GW Hoops / Coach McKeown is coming home!!!!

**Posted by GW Alum Abroad** 7/07/2025 9:35 am

As part of his farewell tour, Joe McKeown and Northwestern will play at the Smith Center on December 21. A prolonged standing ovation on his introduction is a given.

https://gwsports.com/news/2025/7/7/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-to-host-northwestern-in-mckeowns-farewell-season

**Posted by Minsk** 7/07/2025 9:58 am

This is fantastic news. Joe is a GW LEGEND.

**Posted by PKGW** 7/08/2025 5:41 am

Well done by the GW athletics dept and great job by Northwestern. Great tribute.

**Posted by Gwmayhem** 7/08/2025 8:55 am

This is the kind of thing that does not happen nearly enough in sports. Joe loved GW, had great success here, and left for Northwestern for very personal reasons. The schools scheduled a home and home, starting this year at Smith Center, which will be Joe's final season coaching. Joe wanted it, Northwestern gets a return game, and what we have is a platform to provide one final tribute to GW's greatest Women's basketball coach. Fantastic.

**Posted by Alum1** 7/08/2025 9:15 pm

Very impressed with Lipitz. Now let’s see them recognize the GW 2015-16 team that won the 2016 NIT championship - including Mike Lonergan - on the10th anniversary this spring. That would be true class.

Last edited by Alum1 (7/08/2025 9:20 pm)

**Posted by Gwmayhem** 7/09/2025 4:13 pm

Alum1 wrote:
Very impressed with Lipitz. Now let’s see them recognize the GW 2015-16 team that won the 2016 NIT championship - including Mike Lonergan - on the10th anniversary this spring. That would be true class.

Alum1, my gut instinct says that ML would not have any interest in making even a celebratory appearance at GW. Most of the bad actors are gone but I still don't think this would make much difference. My guess is that he would rather contact every player and coach from the NIT championship team and hold a private reunion.

**Posted by GW Alum Abroad** 7/09/2025 9:16 pm

Let´s keep this thread to Joe McKeown coming back to GW (for a night). His biggest "scandal" was not clearing a player to return after a head injury-- that and not distancing himself enough from his wife´s spouting of "vaccines cause autism" nonsense.
With the court named for Tex Silverman and the building for Charles E Smith, maybe the rafters can be named for Joe McKeown. After all, he brought most of the banners hanging in them to campus.

**Posted by Alum1** 7/09/2025 11:01 pm

Gwmayhem wrote:
Alum1 wrote:
Very impressed with Lipitz. Now let’s see them recognize the GW 2015-16 team that won the 2016 NIT championship - including Mike Lonergan - on the10th anniversary this spring. That would be true class.
Alum1, my gut instinct says that ML would not have any interest in making even a celebratory appearance at GW. Most of the bad actors are gone but I still don't think this would make much difference. My guess is that he would rather contact every player and coach from the NIT championship team and hold a private reunion.

Oh I would disagree. This would be a big moment for Mike in terms of reconciliation and getting some sort of validation. Knowing him as I do I just think you are flat wrong. Look to Bobby Knight as an example of what I’m talking about.

And @gwalumabroad - thank you for your feedback.

**Posted by GWRising** 7/14/2025 4:24 pm

Alum1 wrote:
Gwmayhem wrote:
Alum1 wrote:
Very impressed with Lipitz. Now let’s see them recognize the GW 2015-16 team that won the 2016 NIT championship - including Mike Lonergan - on the10th anniversary this spring. That would be true class.
Alum1, my gut instinct says that ML would not have any interest in making even a celebratory appearance at GW. Most of the bad actors are gone but I still don't think this would make much difference. My guess is that he would rather contact every player and coach from the NIT championship team and hold a private reunion.

Oh I would disagree. This would be a big moment for Mike in terms of reconciliation and getting some sort of validation. Knowing him as I do I just think you are flat wrong. Look to Bobby Knight as an example of what I’m talking about.

And @gwalumabroad - thank you for your feedback.

To add, I've spoken to ML about this. I think he would almost definitely be willing under the right circumstances.

**Posted by GW Alum Abroad** 8/29/2025 12:16 pm

Game scheduled for 1pm on December 21. (if you are wondering the DC NFL team hosts the Eagles that weekend, but that game is a "flex" game that has not been scheduled as of yet; meanwhile the Ravens host NE that day at 1pm, too. I suspect it will be warmer inside the Smith Center that day than at either staduium).