Tag: Georgetown Hoyas

College basketball coaching carousel: Major programs with openings across the landscape

Breaking down the current job openings across college basketball and who could be on their way to fill them.

The annual NCAA Tournament is just a few days away from ‘Selection Sunday’ but that isn’t the only action going on across the college basketball landscape.

We are seeing plenty of openings for major programs. One program that has already filled their vacancy are the Syracuse Orange. On the same day it was announced that Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim would step down, the school announced that Adrian Autry would take over.

Another notable name could be returning to college basketball as LSU Wire reports that Will Wade is closing in on a deal with McNeese. He was fired by the Tigers after it was revealed that he was hit with five Level I violations.

Thus far we have seen a total of six major programs in college basketball with vacancies yet to be filled. College Sports Wire breaks each one down along with who is seen as the top candidate.

Patrick Ewing fired at Georgetown after six seasons

A new era is set to begin at Georgetown after the Hoyas part ways with Patrick Ewing.

Georgetown has parted ways with head coach and basketball legend Patrick Ewing it was announced on Thursday evening. The move comes one day after the Hoyas’ season came to an end yesterday in an 80-48 loss to Villanova.

The Hoyas, this season under Ewing, went 7-25, including 2-18 in conference play, marking a second-consecutive season in which they failed to win ten games. In 2021-22, the Hoyas went 6-25, including 0-19 in conference play.

It was only the second and third time since 1970 that the program failed to win ten games or more.

Ewing was originally hired by the program in 2017 – immediately leading them to a 15-15 record, including 5-13 in conference play in the 2017-2018 season; the Hoyas would improve in year two, going 19-14, including 9-9 in conference play and earned a birth in the National Invitational Tournament.

The 2019-2020 season is when things began going downhill for Hoyas, collecting a 15-17 record and 5-13 in conference play before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.

The Hoyas during the 2020-21 season was an interesting one for the program as they went just 13-13, including 7-9 in conference play but would make a surprise run in the Big East Tournament – defeating the No.9, No.1, No.5, and No.2 seeds in the tournament that season after entering as the No.8 seed, earning an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament, getting knocked out in the first round by Colorado.

While they would try to build off their Big East Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance, the Hoyas struggled in 2021-22 going 6-25 and 0-19, as mentioned before, following it up with another extremely disappointing season this past year.

Now with Ewing gone, Georgetown becomes a very intriguing open coaching job. It’s a historically strong program that is full of tradition and postseason success; while the roster will need some rework, the transfer portal could allow for a quick rebuild in the nation’s capital.

An attempt to pinpoint when Georgetown men’s basketball will win its first Big East game

When will the Hoyas win their first conference game?

Here’s a number that you need to know: March 2, 2021.

The above date is the last time the Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team won a regular-season game against a Big East opponent. If we’re doing the math, that’s 687 days (and counting). And after going winless in conference play a season ago for the first time in the program’s history, the Hoyas are on the verge of a second-straight disaster.

With an 0-8 record in the Big East during this 2022-23 season, Georgetown has 12 games to avoid going winless again during conference play. The question is: will it? And if so, when?

Let’s see if the Hoyas can land their first victory by the end of January.

Georgetown guard Aminu Mohammed: ‘I impact the game in so many ways’

Rookie Wire caught up with Mohammed to discuss the pre-draft process, what he is looking to showcase to teams and much more.

Aminu Mohammed produced a strong freshman campaign with the Georgetown Hoyas, and the 20-year-old is aiming to continue that run to the NBA.

Mohammed was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the United States at 14. He then achieved tremendous success at Greenwood Laboratory School in Springfield, Missouri, becoming Gatorade Player of the Year in the state as a sophomore.

He eventually added McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic honors to his resume. He became a five-star recruit and committed to play at Georgetown over the likes of Georgia, Indiana and Kansas State among others.

Mohammed finished with 2,709 points at Greenwood, the most in Springfield history. (Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader)

Mohammed, who was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team, averaged 13.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 31 games. He became just the ninth freshman since 1972 to lead the Hoyas in rebounding, and the first since Otto Porter Jr. in 2012.

Now, Mohammed is preparing to continue his journey to the NBA.

He enters the draft regarded for his versatility and ability to guard multiple positions with his 6-foot-11 wingspan. He was among the standouts at the draft combine last month, averaging 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and one block in two scrimmage games.

Mohammed has worked out for several teams ahead of the draft, including the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards among others. He is diligently showcasing himself on and off the court throughout the process in an effort to impress those watching.

Rookie Wire caught up with Mohammed to discuss the pre-draft process, what he is looking to showcase to teams, his collegiate season and much more.

Please note: This interview was minorly edited in its transcript for clarity

Butler’s adorable mascot dog road trip included visits with some similarly very good mascot pups

This is the best road trip with the best dogs.

Butler University’s live mascot, Blue IV, is on the road trip of his young pup life.

