The tough reality of the NCAA Tournament is that only one of 68 teams finishes its season without disappointment.
Another tough reality is that this year, the Georgetown men’s basketball team (22-11, 12-6 Big East) was one of the other 67.
On March 15, the NCAA Selection Committee’s decision to grant the Hoyas a 4-seed in the this year’s tournament came as a surprise to many. Following a disappointing 2013-14 season, in which the Hoyas missed the NCAA Tournament and exited the NIT Tournament in the second round, Coach John Thompson III’s squad was excited to once again have the opportunity to fight for prominence on college basketball’s biggest stage.
The Hoyas’ first tourney test came in Portland, Ore. against the Big Sky Tournament champion Eastern Washington Eagles (26-9, 14-4 Big Sky). Led by sharpshooting Tyler Harvey—the 6 foot 4 sophomore guard who led the nation in scoring at 22.9 points per game—the Eagles were a dangerous test for Thompson’s Hoyas, who had recently struggled in tournament games against lower-seeded competition.
It didn’t take much time for the Hoyas to set the tone against Eastern Washington, as senior Jabril Trawick and company physically dominated the Eagles from the opening tipoff. Trawick’s energy was contagious from the first whistle, as his efforts on offense and defense allowed the Hoyas to take control of the game. Harvey kept Eastern Washington close, hitting a few deep threes and keeping the Eagles within striking distance in the first half, but a late run allowed the Hoyas to carry a 43-33 lead into the break.
After stifling Harvey and translating defensive stops into transition baskets, the hungry Hoyas extended their advantage to 23 points with 11 minutes to play. Though a few complacent turnovers and a slump in the halfcourt offense allowed the Eagles to hang around late in the game, Trawick’s dunk with one second to play put the exclamation point on the Hoyas’ 84-74 win.
Though he finished with a modest 10 points, Trawick’s impact on the game could not be adequately revealed by the box score, as his intensity on both ends translated into his team’s success.
“We felt like we had something to prove, just in general,” Trawick said. “This year, we just felt like we had a chip on our shoulder.”
With the victory, Georgetown set their sights on the 5-seed Utah Runnin’ Utes (26-8, 13-5 Pac-12) in the Round of 32. Thompson’s Hoyas were looking to punch their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2007, and the Utes were eager to make their first appearance since 2005.
The Hoyas started off hot from the perimeter, and after back-to-back threes early in the first half, Trawick and company took a 21-10 advantage. After the Utes staged a 14-2 run of their own, the two teams jostled for advantage before being tied 32-32 at the break.
As the second half wore on, however, the Hoyas started to run out of magic.
An L.J. Peak layup pulled the Hoyas within four points with three minutes to play, but the Utes scored on four consecutive possessions and built up an insurmountable 10-point advantage with less than a minute to play.
With Utah ahead 75-64, the final whistle sounded and Georgetown’s season skidded to a slow halt.
“You know, we have five or six seniors in that locker room that have played their last game wearing this uniform,” Coach Thompson said after the game.
No Hoya understood the truth of Thompson’s words quite like Trawick, who sat next to his coach at a postgame conference for the final time in his college career.
“I’m disappointed. But I’ve still got my head high,” Trawick said after the game. “Surprisingly I didn’t cry or anything like that. I had a great time. It’s been a great experience for me.”
For four seasons, Trawick wore his emotions on his sleeve and went to war for his teammates and university. He didn’t win a national championship. Actually, he never even advanced past the third round of the NCAA Tournament. He was never the leading scorer or most gifted player on his team. Because of his grit and toughness, however, he helped open the door to a new generation of Georgetown basketball.
Georgetown basketball is both passion and pride, two attitudes that were continuously embodied by Trawick’s constant sacrifices for his team.
The Hoyas are out, for now. But because of the lasting impact of Trawick and this year’s seniors, a better and brighter future is on the horizon for the Georgetown basketball program. This season was full of its ups and downs, but with the conclusion of this season brings excitement for next.
