Ewing’s exit? Hoyas’ ‘rough year’ ends in blowout
NEW YORK– Patrick Ewing strolled off the court alone Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, the website of his greatest moments as both an NBA player and Georgetown’s coach, after another blowout loss that may have been his last game leading the Hoyas.Last-place Georgetown
(7-25)was gotten rid of by sixth-seeded Villanova 80-48 in the first round of the Big East competition. School authorities have actually provided no sign of whether Ewing will be back for a seventh season, however he was up to 75-109 as coach of the program he caused 3 Last Fours and a nationwide title as player. “No thoughts about my future,”Ewing said.” The(last )two season’s been rough. Dissatisfied in the results of these last 2 years. My future’s in the hands of our president and our advertisement and the board of the directors.”Athletic director Lee Reed decreased to comment
on Ewing’s status.” My ideas are with those kids today,”Lee stated outside
of the Georgetown locker space.” It’s been a long year. “The Garden will always be a second home to Ewing, with familiar faces and warm welcomes.Editor’s Picks He played 15 seasons for the Knicks after being drafted first in general in 1985, and became one of their all-time greats. His No. 33 hangs from the rafters at MSG.In the first half versus Villanova, Ewing shared fist bumps throughout a timeout with Big East officials stationed next to Hoyas
‘bench, including associate commissioner and previous Knicks coach Stu Jackson.He paced the sideline in his all-black sweat suit, shouting directions to his players and looking incredulous sometimes when his team failed to smoothly execute its
offense or allowed yet another easy Villanova basket.”It was a rough year. It was not the year we believed we would have had,”Ewing said.”We kept combating. We didn’t quit, and we’re disappointed the season ended the manner in which it did.
“Throughout Ewing’s four years in uniform under coach John Thompson Jr., Georgetown went 121-23, won the 1984 NCAA title and appeared in the national championship two other times. Ewing, who went 9-1 in the Big East tournament as a player, went on to become the No. 1 total choice following the NBA’s initial draft lottery.The unquestioned peak of his tenure as Georgetown coach came at MSG two seasons earlier. In a primarily empty arena because of the pandemic, Ewing led Georgetown on a surprising run to
the Big East tournament title as the 8th seed.The Hoyas were one-and-done in their first NCAA competition look in 6 years, which wonderful week in New york city City ended up being an outlier rather than a turning point for
the program.Georgetown won just 13 games over the past 2 seasons, and he presided over a 29-game Big East losing streak that ended in January.The regular-season ended for Georgetown last Saturday with a 40-point loss at Creighton.
Things didn’t go better at the Garden.The Hoyas fell behind by double-digits less than 10 minutes into the very first half, were down 21 at halftime and never threatened in the second half.”Obviously, Georgetown is among the premier programs in this league. I believe he does a terrific job,”Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said.” It’s simply the wear and tear of seasons, you never know how things are going to go. I want them the best. “Earlier in the day, at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim provided a series of puzzling responses when asked about whether he would return for another season.A couple of hours later on, the school revealed Boeheim was stepping down after 47 years as coach.Ewing made his objectives clear.” Look, I am proud of being a Georgetown Hoya. This organization has actually been terrific to me for many years,”Ewing said. “I ‘d be honored to come back as the coach here. That’s it.”