The banged-up Hoyas struggling to recapture last season’s magic

St. John’s will look to take on another Big East rival on Sunday, returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time since the Pittsburgh loss to face former NY Knick Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas. The Hoyas are 6-7 coming into Sunday's matchup against St Johns and are looking to turn their season around.

So far in the 2021-22 season, they have failed to recapture the magic from a season prior, one in which they won the Big East Tournament and punched their ticket to the big dance — after struggling in the regular season. Last year’s Georgetown team had a losing record in the COVID-shortened season, but stepped up in the conference tournament before being beaten by Colorado.

This season, high hopes from the late season run plus high-impact recruits led to a season that started with promise. Now in January, head coach Patrick Ewing is trying to find a spark to turn their season around.

In comments to the media following a 92-64 loss to Marquette, Ewing ripped into his team, saying that they failed to play up to the standard set by Hall of Fame coach John Thompson, Jr.

We did not compete,” Ewing said postgame. “Every effort that we needed to do, we didn’t do it.”

“As a player who helped build this program, I am disappointed in my team’s performance,” Ewing said. “This is not what Georgetown basketball is about. Big John is rolling over in his grave for the performance that we showed tonight.”

The root of the Hoyas struggles this season comes from a combination of game cancellations and injuries.

Georgetown has joined a list of many teams throughout the nation to have games postponed games due to COVID-19. Four of the Hoyas games, some against Big East foes, were postponed this season. Furthermore, Patrick Ewing was not on the sideline against Butler, missing their Thursday night matchup.

The Hoyas have also been banged up this season.

Freshman Jordan Riley is out indefinitely this season and requires surgery. Center Timothy Ighoefe was out with a hand injury, but returned against Butler. Sophomore forward Kobe Clark who is out with a hamstring injury has played in just one game this season. Starting point guard Dante Harris missed the Butler game, and starting guard and captain Donald Carey has been out two games with an illness.

The Hoyas hope to get back in the win column on Sunday against St. John’s. Georgetown still has three seven-foot players, a couple of good scorers and a dynamic freshman guard. Even when they are down... the Hoyas may not be out, especially against an old rival.