Post by drquigley on Nov 20, 2016 20:00:02 GMT -5
After several days to think about it, the most troubling thing for me is that we lost in McDonough. And there were empty seats in McDonough. I was in college when we played UTEP in McDonough in the NIT. That game is still one of my fondest sports memories for the atmosphere, crowd, every part of it was what makes basketball...... fun.
Even a bad Hoyas team should be nearly invincible in McDonough--against good competition. But to see the life drained out of it all. No fun. I hate this for the current students. GU already has problems with alumni loyalty, but the basketball team is something that helps keep that connection to the school. If the students aren't forming these bonds and making those memories that lots of us middle-aged+ alums are fortunate to have, it will have ramifications for the university beyond our basketball team.
There's a reason that schools are now firing coaches midseason after terrible losses. It prevents the middling coach from doing just enough to hang on for another season. That's why LSU pulled the trigger on Les Miles this year. That's why Miami fired Al Golden. I grew up in and live in South Carolina and have always been a big Clemson fan. Tommy Bowden always did just enough to save his job by the end of the year after early, inexplicable losses. Firing him midseason and promoting Dabo Swinney was easily the best decision the school ever made. LSU probably has Jimbo Fisher waiting in the wings. I don't know if there's a Dabo lurking on our bench (maybe J-Wall one day?). But getting marginally better and making the NIT this season might be a truly bad thing long-term.
I think with Nova's title, the new BE still has a limited window to maintain its position as a top basketball conference, but it won't happen without Georgetown. If we fail, the conference is likely to fail, and then our program is in a systemic hole from which we might not recover, no matter the coach.
As a geezer who only saw Hoyas play at Mcdonough I share the angst. Going to games at the gym were the highlight of our week. The place was packed, the "animal section" rocking. I was shocked when they showed the bleachers by the baskets. Half empty? I could't believe it! C'mon folks, it's a Thursday night on campus. Your team just lost a heartbreaker to Maryland. Support your team.