Maybe, just maybe, Georgetown might wind up being alright anyway.
The Hoyas have taken a beating from pundits, particularly NCAA tournament prediction analysts, since they released their nonconference schedule in its entirety in mid-September. Georgetown had already dropped out of the Nike-sponsored PK80 Invitational in Oregon. Gone were formidable foes in Maryland, Wisconsin and Duke, powerhouses they faced in successive games two years ago.
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Those were replaced with a who's who of teams — emphasis on 'Who?" — like Jacksonville, Mt. St. Mary's, Richmond, Maine, Coppin State, Howard and North Carolina A&T heading into Georgetown's first true test of the season against Syracuse on Saturday. SB Nation labeled the Hoyas' 2017-18 nonconference slate "the worst." NBC Sports ripped it as "terrible" and the New York Post flat-out called it a "joke."
However, after Georgetown's 86-79 overtime loss against the Orangemen, maybe, just maybe, it might be worth contemplating that there was some method behind making meals of mediocre mid-major competition instead of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire — especially given the Hoyas' preseason predicament. One of college basketball's most storied programs, Georgetown went a combined 29-36 (12-24 in Big East play) the past two seasons.
Excuse the Hoyas for trying to transform a losing culture and boost their confidence with a cupcake schedule, but it made all the sense in the world: like a scorer looking to get a few layups before launching up 3-pointers, or a boxer fighting a tune-up before a bout with a contender.
Consider the circumstances.
Georgetown is headed by first-time coach Patrick Ewing, rostering six players who are either freshmen or sophomores. Sure, Ewing is a Hall of Famer, thanks in part to being part of a national championship-winning Georgetown team in in his days as a Hoya in the '80s. He has been through the fires on the court, but must be allowed to develop and work out the kinks — especially when it comes to making in-game adjustments — and let the victories pile up. The psyche of a young team can be particularly fragile. Coming into its biggest game of the season to date, with the wind of an 8-0 record beneath its wings, gave Georgetown enough moxie to control most of the game against Syracuse before folding late.
Georgetown led the Orangemen, which have only lost to then second-ranked Kansas, 28-24 at the half. That margin ballooned to as many as 13 with less than seven minutes to go before Syracuse sophomore Tyus Battle (game-high 29 points) and freshman Oshae Brissett (25), led the Orangemen to a comeback for their first road win this season.
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The Hoyas learned a little more about who they are, and how they should play against top-notch competition. Georgetown got big performances from junior Jessie Govan (21 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) and sophomore guard Jagan Mosely, who showed he'll be up for the challenge moving forward by pouring in 20 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists, despite coming into the game averaging a mere 5.8 points.
Georgetown will have plenty of opportunity to test its mettle and impress the NCAA Tournament selection committee when it faces the likes of Villanova, Seton Hall, Butler, Xavier and Marquette.
We've all heard winning is contagious, and if you're even a novice sports fan, you know that losing is too. Cliche as it is, to certain degree, your attitude determines your aptitude. Jimmies and Joes and Xs and Os still dictate Ws and Ls more than anything else. But beyond that, good teams want to win. Great teams expect to win. If you think the NFL's Cleveland Browns take to the gridiron on Sundays with the same mindset the NBA's Golden State Warriors have every time they set foot on the hardwood, you're tripping ... hard.
Before you can prove something to others, you have to prove it to yourself and that's what Georgetown is doing now.