1939–40 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
| mode = basketball
| year = 1939–40
| team = Georgetown Hoyas
| logo = Georgetown Hoyas logo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| conference = Independent
| division =
| short_conf =
| CoachRank =
| APRank =
| record = 8–10
| conf_record =
| wins_vacated =
| wins_forfeited =
| conf_wins_vacated =
| conf_wins_forfeited =
| head_coach = Elmer Ripley
| hc_year = 4th
| asst_coach1 =
| ac1_year =
| asst_coach2 =
| ac2_year =
| asst_coach3 =
| ac3_year =
| mvp =
| mvp_year =
| mvp2 =
| mvp2_year =
| captain = John Schmitt
| captain_year = 1st
| captain2 =
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| captain3_year =
| captain4 =
| captain4_year =
| stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| champion =
| bowl =
| bowl_result =
}}
The 1939–40 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1939–40 NCAA college basketball season. Elmer Ripley coached it in his fourth of ten seasons as head coach; it was also the second season of his second of three stints at the helm. The team played its home games at Tech Gymnasium on the campus of McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C.[http://www.hoyabasketball.com/history/arenas.htm The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Home Courts] The team finished with a record of 8–10 and had no postseason play.
Season recap
Following the demise of the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference after the end of the previous season, Georgetown returned to an independent status. Beginning this season – its first as an independent since 1931–32 – it would play 38 seasons as an independent before becoming a founding member of the original Big East Conference in the 1979–1980 season.
The 1939–40 Hoyas were a young team, with only two seniors on the roster. New to the team was sophomore guard Buddy O'Grady. He averaged 4.9 points per game for the season and became a leader on the court, and would be a star for the Hoyas for three seasons.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/f_ogrady.htm |title=The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Francis (Buddy) O'Grady |access-date=2014-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207082226/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/f_ogrady.htm |archive-date=2012-02-07 |url-status=dead }}
The team became a part of television broadcasting history on February 28, 1940, when television station W2XBS broadcast a men's basketball doubleheader from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Fordham and Pittsburgh played in the first game, and New York University played Georgetown in the second game. It was the first time in history that college basketball was televised.[http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/sportscastingfirsts.html American Sportscasters Online: Sportscasting Firsts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819210715/http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/sportscastingfirsts.html |date=2013-08-19 }}[http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0747217.html#axzz0xplRkL9z 1940 College Basketball Recap on Infoplease]{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoyabasketball.com/history/schmitt.htm |title=The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Prepared For Life |access-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302215800/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/history/schmitt.htm |archive-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead}}
The 1939–40 Hoyas had a difficult season, finishing with an 8–10 record and no post-season play. Senior forward Al Lujack went on to play professionally for one season with the Washington Capitals of the Basketball Association of America.
Roster
Sources{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/roster-30s.htm#1940 |title=The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Rosters 1930–31 to 1939–1940 |access-date=2014-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212090031/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/roster-30s.htm#1940 |archive-date=2017-02-12 |url-status=dead}}[http://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/numbers.htm The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Player Directory: Jersey Numbers]
Sophomore guard Buddy O'Grady would later serve as the Hoyas' head coach from 1949 to 1952.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoyabasketball.com/coaches/bb-coach.htm |title=The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Head Coaches |access-date=2014-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527235527/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/coaches/bb-coach.htm |archive-date=2017-05-27 |url-status=dead}}
Sophomore guard Don Martin served as head coach at Boston College from 1953 to 1962.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120722201448/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/alltime-m.htm#donmartin The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Don Martin][http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/rivals.htm Reagan, John, "Forgotten Rivals," The Georgetown Basketball History Project, June 4, 2018 Accessed 26 June 2021]
Senior guard Francis "Reds" Daly was killed in action in the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 22, 1945, during World War II military service.[http://www.hoyabasketball.com/history/wartime.htm The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Wartime]
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%" |
| #
!Name !Height !Weight (lbs.) !Position !Class !Hometown !Previous Team(s) |
|---|
| 3
|Jim Kiernan |6'0" |N/A |F |So. |New York, NY, U.S. |
| 4
|John Dieckelman |6'0" |N/A |G |So. |Albany, NY, U.S. |
| 11
|Russ Miller |N/A |N/A |So. |Passaic, NJ, U.S. |
| 12
|Jim Giebel |N/A |N/A |G |Jr. |Bethesda, MD, U.S. |St. John's College High School (Washington, DC) |
| 13
|George Pajak |6'0" |N/A |Jr. |Ware, MA, U.S. |
| 18
|N/A |160 |G |So. |New York, NY, U.S. |
| 20
|Irv Rizzi |N/A |N/A |G |Jr. |West New York, NJ, U.S. |
| 24
|Al Matuza |6'2" |N/A |F |Jr. |Shenandoah, PA, U.S. |
| 43
|Don Martin |5'8" |N/A |G |So. |Newport, RI, U.S. |
| 49
|6'3" |N/A |F |Sr. |Connellsville, PA, U.S. |
| 60
|Francis "Reds" Daly |6'3" |N/A |G |Sr. |Washington, DC, U.S. |
| 80
|John Schmitt |5'11" |N/A |C |Sr. |Syracuse, NY, U.S. |
1939–40 schedule and results
