15 Ways Georgetown is Great, and 6 Ways It’s Not
There are multiple reasons why Georgetown is a great place to go to college and play sports. Here are some for people to consider. Most people will find at least a few that are a good fit for them. That said, if you only want to waste your college years skipping classes and partying, Georgetown is probably not the school for you. If you want to coast in practice and develop bad habits, Georgetown is likely not the right fit for you. Georgetown players have a tradition of working hard to improve on the court and off the court as athletes and people.
Clicking on each photo below or “Read more” link will take you to an entire page that describes that particular aspect of going to Georgetown. You might consider whether the other schools you’re looking at have as many appealing things as you find below. Above all, we hope you choose whichever school you think is the best for your long-term well-being.
ELITE EDUCATION
Out of 5,300 colleges and universities in the U.S., Georgetown is consistently ranked in the top 25. Only 1.3% of college hoops players are drafted by the NBA. Of those, most only play for a few years and don’t make much money. At Georgetown, you will get an elite level education that will help you economically and personally for your whole life. After getting out of college, the average person lives 55 years. That means most of your post-college life will be doing something other than playing hoops. Georgetown will greatly prepare you to make the most of it.
NICE campus
Georgetown’s campus is beautiful with a range of appealing architecture ranging from classic historic buildings to sleek modern ones. Also most things are located close to each other so you don’t end up having to walk a long ways to get where you’re going. The apartments that most of the basketball players live in are just a 4-minute walk to the gym and weight room and a 1-minute walk to a dining hall. It’s also located in one of the most scenic neighborhoods in the country. Georgetown is one of the oldest cities in the country and was built even before DC.
awesome city
DC is the 6th largest metro region in the US. It is loaded with great restaurants, music and shopping. Also lots of recreational, cultural and entertainment options. It’s the home of the US government as well as numerous famous monuments, museums and historic sites. Many major global organizations and institutes like the World Bank are based there. It’s also a highly diverse city with a wide range of races and cultures. At the same time, it feels like a small city because there are no skyscrapers and lots of public parks, green spaces and quiet neighborhoods.
great COACHES
Patrick Ewing is a living legend. He is the 16th greatest college player of all-time, and was Player of The Year, tournament MVP and the #1 draft pick. Next, he was Rookie of the Year and an NBA All-Star 11 times. He is the New York Knicks’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots and steals. He won two Olympic Gold Medals, once as a college student and again as a pro. He’s one of the 50 best players of all time. He coached in the NBA for 15 years and has led Georgetown to a Big East Tournament championship in only his 4th year.
major TRADITION
Georgetown has a very proud basketball tradition. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 31 times and in the National Invitation Tournament 13 times. Georgetown has made the Final Four on 5 occasions, advanced to the title game 4 times and won the National Championship. The Hoyas have won the most Big East Tournament championships (8) and the 2nd most regular season conference titles (10). It has a total of 18 Big East championships, the most of any school.
top conference
Since it began, the Big East has won the national championship 9 out of 41 times, a rate of 22%. This century, it has won 6 of the 19 titles, which is 32% of the time. That means about once every 3 years the Big East has won it all. It sends a strong percentage of its teams to the tourney. It is loaded with talent, which makes for a very exciting season and tournament. It also means that players play against top competition that helps to develop their game.
COOL STUDENTS
Georgetown has students from around the country and around the world. They are interesting, intelligent and fun. Did you know that many famous comedians came out of Georgetown including John Mulaney, Nick Kroll and Mike Birbiglia? Georgetown offers lots of fun social events and activities for students. Add more text here.
networking
During your time at Georgetown, you’ll get to know many people who will go on to be very successful in a wide variety of fields. Georgetown’s students have become the heads of major companies, US senators, President of the US and the commissioner of the NFL. The school also provides alumni networking online and an in person. These connections can be a plus in your post-hoops work career.
PAST PLAYERS
The list of great players that have played at Georgetown is far too long to put here. To see that, go to the Former Players page. One thing to note is that it’s not uncommon for past players to return to campus to help teach the current players. Some of the players also seem to have an informal network to support each other.
Spirituality & service
As a Jesuit school, Georgetown offers a variety of spiritual opportunities including church services, Christian meditation and quiet retreats. They also offer things for people of different faiths. Georgetown also has numerous options for service and giving back. Georgetown helps you to develop fully as a human, which will benefit you in your long-term happiness.
valuable DIPLOMA
After college, the average person lives 58 more years to the age of 79. Only 1.3% of college hoops players are drafted by the NBA. Of those, most only play for a few years and don’t make much money. Basketball will only be part of your life for about 10% of your years after college. But your Georgetown diploma will help you economically for 100% of those years.
nice weather
DC has a very short and mild winter. It has a long and warm spring that lasts for about 4 months. And the fall is the same. So for most of the school year you have very nice weather. You won’t be freezing as you walk to see your friends, and you won’t be sweating like a pig just from walking to class. Students regularly study outdoors and socialize outdoors. It’s not too hot and not too cold.
Rivalries
Georgetown is part of one of the greatest rivalries in the country with Syracuse. Its annual match-up is broadcast on national network TV, not just cable. It also has major long-term rivalries with Villanova, St. John’s and Uconn – some of the best basketball schools in the nation. Georgetown is such a prominent program that when it plays those schools, the games are moved to NBA arenas.
MEDIA EXPOSURE
Almost all of Georgetown’s games are broadcast on Fox Sports or CBS, giving the program frequent national TV exposure. Plus your family and friends can easily watch the games. Athletes also get to visit many of the best cities in the US including New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. These are among the largest media markets in the country.
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
Every year players and fans get to participate in one of the greatest sporting events in the country. Held in Manhattan at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, the Big East Tournament has a very special atmosphere. Hundreds of thousands of students and fans from around the country descend on the country’s biggest city for four days of hoops madness.
6 Ways Georgetown Might Be A Poor Fit For You
blowing off schoolwork
If you’re looking for a college where you skip classes and blow off your homework, Georgetown is likely not a good fit. You perhaps should choose a large state school that’s only interested in making money off of your playing basketball. Georgetown wants to see you succeed for your entire life. So if you blow off school, you likely won’t last very long.
irresponsible behavior
While Georgetown students have fun, the school does not tolerate irresponsible or illegal behavior. This includes sexual harassment, drug abuse and other illegal actions. There are other schools that let those things slide as long as they’re selling tickets to games. Georgetown has been known to suspend or expel students even if it results in losses.
You CAN’T TAKE tough love
Coach Ewing is known for his tough love and telling you how you need to improve. If your game improves, he’ll push you to improve even more. This is how he became great. He wants you to be the best you can be. If you are developing bad habits, he’ll give you an earful. This style is not a fit for all people. So keep this in mind when making your decision.
You need a big or tiny school
Georgetown has about 6,000 undergraduate students. This means it’s small enough that you get to know some people very well and it feels like a community. But it’s big enough that it’s interesting, and you have options for who you spend time with. If you need a huge student body or a very small community, it might not be the best fit for you overall.
You’re a glory guy
Georgetown prides itself on team play and passing the ball. Ewing frowns on ball hogs who don’t share the rock. This approach resulted in a group of players picked to finish last in the Big East winning the tournament championship in 2021 and going to the NCAA tourney. If you prefer padding your stats over winning, Gtown may not be the place for you.
Former Players
Mourning
Iverson
Mutombo
Porter
Munroe
Greene