Big East: Ewing Jr. plays with big expectations

Every kid remembers the first time he beat his dad in a game of one-on-one.

Staying close early as the old man; a little over-confident, threw up some silly shots. Getting a little lucky when dad allowed a 20-foot heave and the ball went in. Running from the driveway into the kitchen to tell mom about the glorious victory.

Patrick Ewing Jr. remembers.

The only difference in his story is that his old man; the legendary Patrick Ewing, was still playing in the NBA.

“The only time I ever took him in one-on-one was in his one year with the Magic,’’ Ewing Jr. recalled. “I beat him and I was feeling mighty high.’’

Ewing Jr. was a 17-year-old high school junior. His father was in the final year of a Hall of Fame NBA career, spending the 2001-02 season with the Orlando Magic.

“I used to always kick his butt,’’ Ewing Sr. said in a recent interview. “He beat me once and he was talking so much trash that I had to show him it was only a fluke.’’

In the 1980s, Patrick Ewing was the main cog in Georgetown University’s powerhouse teams. Ewing led Georgetown to three NCAA championship game appearances with the Hoyas capturing the 1984 NCAA title. Along the way, Ewing’s Hoyas staged many epic battles with the Syracuse Orangemen.

Today, Ewing is an assistant coach with the Magic, while Patrick Jr. is a senior forward at Georgetown.

The younger Ewing said being the son of a famous father brings certain expectations.

“Especially having the same name,’’ he said of being Patrick Ewing Jr. “Jeremiah (Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers), at our school; he’s his father’s child, but he and his father don’t share the same name and he doesn’t take as much heat. It’s a bigger target when you have the same name. You make sure you’re on top of your game at all times.’’

Ewing does resemble his father, but his game doesn’t. While the elder Ewing, a 7-foot shot-blocking center, was a dominating presence, Patrick Jr. is a 6-foot-8 forward who toils in the blue-collar realms of rebounding and defense. He plays more like former Georgetown standout Jerome Williams than Patrick Ewing. He’s not the same player his dad was and doesn’t pretend to be.

“One thing I did with my jersey is put “Jr.” on the back to cancel the stereotype of me being the same player as my father,’’ Ewing said.

Georgetown coach John Thompson III, like his senior forward, is also the son of a famous father. The Ewing and Thompson names are the biggest symbols of Hoya Paranoia. Yet, Thompson III said he and Ewing Jr. have never discussed being their fathers’ sons.

“It only comes up when you guys start asking those questions,’’ Thompson III said.

Patrick Jr. grew up in Marietta, Ga., but as a high school senior he attended National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Md., just outside of Washington D.C.

At the time, many observers figured the move was a precursor to Ewing’s eventual commitment to Georgetown. The odd thing was, according to Ewing Sr., former Georgetown coach Craig Esherick and his staff weren’t actively recruiting the legacy. Meanwhile, Patrick Jr. wanted to be recruited by other schools, but those coaches had Ewing ticketed to Georgetown and figured recruiting him wasn’t worth the effort.

“I hadn’t been recruited by many other people because they all assumed I was coming to Georgetown because of my father,’’ Ewing said. “My mom talked to people and put it out there that I wasn’t committed to Georgetown yet.’’

Ewing eventually committed to Indiana. He started nine games as a freshman, averaging 2.8 points and 3.6 rebounds. As a sophomore, he started five games, putting up 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He grew disenchanted with his progress and decided to transfer.

Meanwhile, Thompson III had taken over at Georgetown. The Hoyas had gone 19-13 in his first season. Georgetown’s basketball program has rarely taken transfers from other four-year universities, but Ewing seemed a natural fit – both on the court and off.

“His name answers that question,’’ Thompson III said of what he liked about Ewing Jr. “Patrick is Patrick. His enthusiasm, his energy, his zest for the game.’’

Ewing Jr. had other options and some reservations. A former AAU teammate, Matt Causey, had originally gone to Georgetown and then transferred. And then there was the whole name thing.

“At the time I still was not sold on coming here,’’ Ewing said. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to come here just because of my father. I came here on my visit and had fun with my teammates and I told Coach (Thompson) my concerns about my father and coming here.

“He said ‘Don’t let that be the reason for not coming here’.’’

Papa Ewing was thrilled.

