Let’s admit it, the Hoyas got a little lucky against West Virginia. Patrick Ewing, Jr. made a phenomenal play to block the shot at the buzzer, but it was very close to being a goal tend, and at home the call could have very easily favored the Mountaineers. Fortune follows the bold, and Ewing’s play was most definitely BOLD. So, the Hoyas got a fortuitous break. It’s about time! Think back on all of the bad bounces, wrong calls, and tough breaks that have gone against Georgetown in the past seasons. It’s not pleasant, but since the refs might have let the Hoyas get away with one, let’s re-visit some of the worst calls that ever went against the Hoyas (last 10 seasons only). I think you’ll see that even after the West Virginia game things aren’t exactly evening out. Kind of odd how so many games include Notre Dame or Jim Burr, or both, huh?

#5 – February 1, 2003: Notre Dame 93 – Georgetown 92 (2OT)

Referees: Jim Burr, Michael Stuart, Frank Scagliotta

In the final minutes of regulation, Mike Sweetney scored and was fouled to put the Hoyas up by one. On the ensuing defensive possession, Victor Samnick made an incredible block to seemingly save a sure layup. The refs called a foul. The replay was comical, since it showed clear as day that the block was clean. Samnick’s hand was pinning the ball to the backboard – there was no body contact and no contact on the shooter’s arm. The Hoyas eventually lost in overtime.

#4 – February 9, 2002: Notre Dame 116 – Georgetown 111 (4OT)

Referees: Jim Burr, Ed Corbett, Pat Driscoll

There were a bunch of questionable decisions in this game, but there was one that sticks out. At the end of the second overtime, the Hoyas had a chance to win with the score tied. Kevin Braswell missed a jumper, but Wesley Wilson grabbed the rebound. At the buzzer he put up a shot that rimmed out. As he was shooting, the defender slapped him right in the face. It was as if he was trying to give a High Five to Wilson’s nose.

#3 – February 8, 2003: UCLA 71 – Georgetown 70

Referees: David Libbey, Charlie Range, Tommy Nuñez

This was a difficult stretch for the Mike Sweetney-led Hoyas. In the preceding nine days they had already been mistreated by the refs twice (see #5 and #1). UCLA had the ball with the score tied in the final seconds. The Hoyas made a critical defensive play to knock the ball away, and as players from both teams dove on the floor for the loose ball, the refs whistled for a foul with 4.5 seconds left. All ten players looked hopefully to the ref, since no one on the court knew what the call was. It went against Georgetown. The Hoyas lost by a free throw.

#2 – January 19, 1999: West Virginia 55 – Georgetown 54

Referees: Jody Sylvester, Jeff Plunkett, Andre Patillo

The Hoyas were tied at the end of the game with West Virginia playing for the final shot. The Mountaineers were trapped in the corner by the one-man double team of Nat Burton. Time was about to expire without West Virginia even getting a shot off when Jeff Plunkett called a foul on Burton who had flopped backwards. The whistle came with 0.2 seconds remaining. Jeff Plunkett has not officiated a Georgetown game since.

#1 – January 29, 2003: Seton Hall 93 – Georgetown 82 (OT)

Referees: Mike Kitts, Les Jones, Fran Connolly

Kitts, Jones, and Connolly were the four referees responsible for this disaster. The Hoyas were tied with Seton Hall in the final seconds. Coming out of a time-out, Seton Hall ran an alley-oop out of bounds play to take the lead. Without calling time-out, Gerald Riley dribbled down the court and hit a floater to force overtime. There was one problem though; Seton Hall came out of the previous time-out with six players on the court. The refs didn’t notice.