Sources[http://www.hoyabasketball.com/records/bb-1930.htm The Georgetown Basketball History Project: 1930s Seasons]{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoyabasketball.com/opponents.htm |title=The Georgetown Basketball History Project: Records vs. All Opponents |access-date=2014-01-09 |archive-date=2013-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103211101/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/opponents.htm |url-status=dead }}[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/georgetown/1940-schedule.html sports-reference.com 1939-40 Georgetown Hoyas Schedule and Results][http://issuu.com/dpulupa/docs/2012-13_mbb_media_guide 2012-2013 Georgetown Men's Basketball Media Guide, page 59.]
{{CBB schedule start
| time = no
| rank = no
| tv = no
| gamehighs = no
| attend = no
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style="background:#002147; color:#8D817B;"| Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Sun., Dec. 3, 1939
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Baltimore
| opprank =
| site_stadium = N/A
| site_cityst = Baltimore, MD
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 34–40
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 0-1
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed., Dec. 6, 1939
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Western Maryland
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 52–34
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1-1
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Thu., Dec. 14, 1939
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = American
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Clendenen Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 44–30
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2-1
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Fri., Jan. 5, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Temple
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Philadelphia Convention Hall
| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 28–38
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2-2
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Sat., Jan. 6, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = George Washington
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Riverside Stadium
| site_cityst = Washington, D.C.
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 40–49
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2-3
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed, Jan. 10, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Penn State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Recreation Hall
| site_cityst = State College, PA
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 22–33
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2-4
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Fri., Jan. 12, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Scranton
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Watres Armory
| site_cityst = Scranton, PA
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 31–33
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2-5
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed., Jan 17, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Maryland
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Ritchie Coliseum
| site_cityst = College Park, MD
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 40–28
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2-6
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Sat., Jan. 27, 1940
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Loyola Maryland
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 65–37
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3-6
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed., Jan. 31, 1940
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Army
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Hayes Gymnasium
| site_cityst = West Point, NY
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 35–34
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4-6
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Thu., Feb. 1, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Syracuse
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Archbold Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Syracuse, NY
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 33–38
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4-7
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Fri., Feb. 2, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Colgate
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Huntington Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Hamilton, NY
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 34–39
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4-8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed., Feb. 7, 1940
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Temple
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 34–31
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5-8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mon., Feb. 12, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = West Virginia
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 38–40
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5-9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Thu., Feb. 15, 1940
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = American
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 42–32
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6-9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed, Feb. 21, 1940
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = Penn State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 38–35
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7-9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed., Feb. 28, 1940
| time = no
| status = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = New York University
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden
| site_cityst = New York, NY
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 27–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7-10
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Wed., Mar. 6, 1940
| time = no
| status = w
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = George Washington
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tech Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| gamename =
| tv = no
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 43–39
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8-10
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank = no
| poll = no
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1939-40 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team}}
Category:Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball seasons