Georgetown Basketball: Weak schedule hurts the Hoyas

Georgetown’s pathetic non-conference schedule has constantly been mocked, and with good reason, but the fact that the Hoyas could have competed with a more difficult schedule is often overlooked.

There are varying opinions on Georgetown’s non-conference scheduling strategy, but the fact that it made a postseason berth unlikely cannot be disputed. The Hoyas racked up a gaudy 10-1 record against the worst schedule in the country. They scoured the weakest conferences to craft a schedule that would ensure a shiny record going into conference play.

An argument can be made that a weak schedule can benefit a young team because, in theory, it builds confidence. I have my doubts that this soft scheduling strategy is effective because everyone (players, fans, journalists) understands that they are beating up on a less talented team. Any confidence that is built up will quickly dissipate when that team gets thrashed in their conference.

However, Georgetown should not have scheduled as if they were this inexperienced team that was lacking talent. In their two legitimate tests this season, the Hoyas took Syracuse and Butler to overtime. Both Syracuse and Butler are seen as solid NCAA Tournament teams at this point which proves that the Hoyas could have played competitive games against a tougher schedule. Even if Georgetown went 1-2 in the PK80, they would have gained quality experience by playing teams that more closely resemble Big East caliber teams.

The Hoyas finished No. 9 (out of 10) in the Big East last season, but returned some talented upperclassmen who have played meaningful minutes. LJ Peak and Rodney Pryor (their two best players) left, but Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson are very good starters. Govan is even seen as a potential NBA Draft pick. Players like Jonathan Mulmore, Kaleb Johnson, and Jagan Mosely are solid, experienced glue guys. Freshmen JaMarko Pickett and Jahvon Blair have extremely bright futures and have immediately carved out major roles.

While it was unlikely that Georgetown would make an NCAA Tournament push even with a more legitimate schedule, this soft slate almost eliminates them from consideration. Coach Patrick Ewing can claim that he is surprised at how good this group is, but the fact that he gave them absolutely no chance in the case that they were good is a huge mistake.

It’s not like the Big East is filled with unbeatable teams. Did Ewing really think that the Hoyas could not compete with the likes of Providence, St. John’s, Marquette, and Butler? These teams are not good enough for you to throw in the towel before the season even starts.

Making the NIT would be a nice step in the first year of the Patrick Ewing rebuild, but even that looks unlikely. The Hoyas are clearly NIT caliber, but the NIT at-large spots will likely go to teams that were on the bubble at some point. Unless the Hoyas are 9-9 or 8-10, the NIT is likely out of reach too as many regular season conference champions lose in their conference tournament which takes up spots in the field.

I think Jeff Goodman’s take is correct. If the Hoyas finish at No. 5, which is EXTREMELY optimistic, they will probably have a 10-8 or 9-9 record. Unless one of those wins comes at Villanova or at Xavier, Georgetown’s resume will be insufficient. Like we saw with SMU a few years ago, having one of the worst non-conference schedules is the easiest way to get snubbed even if certain predictive metrics say you are worthy of a bid.

Next: 5 Questions heading into Big East play

Georgetown fans should be optimistic about the Patrick Ewing era. They have some good young talent in the program and a strong 2018 recruiting class is on the way, but this season will be a complete waste. It will be an unbearable March for Hoya fans if they finish in the middle of the conference. Knowing that they threw away a possible postseason bid before the season even started will be difficult to stomach.