Just 10 days ago, Georgetown guard Austin Freeman’s concerns were typical for a college athlete. There were the regular-season games against West Virginia and Cincinnati and the always pressurized Big East Tournament. Then real life slammed the 6-foot-3 ½ shooting guard. He was diagnosed with diabetes.
“I’ve been getting used to it for the past week or so. It’s just going to take time,” Freeman (eight points, 3-of-12 shooting) said yesterday after the Hoyas’ 69-49 win over South Florida.
Freeman is dealing with his situation as best as possible, trying not to let it affect him on or off the court. And he has been touched by the support he’s received.
“Everyday life, I know I have it. I’m not really bothered about it off the court or on. I have to take care of myself,” said Freeman, who hopes to serve as an inspiration for other diabetics. “Just me being a college athlete you have kids who look up to you, some of them might have diabetes, too. I wouldn’t mind helping out and talking to them.
“I’ve gotten e-mails and stuff from people who said they have diabetes and they’ve been playing college sports. It’s good to know there are people who care.”
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One of the interested observers yesterday is a very familiar figure for Garden fans: Pat Riley. And he threw support to his former Knick star Patrick Ewing in his quest for an NBA coaching job.
“He’s looking for his chance,” Riley said. “I’d like to see him get it. He deserves it. I think he’s ready and would do well.”
Before you petition Riley to hire Ewing in Miami, remember Riley’s coaching hires, Stan Van Gundy and Erik Spoelstra, were both on his staff a long time before the hirings.
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Last year the Big East enthralled the nation with its epic, six-overtime game between UConn and Syracuse. This year in the Big East, there were 29 overtime games, including four triple overtimes and four double overtimes.
Only three teams did not play an overtime game. Right, UConn and Syracuse were two. (Georgetown was the third) . . . Marquette forward Lazar Hayward scored 20 points. He has scored double figures in all of his eight career Big East Tourney games.
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Syracuse, Michigan, Georgia Tech and Texas-El Paso will compete in the 2010 Legends Classic, whose championship rounds (Nov. 26-27) are set for Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
The four schools advance to Atlantic City regardless of prior results. In all, 12 teams will compete. Tickets go on sale today at Boardwalk Hall or through Ticketmaster or Ticketmaster.com.
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South Florida’s Dominique Jones a guy NBA scouts are watching, comes from Lake Wales, Fla. (pop. 11,802), which produced another fair basketball talent, Amar’e Stoudemire.
They’ve got to be close, right?
“No friendship,” the 6-4 junior said. “I’ve seen him here and there and I talked to him one time on the phone and that was him reaching out to me. I don’t even have his number.”