{"id":27936,"date":"2019-12-27T10:48:15","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T15:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=27936"},"modified":"2019-12-27T10:48:15","modified_gmt":"2019-12-27T15:48:15","slug":"georgetown-basketball-making-the-most-out-of-a-bad-situation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2019\/12\/27\/georgetown-basketball-making-the-most-out-of-a-bad-situation\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgetown Basketball Making The Most Out Of A Bad Situation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coming into the 2019-20 season the Georgetown basketball program had hopes of making it back to the NCAA Tournament under Hoya legend Patrick Ewing<\/strong><\/a>. After a tumultuous couple of weeks<\/a>, the Hoyas are now making the best out of a bad situation.<\/p>\n

Georgetown now looks poised to be on target to make the Big Dance. The Hoyas are now clicking on all cylinders.<\/p>\n

A few weeks ago scandal rocked the Georgetown campus. The fallout had everyone wondering if this would torpedo the Hoyas season before it practically began.<\/p>\n

How Georgetown Basketball Rebounded To Save Their Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Four players have left or have been dismissed<\/span> by the university. The central issues at the heart of the scandal include assault, burglary, and harassment. There are three players mentioned being involved in the accusations: Josh LeBlanc<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, Myron Gardner<\/a><\/strong> and Galen Alexander<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Sophomore point guard James Akinjo<\/a><\/strong> is not facing any charges and transferred under his own volition.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re not here to litigate the situation. That will take care of itself.<\/p>\n

Whether it was getting rid of perceived \u201cbad apples\u201d or Ewing having some issues with these players, this \u201cissue\u201d has been a blessing in disguise. At least on the basketball court.<\/p>\n

Whatever issues the team had early on, Ewing has righted the ship with the remaining players buying in. Georgetown basketball has its swagger back<\/a>. The Hoyas certainly <\/span>look no worse for the wear.<\/p>\n

After losing a winnable game against UNC-Greensboro on November 30, and then two days later learning of the scandal, the Georgetown basketball program has looked revitalized ever since. The Hoyas have now won five games in a row.<\/p>\n

Three of those<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>wins have come against major programs in Oklahoma State, SMU and Syracuse, with the former two occurring on the road. With the Hoyas now 9-3, and with only American left on the schedule before Big East play begins, Georgetown has to be feeling awfully good<\/span> about themselves.<\/p>\n

Owning wins over Oklahoma State, SMU, Syracuse and also Texas, Ewing\u2019s club can now legitimately circle the NCAA Tournament as an obtainable goal.<\/p>\n

Georgetown Turning To A New Super-Duo<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Now that Akinjo is<\/span> gone, sophomore<\/span> guard Mac McClung<\/a><\/strong> has begun the process of truly\u00a0<\/span>breaking out.<\/p>\n

The uber<\/span>-athletic guard is averaging 22.2 points per game in his last five games and won Big East Player of the Week two weeks in a row prior to this week. For the season he is averaging 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range.<\/p>\n

McClung is playing with a lot of confidence and with a chip on his shoulder. He is the last of the team\u2019s remaining lauded sophomore trio (which included Akinjo<\/span> and LeBlanc<\/span> with all being named to the all-Big East Freshmen Team). McClung is playing inspired basketball and he should be a force to be reckoned<\/span> with as conference play begins.<\/p>\n

He had another stellar stat line in last Saturday\u2019s game against Samford.\u00a0 McClung put up 25 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists in that contest.<\/p>\n

As good as McClung has been, Georgetown\u2019s most steadying force has been 7<\/span>-foot senior center Omer Yurtseven<\/a><\/strong>. The North Carolina State transfer has fit in seamlessly while replacing Jessie Govan<\/strong><\/a> at center.<\/p>\n

Yurtseven leads the team in scoring (18.3), rebounding (10.3), blocks (2.0) and field-goal percentage (58.6 percent). He has been a steadying source of consistency for Ewing. The veteran big man has been exactly what Ewing has needed for the team to thrive in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n

Yurtseven was marvelous in Georgetown\u2019s game against Samford last Saturday when he went for 32 points while pulling down 17 rebounds.<\/p>\n