018-19, a decline of 44 percent.It's been an interesting decade for the flagship program of the Big East, but there were some good times in there as well. With excerpts from HoyaSaxa.com and other coverage, here are the top 10 stories of the decade, and a plus one. Georgetown 99, Samford 71
A career high 32 points and 17 rebounds from senior Omer Yurtseven led Georgetown to a 99-71 pre-Christmas win over the Samford Bulldogs before 5,529 at Capital One Arena.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
Both teams started the afternoon shooting poorly, missing nine of its first 11 shots combined. From a 9-9 tie at the 15 minute mark, Georgetown went on an 11-0 run with Yurtseven at the forefront on both sides of the court. Yurtseven was in double figures by the midway point of the half and picked up six rebounds in the run which saw Samford (6-8) go scoreless for almost six minutes. Georgetown failed to put this game away early, shooting poorly in the first half. At one point Yurtseven was 4 for 6 and the rest of the team was 4 for 18. The Hoyas responded with a 15-3 run to push the score to 40-18, part of a run which saw Mac McClung score seven points, add two assists and pick up a steal over five straight possessions. Outside shooting was nowhere to be found, however, as the Hoyas struggled from beyond the three point arc (1 for 11) and Samford ended the half on a 13-4 run to close the margin to 44-31 at the break. The Bulldogs scored a three to open the second half, 44-34, but it was as close as they would get. Yurtseven and McClung piloted the Hoyas on an 18-2 run to follow that three and put the game out of reach. Georgetown led 62-37 at the first media time out of the second half and by 28 with 12:19 to play. Yurtseven got an extended run in the game due to foul problems from freshman Qudus Wahab, who picked up five fouls in just six minutes of action and fouled out with 9:22 to play. Yurtseven dominated in the low post and scored 16 points after the break before bowing out with four minutes to play. Georgetown shot 70 percent from the field over the first 12 minutes of the second half and 53 percent for the second half overall as Samford eschewed defense and simply got into a running game to which they got points but could not recover on the other end of the court. This was the fourth consecutive game Samford has allowed 90 or more points and they failed to lock down the Hoyas inside. In addition to Yurtseven, Mac McClung scored 25 points with a career high seven rebounds. Georgetown got 14 from Jamorko Pickett and 11 from Jahvon Blair as GU finished shooting 48 percent from the field despite a frosty 4 for 16 from three point range. Guards Brandon Austin and Josh Sharkey accounted for 50 of Samford's 71 points on the afternoon. The Hoyas get a one week break for the Christmas holidays before returning to action next Saturday against American. Here's the Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Allen 30 1-4 0-1 1-2 6 7 4 3
McClung 31 8-14 2-5 3-5 7 5 1 25
Mosely 35 2-3 1-2 1-1 3 2 1 8
Pickett 33 5-11 0-2 4-5 6 3 1 14
Yurtseven 31 15-20 0-1 2-4 17 1 4 32
Reserves:
Blair 23 1-3 1-5 6-6 6 2 0 11
Ighoefe 3 1-3 0-0 1-2 3 0 1 2
Azinge 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Muresan 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0
Robinson 3 0-1 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 1
Wahab 6 1-2 0-0 1-2 1 0 5 3
Team Rebounds 4
DNP: Wilson
TOTALS 200 34-62 4-16 19-27 53 20 18 99
Georgetown 81, UMBC 55
Omer Yurtseven was unopposed in the middle, leading Georgetown to a 81-55 exam week win over Maryland-Baltimore County at Capital One Arena.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
The Retrievers (6-7) didn't score for the first seven minutes of play, trailing 14-0. Yurtseven was dominant on both ends of the floor, scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds in just 12 minutes of the first half. UMBC got as close as 18-9 midway in the first half before Georgetown answered with baskets in five of its next six shots en route to a 42-24 lead at the break.UMBC's slow start at the opening followed them into the second half, with just two field goals in the first seven minutes after the break. Georgetown was more productive, with Yurtseven scoring 10 of the Hoyas first 17 as Georgetown opened a commanding 59-30 lead at the 12:52 mark. Yurtseven gave way to freshman Qudus Wahab, who scored eight of the Hoyas' next 12 points as Georgetown went up 30, 71-41. With an eye to getting playing time for some players who may need it later in the season, Ewing opened up the the Georgetown bench in the final four minutes, with freshman center Tim Ighoefe and walk-ons Chuma Azinge and Jaden Robinson each seeing time down the stretch. Yurtseven was one of four Hoyas in double figures along with 15 from Jahvon Blair, 12 from Jamorko Pickett, and 10 from Qudus Wahab. Georgetown shot 49 percent from the field and owned a 45-31 advantage on the boards. Here's the Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Allen 27 3-3 1-3 0-0 2 8 3 9
McClung 25 4-10 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 8
Mosely 38 2-3 0-3 0-0 6 6 1 4
Pickett 27 3-5 1-1 3-4 3 0 2 12
Yurtseven 20 11-14 0-0 0-0 13 0 2 22
Reserves:
Blair 30 2-5 3-7 2-2 7 3 2 15
Ighoefe 4 0-1 0-0 1-2 1 0 0 1
Azinge 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Muresan 8 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
Robinson 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
Wahab 16 4-9 0-0 2-2 9 0 2 10
Team Rebounds 2
DNP: Wilson
TOTALS 200 27-53 5-16 8-10 45 18 13 81
Mary A. Fenlon (1938-2019)
Mary Fenlon, academic advisor to two generations of Georgetown basketball players from 1972 through 1999, died Sunday at the age of 81.
