SBNation.com User Blog: JGD

2013 NCAA Tournament Bracket Picks and Predictions

JGD — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:03:49 -0000

Well this is exciting. Another year of NCAA Tournament basketball. Another year of horrific predictions that will be available on the internet from now until eternity. At the beginning of last year's version of this article in which I basically got everything right in what was a crapshoot year, I wrote:

"Say what you will about Georgetown's performances in the last few NCAA Tournaments, but John Thompson III deserves a ton of recognition for what he has done with this program. Starting in 2005-2006, Georgetown has made six of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, and have been seeded 7, 2, 2, 3, 6, and 3 in each respective draw. For a program that was an afterthought in the Big East from 1999-2004, this is a staggering achievement. To receive a 3 seed a year after losing Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, and Julian Vaughn is the best coaching job in the country besides Bill Self."

Unbelievably, you could cut and paste the exact same paragraph this year, just substituting Jason Clark, Henry Sims, Hollis Thompson and Greg Whittington for Freeman, Wright and Vaughn. Hell, even Bill Self had another incredible year reshuffling his team after losing Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor. Suffice it to say, JT3 has built himself one hell of a program that has seamlessly replaced talent and been able to grab top seeding year after year.

Onto this year's rapid reactions.

Midwest Region:
Louisville, the number 1 overall seed, somehow got the bracket of death, snagging Duke as a #2, Michigan State as a #3 and St. Louis as a #4. Quite frankly, had those four teams been in four different regions, I would have probably picked all four to be in the Final Four. St. Louis, in particular, is a brutal draw for Louisville because they handle pressure so well, as evidenced by their victory over VCU earlier today. An argument could be made that Duke with Ryan Kelly has the best resume in the country and somehow they ended up as the 2 seed in Louisville's region. Last but not least, who the heck wants to play Michigan State in a tournament game, particularly when the regional is being held in Indianapolis.

The Favorite: Louisville

The Sleeper: St. Louis

Upset Special: #11 MTU over #6 Memphis

Elite Eight Matchup: Louisville vs. Michigan State

Final Four Pick: Louisville

West Region:
Talk about role reversal. Gonzaga (who I have never seen play but will proceed to make a bunch of bold predictions about) was viewed as the weakest #1 seed, but appears to have the easiest route to the Final Four. They drew Ohio State as a #2 seed, New Mexico as a #3 seed and Kansas State as a #4 seed. I know next to nothing about all of those teams besides Ohio State, so take the rest of these predictions with the largest grain of salt you can find. If there is going to be a region where a team seeded #5 or lower comes out, this will be the one. Of the top 4 seeds, I'd lean towards Ohio State, but I also have a very hard time envisioning a single player on their team getting to the NBA currently, and that tends to be a relatively decent predictor of success in the tournament.

The Favorite: Ohio State

The Sleeper: Wisconsin

Upset Special: #5 Wisconsin over #1 Gonzaga

Elite Eight Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State (barf, I will not watch this game)

Final Four Pick: Wisconsin (barf)

East Region:
If I were Tom Crean, I'd be kissing every member of the NCAA Tournament Committee for putting Indiana in the East and not the Midwest. The Hoosiers, who are the most talented team in the country, drew Miami as a #2 seed, Marquette as a #3 seed, and Syracuse as a #4 seed. They will have very little trouble with any of those teams. I'd actually argue that the toughest test in the region for them will be whomever wins the 8/9 matchup between NC State and Temple. As Hoya fans so vividly remember, NC State has a ton of talent and can get hot for a few games. I think Indiana will cruise through this region, but if there is one game that trips them up, it will be in the round of 32. Additionally, having watched Syracuse enough this year, they reek of a team that will lose in the first or second round, just don't have the mental toughness to make a deep run in the tournament as long as Michael Carter-Williams is playing a prominent role in the program.

The Favorite: Indiana

The Sleeper: NC State

Upset Special: #11 Bucknell over #6 Butler

Elite Eight Matchup: Indiana vs. Miami

Final Four Pick: Indiana

South Region:
Last but not least, the South region, which just so happens to house my friends and your favorites, the mothafuggin Georgetown Hoyas. Kansas is the #1 seed in this region, Georgetown is the #2 seed, Florida is the #3 seed and Michigan is the #4 seed. That's an awesome set of 4 teams, all of whom were considered for a 1 seed at one point or another during the season. Weirdly enough, Georgetown has now been in Kansas' region in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and now 2013. We haven't met them just yet because we didn't have the luxury of getting out of the first weekend in any of those seasons, but details be damned amiright?!

I actually was really pleased with the other top 3 teams that Georgetown drew, purely from a matchup perspective. The only team I wish we could sub out is Florida and put in New Mexico instead, but nothing is perfect. I had no interest in seeing Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, St. Louis or Miami, so this works out pretty well assuming we're able to get out of the first weekend. I'm sure I will be terrified of the winner of Oklahoma and San Diego State when the time comes, but for now, it seems like we have a relatively easy path to the Sweet 16. I would have said the same thing in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012 as well, so take that with the second largest grain of salt you can find.

I've decided that I am going to try to take a different path with the NCAA Tournament this year when it comes to Georgetown. I feel like the entire fanbase goes into excessive sphincter tightening around this time, and I've decided that this team doesn't deserve that. We've outperformed every expectation imaginable and for the first time since I've been a fan of the program, we have the best player on the court every time we play. Combine that with an unbelievable defense and I think we're going to have a very enjoyable March. DSR was in 8th grade when we lost to Davidson. No one on this roster was on the team that lost to Ohio in 2010. Only Markel Starks and Nate Lubick were on the team that lost to VCU in 2011. Only Lubick and Otto played more than 20 minutes against NC State last year. This is a long way of saying that I don't think this team gives a single shit about our past tournament history and have very few scars to show for those losses. The fanbase, on the other hand, is legitimately terrified of a school that didn't exist before 1997 and lost to Stetson last month. Perspective people, this team is different and we're poised for a very, very fun March.

The Favorite: Kansas

The Sleeper: VCU

Upset Special: #11 Minnesota over #6 UCLA

Elite Eight Matchup: Georgetown vs. Michigan

Final Four Pick: Georgetown

Final Four:

Louisville over Wisconsin
Indiana over Georgetown

Championship:
Louisville over Indiana

We're Back! Hoyas Win Thriller Against Louisville, 53-51

JGD — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:38:24 -0000

My oh my.

Your fighting Georgetown Hoyas won an instant classic at the Verizon Center today, defeating the #5 ranked Louisville Cardinals 53-51. Out of nowhere, the Hoyas are now 4-3 in the Big East and a miraculous 4-1 without second leading scorer Greg Whittington, who remains suspended due to academic infractions. Otto Porter and Markel Starks led the way for Georgetown, each scoring 17 points on crucial possessions throughout the game. Porter added 12 rebounds, including the game-securing rebound with 1.4 seconds to go after Louisville's Peyton Siva capped off a horrific day by bricking a contested jumper with time running out. Porter's rebound came after he grabbed what should have been the game deciding rebound 25 seconds beforehand, though John Cahill saw differently, calling a tie-up on what was a blatant foul. There are few things in life that stay the same every year - death, taxes and John Cahill's awfulness.

