LINKS: Big East Media Day 2018-19

We heard that Jessie Govan was named to the All-Big East First Team, but there was quite a lot of other action in the Garden yesterday for Big East Media Day, as we all toiled away and ate undocumented lunches.

Coach Patrick Ewing brought Govan and Jagan Mosely (Jr.) to Pat’s old home-away-from-home in Midtown Manhattan. A few of the articles captured some of Coach Ewing’s “I’m-not-saying-anything-controversial” quotes during the day at Madison Square Garden, but there is a 15-minute video below where he touches on several things from the freshman to recruiting to the G League to big men shooting threes (now-versus-then). Here are some links:

Coach really likes Jiggy. Did you know that he went to St. Anthony’s and his coach was Bob Hurley? Duh.

And by the way, Jessie’s selection to First Team All-Big East was unanimous...

Patrick Ewing is keeping expectations for his second season at Georgetown all to himself | Washington Post

Ewing kept his expectations vague on purpose. The Hoyas are adding five freshmen and a senior transfer who sat out last season in Greg Malinowski, and Ewing is still bringing along the players who were around for his first year.

“Last year I was a sophomore, but I felt like a freshman with two different coaches, so this year I’m getting the hang of it,” Mosely said. “I’m trying to learn my way as well as teach the new guys the way. He tries to instill in us how to win, because obviously a lot of us haven’t won at this level.”

Ewing wants to take as much time as possible to develop his team without the pressure of expectations. Athletic Director Lee Reed, who hovered near Georgetown’s table during the interview, is of the same mind-set: He believes you build a strong program slowly.

15-minute Press Conference:

Where Do 2017’s Major Coaching Hires Stand Heading into Year Two? | Sports Illustrated

Tier 4: Ewing’s first season as a head coach doesn’t look great on paper. However, dig a little deeper and it starts to impress a bit, given the circumstances. Expectations were low for the Georgetown legend in year one as he took over for the underperforming John Thompson III. The Hoyas lost a bunch of close games (including four OT losses in five tries), which is a sign of a young team. They eventually broke through with consecutive close wins over Seton Hall and Butler in February. Leading scorer Jessie Govan is back for his senior year, but standout wing Marcus Derrickson will be tough to replace. Jamorko Pickett and Jahvon Blair were members of Ewing’s first recruiting class and should be productive sophomores, and Georgetown has the third-best 2018 class in the Big East. Still, a return to the Big Dance is at least a year or two away.

Big East Preview (Part 2): Georgetown, Marquette, and Providence | VUHoops.com

As Patrick Ewing enters his second season, the “hype” is there as he welcomes some of his own recruits but, unfortunately for Georgetown fans, the new faces are unlikely to make a significant impact this year.

Georgetown will welcome Mac McClung, a 6’2” guard from Virginia, known for his viral dunks, James Akinjo, and Josh LeBlanc. However, while Jessie Govan returns to campus and NC State transfer Omer Yurtseven is finally available [WAIT WHAT?], the consensus appears to be that the Hoyas just do not have the personnel to make a splash just yet.

NCAA champion Villanova picked to win Big East again | WBAL

Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing smiled while recalling his reception at MSG last year — his first as a coach — when he received some boos from the crowd.

‘It was like the old, old days,’ said Ewing, laughing. ’It’s funny because I played 15 years here and with all the fans they hated me when I played at Georgetown. They loved me when I played for 15 years here (with the Knicks).’

Did Seton Hall basketball get disrespected in the Big East coaches’ poll? | App.com

Most observers see the conference as wide open from three through nine, after defending national champion Villanova and Marquette and before perennial bottom-feeder DePaul.

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Overall this appears to be a transition year for the Big East, which had a ton of talent walk out the door last spring. The Pirates are the only team in the league to lose four starters, although six other squads lost three: Xavier (which also sports a rookie head coach), Creighton, Georgetown, Providence, DePaul and Villanova.

”Everybody came back with a chip on our shoulder and wanted to prove something,” junior guard Myles Powell said. “Our mindset is, we’ve got to start from the bottom, from the dirt and grind and get it. So us being eighth doesn’t change anything.”

Also special thanks to @Hoya_Saxual for following Twitter diligently and sharing so casually...

Should we play the number 33 in the lottery this weekend?