MATURE MACK: Georgetown Point Guard Leads March

Your Georgetown Hoyas have finally given the fanbase a reason to believe that the dark clouds are parting. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, there is genuine, tangible optimism on the Hilltop, and it isn’t just based on recruiting rankings or preseason hype—it’s based on results. Between a stunning 84-70 exhibition dismantling of Kentucky and a gritty 19-point performance to seal a road victory at Maryland, one thing has become abundantly clear: this is Malik Mack’s team now.

Fans who have followed the program through the lean years know the frustration of watching talented guards struggle to find the balance between scoring and facilitating. But Mack, now in his second year in Ed Cooley’s system, appears to have made the leap that separates good players from great leaders.

The box scores tell part of the story—22 points and 5 assists in the exhibition against the Wildcats, followed by a decisive 19-point outing in College Park on November 7—but his comments in recent interviews reveal the mental shift that has unlocked this new level of play.

In a candid conversation with Andy Katz, Mack admitted that his transition from Harvard to the Big East wasn’t seamless. He noted that he likely “wasn’t physically ready for the Big East last year” but dedicated his offseason to changing his body and his mindset. Perhaps most impressively, he acknowledged early friction in his leadership style.

“My leadership was something that I really had to work on,” Mack told Katz. “I feel like I rubbed people the wrong way last year... being in the film room with Coach Cooley and Coach Battle just learning different ways to talk to different players... I feel like I’ve learned different ways to lead.”

This self-awareness is translating directly to the hardwood. Against Kentucky, Mack was efficient (9-16 FG) and poised, a stark contrast to the frantic guard play often seen in the past.

He attributes this to trusting the upgraded roster, which now features veteran transfers like KJ Lewis and Langston Love. Mack emphasized that he no longer feels the burden to make “the superhero play every time,” knowing he can lean on his teammates to open the game up for him.

The chemistry with the new additions is evident. In an interview with WJLA, Mack described the transfers as “great players and even better people,” highlighting the importance of learning how each teammate prefers to be coached.

This “communicator” role is one he takes seriously, noting that a point guard’s first job is to “bring everybody together.”

While the offense has been flashy—putting up 84 points on a blue-blood brand like Kentucky is no small feat—Mack remains focused on the identity Coach Cooley is instilling.

“Defense wins championships,” Mack said. “So we going to hang our hat on the defensive end... really just being a dog.”

It is still early, and November champions are often forgotten by March. However, the maturity Mack is displaying—owning his past mistakes, deferring to teammates, and executing in crunch time against rivals like Maryland—suggests this season might be different.

As Mack himself put it, “The march to March begins right now.” For the Georgetown faithful, that march finally looks like it’s heading in the right direction.