The following season the 2019–20 Hoyas finished 15–17 and 5–13 in the Big East. In November, the team participated in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City where they beat No. 22 Texas 82–66, and moved to the final to face No. 1 Duke. Despite having a double digit lead in the first half vs Duke, the Hoyas ultimately fell 73-81. On December 2, 2020, Ewing announced that James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc would transfer. Just over a week later, two more players in Galen Alexander and Myron Gardner, announced their intentions to transfer as well, leaving the Hoyas with only 9 scholarship players. In conference, wins over No. 19 Butler and No. 25 Creighton were highlights, but injuries and a thin roster saw the Hoyas lose their final 7 games, including a 62-75 loss in the opening round of the 2020 Big East Tournament to St. John's. All postseason tournaments were subsequently cancelled due to COVID-19.