COVERAGE
Fenlon was an educator for four decades: first as a Catholic nun, and later as a lay teacher at St. Anthony HS in Northeast DC in the 1960's with classes in English and Latin. It was at St. Anthony that she met 25 year old John Thompson, then a former NBA player getting into high school coaching, and helped him develop a 4-H program at what is now the University of the District of Columbia. When Thompson took over as head coach at Georgetown in 1972, Fenlon was his first hire."I really don't do anything unusual," Fenlon told the Catholic Standard in 1973, one of the few interviews Fenlon gave in her 27 years with the University. "My job is to coordinate the team's academic schedule with their travel schedule and their game schedule. I say things like, 'you'll be on the road next week and exams are coming soon, so make sure you get your studying in.'" "It's not fair to say to a student, 'here's the scholarship, here's the school.' [Coach Thompson] expects 100 percent from the kids and he expects the staff to give 100 percent to the students." "Coach Thompson's vision for Georgetown basketball was that it would be a place where we would achieve athletic excellence and academic excellence," said Georgetown University President John DeGioia. "But the way in which that vision came alive was through the work, every day, of Mary Fenlon." Fenlon retired in 1999 and moved to Nevada in her later years. Due to failing health, she was unable to attend a ceremony on November 14 which inducted her into the Georgetown University Athletic Hall of Fame. Per the University release, a requiem Mass will be held on January 10 at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Henderson, NV. Georgetown Wins NCAA Soccer Championship
Georgetown won its first ever NCAA championship in men's soccer, defeating Virginia in penalty kicks Sunday night before 8,413 at Sahlen Stadium in Cary, NC.
POST-MATCH COVERAGE
Unlike soccer games which are mired in a defensive standoff, this was a busy game on both sides of the field. The six goals between the teams was the most goals scored in an NCAA championship in 39 years, with the Hoyas taking a 3-2 lead with nine minutes to play, only to see Virginia get the equalizer with under five to play. After two sudden-death overtime periods without a score, the teams proceeded to penalty kicks, where each team scored until the 14th kick. Georgetown goalie Tomas Romero stopped the shot from Virginia's Axel Gunnarsson to give the Hoyas the championship before a large crowd of Georgetown fans that made the trip to the Research Triangle area of North Carolina to see the historic match. "It was a great game, and to have a great game you have to have two really good teams," said Georgetown coach Brian Wiese. "[Virginia is] an unbelievably talented, unbelievably hard-working team to deal with." "Traditionally, we've been really good at it when we get to this phase, and made six today. What else can you ask for as a coach?" said Virginia coach George Gelnovatch. "We were prepared, they were prepared, and we missed the last one. There's not really much else to say about that."
Not to be outdone: a full house at the Healey Family Student Center to watch the finish from campus:
This is the third NCAA team championship in school history, following men's basketball (1984) and women's cross country (2011). Georgetown finishes its season 20-1-3. Police Drop Player Investigations;
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Georgetown 89, Syracuse 79
"They got rid of a guy that wouldn't pass the ball to anybody and just shot every time. That's why they're good now...Two guys weren't really contributing at all and another guy was throwing the ball up all the time. I know Patrick can't say that, but I can."--Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim
Twenty four hours removed from a second set of transfers from the Georgetown program, seven scholarship players and a walk-on led the Hoyas to yet another improbable victory, an 89-79 win over the Syracuse Orangemen before a season high 15,102 at Capital One Arena and a nationally televised audience on Fox.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
This was a well played game from the start. An early 8-3 lead by the Hoyas was matched by the Orangemen, as forward Elijah Hughes enjoyed a strong first half. A three point play by Hughes gave the Orangemen a 16-15 lead at the 13:44 mark, but the Hoyas' outside shooting picked up. Back to back threes by Jagan Mosely and Jahvon Blair gave the Hoyas a 21-16 lead, and the five point lead held until a McClung three at the midpoint of the first half sent the Hoyas up eight, 26-18.A pair of first half plays stung the Orangemen.