Enough about Cahill though, how about THEM HOYAS? Porter and Starks scored 2/3 of the Hoya points, but Jabril Trawick and Aaron Bowen were spectacular throughout, making crucial plays down the stretch that made the difference between a win and a loss. Bowen's ridiculous tip in to give the Hoyas a 52-50 lead was not only the most spectacular play of the year for Georgetown, it was also the most important play of the year. Trawick was a beast defensively, tying up Louisville numerous times down the stretch and playing with an aggressiveness that has made him a Hoya fan favorite since he stepped on campus.

Nate Lubick, Moses Ayegba and Mikael Hopkins did what was needed from the bigs, holding Chane Behanan and Gorgui Dieng to under 20 points combined. The Hoyas outrebounded the Cardinals 32-28 with Trawick and D'vauntes Smith-Rivera grabbing 11 combined. DSR played nearly 30 minutes and struggled from the field, shooting 1-10 on looks that we've seen him knock down time and again throughout the year. Despite struggling offensively, he played his best defense of the year, as he continues to improve by leaps and bounds on that end from the beginning of the season.

There were still headscratching moments for the young Hoyas, characterized by lazy turnovers and stagnant offense late in the game, but no one out there can question this team's will to compete and desire to win. This season was expected to be a rebuilding one for Georgetown, with 10 of the 12 players on the roster comprised of freshmen and sophomores. That was before Whittington, Georgetown's second best player and best defender, got suspended for academics. To be 4-3 with wins over Louisville and Notre Dame is beyond any fan's wildest dreams considering the circumstances. Considering the Hoyas lost 2 of those 3 games in the last possession, well, you start thinking about crazy dreams in March again. Credit goes to Porter Jr. and Starks for carrying the team in the face of adversity and Bowen, Trawick and DSR for sliding in seamlessly with Whittington out. John Thompson III continues to work his magic, as he's done year in and year out since he took over the program, with very little notice nationally. Granted, we've seen recent Georgetown teams peak in January and limp into March, but this year feels different because we are performing well above expectations and getting better as the season progresses.

Today's game was a gritty, tough win over a team that all of us know will be in the Elite Eight at worst in March. Yet, after re-watching, one could argue that Georgetown should have won by 10 had Starks and DSR converted on layups they usually knock down in their sleep. That's the scary thing about this team, particularly because of the way we defend. Of course, this team remains young and inexperienced, so there will surely be another few games that we lose in a similar fashion as the South Florida game. What gives me a funny feeling in my pants is that we've went nose-to-nose with Indiana, Louisville and UCLA, three of the most talented teams in the country, and matched them punch-for-punch.

Georgetown has now defeated Rick Pitino and Louisville four straight times, with the Cardinals getting their last win in early 2009. If this week has told us anything in the Big East, it's that the conference is completely up for grabs, and now the Georgetown Hoyas are right in the thick of it. Think about that sentence as you surely revel in today's victory. Hoya Saxa.

Hollis Thompson To Enter NBA Draft

JGD — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:15:12 -0000

Hollis Thompson To Enter NBA Draft

Per Tarik El-Bashir's Twitter and confirmed by JT3.

Wish him the best of luck and glad to know he is leaving with a degree in hand.

Everything Sucks: Georgetown Loses To North Carolina State 66-63 In Heartbreaker, Exits NCAA Tournament

JGD — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:01:14 -0000

Deep breaths, blank stares, and slumped shoulders for Georgetown players and fans alike today. North Carolina State, the #11 seed in the Midwest Region, stole a heartbreaker, winning 66-63 over #3 seed Georgetown in a game so emotionally exhausting that it's hard to do anything other than walk aimlessly into oncoming traffic. The Wolfpack took a 30-9 run from 5:08 left in the first half through 13:00 in the second half and never looked back. The Wolfpack won the game by doing what they do best - balanced scoring and offensive rebounding. Four NC State players combined for 54 points, and didn't have one guy score more than 14 points. They grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, which made the difference in the aforementioned run that the Hoyas could never recover from.

For Georgetown, their offensive effort was the exact opposite. It was the Hollis Thompson show and everyone else was a bit player. Thompson, for the second time in two years, did all he could in Georgetown's last game of the season, scoring 23 huge points and keeping Georgetown in the game when it looked like it was going to get out of hand. For seniors Jason Clark and Henry Sims, their college careers ended in a whimper. Sims was hampered by foul trouble throughout, picking up two early fouls for the second consecutive game, and was never able to get into a rhythm. Clark took the last shot of the season for the Hoyas, missing a 30 foot three pointer that would have tied the game.

Sadness prevails after The Jump.

As we've seen all season with this resilient group, they did not go quietly after NC State went on that 30-9 run that would have put lesser teams into the ground. No, this team fought their way back on the shoulders of Hollis Thompson, cutting the deficit to three points numerous times in the last 10 minutes of the game. Unfortunately, the Hoyas never got closer than down two points with 63-61 with 35 seconds left in the game. Out of a timeout with 24 seconds left, Georgetown pounded the ball inside to Henry Sims, who kicked it out to super freshman Otto Porter for an open three pointer. Instead of taking the open three pointer, Porter took two dribbles and forced up a contested 18 footer that bounced short off the front rim. NC State gave the Hoyas one more desperation look after going 1-2 from the free throw line, but Clark was unable to hit a 30 footer to send the game to overtime.

College basketball is a brutal sport for a fan. The structure of the NCAA Tournament, with only one game deciding your fate at any given time lends itself to incredible highs and previously unforeseen lows. Georgetown's loss today encapsulated all of those moments in a neatly packaged 40 minute game. There were the highs of an early 10 point lead at 25-15 when everything was clicking and it seemed like we'd cruise to a Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. Then came that sinking feeling that nothing would ever go right again during the 30-9 NC State run. Then another high as Hollis Thompson led us from the doldrums, knocking down three pointer after three pointer and cutting the lead to 3 points with 10 minutes to go. Then again, the lows as NC State kept plugging away, never allowing Georgetown to get the lead back and pushing towards a 61-54 advantage with just over a minute ago. But as the Hoyas often do, there was another glimmer of hope, clawing their way back to a 2 point deficit with the ball in their hands for the last shot. Yet, in the end, we fell short. Seven months until next season for Georgetown fans to think about what could have been.

Yet, for Sims and Clark (and potentially Thompson), there isn't another seven months in a Georgetown uniform. For how badly we feel today, one can't even begin to imagine what it feels like to be them. What if Sims' runner in the lane with 35 seconds went in? What if Clark was able to somehow sink that 30 footer? What if Thompson hit just one more three pointer? None of them will ever have another opportunity in a Georgetown uniform to right those wrongs. And, assuming that Thompson declares for the NBA Draft as expected, that just plain stinks. I'll be down about this game until Wednesday or so, but then the rest of my life will continue unharmed. For these guys, they made a commitment to Georgetown to make basketball their lives. Every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears went into being a member of the Georgetown basketball team for the past four years, and one game's results shouldn't change how they are viewed. I am going to remember Sims' senior year as one of the most compelling and rewarding seasons from a senior in recent memory, not as the guy who couldn't stay on the floor in the NC State game. I am going to remember Clark's senior year as the guy who led a group of 10 underclassmen to places not even the biggest homer could have expected, not as the guy who missed the last shot of the season. If this is Hollis' last game, I will remember him as the guy who sank two ridiculous three pointers to lead us to victories over Alabama and Marquette, not as the guy who couldn't hit that one more three pointer to give us the lead today.