Thanks to men’s basketball games against Georgetown, Villanova, and UConn, Butler Blue hopped a flight from Indianapolis to the east coast for an adventure. Aptly dubbed the “Big Dawg Tour,” this trip serves multiple purposes.

First, there’s basketball! The obvious benefit is having a super cute dog mascot on hand for the men’s games, but it also serves to introduce Butler University to more regions and to connect alumni and future Bulldogs to their school.

“Big Dawgs Tour began during the 2013-14 season when Butler joined the Atlantic 10 as a way to introduce the university to new markets,” Blue’s handler Evan Krauss told For the Win.

Krauss — who arguably has the best job in the country — and Blue manage to do all of that, while also creating the most amazing social media content. They added a few bonus stops to meet both in-and-out-of-conference dog friends and pose with dog statues, in front of major monuments and more.
Blue met a grand total of three very good dogs, thanks in part to the robust live handler network. The handlers meet frequently over Zoom and met in person in 2018 when Colorado hosted the first live mascot conference in Boulder.
Let’s take a look at Blue IV’s journey.

 

Ryan Mutombo follows in father’s footsteps, commits to Georgetown

Ryan Mutombo, son of Dikembe Mutombo, has committed to Georgetown.

Ryan Mutombo has decided to play in his father’s footsteps and play his college basketball for Patrick Ewing at Georgetown.

Mutombo, son of Georgetown legend and eight-time NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo, committed to the Hoyas on Sunday night. Mutombo ultimately picked Georgetown over programs such as Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and Stanford.

“Legit size with long arms and a sturdy frame,” 247Sports’ Evan Daniels said in Mutombo’s scouting report. “Has terrific hands & touch around the basket. Good feel as a passer out of the high post and on the block. Shot the ball from the mid-range area with confidence, and mechanics are fine. Impressive feel for the game and a high IQ. Good area rebounder and rim protector. Lacks lift and just gets end-to-end OK. True low post player. A late bloomer with major upside.”

According to 247Sports, Mutombo is the No. 71 recruit in the class of 2021, No. 13 center and No. 3 prospect in Georgia. He is also the fourth commitment in Georgetown’s 2021 recruiting class, joining Tyler Beard, Jalin Billingsley and Jordan Riley.

Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing announces positive coronavirus test: ‘This virus is serious’

Georgetown coach and New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing has tested positive for coronavirus.

Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball coach and New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing, now 57, announced on Twitter Friday that he has tested positive for coronavirus and is receiving care at a hospital.

According to the announcement, Ewing is the only member of the Georgetown basketball program to have tested positive. In a statement, Ewing thanked health care workers for their efforts, and asked the public to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously.

“This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves.”

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Why is Mac McClung to leaving Georgetown?

Georgetown guard Mac McClung is entering the transfer portal, an unexpected move that will make him the most high-demand transfer in the nation.

Georgetown guard Mac McClung is entering the transfer portal, an unexpected move that will make him the most high-demand transfer in the nation.

How to Watch Georgetown Basketball Online, Live Stream, Georgetown Big East Conference Schedule, TV Channels

How to Watch Georgetown Basketball Online

Coming off a solid non-conference slate capped by a 6-game win streak, the Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team is now driving right into one of the toughest conferences in the country. The Big East is loaded from top-to-bottom, with Villanova and Butler both in the top-10 and five other teams hovering near the top-25 rankings. Georgetown will have their work cut out for them if they hope to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Patrick Ewing’s tutelage, but so far, the progress is promising.

How to Watch Georgetown Basketball Online

  • Next Game: Georgetown vs Seton Hall, Friday, January 3rd, 9:00 PM
  • TV Channel: FS1
  • Streaming option for the season: fuboTV (try for free)

Georgetown currently sits at 10-4 after a blowout loss to Providence in their Big East opener. The Hoyas amassed a 10-3 record against a non-conference schedule that ranked 87th in the country, according to Kenpom. They seemingly set a poor tone to the season by losing to Penn State by 15 points, but the Nittany Lions have continued to impress and now occupy the #21 ranking in the country. Ewing’s players followed the disappointing loss with a statement win over the residing #22 team, Texas, at MSG, and an 8-point loss to Duke in the Empire Classic Final – a frustrating foul-ridden affair on the Hoyas side after being tied at halftime.

But of all the dark marks against the Hoyas, much has been made of Georgetown’s loss to UNC Greensboro. However, the Spartans are ranked above a Stephen F. Austin team that knocked off Duke earlier in the season, per College Insider. UNCG has become a perennial Southern Conference favorite thanks to the excellent coaching of Wes Miller, and are a good bet to make the NCAA Tournament two years removed from nearly knocking out #4 seed Gonzaga in the first round. Add in Greensboro’s loss to a good NC State squad at the buzzer, and the defeat doesn’t look nearly as bad for Patrick Ewing’s team. 