Down four at the 8:19 mark, Syracuse forward Marek Dolezaj was called for a block on McClung and the Syracuse bench was whistled for a technical. McClung made three of four free throws to put the Hoyas up seven. With 3:42 left, Dolezaj was called on an illegal screen that waved off a Hughes three with the Hoyas leading 36-34. McClung answered with free throws, but the orangemen committed turnovers on its next two possessions and the Hoyas added a Mosely three and a McClung layup. McClung scored the final nine points of the half, including a three as time expired, 48-36, with 21 at the break.
Georgetown had Syracuse's number in the first half...actually, two. Although the Orangemen shot 50 percent from the field, the Hoyas owned the boards, with a 22-12 advantage. More impactful was the Hoyas' advantage at the foul line. Numerous Syracuse fouls sent the Hoyas to the line 19 times compared to just three for the Orangemen. Georgetown's first half margin at the line - 14 points - proved crucial in the second half.
The story of the second half was Georgetown's ability to control Syracuse's runs. Though Hughes had 16 in the first half, he was held to 1 for 7 after the break. Up stepped Jackson (Buddy) Boeheim, the son of the Syracuse head coach. After a 0 for 5 effort in the first half, Boeheim put together one of the best second halves of a Georgetown opponent in many years. Were it not for Boeheim, this game would not have been close.
Georgetown led by as many as 16 before Boeheim heated up. Back to back baskets by Boeheim closed the Georgetown lead to 62-53 at the 10:42 mark, but Georgetown answered with a pair of baskets inside from Terrell Allen and Omer Yurtseven to go back up 13, 66-53. Two minutes later, the Orangemen closed to nine, but Jahvon Blair was on the mark, hitting back to back threes to return the lead to 72-59 with 7:08 to play. Boeheim scored the next eight as the Orangemen got back to nine, 77-68, but Georgetown got the ball inside to Omer Yurtseven on consecutive possessions to return to 12, 77-65.
A Boeheim three rallied the Orangemen yet again, 77-68, and back came Yurtseven, connecting on a three point play, 80-68, with 3:15 remaining. Yurtseven scored 12 straight down the stretch to keep Syracuse out of range, where the Hoyas put the game away at the line in the final minute. A late Boeheim three closed to nine at the 1:07 mark, but no closer. Boeheim ended the game with 25, all after halftime.
Mac McClung led the Hoyas with 26 points but this was a team effort in every sense of the word. Just seven players played 194 of 200 possible minutes and that will be the case the rest of the season. Georgetown got 19 points and seven rebounds from senior Omer Yurtseven who, despite an up and down day, had two late dunks that put the game away.
A 16 point, seven rebound, five assist game from Jagan Mosely was impressive from start to finish, calling to mind the senior level grit from former Georgetown guard Jabril Trawick. The Hoyas got 14 points and six assists from Terrell Allen and three three pointers from Jahvon Blair, both of whom came up big at key points of the game. And while he didn't get any points, the season debut of senior walk-on George Muresan showed that coach Ewing was prepared to go to the bench where needed.
"It has been a difficult week," said Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing. "A lot of things have happened, a lot of things were swirling around, but I thought my guys stepped up."
The game featured a series high 24 three pointers between the two teams, with each team picking up a technical foul and an unusual non-play ejection, as sophomore guard Jalen Carey was sent to the locker room for tripping Georgetown's Terrell Allen along the Syracuse sideline. Carey, the top Syracuse recruit for 2018-19, was benched early this season and is currently recovering from a thumb injury. This won't help in his return to the SU lineup.
With just one returning starter from last season, Syracuse dropped to 5-5 on the season, its worst 10 game start in the Jim Boeheim era (1976-present).
A full recap follows Sunday--here's the Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Allen 38 3-5 0-0 8-11 2 6 4 14
McClung 36 4-8 3-8 9-10 4 2 2 26
Mosely 36 1-2 4-6 2-3 7 5 1 16
Pickett 25 1-5 1-3 0-0 9 2 3 5
Yurtseven 34 7-13 0-0 5-7 9 1 4 19
Reserves:
Blair 17 0-0 3-8 0-0 3 3 0 9
Muresan 6 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
Wahab 8 0-1 0-0 0-0 4 1 0 0
Team Rebounds 2
DNP: Ighoefe, Azinge, Robinson, Wilson
TOTALS 200 16-36 11-25 24-31 41 20 14 89
Boeheim Press Conference
If James Akinjo was ever considering a transfer to Syracuse, it's probably not going to happen.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim minced no words in describing how the Hoyas have changed since Akinjo's departure--while not mentioning the guard by name, he was clear where he stood on Akinjo.2019-20 Depth Chart
| Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward | Power Forward | Center |
| Terrell Allen Grad 4.7 ppg |
Mac McClung Sophomore 16.1 ppg |
Jagan Mosley Senior 6.8 ppg |
Jamorko Pickett Junior 7.5 ppg |
Omer Yurtseven Senior 16.6 ppg |
| Jahvon Blair Junior 5.6 ppg |
George Muresan Senior 0.0 ppg |
Qudus Wahab Freshman 3.7 ppg | ||
| Chuma Azinge Freshman HNP |
Jaden Robinson Sophomore HNP |
Malcolm Wilson Freshman HNP |
||
| Tim Ighoefe Freshman HNP |
HNP=Has not played do date.