I am sure many people will be discussing Porter's decision to shoot a contested 18 footer with 10 seconds on the game clock, and it is understandable to do so. But remember this, without Otto Porter's sublime, beyond-his-years season, we are not even close to in the position of being a #3 seed. Porter, along with fellow freshmen Greg Whittington, Jabril Trawick, Mikael Hopkins, Aaron Bowen, and Tyler Adams, have this program in the best shape it has been in for a long while. Markel Starks and Nate Lubick were both excellent today as well. Georgetown returns all of those players, plus Moses Ayegba, while bringing in D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Brandon Bolden, and potentially Nerlens Noel next year. The future is so bright that it's hard to even see.

After the sting of this loss wears off, players, coaches, and fans will look back on this season with great pride. Did anyone on October 1 expect a loss in the round of 32 to be this painful? Absolutely not. Did anyone on October 1 expect Henry Sims to potentially play his way into the NBA? You would have been institutionalized. Did anyone on October 1 think that Otto Porter and Greg Whittington would carry the load for much of February and March? Not even close.

Yet, at the end of the day, inexperience in late game situations was the ultimate decider for this year's Georgetown team. We saw a lack of execution in tight spots against Kansas, Alabama (albeit we won but coughed up a massive lead), Cincinnati, Syracuse, Cincinnati again, and finally NC State. In our heart of hearts, I think we all knew that this team was a year or two away, but the maturity of our freshmen made us believe otherwise. Today, that was not the case. I want Otto Porter on my side every single time, but he made a rookie mistake in the biggest situation of the season today. It's okay, he will learn from it, and he will turn it into a positive down the road. John Thompson III did a masterful job leading this team to places we never expected, but we also learned that he is probably a bit too trusting in his players to make the right decisions at the end of games. When we had experienced guys like Jeff Green, Jonathan Wallace, Patrick Ewing Jr., and Roy Hibbert on the floor, it was easier to give the ball to one of them and trust them to make the right basketball move. With a team this young, that wasn't the case. Once again, it's okay. JT3 will learn from it and adapt as well.

The Hoyas have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about this season. The nature of athletics is that only one time wins the last game of the season, that's just the way it goes. From China to Columbus, it's been a fantastic season. To Jason Clark, Henry Sims, and Hollis Thompson, it's been a hell of a run and thank you for the memories. To the rest of the Hoyas, use this defeat as motivation and come back stronger next year. There are three universal truths in life as a Georgetown fan - hope springs eternal, Syracuse sucks, and avoid March 18th to play tournament games.

Hoya Saxa. Now please let me go curl up in the fetal position and suck my thumb for the rest of the week.

We Did It! Georgetown Defeats Belmont 74-59 In NCAA Tournament, Faces NC State Sunday

JGD — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:43:26 -0000

What a relief. Georgetown dominated upstart Belmont today in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, handily defeating the Bruins 74-59 in a game that was never in question. The seniors led the way for the Hoyas. Jason Clark was spectacular, scoring 21 points on 9-12 shooting from the field. Clark set the tone for the game, racing out to 10 points in the first 6 minutes. His brother-in-arms, Henry Sims, led the way in the second half and finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The freshmen weren't too bad either. And by weren't too bad, I mean they were so fantastic that it makes me want to pee myself in sheer delight. Otto Porter did a ton of damage, scoring 16 points and grabbing 8 rebounds while Greg Whittington was all over the floor on defense. Whittington's effort on defense was arguably one of the best single defensive games I've ever seen a Georgetown player have under John Thompson III.

After The Jump it's all good.

Speaking of good ol' JT3 - my Lord what a coaching job. The Hoyas' length drove Belmont batty, holding the Bruins to 39 percent shooting and rarely giving up an uncontested shot while winning the turnover battle. The zone employed was aggressive, fierce, and overpowering - a perfect solution to stop Belmont from bombing threes. Georgetown's offense was stellar as well. The goal was to pound the ball into Sims and the other bigs, and it worked like a charm. Today's offensive performance was arguably the best of the season as the Hoyas shot 60-plus percent from the field and made too many layups and dunks to count.

Hollis Thompson struggled a bit offensively, but rebounded and defended well in a supporting role. Nate Lubick had one stretch that was maybe the worst thing I've ever seen, but all in all had a pretty solid game. He handed out five assists, rebounded well, and created an interior presence while Sims was glued to the bench in the first half because of foul trouble. Jabril Trawick, Markel Starks, and Mikael Hopkins gave the Hoyas good minutes as well, helping push Georgetown's lead from 4 points at 16-12 to double digits, with the Bruins never really threatening the rest of the game.

This win was so satisfying on so many levels. For one, it is the program's first NCAA Tournament win since the George W. Bush administration. Second, it shut up Seth Davis, Doug Gottlieb and the rest of the uninformed analysts who thought past performance was indicative of future results. Each analyst who picked Belmont should be ashamed at how incompetent and lazy they are. Only Rob Dauster of Ballin' Is A Habit and Jay Bilas were smart and diligent enough to realize that the Hoyas' length made for the worst possible match-up for Belmont. Third, it was the most complete performance of the season on the biggest stage. Fourth, it was the first NCAA Tournament win for Clark and Sims, two guys who have given every ounce of their efforts the past four years and should be rewarded for doing so, and were keys to their first tournament victory. Fifth, it took the monkey of JT3's back and hopefully will help earn him some recognition for the job he has done this year. Nothing better summed up today's game than the moment at the end when Sims came out of the game and shared a quick but emotional hug with Thompson. It was two guys who have been put through the ringer the last few years and deserve this victory. Hopefully it propels a deep run in the tournament, because we have the tools to do it.

Next up for the Hoyas is North Carolina State on Sunday. The Wolf Pack, who are fresh off a 79-65 victory over San Diego State, have size that will make them a challenging match-up for the Hoyas. On a personal note, I am writing this on my Blackberry from a toilet seat stall at a rehearsal dinner in Miami, the Hoyas' effort today was just too good to not write and it's the first NCAA Tournament victory in Casual Hoya history.

Plenty more to come over the next day before we take on NC State, but for now, we live to see another day and couldn't be happier with the way it was done. Also, eat poop to Stephen Curry, Armon Bassett, Shaka Smart and the rest of their teams. Belmont will not be joining you.

Hoya Saxa mothersuckers.

What Are Syracuse's Chances In The NCAA Tournament Without Fab Melo?

JGD — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:48:12 -0000

Bye bye Syracuse! via www.washingtonpost.com

Poll

What are Syracuse's chances without Fab Melo in the NCAA Tournament?

Not Good

320 votes

Not Good

329 votes

649 votes | Poll has closed

Buick Final Four Promotion: If Georgetown Makes The Final Four, Casual Hoya Is Going To New Orleans!

