Hoyas, Govan Must Now Wait on NIT

NEW YORK — While there was some disagreement as to what Georgetown needed to do in order to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, everyone agreed that the path – should there be one - had to include a win against Seton Hall in Thursday’s quarterfinal at Madison Square Garden.

Outside of an early 8-4 advantage, Georgetown never looked the part in trailing by as many as 28 before eventually falling to the Pirates 73-57. It’s a loss that leaves the Hoyas at 19-13 and clearly on the wrong side of the bubble.

Understanding that Georgetown now won’t be one of the teams to have its name called on Selection Sunday, senior Jessie Govan - who finished with eight points and seven rebounds in his final BET game - spoke afterwards about the idea of ending his career on a positive note in the postseason for the first time in four years.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction,” Govan said of a possible NIT berth that would continue his college career for at least one more game.

After the Hoyas finished with losing records in each of his first two seasons, Georgetown managed a .500 record in Ewing’s first season in charge with Govan as a junior averaging a double-douuble of .

Since much has changed in terms of NIT selection over the years, the Hoyas were left out of postseason in Govan’s junior year. (Georgetown actually made the NIT at 15-15 in 1999 but that’s not a thing that would happen anymore outside of team having a wild resume with great a SOS and a string of quality wins.)

While nothing is certain, Georgetown is most likely set to make the NIT for the first time since 2014 when the Hoyas beat West Virginia on campus before losing at Florida State.

“You know it’s always nice to play in the postseason so hopefully we can make a run in that and have a good postseason and end the season on a good note.”

Govan continued on about his final season at Georgetown in which he posted averages of 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. The Queens Village, NY native is the 12^th league scorer and seventh leading rebounder in program history.

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs but it’s been a pretty good senior season,” said Govan who earned First Team all league earlier this week.

“I’m glad I came back for it. The program has gotten better. There’s still some things I need work on for my game if I want to be successful at the next level. I’m happy I came back and I’m happy for these guys. I hope I taught them a little bit while I was here and set them up to be successful for next year.”

Georgetown and Govan will have to wait until after the NCAA bracket comes out on Sunday night to learn their fate.