Alexander, Gardner Announce Transfers
In two statements made independent of the basketball office, freshman Myron Gardner and junior college transfer Galen Alexander each announced they would transfer from Georgetown Friday afternoon in the wake of off-court investigations against each of them.
Gardner's announcement was released to the Washington Post by his attorney. In part, it reads; "After consultation with my family I have decided that it is in my best interest to enter into the transfer portal. I want to thank Coach Patrick Ewing, Coach Louis Orr, the staff and the entire Georgetown University community for their support of my success."Gardner was part of a negotiated settlement earlier this week with a student complainant.
Alexander's announcement was more defiant.
"My character has been defamed and that needs to be cleared up more than anything else," he wrote on a social media post. "Very soon it will come to light that I am innocent and had nothing to do with the false allegations. In light of the situation, the University has allowed me to become a target and subjected to unfair treatment, with little or no support.
"With that being said, my family and I have decided that Georgetown is not the environment for me to successfully grow as both an individual and as a basketball player."
The announcements are highly unusual in that they did not come from the basketball office which generally announces personnel changes to the media.
The move leaves Georgetown with just seven players in the rotation for Saturday's game versus Syracuse, with two scholarship centers and three walk-ons on the roster who have not seen any playing time to date. Only one of the five (senior walk-on George Muresan) plays the forward position previously held by Gardner or Alexander as backups, which is currently held by starters Jagan Mosely and Jamorko Pickett.
Ewing Meets With Press
Patrick Ewing's media briefing with local writers quickly turned to the changes faced by the Hoyas over the last week.
"Naturally it's rough when you lose two integral parts of your team, two guys that helped you to be successful in the previous year," Ewing said at the briefing. "I thought that the guys stuck together, played together as a team and did everything that we needed to do to get two great wins.""Nothing to say negative about those guys that are leaving, because they did do some great things to help our program. They will be missed," he said. "But guys are just stepping up."
When asked about his former classmates, Mac McClung said "It's really none of my business. I wish the best for those guys, they're my bros for my life, [but] it's their decision and I don't really have a comment on it."
Addition By Allen
One of the major stories from last week's road wins has been the emergence of graduate Transfer Terrell Allen.
Allen, a DeMatha HS graduate who played at Drexel and Central Florida before arriving at Georgetown for a fifth year of eligibility, was a strong force on the court in wins over Oklahoma State and Southern Methodist, with a season high 15 points versus OSU and a season high 10 assists versus SMU."In the two games since he took over the starting job, the story has been the same," wrote Aaron Hanshaw at Hoopdirt.com, a statistical analysis web site. "The Hoyas are +29 with Allen on the floor (the highest plus/minus of any Hoya) and -5 in the 17 minutes without him."
Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje: The Next Chapter
From the Philadelphia Inquirer: an update on former Georgetown center Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (C'01, G'14), who is now the assistant general manger for the Philadelphia 76ers' affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.
MORE ON RUBEN
"You are hard-pressed for somebody to play top Division I competition, in the NBA, and overseas and then earn a master's in applied math and statistics,", said 76ers general manager Elton Brand. "Plus, he is also a great person."After playing in the NBA and overseas until 2011, Boumtje-Boumtje, now 41, returned to Georgetown to earn a master's degree in mathematics in 2014. Prior to joining the Sixers, he served as a data scientist for Siemens.
"He has the experience of playing in the NBA, playing a high level in college, playing overseas, and a wealth of basketball and analytics knowledge," Brand said. "He is the perfect example of the type of executive we are trying to grow."
Gardner Civil Case Closed
One of two civil actions against two Georgetown basketball players and a pending transfer was settled today in D.C. Superior Court without further admission from either party.
A complaint of assault and battery was made against Myron Gardner for an alleged incident on September 16. At the hearing, a one year "stay away" order was signed by Gardner, Galen Alexander, and Josh LeBlanc. A second civil complaint against LeBlanc and Alexander is scheduled for a hearing in February, which does not involve Gardner.This court action is separate from any decision that may be reached from the Student Judicial Board.
That Was The Week That Was
A week ago, the discussion around these pages was how Georgetown would regroup in its upcoming road trip. Well, that seems a long time ago.
Over the past week, Georgetown basketball has been the subject of numerous comments, questions, speculation, and misrepresentation from fans, writers and armchair attorneys from across the Internet. The story has collectively spread a lot of heat but not much light on the situation affecting two former players and two current ones. Add to this its top recruit for 2020, Terrance Williams, decommitted on Thursday.In the midst of all this, the Hoyas put together what may be one of the best back to back games in non-conference play in over two decades, defeating two undefeated teams on the road that held significant home court win streaks against non-conference opponents--all this, minus two sophomores who accounted for almost 20 points a game.
