This season, I quietly sat back and watched the continued demise of Hoyas basketball. There was a time when ballers grew up dreaming of wearing the blue and gray. We?ve all seen Above the Rim—Birdie and Kyle knew what was up. But what once was up has come crashing down. The men?s basketball program stands at a crossroads. Everyone is saying we suck ass.
The administration at Georgetown can show alumni and fans that they are dedicated to putting Hoyas basketball back on the map, or they can accept the fact that we are not an elite basketball team anymore. Are they capable of striving to relive the glory days of ‘83-’84 when we graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, or is this an “unreasonable expectation”? One way for Georgetown to show fans that they are willing to change is to end the John Thompson regime at Georgetown and say goodbye to a longtime Hoya, Head Coach Craig Esherick.
Let’s take a look at some of the statistics-the numbers don’t lie. Georgetown basketball finished 15-14 overall this season, 6-10 in Big East Conference play, and had a measly one win against teams with an above.500 record (Providence). Some of our early wins came against “perennial powerhouses” Grambling State (8-18), Towson (4-23), James Madison (12-16), Coastal Carolina (13-15), Norfolk State (8-20) and VMI (10-18). Nothing to be too excited about. Georgetown has signed one top-25 recruit during the Esherick era, Harvey Thomas, and he bounced after one season.
In his second year, Esherick took Georgetown to the Sweet 16 down possibly the easiest road in NCAA Tournament history. Long-ago wins against Arkansas and Hampton aren’t enough reason for Esherick to retain his coaching job.
Last season, he declined a bid to the NIT Tournament in an attempt to show that Georgetown basketball was above the NIT. This season he was lucky to receive an invitation after such a rude move. An NIT championship and status as the 66th best team in the NCAA would barely relieve the pressure on our coach.
If Esherick leaves, however, so does Mike Sweetney. They have a great coach-player relationship, which most Esherick-haters don?t realize. I don?t see Mike Sweetney sticking around without Esherick, especially since he is a shoo-in lottery pick in the NBA draft. In addition, Esherick has graduated 95 percent of his players, an admirable statistic in today?s NCAA. These facts could lead the Georgetown administration to retain his services. As a rising senior, I want Mike Sweetney to stay one more year. But I also want to see our talented team perform to capacity and win the overtime games that have escaped us the past three seasons.
I want to see Ashanti Cook penetrating the lane and kicking it out to Tony Bethel for a silky smooth three. I want to hear Sweetney?s name alongside the words Big East Player of the Year. I want to live, eat and breathe Georgetown basketball, not starve and suffocate. Most importantly, I want to be reassured that they are playing to the best of their ability, and that won’t happen until we turn over a new leaf. What am I going to say this summer to my buddies from Connecticut and Notre Dame when we sit back and talk sports? “Yeah, our basketball team blows, but our track and sailing teams are dominant!” The only response I’ll get is a swift kick in the nuts.
With the men’s basketball season coming to an end, the ball is now in the administration’s hands. We?re in triple overtime against Notre Dame, we have the ball with the shot clock turned off, so what are we gonna do? ‘Cause right now, I fear the only words that could save Esherick from another year of intense scrutiny and disappointment are, “I have decided against the NBA draft and will be attending Georgetown University in the fall. Sincerely, LeBron James.”