“I was very happy,’’ Ewing said. “I just told him it would be a great place for him to go to. He’s already been there. He practically grew up there. It would be a great place for him. He would learn. He would enjoy himself. I was very happy. I was ecstatic.’’

After sitting out the 2005-06 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Ewing averaged 4.1 points off the bench for Georgetown last year. He played a key role in the Hoyas’ run to the 2007 NCAA Final Four.

This year, Ewing started 10 games. He has since returned to his role as the first frontcourt sub, while averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.

“My stats might not reflect it, but I feel I’ve gotten much better,’’ Ewing said of his post-transfer career. “I’ve expanded my game.’’

But has his game expanded enough to beat his father again? Don’t know.

After his first win over his dad, father and son played just once more. According to Patrick Jr. the rematch went like this:

“He skunked me the next game and he hasn’t played me since.’’

Rising Team

Villanova – Left for dead after a 5-game losing streak dropped them to 4-7 in the Big East, the Wildcats have won three straight to improve their record to 17-9 overall and 7-7 in the conference. Villanova has beaten St. John’s, West Virginia and Connecticut over the past two weeks. Villanova closes the regular season against Marquette, at Louisville, South Florida and at Providence. Can a 3-1 finish get the ‘Cats into the NCAA Tournament discussion?

Falling Team

Providence – The Friars have lost five in a row and will have a tough time even qualifying for the Big East Tournament. Providence’s slide has left the Friars with a 4-11 conference record. Providence coach Tim Welsh is on the hot-seat after 10 years at the school. Providence still has games remaining with Cincinnati, Connecticut and Villanova.

Player of the Week

Notre Dame’s Kyle McAlarney scored 30 points in the Fighting Irish’s 94-87 victory over Syracuse on Sunday. McAlarney’s 30 points fell two shy of his career-high. He set a Notre Dame record with nine 3-pointers on just 11 attempts. His nine treys fall one short of the Big East record, set by Providence’s Donta Wade in 2000.

Freshman of the Week

Villanova’s Corey Stokes averaged 17.0 points as the Wildcats went 2-0 in Big East play last week. Stokes scored 16 points and pulled down five rebounds in Villanova’s 78-56 win over West Virginia. He then came back with 18 points, including 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point range, to help the Wildcats upset then-No. 13 Connecticut 67-65 on Saturday.

Stats of the Week

South Florida, the worst team in the Big East, has out-shot its opponent in each of the last five games.

Notre Dame’s 36-game homecourt winning streak is the second-longest in the nation now that Memphis’ streak has been broken. Brigham Young has a 45-game home win streak.

Louisville is the only team that’s won twice at Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh, which lost to Louisville on Sunday, is now 94-10 at the Pete.

They Said It

“I’m going to call Colin up today and rub it in his face. Colin told me at the beginning of the year I wasn’t going to beat his record.’’ — Notre Dame’s Kyle McAlarney after breaking Falls’ Notre Dame record for most 3-pointers in a game with nine against Syracuse.

Key Upcoming Games

Wednesday, Feb. 27
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Cincinnati has been the feel-good story of the year in the Big East. The Bearcats lost by 20 at Georgetown last Saturday. Now, they’ve got to go to Pittsburgh where the Panthers are nearly unbeatable at the Petersen Events Center. And Levance Fields is back for Pitt.

Thursday, Feb. 28
Notre Dame at Louisville
Louisville is tied with Georgetown atop the Big East standings with a 12-3 conference record. Notre Dame is a half-game behind with an 11-4 record. The Cardinals haven’t lost since Jan. 28.

Saturday, March 1
Georgetown at Marquette
Marquette is 14-1 at home this season. The Golden Eagles are in fifth-place and trying to leap-frog over one of the top four teams to get a first-round bye in the Big East Tournament. Georgetown is looking to repeat as Big East champions.

Pittsburgh at Syracuse
Syracuse defeated Georgetown two weeks ago, but the Orange have lost tough road games to Louisville and Notre Dame since taking down the Hoyas. Syracuse desperately needs a win over Pitt to boost its NCAA resume. Pitt was 7-7 and struggling prior to a Wednesday game against Cincinnati.

Sunday, March 2
Villanova at Louisville
The Wildcats have won three in a row and put themselves back in the hunt for an NCAA bid. Louisville’s merely playing better than any other team in the Big East.

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