So what do we know, and not know?
- James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc are transferring. Regardless of the circumstances, this is a loss. Losing the Big East Rookie of the Year and an all-Rookie team members with significant upside will be a challenge for the Hoyas to overcome--if not in December, then as the season progresses. The timing of Akinjo's announcement was awkward and has now linked him unwittingly to the LeBlanc investigation, which will be a point of concern to some schools. Akinjo will eventually land somewhere with a coach who will see this as an opportunity for a clean slate, while LeBlanc's future colleges choices remain less certain until the outcome of the investigations.
- Galen Alexander and Myron Gardner are still on the team. The two investigations underway remain ongoing and the newcomers will continue to be eligible pending the results of one or both inquiries. To the consternation of more than a few out on Twitter, Georgetown is following due process and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines, which is essential for a fair accounting to all parties concerned but won't provide the rest of the world much in the way of information.
- The team responded. To read some of the angrier voices on social media early last week, they were asking of Georgetown would be able to finish the season or whether Patrick Ewing had one foot out the door. Instead, the team came together and the results of the wins over Oklahoma State and SMU in hostile road environments is nothing short of a best-case scenario for these two games. The play of Mac McClung and Terrell Allen in the backcourt was spectacular, and the revival of offensive options of Jamorko Pickett and Jahvon Blair have to be a source of optimism heading forward.
- The timeline for Alexander and Gardner's investigation and resolution. Two independent investigations--one by the Metropolitan DC Police Department (MPD) and one by the Georgetown Student Judicial Board are ongoing, with the latter likely extending into the second semester. No timetable for either investigation is going to be disclosed, nor any specific resolutions outlined. No charges have been filed in any of the complaints against LeBlanc, Alexander or Gardner, and it remains possible that a variety of actions ranging from the dismissal of the complaint to a negotiated or mediated settlement to outright charges are or will be addressed. The process will remain confidential depending on the results and/or appeals of these two independent efforts.
- How teams will scout against this new lineup. On the court, Georgetown benefited this week from different lineups to which coaches Mike Boynton (OSU) and Tim Jankovich (SMU) were somewhat unprepared for. By contrast, Jim Boeheim has seen it all and then some, so how Syracuse and teams going forward will view the ability to defend Allen, Blair, and the other changes in the Georgetown lineup is yet to be seen.
- The impact of attrition. With all due respect to the three walk-ons and two freshman centers who have combined for 0 minutes in the first eight games of this season, this is a nine man lineup going forward and how the use of lineups affects the team long term is unclear.
- Georgetown's internal process in this matter. Regardless of the circumstances, this is difficult for all parties concerned, but you're not going to hear leaks from the University. Georgetown can stay quiet within its ranks as well as any organization outside the Pentagon or maybe the Roman Curia, and as a result GU is not in the business of influencing a public dialogue with details from either an internal or external review.
- Why Akinjo actually transferred. Transfers are by nature, somewhat speculative. Akinjo did not lack for playing time and there is no evidence of academic difficulties. Some will suggest Akinjo did not get along with teammates or the head coach but unless Akinjo addresses it outright, which is unlikely, it's just idle speculation. At his next stop, James Akinjo must show that he cannot only be a scorer but a leader off the court, which will be essential if a pro team is willing to invest in a 6-1 point guard. Just four percent of active NBA players are 6-1 (20 of 450), so if Akinjo wants to be in this group he's got some work to do...it just won't be at Georgetown.
- The long-term plan for depth. It is essential for teams to build depth and consistency and transfers and early entries only make that job tougher. Ewing has lost five players to transfer in less than two years: Chris Sodom, Antwan Walker, Grayson Carter, James Akinjo, and Josh LeBlanc. Recruiting, to date, remains an uphill climb for Ewing and simply working the transfer wire and the fifth year grad transfer list doesn't address long term stability in an ever deeper Big East. In fact, only four current players (Jagan Mosely, Jahvon Blair, Jamorko Pickett, and George Muresan) were even on the team when Georgetown last hosted Syracuse in December 2017. How quality depth is addressed going forward is up to the staff, and we'll all have to watch along the way.
Media Tweet Of The Week
Speculation was everywhere among the online press during the week. Honorable mention for the quickest backtrack goes to Sam Vecenie, a former CBS Sports online writer who now writes for the subscription based The Athletic. Here are two of his tweets last week on the matter:
Georgetown 91, SMU 74
"This was the best shooting game of my tenure here. Everyone did something to help us to win."--Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing
"Talk about worst-case scenarios, that was it."--SMU coach Tim Jankovich
A wild and unpredictable week of Georgetown basketball concluded with a wild and unpredictable outcome, as the Georgetown Hoyas knocked off its second undefeated opponent in four days with a 91-74 win at Southern Methodist University.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
Before a crowd of 5,855 at Moody Coliseum which included former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura, Georgetown ran up its all-time record of presidential-viewed games to 4-0 in a contest where the Hoyas never trailed and dominated throughout. The Mustangs arrived to this game undefeated at 8-0, holding each opponent under 70 points, and winners of 37 of their last 41 non-conference opponents at home. Georgetown blasted these statistics out of the water, with a variety of offensive and defensive outputs that SMU was unable to contend with.
