Hard to believe that only a year ago we had just witnessed the promising freshman campaigns of James Akinjo, Josh LeBlanc, and Mac McClung. The future looked extremely bright for Georgetown heading into Patrick Ewing’s third season at the helm. The 2019-2020 season was supposed to be the year the Hoyas would finally be dancing again. Then, the mass exodus happened. Akinjo and LeBlanc abruptly announced that they would transfer, and two other players exited soon after. Hoyas Nation was blindsided. With the team gutted, college basketball analysts across the country said that Georgetown’s season was a wash. Yet the Hoyas proved their doubters wrong. They won the remaining non-conference games on the schedule and competed in most Big East games. If not for unfortunate injuries, the Hoyas were on track to make the NCAA tournament.
Despite not making the tournament, there was still reason for optimism. The signs pointed to Mac McClung returning for his junior season, and with a solid incoming class, the Hoyas would be in a good position to contend. And then, one month ago, Hoyas Nation was hit with another bombshell. Instead of returning to lead the team, McClung announced his intention to transfer from the program. This one really hurt. McClung had emerged as a fan favorite and looked like he could blossom into a superstar his junior season. Although he would have been the team’s best player and seen a ton of minutes, McClung made it clear that he felt returning to Georgetown ultimately would not put him in the best position to showcase his skills for NBA scouts.
McClung’s transfer certainly raises questions about the direction of Georgetown Basketball under Patrick Ewing. The optics of losing an entire recruiting class, all to the transfer portal, are not good at all. McClung’s comments on why he left do not help the cause. He stated, “I’m looking for a place I can call home, a place I can be a part of a family and help them succeed.”
Ouch.
Georgetown has always prided itself on the idea of family, and this has been a point of emphasis to recruits.
It is understandable to have initially felt anger and frustration towards Coach Ewing and the program in the wake of McClung’s departure. However, it is important to recall that last season, despite everything that happened early on, he still had his depleted squad hanging tough with the best of the Big East. While McClung was recovering from injury and watching from the bench, the remaining Hoyas put together remarkable efforts night in and night out, sometimes going to battle with as few as six active scholarship players. Coach Ewing therefore deserves the benefit of the doubt and the trust of the fanbase for the time being.
It is no secret that Ewing is a tough coach to play for. He demands a lot from his guys. However, when players accept and embrace his coaching style, their games often improve as a result. Terrell Allen and Jagan Mosely are two notable examples. They loved playing for Coach Ewing, and they rose to the occasion last season when the team needed them most. It will be especially exciting to see what Qudus Wahab, Timothy Ighoefe, and Malcolm Wilson can bring next season under Big Pat’s tutelage.
Next year’s Hoyas squad will need to rely on their grit, toughness, and character to succeed. Jamorko Pickett and Jahvon Blair will now have the opportunity to take on big leadership roles and showcase their talents even further. Pickett has already set very high expectations for himself.
I am confident that these guys are all going to buy in and work extremely hard to establish a winning culture on the Hilltop. They are hungry to prove all of their critics wrong.
While almost every college basketball insider will no doubt write the Hoyas off for the 2020-2021 season, I beg to differ. The team finally has a tough non-conference schedule with West Virginia at home, Syracuse on the road, and two out of three of UCLA, Kansas, and Virginia in Anaheim for the Wooden Classic, among others. This will give the young Hoyas an opportunity to face off against top talent early on and will be great preparation for the Big East.
Looking ahead to Big East play, the conference will likely not be as competitive as last season, and this should play in Georgetown’s favor. Villanova, Providence, and UConn are expected to be tournament teams. Creighton is also very talented, but they lost top scorer TyShon Alexander to the draft. Beyond that, however, the league is up for grabs. Seton Hall lost notorious Hoya killer Myles Powell and other key pieces. Marquette lost all-time great Markus Howard. Butler and Xavier will both be very young and thus very beatable. St. John’s just lost their best player LJ Figueroa to the transfer portal, and DePaul will likely continue their recent struggles.
Call me delusional, but I think this leaves a path for the Hoyas to compete next season and be on the bubble come March 2021. Jamorko Pickett will continue to work very hard to rise to the occasion and make the first team All-BIG EAST in his senior season. Jahvon Blair will continue to drain threes with his elegant stroke and become an even better all-around player. Jalen Harris will provide a steady hand at the point, and Chudier Bile will bring toughness on both sides of the ball. The incoming freshmen will need to adapt and learn faster than usual, but this is something they should be capable of doing. The 2020-2021 Georgetown Hoyas will be a team that has absolutely nothing to lose. As fans, let’s embrace the underdog mantra and have faith that Coach Ewing will bring his alma mater back to glory. Hoya Saxa!
