Flair
By MikePatrick Ewing Jr. has made some critical plays during his career. We all remember his last-second heroics in Morgantown, and his defensive efforts against Syracuse. Even his role in the Marquette game was essential to victory. But the play that sticks out to me as the quintessential Pat Jr. play happened during last year’s Final Four run.
Georgetown matched up with Big East defector Boston College in the Second Round, with a Sweet 16 spot on the line. It’s a game most fans remember well. The Hoyas went up by 10 early, but then went cold, allowing the Eagles to catch up and eventually take the lead. A second half three-pointer by Tyrese Rice pushed Boston College to its largest lead of eight. The Hoyas fought back, and a three-pointer by Ewing gave the Hoyas a one point lead with under 10 minutes to play. But the best was yet to come.
The Hoyas stayed in front but battled with the Eagles the rest of the way. With under a minute to play, the Hoyas had the ball with a four point lead, knowing a basket would most likely seal the victory. Georgetown moved the ball around and eventually found Hibbert in the low post but with only five seconds on the shot clock. As he began his move, he was immediately double-teamed, and it looked as though he would not get his shot off.
And then, it happened.
From out of nowhere, Patrick Ewing was streaking down the baseline unmanned. Hibbert squeezed the ball to Ewing, but the pass was a little behind him. The shot clock now at two, there was no time for delay. In one motion, Patrick turned around, caught the ball, elevated and sent in a reverse slam just in time for the weak-side help Jared Dudley to commit the foul. (If you look at Ewing after that dunk, you’ll see Tony is right.)
It was an amazing game, culminating in an amazing play. The poise, the precision, the execution. These have become trademarks of Georgetown under Coach Thompson. But the flair and and the thunderous finish? That can be attributed to Pat Jr.
Patrick has had some great plays in his days as a Hoya. Let us know your favorite.
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March 5th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I don’t know if I would pin it as a single moment or play, but the year he sat out he played such a huge role as a motivator and energy guy. Maybe because it was such a big game it sticks out in my mind the most, but I distinctly remember him cheering the guys on in the game against Duke at Verizon Center and would probably call that one of my favorite Patrick Ewing Jr. memories.
Coach Thompson has said that Pat won some games that year even though he never played a minute. Seeing how he motivated that team and how much energy he brought even when he was on a bench in a suit, I could only imagine how much of a spark he would bring when he was in a uniform. Now we all can see for ourselves what a difference he has made.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:01 am
That BC dunk is by far my most memorable PEJr moment, but you left out my favorite part. The media had been playing up BC’s defection to the ACC, and in comparing conferences, Dudley claimed that there was more talent in the ACC and the players were “superior athletes.”
It came out in the post-game that PEJr did not take kindly to those comments and before the game told Jessie “If I get the chance, I’m going to dunk on him.”
That was Pat’s attitude–-unbridled enthusiasm mixed with a touch of pugnacity–-that made him such a special player.