Despite their youth and inexperience, no one can argue that the Georgetown men’s basketball team’s not battle-tested. After four successive seasons of underachievement and national embarrassment, the Hoyas made international headlines last week when an exhibition match against the Bayi Rockets, part of Georgetown’s 10-day “goodwill tour” of China, turned into full-scale, bench-clearing brawl.
Contrary to the opinions of some bloggers, the fight did not end up setting off World War III, but was really just the result of an extremely physical game in which both sides apparently felt threatened. The amount of time spent at the foul line is just one indication of the game’s aggressive play, as the Rockets attempted 57 free throws compared to just 15 by the Hoyas.
Coach John Thompson III and numerous players have claimed the brawl was unfortunate, but came as an instinctive reaction in self-defense. They point to the disparity in free throws as just part of the evidence that the Rockets were playing a dangerous game, repeatedly sending players to the floor while showing no signs of backing down.
Little argument can be made that by standing up for themselves, the Hoyas put themselves in a safer position. Chairs and bottles were thrown as the on-court fight escalated, with even some members of the crowd engaging in the melee. Thompson ultimately sent the team back to the locker room, abandoning the game altogether.
But if there’s a silver lining to the incident, it’s that few things can inspire team cohesion and solidarity like a proper benches-clearing fight. The China experience was intended to expand the University’s profile overseas, but also to serve as an important team-bonding exercise. Perhaps the fight was the ultimate expression of the latter and will be rehashed by the players to galvanize the team in crucial moments throughout the season.
While these hopes are possibly just wishful thinking, the team is in desperate need of inspiration to regroup following an offseason marred by disappointment and frustration. After capitulating to VCU in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, star graduates Chris Wright and Austin Freeman were overlooked in June’s NBA draft. Meanwhile, injuries have prevented some players from gaining valuable time on the court as they look to keep their skills sharp for the upcoming season.
Furthermore, the graduation of three starters from last year’s team means the incoming freshman class will be relied on for steady contributions. Perhaps the experience of simultaneously dodging chairs and Chinese fists will give the young Hoyas just the spark they need to come together and turn things around.
Yet perhaps most notably, the incident marks a genuine shift in the Hoyas identity. Generally characterized as a disciplined and fundamentally sound team with relatively quiet and unassuming players, this year’s Hoyas have added a mean streak that could be daunting for opponents who will be fully aware of Georgetown’s inclinations towards “self-defense.”
This group could incorporate into their play what literally amounts to a “fighting spirit,” something that squads of recent years have desperately lacked. Too many times the Hoyas fail to take control of games as they loaf on defense only to unleash a quick, ill-advised three-pointer at the other end. These momentary lapses are precisely why Georgetown has been eliminated in the postseason by unranked opponents in each of the past four years, as they consistently appear frozen in headlights while the game gets further out of reach.
The Hoyas need to approach games like they are going into battle, with decisive victory as the only option. While violence cannot be condoned as an effective means of team-building, the reality is that an adrenaline-pumping event like this brawl can only bring a team closer together. Perhaps with this new mentality, the Hoyas can avoid crushing losses to inferior teams and finally fulfill the potential that their talented squad promises.