JGD — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:32:59 -0000

As if we needed more incentive to root for the Georgetown Hoyas, the good folks at Buick have fallen in love with my postgame recaps and have offered to send yours truly and one guest to New Orleans if Georgetown makes it to the Final Four. The package includes two flights to New Orleans, a Buick to drive once we get there, a hotel room, and two tickets to the Final Four. Not that it's any of your business and I'm not totally sure why you care, but the package also includes access to Buick activities like media events and parties stacked with celebs, so if it happens, we're going to be able to provide the Casual Hoya community both an in-the-stands and behind-the-scenes documentation of the Final Four, all with that same pro-quality, fan perspective thing you won't get anywhere else.

So if Georgetown is fortunate enough to get to New Orleans, I and a guest will be there to lend our support and to provide you with the best coverage we can muster, all courtesy of Buick. So, you know, Hoya Saxa!

Also check out the exclusive Buick-NCAA Team Badge application found on http://apps.facebook.com/ncaabadges/ which allows college basketball fans to post a college-specific March Madness badge on their profile to show support for their team.

Rapid Reaction: NCAA Tournament Thoughts And Predictions

JGD — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 23:45:58 -0000

Now the fun really begins. The Georgetown Hoyas were selected as a 3 seed in the Midwest Region tonight in front of a mass of fans and 2012 #1 recruit Nerlens Noel. The Hoyas take on the Belmont Bruins on Friday March 16 at approximately 3:15pm in Columbus, Ohio. Personally, I was surprised that Georgetown ended up with a 3 seed considering how much weight is normally put on how a team finishes in their conference tournaments.

Say what you will about Georgetown's performances in the last few NCAA Tournaments, but John Thompson III deserves a ton of recognition for what he has done with this program. Starting in 2005-2006, Georgetown has made six of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, and have been seeded 7, 2, 2, 3, 6, and 3 in each respective draw. For a program that was an afterthought in the Big East from 1999-2004, this is a staggering achievement. To receive a 3 seed a year after losing Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, and Julian Vaughn is the best coaching job in the country besides Bill Self. There will be plenty of analysts on TV and the internet that will predict a Georgetown loss to Belmont, we've already seen Seth Davis and others do so. And frankly, it is an easy and lazy choice because of our recent tournament history. But let's step back for a second and applaud this year's team for a season that has outperformed all of our wildest expectations.

After The Jump, so many predictions that will be wrong.

Enough about Georgetown though, let's get right to the rapid reactions and ridiculous predictions.

South Region:

This is easily the most loaded region in the tournament, which is funny because it has the best team in the country in it. Kentucky has ripped through its schedule this year, clearly the most dominant team that has laced it up. What do they get rewarded with? A Duke team that has beaten Michigan State, UNC, Kansas, Florida State, and Michigan. Ouch. In addition, Baylor is the 3 seed in this region. Despite their disgusting neon jerseys, Baylor has the talent of a 1 seed, anchored by two potential lottery picks in its frontcourt. Double ouch. Indiana is the 4 seed, the same Indiana team that has beaten Kentucky before, along with Michigan State, Ohio State, and Michigan. Triple ouch. And Kentucky could face the defending National Champion UConn Huskies in the second round. The same UConn Huskies that have two lottery picks of their own. This region is out of control, I can only assume that the NCAA is punishing John Calipari for the TWO vacated Final Fours that he has under his belt.

The Favorite: Kentucky

The Sleeper: UConn

Upset Special: #12 VCU over #5 Wichita State

Elite Eight Matchup: Kentucky vs. Baylor

Final Four Pick: Kentucky

East Region:

Syracuse is the #1 seed here, and they have themselves a pretty decent draw, particularly getting Ohio State as the #2 seed. Ohio State could cause Syracuse trouble because Aaron Craft is significantly better at basketball than Scoop Jardine, but to beat Syracuse you need to hit shots from the outside, and Ohio State is famously horrific from beyond the arc. Syracuse's 3 seed is ACC Tournament Champion Florida State, who knocked off Duke and UNC in the last two days. Their four seed is Wisconsin. I wish I knew more about Wisconsin, but every time I put the TV on to watch them, my eyes started bleeding and I had to stop. The most intriguing matchup of the first round is Vanderbilt and Harvard, which is hilarious considering the combined academic horsepower between the two schools. While Harvard may have smarter people, Vanderbilt has a SIGNIFICANT edge in attractiveness of females.

The Favorite: Syracuse

The Sleeper: Vanderbilt

Upset Special: #5 Vanderbilt over #1 Syracuse

Elite Eight Matchup: Vanderbilt vs. Ohio State

Final Four Pick: Ohio State

West Region:

Michigan State is the #1 seed here, coming off winning the Big Ten Conference Tournament over Ohio State. They get Missouri as their #2 seed, who could lose in the second round against an underseeded #7 Florida. The 3 seed is our good friends from Wisconsin, the Marquette Golden Eagles. The #4 seed is the red-hot Louisville Cardinals, who ran through the Big East Tournament with reckless abandon. Louisville's victory over Cincinnati last night in the Big East Tournament championship game most likely made James Naismith regret ever creating the game of basketball. Memphis somehow ended up with the #8 seed even though they are probably one of the top 20 teams in the country right now. Call this bracket "The Criminally Underseeded Region".

The Favorite: Michigan State

The Sleeper: Florida

Upset Special: #12 Long Beach State over #5 New Mexico

Elite Eight Matchup: Michigan State vs. Florida

Final Four Pick: Florida

Midwest Region:

Georgetown's region. UNC is the #1 seed. A week ago, this would be a terrifying prospect, but without knowing the health of John Henson, who sat out yesterday and today's games because of an injured wrist, UNC becomes much more vulnerable. The #2 seed is Kansas, who probably should have ended up with the fourth #1 seed, but were dinged because they lost early in the Big 12 Tournament to Baylor. Georgetown has faced Kansas earlier this season, losing 67-63 in the Maui Invitational. Kansas is led by Thomas Robinson, who is an absolute beast and my favorite non-Georgetown player in the country. As for Georgetown, we face Belmont in the first round with a potential matchup against San Diego State or NC State in the second round.

The Favorite: UNC

The Sleeper: Alabama

Upset Special: #4 Michigan over #1 UNC

Elite Eight Matchup: Kansas vs. Michigan

Final Four Pick: Kansas

Mark me down for a Kansas vs. Kentucky finale with Kentucky cutting down the nets.

That said, I LOVE this region for Georgetown. When we last played Kansas, we played mostly man-to-man, whereas now we are playing in the 2-3 zone which could help neutralize Thomas Robinson. I think Temple, Michigan, or Alabama could give UNC trouble as well. San Diego State is definitely the weakest #6 seed in the tournament. Over the next few days, we will see damn near every analysis of the tournament predicting a loss for Georgetown against Belmont. Again, this is lazy and easy analysis, which shouldn't be surprising considering the cast of characters that make up the college basketball reporting pool. These analysts will point to Belmont not losing since the middle of January, they will point to Belmont losing to Duke 77-76 in November, and they will point to Georgetown's recent tournament history. Yet, if they have paid any attention to Georgetown this year, they will notice that we have done a much better job containing perimeter shooting, we will be able to control the pace of the game and bother Belmont's perimeter shooters with our length. The biggest key will be, as it has been all year, to limit turnovers. Belmont is going to have a full court press going all game, and it will be on Jason Clark and Markel Starks to take care of the ball.