Georgetown opened the game with a Mac McClung three, and matched it a minute later. baskets by Jamorko Pickett and Omer Yurtseven followed. By the time Jagan Mosely picked up Georgetown's third three of the game, 13-2, the Hoyas had already picked up five assists in five field goals. Back to back baskets by Yurtseven extended the GU lead to 17-2, and threes by Jahvon Blair and Jagan Mosely stunned the home crowd in putting Georgetown up 23-3 less than eight minutes into the first half. The Mustangs couldn't have started slower, opening the game 1 for 15 with three turnovers.
SMU never got closer than 15 in the first half. From a 26-11 lead, GU answered with a 7-0 run to go up 22, 33-11, and led by as 24 before taking a 49-29 lead at the half. The first half statistics were remarkable: Georgetown shot 63 percent for the half, 8 for 10 from two point range and 9 for 17 from three, with 12 assists in 17 field goals. SMU went into the break shooting 6 for 30, a miserable 2 of 16 from two point range and 4 of 14 from three. A 13 for 17 mark from the free throw line was the only thing that kept the Ponies in the same area code as the Hoyas, enjoying its best first half in many years.
McClung opened the second half and the Hoyas did not look back. The Mustangs again closed to 15 at 53-38 but Georgetown answered with seven straight from Jamorko Pickett and Georgetown was back up 20. The Hoyas saw its best run off three consecutive threes by Jahvon Blair midway in the second half and a Galen Alexander dunk that put the Hoyas up 27 with 7:05 to play. Shooting at a reasonable 50 percent reached from two and three point range, SMU could make up little ground against the lead despite an 11 for 16 run from two point range in the second half.
Where do we start with the Hoyas? Mac McClung was again at the top of his game, with 19 points and seven assists. He was ably assisted in the backcourt with a strong effort from Terrell Allen, with 10 assists and no turnovers in 29 minutes of play. The hero of the game was Jahvon Blair, who shattered his three point shooting woes in this game--entering the evening shooting just 4 for 19 this season from outside, he shot 7 for 11 from behind the arc, tying a career high of 21 points. Georgetown finished shooting 55 percent from the field, a season high 14 threes, and missed one free throw in 10 attempts.
The Mustangs had four players in double figures, led by 17 each from Kendric Davis and Feron Hunt, playing the Hoyas basically even for the last 30 minutes of the game, but unable to recover from the first ten.
The Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Allen 29 1-2 0-1 0-0 2 10 2 2
McClung 28 1-3 5-9 2-2 4 7 2 19
Mosely 31 1-2 2-2 0-0 1 3 2 8
Pickett 22 5-8 0-1 1-1 6 1 4 11
Yurtseven 29 8-12 0-0 3-4 8 2 2 19
Reserves:
Blair 18 0-0 7-11 0-0 0 0 0 21
Alexander 10 1-2 0-1 0-0 4 1 3 2
Gardner 14 1-3 0-2 1-1 3 2 1 3
Wahab 19 2-2 0-0 2-2 3 0 4 6
Team Rebounds 5
DNP: Ighoefe, Azinge, Muresan, Robinson, Wilson
TOTALS 200 20-34 14-27 9-10 36 26 20 91
Class of 2020 Recruit Decommits From GU
— T Will #??5?? (@_flyyt) December 5, 2019
Terrence Williams, the second of three recruits for Georgetown's 2020 class, announced he has reopened his recruiting search.
Williams, who plays at Gonzaga College HS, previously announced he was planning to sign with Georgetown in the spring.Following this week's transfers, Georgetown now has three openings for the Class of 2020, but it is unlikely to come from the nation's top recruits. As of the fall signing period, 91 of the top 100 have committed for 2020 and Georgetown is not on the short list of any other the other nine. The Hoyas currently have commitments from forward Jamari Sibley (#90 nationally per 247Sports) and point guard Dante Harris (unranked).
