People have been politicking and promoting the idea of former NBA great Patrick Ewing earning a head coaching job in the National Basketball Association for decades, but that never came to fruition. The main excuse given initially was that the former Hoya Destroya didnt have the necessary experience to get a head coaching gig in the league.
Since that time, numerous players of lesser repute have made the jump to head coach; two of them were with the New York Knicksa franchise he led throughout the early to mid-90s.
During a recent interview with HBO Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel, Ewing went on record stating that he didnt have any interest in coaching college basketball in the beginning, but was made wise to the possibility of coaching his alma mater by his mentor and former coach, Big John Thompson.
‘Patrick Ewing’s Return to Georgetown’ Preview | Real Sports w/ Bryant Gumbel | HBO
With the start of a new basketball season approaching for Georgetown, Bryant Gumbel talks with Patrick Ewing, NBA Hall of Famer and new head coach of the Hoyas. Although Ewing is excited to take on the new role, some are skeptical. Stream full episodes of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO GO/NOW.
On Sunday, the Georgetown Hoyas mens basketball team enjoyed the first win of the Pat Ewing era with a win 73-57 win over Jacksonville at the Capital One Arena. On hand were Michael Jordan, who spoke with the team after the game, Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning, both of whom followed in Pats footsteps, former Hoya and current Washington Wizards wingman Otto Porter Jr, Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks and former New York Knicks head coach, Jeff Van Gundy.
His first game, with an announced crowd of 9,212, was more like a celebration of Ewing than an inaugural game.
It was funny, said Ewing. I was talking to [Van Gundy] before the game, and I was telling him as a player I never really got nervous. But as a coach I got nervous. The biggest difference is Im counting on [my players], and as a player Im counting on myself. But like I said, I thought they did a very good job.
Georgetown vs Jacksonville | Highlights | FOX COLLEGE HOOPS
Jessie Govan’s double-double helps Ewing get his first win at Georgetown as a head coach, beating Jacksonville 73-57 SUBSCRIBE to get the latest FOX Sports content: https://www.youtube.com/foxsports?sub_confirmation=1 Watch the latest popular FOX Sports clips: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSoN6Th-EepNkAbtoXFyKdMPd8lvG95wj NFL coverage from FOX Sports: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSoN6Th-EepMMrvxB23QShmbLMeMN52M- College Football coverage from FOX Sports: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSoN6Th-EepNWOI2vdFxCYax5pBiYgoJc UFC on FOX’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ufconfox FOX Soccer’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/Foxsoccer About FOX Sports: With exclusive highlights, original programming, and behind the scenes footage, FOX Sports’ YouTube channel provides the sports content that fans are hungry for.
Center Jessie Govan and forward Marcus Derrickson, both juniors, led the Hoyas with 20 points each. Govan, who spearheaded a solid defensive effort, pulled in a game-high 15 rebounds. Ewing has incorporated an uptempo pace that relies on tight defense.
Next up for the Hoyas is Mount St. Marys on Wednesday. Though the Hoyas are bigger and more athletic, Mount Saint Marys was a tournament team last year and in 2014. Like a plastic covered couch, theyre not to be slept on.
