It’s probably too little, too late, but don’t tell that to Georgetown. For a team that was projected to finish second in the Big East, this season has not gone according to plan. The Hoyas’ record certainly isn’t good (15-17 overall; 8-11 Big East), but the decidedly downward trajectory of the program is even more alarming for Georgetown fans. Its season-opening loss to Radford was quickly forgotten following a pair of near-wins against Maryland and Duke, and things appeared to be back on track after handling Wisconsin and Syracuse. Those victories turned out to represent false hope, though, as the undoubtedly talented Hoyas’ lineup never got control of things in conference play. The team limped to the finish line by losing nine of its last 10 games, so suffice it to say that the bar was set very low for John Thompson III‘s squad entering this year’s Big East Tournament.
D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and the Rest of the Hoyas Extended Their Season Wednesday Night (Photo: Getty)
A portion of those late season woes can be attributed to an injury to senior center Bradley Hayes. The seven-footer provided a presence on the glass and served as an underrated passer in the team’s Princeton offense, a role that freshman center Jessie Govan is still working to master. Hayes’ return to the starting lineup in Georgetown’s tournament opener versus DePaul on Wednesday night made the Hoyas feel like an entirely different group. Within minutes, Hayes had established himself as a threat on the low block, scoring off hook shots and playing physical interior defense. With the post foundation established, Georgetown’s offense began to flow more naturally than it had in weeks, maybe even months. “It was a huge difference [having Bradley back],” Thompson acknowledged afterward. “It goes above and beyond what shows up on the stat-sheet. He gives his teammates confidence and they feel safe when he’s on the court.”
The Hoyas would score 70 points on 50 percent field goal shooting, outgunning the Blue Demons en route to a 17-point victory. And not only did Georgetown dramatically improve its offensive efficiency with Hayes back in the lineup, Thompson’s team also posted one of its best defensive performances of the season — allowing just 53 points on 38 percent field goal shooting. A rarity for this program recently, Georgetown completely controlled the flow of the game, and for at least one evening, fans and players alike saw the team they had hoped for finally come together as a unit.
With the impending graduations of Hayes and leading scorer D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown has finally found a sense of urgency. “We came up here knowing we have a chance to turn things around. We’re taking it one game at a time,” Hayes stated. That mindset was surely needed well before March 9, but for a team staring into the looming uncertainty of the offseason, it’s nice that it has arrived. Georgetown fans certainly aren’t ready to give up just yet. Chants of “We Are Georgetown” echoed from the student section as their team put the finishing touches on only its second win since late January.
Things will get tougher from here. In what might be its biggest test of the entire season, Georgetown will take on top-seeded Villanova for the third time this afternoon. A shocking win would extend the Hoyas’ hopes for an unexpected NCAA Tournament bid. A loss moves the program into what is sure to be a soul-searching offseason. It’s a tall order to think that Georgetown could make a run, but for now, the season continues, one game at a time.