Georgetown 81, Oklahoma St. 74
In the last 231 non-conference games at Gallagher-Iba Arena, just nine opponents have walked out of the storied gymnasium as winners over Oklahoma State. Georgetown became the tenth non-conference victor over OSU since 1987, 81-74, the result of some remarkable individual and team performances during a difficult 48 hours for the men's basketball program.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
Both teams entered the game short-handed, although the Cowboys' lineup change was unexpected. Oklahoma State guard and leading scorer Isaac Likekele was held out due to illness, although the Cowboys started off with a bang, hitting five threes on its first five scoring possessions. Georgetown kept pace, in large part from the confidence of Mac McClung, who scored six early points and seemed more confident as the leading scoring option in the backcourt, a role that he often seemed at odds with against the former James Akinjo.From a 15-15 tie seven minutes onto the first half, McClung provided Georgetown its first stable lead of the game. McClung scored on a driving layup and a thee pointer as part of an 8-0 run that gave GU a 23-15 lead, an advantage Georgetown maintained throughout the first half. McClung scored 15 in the first half, a figure matched by OSU forward Lindy Waters, who took over the shooting mantle for the Cowboys in the place of Likekele's absence. In a well played half for both teams, the Cowboys struggled in three pointers later in the half, going 1 for 11 down the stretch in the first half, but GU was just 3 for 10 and could never quite pull away. From a 34-27 Georgetown lead with 4:32 to play before halftime, two free throws, two missed shots, and two turnovers were all the Hoyas could muster, as OSU fought back to close to 36-32 at the break.
Oklahoma State regained its three point shooting touch early in the second half. After two early turnovers that extended the Georgetown lead to 40-32, OSU answered with three thee pointers in its next five possessions to close the Georgetown margin to 46-45 at the first media time out and a fourth three tied the game at 48-48 two minutes later. A basket and foul by center Yor Anei extended the Cowboys' lead to three, 51-48, and following two GU turnovers in an 18 second stretch, guard Chris Harris drove inside for the basket, 53-55, eliciting the largest ovation of the night from the announced crowd of 9,155 at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Georgetown's comeback was strong and methodical. Without an opening on the wins, McClung drove to the basket and picked up free throws, 55-50. Omer Yurtseven, who had struggled in the paint on rebounds, blocked a shot on th ensuing possession and picked up an assist on a GU dunk on the next possession, 55-52. Waters added a three, 58-55, but McClung answered with three consecutive threes to put the Hoyas up five, 61-55.
Both teams played tight defense down the stretch and with McClung and Yurtseven locked down, grad transfer Terrell Allen stepped up his game. Allen, 0-3 from three point range before the game, hit the first of two second half threes to put the Hoyas up seven 67-60. baskets by Waters and Cameron McGriff brought OSU back twice within four at the 2:49 and 1:04 mark, only to have Allen score the last seven points of the game via a three pointer and four at the foul line.
McClung led all scorers with 33 but Georgetown got solid scoring from Yurtseven (19) and Allen (15), as the Hoyas shot 48 percent in the second half with a season's best 6 for 12 from three pointers after halftime. Waters led the Cowboys with 29 points overall, but second half three point shooting from the Pokes waned in the second half much as it did in the first. From a 3-4 start in the second half, OSU missed seven of its final nine attempts of the game.
Georgetown finished the game 14 of 14 from the free throw line--this has been surpassed only once before in team history in a 18-18 effort versus Missouri in 2010. The 6 for 6 mark from the line in the final two minutes ensured no Cowboy comeback and earned the Hoyas a much needed win in the midst of considerable concern about the depth of the team going forward. To do it on the road in a hostile environment was even more impressive.
"When you lose two guys like Josh LeBlanc and James Akinjo, it's hard to replace them," said head coach Patrick Ewing in post-game comments. "Last year they were part of the heart and soul of our team. I thought my guys showed that they have a lot of character and talent. Mac stepped up and played, to me, one of his best games as a Hoya. Not only him, but also Terrell Allen.
"We were going against a very well-coached team and were able to come away with a huge win on the road. Especially after they went up five points in the second half, we showed a lot of character to come back from that."
The Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Allen 33 2-3 2-4 5-5 1 5 3 15
McClung 34 8-13 4-8 5-5 2 2 0 33
Mosely 29 1-2 0-1 2-2 7 2 5 4
Pickett 28 1-4 0-0 0-0 7 2 1 2
Yurtseven 36 7-17 1-3 2-2 9 3 3 19
Reserves:
Blair 13 0-0 1-3 0-0 1 0 0 3
Alexander 13 1-2 1-3 0-0 7 1 1 5
Gardner 10 0-0 0-0 0-0 4 1 0 0
Wahab 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0
Team Rebounds 4
DNP: Ighoefe, Azinge, Muresan, Robinson, Wilson
TOTALS 200 20-41 9-22 14-14 43 16 14 81
More Georgetown Statements On Recent Issues
Prior to the start of Wednesday's game, a third news release was posted with comments from head coach Patrick Ewing and athletic director Lee Reed on this week's developments with regard to players transfers and an ongoing investigation into activities from current team members Galen Alexander and Myron Gardner.
Alexander and Gardner each played in the game.Ewing's statement is as follows:
"Georgetown basketball has been in the news this week, and not for the reasons we want to be.
