The 2021-2022 season comes to an end for the Hoyas after a four point loss in the opening round of the Big East Tournament to Seton Hall (21-9 overall, 11-8 Big East). Turnovers, mental lapses, and poor shooting cost Georgetown down the stretch in the second half. With this season in the books, the Hoyas have completed the campaign with an ignominious 6-25 record, including a 0-19 winless mark in the Big East Conference.
Despite Georgetown’s sloppy play— the Hoyas shot 31% from the field, 32% from three point range, and committed 16 turnovers— they still had an opportunity to win the game until the waning moments.An early 4-0 run for Seton Hall of the jump prompted a Georgetown timeout just over a minute into the game, a visual that looked all too familiar. The Hoyas responded with an unexpected 12-0 spurt that changed the direction of the first half, taking a three point lead into the locker room. It was just the fourth time all season that the Hoyas had a lead at halftime against a conference opponent.
Aminu Mohammed and Don Carey were the stars of the first half, being aggressive from the opening buzzer; the duo scored 18 of Georgetown’s 27 points in the first half. The rest of the team showed significant effort and energy, which allowed Georgetown to be +12 in rebound margin. This was thanks in no small part to the Hoyas getting 13 offensive rebounds, which allowed them to get 11 second chance points. Each Hoya that stepped on the floor provided scrappy play, and Georgetown seemed to be executing their game plan to a T, where they had to make the game ugly and outwork the Pirates. Fans were likely asking themselves, “Can Georgetown continue this for a full 40 minutes?”
A turnover by Tyler Beard, a poster dunk by Seton Hall’s Jared Rhoden, and a Timothy Ighoefe blocked dunk attempt set the tone for the second half of the ballgame. The Pirates did not back down and took all frustrations from the first half out on the Hoyas. Despite the determined play of Seton Hall, Georgetown continued to fight and stay in the ballgame down the stretch.
In the midst of a sloppy back and forth contest throughout the second half, a tough, contested finish at the rim by Collin Holloway gave the Hoyas a one point lead with just over a minute left on the clock. The Hoyas were staring down their first win against a Big East opponent of the season when Jamir Harris drained a long distance three to put the Pirates back up two points with 40 seconds left. Georgetown responded with a missed shot by Holloway and an ill-advised pass by Donald Carey to end their season and any hopes of another Big East Tournament run.
Georgetown now faces an offseason that will be full of questions, from who will be on the coaching staff and game strategy to roster construction and roster turnover. Player development and player retention is going to be key for the foundation for the next competitive Georgetown basketball team, something that has been absent in recent memory. Adjustments and changes are inevitable and needed but will they actually take place? Expectations will be low both locally and nationally next season for the Hoyas, no matter how unacceptable it may be.
