Correction (April 6, 2004): The article incorrectly listed NBA star James Worthy as one of the rising talents on the 1984 team. Worthy actually played for the University of North Carolina.

On April 2, 1984, all eyes were on Seattle as Georgetown took on the University of Houston in the NCAA national championship game.

On a team coached by the legendary John Thompson and loaded with future NBA superstars like James Worthy, Patrick Ewing and Freddy Brown, victory seemed inevitable. It was. The Hoyas won 84-75 and the Hilltop broke into wild celebration.

According to an April 6 report in THE HOYA, more than 2,500 Georgetown students greeted the basketball team for a special rally as it arrived on campus following the victory.

A future Georgetown University president was in attendance too. John J. DeGioia, then serving as a special assistant to University President Timothy Healy, received special thanks from GUSA President Paul Evert (SFS ’86) for working to help obtain cheap student airfares to Seattle.

Team captain Gene Smith (COL ’84) best summed up the crowd’s mood that night.

“The national championship is here and we can all celebrate,” he said.

The rest of the nation took notice of the victory. As THE HOYA put it, “millions around the nation have gained even greater respect and admiration for the team and the school.”

Georgetown had achieved what no other Hoya basketball team could before. They had won a national title and done it in convincing fashion. The Hoyas reached the NCAA basketball final one more time in 1985 but lost. They have not returned since.