Georgetown snapped a 29-game Big East losing streak with an 81-76 win over DePaul on Tuesday. Here’s what you should know:
- Prior to Tuesday, the Hoyas’ most recent regular-season conference win came against Xavier on March 2, 2021.
- Georgetown holds the record for most consecutive Big East losses.
- The Hoyas improve to 6-15, 1-9 in conference play.
HOYAS WIN!! HOYAS WIN!!#HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/l35vXM6MeU
— Georgetown Hoops (@GeorgetownHoops) January 25, 2023
Backstory
Georgetown broke DePaul’s record for 24 consecutive losses in Big East conference play on Jan. 4 when they lost to Villanova, marking their 25th straight loss in the conference. Coach Patrick Ewing, who led the Hoyas to a national title in 1984 as a player, is 74-99 in his tenure with the program. Georgetown’s next opportunity to build on its progress comes Sunday when they travel to Queens, N.Y., to take on St. John’s at 2 p.m. ET.
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The Athletic’s instant analysis:
It’s better than losing, anyway
So here’s the thing about being Georgetown, a formerly big bad program that relished its role as a basketball bully for the better part of three decades: when you’re terrible, no one is going to feel bad for you. And so when you are at the lowest point in your modern basketball history, in the midst of a 29-game Big East losing streak, and when you do finally break it, in what is otherwise a moment of relief and even joy for players, coaches, and fans, everyone is just going to make fun of you even more.
And so it was during and after Tuesday night’s win over DePaul: a deluge of Twitter irony and digital Bronx cheers that put the spotlight on the Hoyas in a way that almost felt worse than if they had just quietly lost another conference game. Still, obviously, better to win. DePaul, also a very bad team (and the previous record holder) was the last best chance for the Hoyas to end their infamously awful run; a loss Tuesday night and who knows how long Ewing’s team could have extended this thing. — Brennan
Does it matter?
Ironic applause aside, Tuesday was a nice moment for Ewing and his players, who have had a much worse season than any of them could have imagined coming in. This is not an entirely untalented team; it’s probably Ewing’s most talented in at least three seasons. This mess hasn’t been easy on anyone, and those guys will genuinely be relieved.
But the Hoyas haven’t been unlucky; they are still ranked 227th in Division I adjusted efficiency margin, per KenPom.com, which is a slightly mathy way of saying they’re just plain bad. Will this win spark them into life for the rest of the season? It’s very hard to imagine. They might improve down the stretch, but more likely than not they just keep losing. This season — and Ewing’s tenure — is already over. — Brennan
Required reading
(Photo: Brad Mills / USA Today)
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