Let’s be honest. 2020 hasn’t been a great year. Heck, it hasn’t even been good. Not for Georgetown basketball or otherwise. But guess what? It’s finally over.
In an attempt to find the silver lining of 2020, here’s our top 10 Georgetown basketball moments of the past year.
10. Unveiling of the Iverson-era throwback jerseys
Georgetown fans finally had their longtime wish fulfilled of seeing the team wear the Allen Iverson-era kente jerseys.
It was glorious. Fans were able to come together over their love for the jerseys, from current students whose only experience seeing those in person come from parties, and alumni who haven’t seen them since the 1990s.
9. Jamorko Pickett’s 19 point, 18 rebound game
Coppin State didn’t stand a chance. Pickett put together a dominant performance on both ends of the floor, resulting in one of the more absurd stat lines we’ve seen in recent years. In what’s likely to be a down year for the Hoyas, it was fun to see the good guys on the right side of a blowout for once.
8. Jagan Mosely’s Senior Day
Senior Day is always special, but Jagan Mosely’s last home game was particularly emotional. Mosely meant so much to the Georgetown program, sticking it out through thick and thin and becoming the outspoken leader of the 2019-2020 Hoyas team.
Not gonna lie, I teared up a little bit seeing Mosely get one more standing ovation from the Georgetown faithful inside Capital One Arena.
The only thing that would have made this day better would have been an upset win over Villanova, but it was not to be.
7. Comeback win over St. John’s at the Garden
When Georgetown and St. John’s match-up, you’re almost guaranteed some excitement. This game was no exception.
The Hoyas overcame a 17-point deficit, pulling ahead in the final seconds to secure a road victory over their rivals from the Big Apple.
6. Qudus Wahab’s block party against St. John’s
In this month’s OT win over the Johnnies, Qudus Wahab was a force to be reckoned with. In fact, Wahab almost notched a triple-double, finishing the game with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks. The sophomore center’s final block of the night could not have come at a more opportune time, as he rejected a potential game-tying shot from St. John’s Isaih Moore at the end of overtime.
“Nine blocked shots: that’s Mutombo, Ewing, Mourning numbers right there,” commented Coach Ewing after the win. Yes, indeed.
5. The Flu Game win over Creighton
It feels like a decade has passed since this win last January. With both Mac McClung and Terrell Allen battling the flu, the Hoyas defied the odds and pulled off the upset over #25 Creighton. Senior center Omer Yurtseven paced Georgetown with 20 points and 13 boards, and five Hoyas finished the game in double figures. While surely not the signature win of Georgetown’s 2019-2020 campaign (that’ll come later), this was an exciting victory in front of a home crowd.
4. Recruiting is gangbusters right now
It still feels like a dream. On Dec. 21, 5-star wing Aminu Mohammed committed to Georgetown, capping off an already-loaded recruiting class that includes Ryan Mutombo, Jordan Riley, Tyler Beard and Jalin Bilingsley.
With these five talented recruits set to don the blue and gray, the sky’s the limit for next year’s Hoyas.
3. Tributes to Coach Thompson
This was a bittersweet moment.
The tributes were a reminder of the monumental loss of Coach John Thompson Jr., but they also reinforced the profound impact he had not only on college basketball, but on our society as well.
Tributes poured in from individuals and groups of all different backgrounds, but the most fitting was the trend of Black coaches who honored Thompson by donning his signature towel over the shoulder.
A fitting tribute to a man looked up to by so many. Rest in power Coach Thompson.
2. George Muresan game-clinching free throws vs. DePaul
This moment holds a special place in my heart.
With the Hoyas up two on the Blue Demons with just two seconds to play, senior walk-on George Muresan went to the line with a chance to seal it. And that’s exactly what Muresan did, knocking down both free throws and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
I honestly can’t remember a time I’ve cheered louder at a Hoyas game.
1. Upset of #19 Butler at Hinkle
There isn’t a lot to say about this game that hasn’t already been said.
Beating a ranked team? Sure.
On the road at Hinkle Fieldhouse? Even better.
With only six scholarship players available? Downright improbable.
Georgetown’s top two scorers in Omer Yurtseven and Mac McClung were out, but the strong play of Terrell Allen helped the Hoyas rise to beat the #19 Butler Bulldogs with just a 7-man rotation. Allen, Jahvon Blair and Jagan Mosely all played the full length of the game. Allen even drained the game-clinching three pointer and could be seen visibly smiling from ear to ear.
After the game, Patrick Ewing referred to the Hoyas as a bunch of “junkyard dogs,” adding, “No matter what the adversity is, you scratch and you claw and are able to come away with a win.”
What a day to be a Georgetown Hoya!
Thanks for sticking with us through the good, bad, and ugly of this year. With 2020 in the rearview mirror, let’s turn our attention to 2021. With a nationally-ranked recruiting class arriving on the Hilltop next fall, there’s a lot to look forward to!
My new year’s resolution is to be more optimistic about Georgetown basketball. Let’s see how long that lasts.
