Georgetown senior Kenny Izzo recently reminded junior teammate Jeff Green what it was like at the end of Izzo’s freshman season when the Hoyas lost in the first round of the Big East tournament and finished a dismal 13-15.
“We were under .500 so we knew we weren’t going to qualify [for the NCAA Tournament], even the NIT,” Izzo said. “So we all had a little spring break, which is not a good thing when you’re playing basketball. This year should be a little different.”
Izzo and Sead Dizdarevic, the Hoyas’ only seniors and the last players to arrive before current head coach John Thompson III, suit up for their final home game Saturday against Connecticut. The little used reserves have combined to play just 28 minutes this season.
But their tenures have given them a clear understanding of Georgetown’s resurgence as a national contender under Thompson and what it means to the school and program.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot, not just in basketball, just as far as organization, an entire shift from the way it was to where it is now,” said Izzo. “I think winninghas a lot to do with it, but at the same time, I think some of things that coach Thompson and his staff have put in place have led to winning beyond the X’s and O’s of the basketball court.”
The memories of Georgetown’s struggles just a few seasons ago are fading so quickly the team’s recent success is starting to blend in with the glory days of the 1980s.
“Mainly tradition,” said freshman Vernon Macklin when asked about his first thoughts of the program.
“My family’s a big fan of Georgetown and I grew onto it.”
The upperclassmen know things aren’t the same.
“I’m just glad to be a part of that,” said Green. “[On Saturday] I want Kenny to get in so I’m going to play my heart out. I’d like to see him in his last home game.”
Thompson said neither Izzo nor Dizdarevic will start against the Huskies. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t contributed.
“This is the first time in three years that anyone has asked me about Kenny or Sead, but every day in practice you see them pushing their teammates,” said Thompson.
“You come down the bench, and I’m kneeling down and Kenny starts whispering, ‘Coach, you gotta look for this, look for that.’ The guys are very much at the core to key to what we’ve done here the past couple years.”
UCONN (17-12, 6-9 BIG EAST) AT NO. 9 GEORGETOWN (22-6, 12-3)
» When: Saturday, noon
» Where: Verizon Center
» TV: CBS