This is going to be real, real fun.

Heartbreak At The Garden: Cincinnati Outlasts Georgetown 72-70 In Double Overtime Classic At Big East Tournament

JGD — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:07:25 -0000

Damn. Georgetown lost an absolute battle today in Madison Square Garden, outlasted by Cincinnati 72-70 in a double overtime thriller. Otto Porter and Henry Sims were the stars once again, each making last second buckets to send the game into overtime and double overtime, respectively. Sims put on a show today, battling Yancy Gates in one of the best toe-to-toe matchups of the season. The big man from Baltimore scored 22 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, dished 3 assists, and had 2 blocks. Unfortunately, his three pointer at the buzzer in the second overtime clanked off the back rim after Cashmere Wright banged home an impossible layup with 9 seconds to go.

Gates was unstoppable in the low post, absorbing contact and matching Sims play after play. Both overtimes were fantastic to watch, albeit life threatening for all Hoya brethren. Yet, it was regulation that cost the Hoyas this game. Georgetown was up 49-38 with 8:32 to go in the second half. A litany of turnovers and missed free throws allowed Cincinnati to claw back and take the lead 54-52 with 26 seconds to go in regulation. In those eight minutes and six seconds, Georgetown could only muster 1 free throw and 1 Sims made jumper. Hollis Thompson was particularly loose with the ball during that time, but no one on Georgetown stepped up. Uncharacteristic turnovers by Sims and Porter contributed, along with missed free throws that have plagued the Hoyas all season.

More sadness after The Jump (off a bridge).

There are plenty of positives to take away from these two days in Madison Square Garden. One, Sims has turned himself into an absolute beast with the ability to carry Georgetown on his back for long periods of time. Two, Porter and Greg Whittington will not shy away from the bright lights of postseason tournament play. Whittington was enormous yesterday against Pittsburgh, and Porter made the most of his two days, showing the versatility and poise that we've come to expect of him throughout the year. Three, Markel Starks played very well. Undoubtedly, teams will pressure the crap out of Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament, so a good Starks is important for us for the rest of the season.

Now for the negatives. First and foremost, turnovers and free throws continue to KILL this team. The Hoyas played one of their most composed halves of the season in the first half, not turning the ball over at all. Then, it all came undone. Cincinnati increased the pressure, and we wilted. What should have been a grinding 9 point victory turned into a double overtime crusher. In addition, Starks missed two front ends of one and ones, while Sims missed two crucial free throws during the first overtime as well. All of these guys are capable free throw shooters, there is just a collective mental block that is scary this late in the season. The second biggest negative is the shrinking of Jason Clark and Holls Thompson. These guys are our two leading scorers and they cracked today in the face of adversity. Clark, in particular, never got hold of the game as it started spinning out of control late in the second half. He has been so steady throughout the year, so I expect him to learn from this for the NCAA Tournament, but it is definitely a troubling trend. Thompson, who everyone expects to go to the NBA after this season, played one of the most scared 30 minutes of basketball I've ever seen in the second half and both overtimes. He was excellent in the first half, and has been tremendous in close situations throughout the year, hitting game winning shots against Marquette and Alabama. Today was an entirely different story as Hollis committed careless turnover after careless turnover, and finished the second half 0-3 with 3 turnovers after a layup with 19:46 to go.

Beyond what the box score says, both Clark and Thompson looked afraid to take shots or touch the ball for most of the second half. Nothing epitomized this feeling better than the last possession of the game. With 9 seconds to go, Clark took too long to get into a play, didn't try to penetrate, and dished the ball off to Sims for a last ditch three point effort. I assume that a Sims three wasn't what was drawn up in the huddle, considering Sims is 2-16 from three for his collegiate career and had yet to ATTEMPT a three point shot this season.

Today's game, through regulation, felt exactly like the loss we had to Cincinnati in early January. We outshot the Bearcats in the game in January, and outshot them again today. But once again, Mick Cronin and his cronies out-toughed Georgetown. Somehow, Gates and four guards grabbed 14 offensive rebounds today. In a game that came down to one possession, that kind of defensive rebounding wasn't going to get it done. Still, after Porter's tremendously cool 8 foot jumper forced overtime, I thought we had regained momentum and would somehow prevail. Again, after Sims' incredibly deft layup with no time remaining forced a second overtime, I thought this was going to be that miracle game every fan dreams of. Alas, Cashmere Wright decided to break Georgetown's hearts again, this time with an impossible floater. Last year it was his clumsiness that broke Chris Wright's hand, effectively ending Georgetown's season. In case you haven't already picked up on this, I NEVER WANT TO SEE CASHMERE WRIGHT AGAIN.

Finally, we'll conclude with some good news. Georgetown's season is not over. The fun has only begun. We have seen this team battle back from adversity time and again this season, and I expect no different come next week when the Hoyas begin their journey in the NCAA Tournament. Strangely enough, I feel more confident now about getting our first NCAA Tournament victory in 4 years than had we won this game. The taste of this flavor of defeat will fuel a long and glorious run through March. The only thing that is depressing is knowing that the next game could be the last for this memorable Georgetown team. From China to now, this group has been so refreshing and enjoyable and I just don't want it to end. My only request to those bracket makers is to leave Cincinnati out of our region.

The NCAA Tournament is NeXt. Hoya Saxa.

Sweet Revenge: Georgetown Defeats Pittsburgh 64-52, Will Face Cincinnati Next In Big East Tournament

JGD — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:57:19 -0000

What a casual game. The Georgetown Hoyas, led by Otto Porter and Henry Sims who each scored 20 points, dismantled the Pittsburgh Panthers 64-52 in the second round of the Big East Tournament. Sims, in particular, was amazing today, as the Hoyas dominated Pittsburgh on the interior. The senior added 13 rebounds and 5 assists, taking over the game in the first half after Pittsburgh got out to a 21-15 lead. Porter made every Big East coach that left him off the All Rookie team even more embarrassed, annihilating Pittsburgh from all over the court. Greg Whittington added 11 crucial points off the bench.

The Hoyas destroyed Pittsburgh without much help from leading scorers Jason Clark and Hollis Thompson. Clark, in particular, struggled today. The 1st Team All Big East selection scored only 3 points and did not have a field goal. Thompson added only 7 points, making only one field goal. Yet, this year's team is different from previous years in that we don't rely on only three guys to provide offense. Whittington and Porter played well beyond their years today, showing that the bright lights at Madison Square Garden is somewhere they will shine, not wilt.

More talking after The Jump.

John Thompson III coached a masterful game against Jamie Dixon today. The Georgetown 2-3 zone swallowed up Pittsburgh's shooters, and JT3's decision to have Porter defend Nasir Robinson when he went to the free throw line was a welcomed wrinkle. Aside from some Ashton Gibbs 30 foot bombs, Pittsburgh did a whole lot of nothing on the offensive end today. From a morale standpoint, out-toughing a team like Pittsburgh should go a long way in the next month for these young Hoyas. Tomorrow will be another test against a physical team when Georgetown faces Cincinnati, but something about today's matchup had me even more nervous.

