Cooley had just watched his team miss 18 free throws in an 80-77 loss to Xavier and then miss a 3-point shot attempt at the buzzer that would have tied the game at the end of regulation.
Cooley opened his postgame press conference with an apology to the family.
‘Definitely out of character for me to be so frustrated but, really, that’s not called for and I’ll call them and make amends to them,’ he told reporters. ‘So I apologize to the fans, I apologize to our players. Totally, totally out of character for me to be that way.’
The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network, identified the family to whom Cooley apologized as that of Georgetown center Vince Iwuchukwu, who is out after needing an undisclosed medical procedure last month.
Cooley, 56, is in his third season as Georgetown’s coach after taking over for Patrick Ewing. While Georgetown (8-4) has improved, going 18-16 last season after a 9-23 mark his first year, Cooley recently expressed frustration with the team’s attendance.
Georgetown has played before sparse crowds at Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena, which hosts the NBA’s Wizards and NHL’s Capitals. Last night’s was just over 5,000.
After a game played at McDonough Arena, the school’s smaller on-campus gym, Dec. 13, Cooley said he had scheduled the game there so it was more convenient for fans during final exams.
‘I wish we had more students take a study break to come,’ Cooley said, according The Hoya, a student newspaper. ‘It’s a little disappointing not to have those young men and women show up.’
Earlier in Saturday’s game, Cooley turned to the crowd behind him to try and encourage them to cheer when his team played defense in a close game.
Georgetown next plays Monday, Dec. 22, against Coppin State at McDonough, its second and final game scheduled on campus this season.