Written by Jeff Goodman at ESPN.com
The list is neither long nor impressive: Maryland-Baltimore County. Belmont. Eastern Washington.
Those are the trio of notches John Thompson III and the Georgetown Hoyas have on their belt in the past decade when it matters most — during the NCAA tournament.
“Everyone knows a change needs to be made,” one former player said. “But no one will dare stand up and say it.”
Not with Big John Thompson, the legendary former coach and the current coach’s father, around.
“Everyone is scared to death,” another ex-player said.
When John Thompson III took over in 2004, replacing a train wreck of a five-plus year run by Craig Esherick, the Hoyas community rejoiced. Who better than Big John’s kid to get the program back to national relevance after five years in which Esherick’s teams appeared in the NCAA tournament just once?
It didn’t take long, either. There was a Sweet 16 appearance in JT3’s second year, and a Final Four appearance in 2007, led by Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert — two players who had committed to the program before JT3’s arrival.
But since that magical run, there just hasn’t been much to justify former Hoyas being able to stick their chests out about.
Four former players spoke, but none were willing to go on the record and speak about the status of JT3 and the program.
“Loyalty and fear,” one told ESPN on why they weren’t willing to attach their name to anything. “Fear of Big John and where you stand. You don’t mess with him.”
“I’m still scared of him, and I’m a grown man now,” added another.
That’s part of the issue. Big John, now 75, built the Georgetown program. He guided the Hoyas to three Final Fours, a national title and 596 wins from 1972-99. The school recently named the brand-new $65 million John R. Thompson Jr., Intercollegiate Athletic Center after him. In a way, the Hall of Famer still presides over the program.
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