Georgetown's ability to score in different ways is crucial for the rest of the season. Today, Porter and Sims dominated inside. Tomorrow, Thompson and Clark could destroy from the three point line. The versatility on offense, coupled with Georgetown's insane defense, is a combination that could make us all very happy in the next month. It shouldn't be understated just how good Sims was today. He controlled the game on both offense and defense. His communication and interior presence on defense was stellar, and he was confidently directing the offense on the other end. Sims' ability to find the open man and create a post presence allowed Whittington and Porter to knock down open threes. Georgetown's offense works best when it goes inside-out, and Sims is at the heart of that.

Two areas of concern, as they have been all year, were on display again today, particularly in the first half. We have to limit turnovers and we have to make free throws. Because of Sims and Porter on offense and our swarming nature on defense, neither caused a defeat today, but the games are only going to get tighter from here. That said, it is just nice to get a decisive win over a team that has given us fits for the better part of a decade. As insane as this may sound, I was most scared of Pittsburgh in this entire tournament.

The biggest key for tomorrow will be getting Clark back on track. He struggled against Marquette on Saturday, and didn't play well today either. We can get by winning a few games with him not playing at his highest level, but sooner rather than later, we're going to need our leading scorer knocking down threes and slashing to the basket. Tomorrow brings another stop on #RevengeTour2K12 as the Hoyas face Cincinnati at 2:00pm. Let's hope for another dominant victory and another set of divine performances from Sims and Porter.

Cincinnati is NeXt.

Post Your Georgetown Related Articles Here

JGD — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:53:32 -0000

One thing I think we can do better at Casual Hoya is track what the mainstream media, other blogs, and even Bleacher Report are saying about Georgetown. I constantly find myself scouring the internet for new Georgetown material, when we should just have a place to track that stuff here. Thus, I give you the Georgetown Related Articles thread. Please post any Georgetown related material that you come across in your reading. Post it in the comments and we will all have a great time!

First article:

Tarik El-Bashir Writing About Jason Clark

Alright, alright. Let's get this going.

First article:

Tarik El-Bashir Writing About Jason Clark

Alright, alright. Let's get this going.

Bye Bye Double Bye: Marquette Beats Georgetown 83-69, Hoyas Fall To 5 Seed In Big East

JGD — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:36:28 -0000

Just one of those games. Nothing went right for Georgetown today as Marquette outpaced and outclassed the Hoyas 83-69 to finish the regular season. The Hoyas finished an impressive run through the Big East with a disappointing loss in Wisconsin. Jae Crowder led Marquette with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 steals while Darius Johnson-Odom added 17 points. Hollis Thompson and Otto Porter each had 19 points, while Jason Clark struggled with 11 points on 4-14 shooting.

The Hoyas have outperformed even the most delusional fans thus far this season, so before getting into the loss today, it'd be silly not to acknowledge how much fun this season has been already. Georgetown came into this season considered barely a bubble team, and will end the regular season as a consensus top 12 team, having spent the majority of the season in the top 15. Watching Henry Sims and Clark turn in memorable senior seasons, coupled with Porter and the freshmen's brillance, has been fantastic to watch.

More rambling after The Jump.

Today was one of those games. Of our 6 Big East losses, this was probably the least frustrating for me. Marquette is an excellent team that came off an embarrassing loss on Wednesday. In addition, Crowder and Johnson-Odom, the best 1-2 punch in the Big East, were being honored on their Senior Day. Clark had an off game, with three pointers and layups rolling out that he normally cooly sinks. I'd be remiss not mentioning the seemingly one-sided nature of the referees today. The zebras sure didn't cause the Hoyas to lose, but definitely did them no favors either. Every time Georgetown clawed within 10 points in the second half, either Crowder or a referee answered.

Today's loss was not for a lack of effort, and anyone who would argue otherwise doesn't understand the nature of basketball. The Hoyas played as hard as they could, closed out on seemingly every shot, challenged on the interior, but just couldn't get the ball to land in the basket. I counted at least 10 different times that a Georgetown shot was three quarters of the way down and then magically popped back up. That's the nature of the game, it happens. There were some definite positives to take away as well. Hollis Thompson has regained his form, scoring 19 points as he confidently knocked down shots from all over the court. A good Hollis is much more important in the next month than a win at Marquette. Otto Porter showed again that he plays his best against the best competition. He has had four of his best games against Kansas, Syracuse, Louisville, and Marquette. Mikael Hopkins and Nate Lubick had their moments as well. I also discovered my newfound least favorite player in college basketball - Jae Crowder - who RIPPED the title from Scoop Jardine's grubby hands. Crowder is absolutely insufferable with his dreadlocks and Christiano Ronaldo-like flopping. I very much look forward to rooting against him for a long time. On the negative side, the Hoyas shot 14-25 from the free throw line, which is not awesome.

Next up for the Hoyas is the Big East Tournament. Some may whine that we are now the 5 seed and our road to the championship is muddied compared to what it would have been had we won. I look at our road and see REVENGE TOUR PART DEUX. Remember the 2010 Big East Tournament? We ran through South Florida, Syracuse, and Marquette on our way to a Big East Tournament final. This year we can do one better. Wednesday we will most likely play Pittsburgh, then Cincinnati on Thursday, Syracuse on Friday, and Marquette on Saturday. REVENGE TOUR PART DEUX folks, it's happening.

The Big East Tournament is next.

Perfection: Jason Clark And Henry Sims Lead Georgetown To 59-41 Victory Over Notre Dame On Senior Night

JGD — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:07:26 -0000

What a night. Georgetown thoroughly dismantled the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 59-41 in the most complete and dominant performance of the season. To have that performance on the night that Jason Clark and Henry Sims played their last games in a Georgetown uniform at home made it even more special. Clark set the tone on both ends, scoring 13 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, while holding Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant to 8 points on 2-13 shooting. Clark looked like a man amongst boys tonight, just better, faster, and stronger than any player on Notre Dame. Sims regained his confidence as well, scoring 12 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing 5 beautiful assists. He was menacing on both ends, attacking the glass, confidently posting up, and swatting shots as if his last name were Ewing, Mourning, Mutombo, Hibbert, or Monroe.

While this night will be remembered as a terrific sendoff for Clark and Sims, it will also be remembered for Greg Whittington's coming out party. The super freshman scored a team-high 15 points on 5-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from the three point line. Whittington confidently stepped into shots on the offensive end, and used his length and quickness to help force Notre Dame to shoot 3-16 from beyond the arc.

Pure, unbridled joy after The Jump.

Georgetown beat Notre Dame in every facet of the game tonight. The Hoyas outshot, outrebounded, outhustled, outassisted, and outmanned the Irish. We've played some excellent defensive games this season, and we've had some nice offensive games as well, but tonight was the first night that I can truly say we played a complete game. I think every fan of this team has been interested to see what that would look like, and tonight we got a glimpse. The ferocity on defense, coupled with the sharp cuts, open threes, and backdoor layups make for a team that could really do some damage in the next month. Clearly, a fire was lit under this team after the embarrassing loss at Seton Hall less than a week ago, because that was the best a Georgetown team has looked since destroying everything in its path in the 2010 Big East Tournament. Of Notre Dame's 32 misses tonight, it seemed as if all five Hoyas were crashing the glass, often with more than one player's hands on the ball.