First, two of our players, James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc, have expressed interest in transferring from the University and are no longer on the team. I wish them well in their future endeavors.
Earlier this week, you may have read about allegations against three members of our team.
While I can't comment on individual students, please know that we take conduct issues very seriously and that our players are subject to the same disciplinary policies and procedures contained in the Code of Conduct that apply to any undergraduate or graduate student. I expect the highest standard of conduct of my players and they are given no special treatment when it comes to their behavior and discipline. This is a fair and equitable process for all students.
I address this because I don't want there to be any question about the culture of Hoya basketball. The G we wear on our uniforms is about much more than basketball.
It's about a culture that expects the best of our players, both on and off the court. Having a strong culture is also about respecting and supporting those members of our community who come forward to report misconduct.
We represent a University that holds us all to the highest standards, and to live generously in service to others.
I won't have any more to say on these allegations at this point."
Georgetown Response To Transfer Developments
Many of you have been following recent news regarding our Men's Basketball Team. Yesterday, we announced that two students, James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc, will not be members of the team for the remainder of the season as they have expressed an interest in transferring from the University. Separately, allegations were reported publicly against three members of the team. The allegations do not involve James Akinjo.
While Georgetown refrains from commenting on individual students in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we take student conduct issues very seriously. Alleged conduct violations are investigated and adjudicated by the Office of Student Conduct through a fair and equitable process. Both the complainant and the accused student are given the opportunity to provide written and oral statements along with any relevant evidence before disciplinary actions are taken. Student-athletes are subject to the same disciplinary policies and procedures contained in the Code of Conduct that apply to any undergraduate or graduate student.
Once the student conduct process is completed, and if sanctions are imposed by the Office of Student Conduct, coaches may impose additional disciplinary actions, including removal from the team. When students report concerns for their safety, the University takes immediate action and offers a range of options and supportive resources for students, which may include putting in place no contact orders between members of the campus community, filing a complaint with the University or the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD), safety planning with GUPD, police escorts for students, counseling and other support services - all to ensure complainants are safe on campus. If the University determines that a student poses an immediate threat to the safety or security of students or of the community, the University would take immediate action to remove the student from campus.
Please know that we are deeply committed to the integrity of our athletics program. All student athletes are required to complete a four-tiered education model on interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Coach Ewing has taken additional steps to ensure a culture of responsibility and integrity within our Men's Basketball Team.
We seek to develop the talents, character and leadership qualities of all student-athletes and members of our community. We aspire for our student-athletes to exemplify the excellence and integrity of the Georgetown community and will continue to work to achieve this mission.
Sincerely,
Lee Reed
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Alexander, Gardner Cited In Separate Issue
Independent of the dismissal of sophomores James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc, media accounts Monday night centered on civil allegations made against Josh LeBlanc, freshman Myron Gardner and junior college transfer Galen Alexander by two Georgetown students.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
"The first complaint, filed Nov. 5, alleges LeBlanc committed burglary Sept. 16, then threatened bodily harm against the plaintiff and the plaintiff's roommate," wrote the Washington Post. "The roommate filed a separate complaint Nov. 12 alleging Myron Gardner, a freshman on the team, sexually harassed and assaulted her Sept. 15, the day before the alleged burglary. The second complaint also names LeBlanc and Alexander, a junior on the team."Gardner denied the allegation in a response to the Post. LeBlanc had no comment.
No charges have been filed. A hearing on the restraining order is scheduled for December 9.
A statement by Georgetown reads in part as follows: "While we are not able to comment on specific cases, we have processes for investigating and adjudicating alleged violations of our student code that are fair to both parties. We encourage any student who has a concern to be in contact with the Georgetown University Police Department or the Office of Student Conduct."
Akinjo, LeBlanc Dropped From Team
Sophomores James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc have left the team Monday in a news release at 6:30 EST Monday evening.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
Per the release: "Georgetown University men's basketball players James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc will not be playing for the men's basketball team effective immediately and will not be members of the team for the remainder of the season, Head Coach Patrick Ewing announced today." The move is a body blow to a team struggling through its first seven games of the season, with LeBlanc having been benched for much of the season for undisclosed reasons and Akinjo sitting out much of the second half of Saturday's game. It is believed to be the first time two Georgetown players have been simultaneously released during the season in the Big East era (1979-present).
Akinjo was the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2018-19 and second on the team in scoring through the first seven games this season. LeBlanc, a All-Rookie team member, was widely seen as having tremendous upside following his freshman season. Akinjo and LeBlanc have each announced a transfer, per a story from 247 Sports. Their names were removed from the online roster at GUHoyas.com within the hour but remain on the stat sheet.
Big announcement from Georgetown - starting point guard James Akinjo and reserve big man Josh LeBlanc are no longer playing for the team. pic.twitter.com/VcSJ7zJAQL
— Ava Wallace (@avarwallace) December 2, 2019