NCAA Basketball: 2019-20 season vital for NBA legends turned coaches

By Brian Rauf | May 24, 2019

ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 26: Josh Richardson #0 and assistant coach Juwan Howard of the Miami Heat on the bench on opening night against the Orlando Magic on October 26, 2016 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Manuela Davies/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 03: Head coach Patrick Ewing of the Georgetown Hoyas reacts during the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Wells Fargo Center on March 3, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

Make-or-break years for Ewing, Hardaway

Ewing, despite his relative success, has not made the NCAA Tournament yet. Last season’s 19-14 record (9-9 in the Big East) was a step in the right direction – it was only the second time in six years Georgetown had at least 19 wins and was at least .500 in conference play – and has fans excited about the future. It has also placed expectations on Ewing and the program for the first time since he took over.

Georgetown had to build a new foundation after a several years of decreasing performance and talent level. They had to be rebuilt, and Ewing has put them in position to be a borderline top 25 team going into 2019-20. That box is checked.

As such, making the NIT is not going to cut it again. The Hoyas, thanks largely to the job Ewing has done so far, expect to make and should be in the NCAA Tournament this season. Anything less than that and rumblings will start about his future with the program and if he’s really the long-term answer.

The same goes for Memphis. The Tigers received their share of backlash when they ran off Tubby Smith to bring in Hardaway, but he has done the job he was hired to do up to this point. He has rejuvenated a rabid fan base, landed a number of top recruits (which is why they have the aforementioned top recruiting class), and made Memphis nationally relevant again.

Now the hard part comes – he has to translate that into wins on the court.

Memphis has enough talent to garner a top 10 preseason ranking (some think they’ll start in the top five), which they will undoubtedly have when the first AP poll comes out. The jury is still out on Hardaway’s ability to actually coach at this level, but the program’s 22 wins last season were the most in five years.

If the Tigers fall out of the top 25 at any point and are a middling team in the American again, the momentum surrounding a Hardaway-led program will change drastically. Memphis is expecting at least a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend and, if they don’t get that, questions about Hardaway’s future will also arise.

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