Markel Starks was much sharper tonight than he has been in the last month. After not playing in the Villanova game due to an alleged spat with John Thompson III, Starks responded exactly how we'd expect him to. He controlled the offense, made sharp cuts, didn't settle for quick jumpers, and was very active on the defensive end. A good Markel Starks is a good thing for Georgetown, although it was at the expense of Jabril Trawick tonight, who saw limited minutes. Otto Porter was all over the glass as usual, grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with 6 points.

But once again, tonight was about Clark and Sims. Both came in as part of the heralded 2008 class along with Greg Monroe, ushering in a new era of Georgetown basketball after the graduation and departures of Jeff Green, Roy Hibbert, Patrick Ewing Jr. and Jonathan Wallace. They've taken different paths to get to tonight's game, each rewarding in contrasting ways. For Clark, we've seen him grow from a skinny reserve freshman used as a defensive stopper to a senior leader who has scooped this team in his freakishly long arms and made it one of the top 10 teams in the country. Always understated and underrated, Clark has been the glue for this team, the guy who has kept us in games with dagger three pointers, and who sets the tone with his aggressive penetration and swarming defense. As a senior captain, it is impossible to ask more of him. I only hope that for his sake, Georgetown makes a deep run in March so that he gets his deserved due on a national stage.

For Sims, the path has been a bit more jagged. As has been discussed ad nauseum on this site and countless others, he came into his senior year as a disappointment, more known for his goodnatured antics off the floor than his body of work on the floor. Watching him grow from class clown to mature leader has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had as a fan. Henry Sims as a senior is complete unrecognizable compared to Henry Sims as a sophomore. He is the key player on an offense that will be seeded as one of the top 12 teams in the country on Selection Sunday. Was that something Hoya faithful envisioned when he signed in 2008? Sure. Was that something Hoya faithful envisioned in March of 2011? Not even a little bit.

More than anything, it has been a joy to watch these two grow, especially this season as they've come out of the shadows of Austin Freeman and Chris Wright. In this age of social media, we feel like we know the players a little bit better than previous eras. We've seen Sims struggle balancing the challenges of being a 20-year-old "enjoying" college, and we've seen Clark bounce back from the loss of his grandmother to put together a scintillating senior year. Clark and Sims have provided us all with great memories, and have their team primed for a memorable March. Both of these guys deserved to go out like they did tonight, and the picture above sums it up better than any words could.

Mardi Gras Massacre: Seton Hall Smokes Georgetown 73-55

JGD — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:40:12 -0000

Georgetown shouldn't have even gotten off the bus tonight. The Seton Hall Pirates destroyed the #8 Georgetown Hoyas 73-55 in a game that was out of reach by the time the first half ended. Pirates guard Jordan Theodore dropped a cool 29 points on 8-11 shooting and 5-5 from three point range. Herb Pope, despite his Pillsbury Dough Boy frame, scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. The Pirates shot above 60% from both inside and outside the three point line.

As inept as Georgetown was on the defensive end, they were even worse offensively. Four different Pirates scored in double figures, while not one Hoya did. Jordan Theodore outscored THE ENTIRE Georgetown starting five. I had the pleasure of watching the game in the lovely Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and I can tell you that it looked like the entire Georgetown team had pooped itself with no one able to clean it up.

After The Jump, more rambling.

Georgetown's two seniors - Jason Clark and Henry Sims - looked like the sophomore versions of themselves tonight. Gone was the assertive Clark, who has shown the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Instead, Clark sat behind the three point line waiting for others to create. In addition, he got torched by Theodore time and again as if Theodore was wearing green and had the name "Bassett" on the back of his jersey. Sims was dreadful tonight, never establishing position against the chubby Pope, and turned the ball over sloppily nearly every time he touched the ball. Jabril Trawick and Greg Whittington were solid off the bench, combining for 17 points, but neither have the ability to take over the game on the offensive end, especially when Georgetown was down double digits basically the entire second half.

What was troubling about tonight's game, amongst other things, was the inability to stop the hot shooter. We've seen this team shut down Darius Johnson-Odom in the second half during a thrilling comeback against Marquette. Yet, time and again, one player seems to singlehandedly beat Georgetown. This year it has been Sean Kilpatrick of Cincinnati, Kris Joseph of Syracuse, Truck Bryant of West Virginia, and Theodore tonight. It's one thing for a skilled big man like Thomas Robinson to do it, because Georgetown is thin in the front court, but for guards to do it is a whole different matter. This year we have good perimeter defenders - Clark, Trawick, and Whittington - so there is no excuse for one of them not to lock down.

26 games into the season, we all know what this team's flaws are, and we all know our shortcomings. In the next few weeks, we need Sims to regain his mojo and put the last few weeks behind him. Nate Lubick needs to stop getting silly over-the-back fouls. Jason Clark and Markel Starks need to look to penetrate. Hollis Thompson has to find ways to get shots, and the coaches need to put him in a position to do so, similar to the Connecticut game. The defense will return, part of it was coming out flat tonight, which allowed Seton Hall to gain confidence that propelled them throughout the game. The other part of it was the dirty little secret that sometimes bad shots go in. Theodore had a career night tonight, knocking down impossible shots from all over the court. He is shooting 38% from the field this season and under 30% from beyond the arc. It happens sometimes.

Like I said before, the defense will come back. I fully believe this team will get to the Sweet 16, even with tonight's stinkbomb. All things considered, it's better for a game like this to happen in February than in the first or second round of the NCAA Tournament. Besides free throw shooting and turnovers, my main concern for the next month+ is our big man play. The efforts of Lubick, Sims, and Mikael Hopkins over the past month are not going to cut it in March. Obviously, the key is Sims, who facilitates the offense and gets the bulk of the minutes of the bigs. We've seen him make massive strides his senior year, and play like one of the better big men in the country. With only so many games left in his collegiate career, he needs to look himself in the eye and regain his confidence. Enough complaining at the referees, enough falling all over the floor, and enough finessing around the rim. It's time for the big fella to man up.

If the Hoyas want to salvage any chance of getting a double bye in the Big East Tournament, Saturday's game must be a win. Villanova is next.

Taking Care Of Business: Hoyas Beat Providence 63-53 For 20th Win Of The Season

JGD — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:20:57 -0000

Georgetown, the same team that was picked to finish 10th in the Big East at the beginning of the season, has won its 20th game of the season. The Hoyas won a hard-fought battle at Providence 63-53 that wasn't in doubt for most of the second half. Georgetown's starters led the way, scoring 51 of the 63 points, buoyed by strong performances by Hollis Thompson, Jason Clark, and Henry Sims. Thompson scored 13 points and collected 10 rebounds, while Sims stuffed the stat sheet, scoring 10 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing 5 assists.

Nate Lubick was tremendous in limited minutes as well. The sophomore did not disappoint his legion of family and friends that came out to Providence while he was on the floor. He scored 9 points, including a monster dunk and a shockingly sweet three pointer. Unfortunately for his crew, he was saddled with four fouls and forced to sit for long periods in both the first and second half.

