Patrick Ewing is irritated that he’s “approached” by MSG Safety and jokes: “Everybody on this constructing ought to know who the hell I’m.”

Patrick Ewing, minutes after coaching Georgetown into a thrilling win over rival Villanova in the Big East tournament, said he was upset about the security measures he took this week at Madison Square Garden – the center of his career as a Hall of Fame NBA players.

The Hoyas’ 72:71 surprise against the Wildcats on Thursday was perhaps the most significant win in Ewing’s coaching career. However, the former New York Knicks star said after the game that he was “stopped” and “spoken to” at Madison Square Garden.

“I want to say one thing, though. I thought this was my building,” said Ewing. “And I feel awful that I’m being stopped, spoken to, [people] ask for passports.

“Everyone in this building should know who the hell I am, and I’m getting stopped – I can’t move around this building. I said, ‘What the hell? Is that Madison Square Garden?'”

As of Thursday afternoon, it was unclear who exactly stopped Ewing, an NBA icon who joins Eli Manning and Derek Jeter on the shortlist of the most famous athletes to ever play for a New York team.

“I thought this was my building and I feel terrible about being stopped and spoken to. [people] ask for passports. Everyone in this building should know who the hell I am, and I’m getting stopped – I can’t move around this building. I said, ‘What the hell? Is that Madison Square Garden? ‘”Georgetown coach and former Knicks star Patrick Ewing

MSG Entertainment released a statement to ESPN later that day that read: “[James Dolan] and Patrick have a longstanding relationship; You spoke this afternoon and reaffirmed it. We all know, respect and appreciate what it means to The Garden and New York. Good luck to him and his Hoyas in the Big East semi-finals. “

The 7-footer was an eleven-time All-Star who averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds in his 15 seasons with the Knicks, who reached the NBA finals twice during his time in New York (1994, 1999) Scored 2.7 blocks per game.

The Knicks retired Ewings # 33 in 2003, and the player-turned-coach joked that he was going to remind Dolan, the Knicks owner and CEO of Madison Square Garden, that his jersey is still “in the rafters ” hangs.

“I have to call Mr. Dolan and say, ‘Gosh, is my number in the rafters or something?'” He said.

Safety policies and protocols at major sporting events across the country, including Madison Square Garden, have changed significantly due to COVID-19.

But Ewing isn’t the first Knicks legend to feel disrespected in his former home arena, either.

In 2017, Charles Oakley was known to be removed from a game and arrested after an altercation with the building’s security staff. Last year Spike Lee – the movie director and Knicks’ superfan – said he was “done” watching his favorite team’s home games after he was told he could no longer use a staff entrance to get to his court seat.

Ewing is in his fourth season coaching his alma mater, and the Hoyas are back in the Big East semi-finals for the first time in six years.

Dante Harris scored 18 points and made two free throws 4.7 seconds ahead to make a perfect game for Georgetown (11-12) who will play against Seton Hall on Friday night. Georgetown hasn’t won the conference tournament since 2007.

Villanova, who has won the last three conference tournament titles, had won four direct meetings and 13 out of 15 against the Hoyas before Thursday.

“We played the Cadillac, the Bentley, whatever you want to call it, from the Great East – the Great East class. And we were once. But we took a big step to be able to knock.” they gone, “said Ewing.

Georgetown needs a Big East tournament title to get into the 68 field for the NCAA tournament on Sunday. Despite starting the season 5-10, the Hoyas have won six of their last eight games, including wins over Villanova, Xavier and Seton Hall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.