There’s Life After Patrick Ewing

Don’t feel too sorry for John Thompson.

It’s true the Georgetown coach is entering his 14th year with the Hoyas without Patrick Ewing, the dominant 7-footer who led the team to the 1984 national title and trips to the NCAA championship game in three of the past four seasons.

Ewing is a headache for guys named Malone, Parish, Abdul-Jabbar and Sampson now.

But make no mistake about it--there is life after Ewing at Georgetown.

“We’re not a bad team,” Thompson said, obviously understating his case. “I just don’t know how good we are.”

Very good is the answer. While there is no more Ewing, this Georgetown team may again be among the best of the East with greyhounds like Reggie Williams, David Wingate and Michael Jackson, not to mention Thompson’s patented pressure defense.

Ralph Dalton, Ewing’s 6-11 understudy for the past three years, inherits the Georgetown pivot. Dalton will never be the intimidating presence that his predecessor was, but he is excellent on the boards, a fine defender--and a tireless worker.

“I try to contribute in whatever way I can,” Dalton said. “Whether it’s more minutes or less minutes, I try to lead. It’s the same way I approach the season every year.”

The real story with Dalton is the fact that he’s playing at all. The fifth-year man missed all of his freshman year with a devastating knee injury suffered in a preseason practice. The extensive ligament and nerve damage still requires Dalton to wear specially-designed basketball shoes, similar to a boxer’s, and a knee brace.

“It was major, major surgery,” Thompson said. “I wasn’t as concerned about his (basketball) career as I was about his ability to function normally.”

Dalton, who graduated from Georgetown alongside Ewing last May with a degree in sociology, opted to return for the extra year of eligibility granted him because of the freshman-year injury.

The main man for the Hoyas this year is Williams, the versatile 6-7 forward who also sees time at the off-guard position. Williams is an outstanding outside shooter and an aggressive inside player.

Senior Michael Jackson is one of the most underrated playmakers in the nation. He is the glue to the team and has tremendous court savvy. His backcourt mate is fellow senior David Wingate, a 6-5 speedster who can light up the scoreboard.

The loss of Bill Martin may be as notable as Ewing’s absence. The power forward slot will be filled by one of two sophomores, 6-10 Grady Mateen or 6-8 Ronnie Highsmith.

While this bunch of Hoyas can score points, their defensive ability is what could make them a threat for the national title again this season. Thompson uses a variety of pressure defenses, including a trapping full-court press.

“We know we have to work hard,” Dalton said. “Those are our expectations.”

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, whose team has been picked to win the Big East, thinks the Hoyas can win the conference.

“I still like Georgetown,” he said.