Story By: Deborah Leung
Photos By: Benjamin Rogers
New York, NY–
It’s definitely not a storybook ending for the Hoyas for this season after the 81-67 loss to Villanova today, but is it the end? Will their record have the folks at the NIT taking a look or can they consider this year a wash and look for something that will help get this team back to where they need to be as a Big East powerhouse.
Georgetown lost to the Wildcats (28-4) for the first time in the Big East tournament, having gone 5-0 previously, including 2-0 in quarterfinal matchups. Villanova, meanwhile, went 3-0 in a single season against the Hoyas for the first time, thanks in part to a 20-1 advantage in points off turnovers and 20-for-25 efficiency from the free throw line.
Sophomore guard-forward L.J. Peak led the Hoyas with 18 points off the bench, and senior center Bradley Hayes added 13 points and nine rebounds. Hayes played his second straight game after missing the final six of the regular season, all losses, with a broken bone in his left hand.
Georgetown dominated rebounding 25-12 in the first half, including a 9-0 advantage on the offensive glass. That carried over into the second half as well as they won boards on the day 42-30, but it was their shooting and the final box score that reflected the difference in this game.
The Hoyas were cold from the floor. They shot just 34.4 percent from the field and 38.8 percent overall. The three ball kept Villanova in the game in the first half, hitting 6-12 along with 40.7 percent in shooting overall. The `Cats missed countless baskets close to the rim, driving their overall percentage down.
“You have to give their guys credit, we did well on the boards but they made us miss a lot of shots today,” said Hoyas Head Coach John Thompson III.
Thompson, sort of shaking his head after the game, was asked if this was the close of the season for the Hoyas. “We will have to wait and see,” said Thompson.
“That Georgetown team is a very good team,” Villanova Coach Jay Wright said. “They have not quit on John all year, and they’ve had a ton of injuries. They’re young. That is going to be a good team next year. They’ve stuck together to the end, and that’s why I told our guys, ‘These guys are good. Doesn’t matter what their record is.’ ”
The Hoyas wrapped up their season 15-18 and the first time below .500 since Thompson took over for then Hoyas Coach Craig Esherick in the 2003-2004 season.
