▁six ▁field ▁goals ▁in ▁his ▁first ▁four ▁games ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁He ▁started ▁all ▁ 3 1 ▁games ▁and ▁improved ▁as ▁the ▁season ▁wore ▁on , ▁with ▁five ▁double - d ou bles , ▁among ▁them ▁a ▁ 1 5 - point , ▁ 1 3 - re bound ▁performance ▁in ▁a ▁win ▁over ▁Pitts burgh . ▁He ▁finished ▁second ▁in ▁re bound ing ▁and ▁fourth ▁in ▁scoring ▁for ▁the ▁team , ▁aver aging ▁ 8 . 5 ▁points ▁per ▁game ▁for ▁the ▁year . ▁He ▁blocked ▁ 8 9 ▁sh ots , ▁the ▁third ▁in ▁history ▁among ▁Ge or get own ▁s oph om ores ▁behind ▁only ▁Patrick ▁E wing ▁and ▁Al on zo ▁M our ning . ▁ ▁After ▁co aching ▁a ▁last ▁game ▁for ▁Ge or get own ▁at ▁Set on ▁Hall ▁on ▁January ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁head ▁coach ▁John ▁Thompson , ▁Jr ., ▁ab rupt ly ▁res igned ▁and ▁retired ▁on ▁January ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁after ▁ 2 6 ½ ▁seasons ▁at ▁the ▁hel m , ▁cit ing ▁his ▁imp ending ▁divor ce ▁and ▁other ▁family ▁issues ▁and ▁reject ing ▁the ▁idea ▁pos ed ▁by ▁friends ▁of ▁leaving ▁the ▁team ▁only ▁tempor arily ▁for ▁a ▁s abb at ical . ▁Ass istant ▁coach ▁Craig ▁E sh er ick , ▁a ▁reserve ▁guard ▁for ▁Ge or get own ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁who ▁had ▁returned ▁as ▁an ▁assistant ▁coach