The Hoyas are led by senior NC State transfer Omer Yurtseven, a 7-footer with strong interior footwork. The big man is currently averaging a double-double, with 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. The household name, however, is sophomore Mac McClung, who has featured more than once on SportsCenter’s Top 10 thanks to his highlight-reel dunks. McClung is chipping in 15.5 points per game and has been particularly explosive in big games, including a 26-point performance against rival Syracuse and a 33-point outburst against an undefeated Oklahoma State team.

Entering Big East play, Georgetown is now more reliant on these two than ever, after four players departed the program in December. Starting point guard and seemingly critical cog James Akinjo decided to transfer for personal reasons, while Josh LeBlanc, Myron Gardner, and Galen Alexander were each mentioned in civil complaints and also entered the transfer portal. That leaves the Hoyas with seven scholarship players to rotate, which dropped to six when McClung sat out in Georgetown’s loss to Providence.

Overall, the shorter rotation has worked in the Hoyas’ favor. Since the departure of Akinjo and LeBlanc, the squad has gone from averaging 14.5 assists/game to 17.7 as they’ve worked the ball around more. Meanwhile, one of the major issues that have plagued Georgetown the last few seasons, turnovers, has also improved, with the team’s turnover percentage dropping from 19% to 15.3% per 100 possessions. Ewing will hope that his team’s performance in Providence was an aberration caused by McClung’s absence as the Hoyas head to Newark to face Seton Hall.

This year’s Big East is one of the deepest in recent memory, as Marquette and Markus Howard, Seton Hall led by Myles Powell, Creighton, Xavier, St. John’s, and even DePaul are all coming off good non-conference performances in addition to the two ranked squads, Butler and Villanova. The conference tradition of teams trading wins and losses should be more rampant than ever, and Georgetown will need to outperform their 9-9 Big East record from last year in order to solidify their place in the Big Dance. 

Georgetown Hoyas Men’s Basketball TV Schedule

at Seton Hall – Fri, Jan. 3, 9:00 PM – FS1

vs St. John’s – Wed, Jan. 8, 6:30 PM – FS1

at Villanova – Sat, Jan. 11, 12:00 PM – FS1

vs Creighton – Wed, Jan. 15, 7:00 PM – CBS Sports Network

vs Marquette – Sat, Jan. 18, 2:00 PM – FS1

at Xavier – Sat, Jan. 22, 6:30 PM – FS1

vs Butler – Tue, Jan. 28, 9:00 PM – CBS Sports Network

at St. John’s – Sun, Feb. 2, 1:00 PM – CBS

vs Seton Hall – Wed, Feb. 5, 8:30 PM – FS1

vs DePaul – Sat, Feb. 8, 12:00 PM

at Butler – Sat, Feb. 15, 2:30 PM – FOX

vs Providence – Wed, Feb. 19, 8:30 PM – FS1

at DePaul – Sat, Feb. 22, 9:00 PM – FS1

at Marquette – Wed, Feb. 26, 8:30 PM – FS1

vs Xavier – Sun, Mar. 1, 2:00 PM – CBS

at Creighton – Wed, Mar. 4, 8:00 PM

vs Villanova – Sat, Mar. 7, 12:00 PM – FOX

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Dikembe Mutombo’s 6-foot-11 son Ryan suddenly getting major recruiting attention

The likes of Georgetown and Georgia Tech are both chasing after 6-foot-11 Ryan Mutombo, a junior and the son of Dikembe Mutombo.

Every great basketball player peaks at his or her own pace. Now, it appears that pace is rapidly speeding up for the son of an all-time NBA great.

Ryan Mutombo, the 6-foot-11 son of Dikembe Mutombo has received scholarship offers from Georgetown and Georgia Tech, adding to the previous scholarships he held from Richmond and Indiana State.

According to 247Sports, the younger Mutombo’s rise comes in conjunction with a particularly strong outing at the Holiday Hoopsgiving Tournament in Atlanta. Playing for his Lovett School (Atlanta) squad, Mutombo reportedly showcased his elite length and stunning court vision for a player near 7-feet tall.

While the younger Mutombo is already taking (and making!) hook shots and mid-range jumpers, it’s his defensive intensity that could make him an instant standout at the next level. He works out extensively with his father every week and says he’s learning some of the tricks that made his father such a legendary player at Georgetown and in the NBA, on both sides of the ball.

“He’s trying to give me those nuggets here and there,” Ryan Mutombo told 247Sports. “He tells me to block everything. I go after every single ball when I’m down there. I’m really relentless.

“(Dikembe Mutombo) tells me to never be rushed when I’m in the post. If I feel my man playing straight behind me, I need to face him up and go to work and make the right play.”

With more and more of those plays being made by Ryan Mutombo, it’s no surprise that power programs including his father’s alma mater are suddenly interested in his services. Something tells us that trend won’t end anytime soon.