More stuff after The Jump

There isn't a ton to take away from this game other than a good team not letting down against a lesser opponent. Say what you will about the turnovers, shooting droughts, and free throw trouble, it has been a pleasure to watch this team have no letdown. In the last few years, we have seen losses to inferior opponents just because Georgetown wasn't particularly excited about playing defense. Not this year though. The Hoyas go nine deep, and that means that any defensive lapses or mental errors earns one a seat on the bench with someone eager to get minutes.

Today, Georgetown's vaunted freshman class didn't do much, but it didn't matter. Otto Porter was very quiet, in particular, only scoring 4 points and grabbing 2 rebounds. Thompson and Clark were crucial today, both hitting clutch three pointers whenever the game got a little bit closer. In particular, Clark and Thompson's threes at the end of the first half quieted a Providence squad that had cut the game to 23-20. The Hoyas went on an 8-0 run to close the first half, in large part due to those two bombs, and never looked back.

Tuesday night's road game against Seton Hall will be much tougher than today's match against Providence. The Pirates will be absolutely desperate after losing to Cincinnati today and falling to 7-8 in the conference. The Pirates' NCAA Tournament hopes rest on a marquee victory over a team like Georgetown. For the Hoyas, victories over Seton Hall and Villanova are crucial to secure a top 4 finish in the Big East and the vaunted double bye for the Big East Tournament. More than anything, it'd be sweet to get a victory over Seton Hall just because the dude from the South Orange Juice blog was so annoying on Twitter throughout the Kyle Anderson saga. If that isn't enough motivation for the Hoyas, I don't know what is.

Before Tuesday, I'd really like if the Hoyas spent an entire practice focusing on free throw shooting. It didn't hurt us down the stretch today, but it sure as hell will rear its ugly head in the NCAA Tournament if Clark and Thompson can't somehow regain their strokes and be able to knock down 80%+ from the charity stripe for the rest of the season.

I got now, Seton Hall is next.

The New Greg & Thundersnow Show: Georgetown Beats St. John's 71-61 Led By Whittington & Lubick

JGD — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:12:13 -0000

In a month, we'll look back at this game as just another double digit win over a Big East foe. Yet, anyone who watched the game will know how much of a battle it was. Georgetown defeated St. John's 71-61 today in a game that was back and forth throughout. Sophomore Nate Lubick and freshman Greg Whittington were the unlikely stars today. Lubick filled up the stat sheet with 7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks. Whittington scored 12 crucial points, all of which at huge points in the game.

The Hoyas had a very balanced scoring effort today. 7 of the 9 players that saw action had 7 points or more. Jason Clark had a very tough game, shooting 4-13 from the field, but scored 6 of his 11 points with the game in the balance. St. John's was led by Moe Harkless, D'Angelo Harrison, and John Cahill, who combined for 44 points and some of the most ticky-tack foul calls in college basketball this season.

More thoughts after El Jump.

Georgetown didn't play all that well today. For a team that doesn't shoot the ball all that well, they continue to take an unbelievable amount of three pointers per game. Today they settled for 22 threes, only making 7 of them. Many of the three point attempts were rushed, particularly from Markel Starks and Clark. That said, Starks hit 3 of 5 attempts and appears to have regained his shooting stroke, which bodes well for the next month. After the loss to Syracuse on Wednesday, one of my biggest concerns was the limited contribution of our sophomores. Today eased that concern. Lubick was fantastic throughout the game, doing everything that we expected he would do throughout the season. His performance gave Henry Sims a much needed breather, while Starks' ability to stay on the floor limited turnovers. The Hoyas turned it over only 7 times today, showing how important having a true point guard on the floor is.

St. John's was a game competitor today, especially considering they start 5 freshmen and can barely field a full team on a game-to-game basis. Harrison and Harkless are fantastic players, guys that I have no interest seeing with another year of experience. In addition, St. John's freshman Amir Garrett came out of nowhere to steal the title of the player I hate most in the Big East, ripping it from Scoop Jardine's hands. Garrett was beyond irritating today, fouling the crap out of Otto Porter and Clark on his way to his stellar 2 point, 4 rebound, 5 foul outing.

Georgetown has a week off before heading to Rhode Island to face Providence next Saturday. The Hoyas are now 19-5 overall and 9-4 in the Big East, sitting in the top 4 of the conference's standings in a year that we were expected to finish 10th. Georgetown has 3 more very winnable games coming up - Providence, Seton Hall, and Villanova - before finishing the season against the Notre Dame Mock Turtlenecks and Marquette.

Providence is next.

Georgetown Loses, America Loses: Syracuse Defeats Hoyas 64-61 In Overtime Thriller

JGD — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:17:27 -0000

What a brutal way to lose such a hardfought game. Georgetown, with 10 freshmen and sophomores, went up to the Carrier Dome and outplayed Syracuse for 45 minutes. Yet, the experienced Orange prevailed where the young Hoyas couldn't. Kris Joseph hit a dagger 3 pointer with 26 seconds left in overtime to beat Georgetown 64-61. Thankfully, it is only February, because if Georgetown lost a game like this in the NCAA Tournament, I'm not sure I'd get out of bed for a week.

Georgetown had PLENTY of opportunities to win this game, but they weren't ready to do so. Henry Sims hurt us down the stretch, not converting layups and getting blocked on the Hoyas final possession in regulation. Otto Porter was the exact opposite, showing people across the country what we've seen all year - this kid is special, and will be special for a long time. Porter had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Jason Clark had an enormous 13 points, including two ridiculous three-pointers late in the second half.

More thoughts after The Jump.

The referees did nothing to help Georgetown down the stretch, calling phantom fouls and absurd possession changers in a game that came down to the last moments. That said, Georgetown, with good execution, would have won this game. Unfortunately, there was no Hollis Thompson three to bail us out BECAUSE THE REFEREES WOULDN'T LET HIM IN THE GAME ON THE FINAL POSSESSION.

Regardless, there were many good things that came during this game. The Hoyas showed that they are going to compete for the rest of the season amongst the best teams in the country. For a team this young to go up to the Carrier Dome and outplay the #2 team in the country, things bode well for March. There are no such things as good losses, particularly in a rivalry this heated, but tonight was about as close as we can come to a good loss. The freshmen are officially men. Porter, Jabril Trawick, Mikael Hopkins, and Greg Whittington played monster minutes in the second half, keeping us in the game throughout.

This is a loss that will make this Georgetown team hungrier. For a young team, this kind of loss will build confidence. We went toe-to-toe with one of the three best teams in their country on their home floor and had the game ripped from us. I can honestly say that tonight Georgetown was the better team, but Syracuse executed better. Obviously, there are still some massive concerns. Why John Thompson III didn't stay in zone during overtime was baffling, particularly because it allowed Joseph to free himself throughout the extra five minutes. In addition, Sims and Hopkins have to finish better for Georgetown go deep into March. Hollis Thompson still isn't seeing enough shots either.

Alas, I am proud of our guys tonight, we are primed for a top 4 finish in the Big East and a strong March. We are a tough group that fights throughout every minute of every game, and close losses in February will prepare us for the next month and a half. The future is bright, and the present is even brighter.

St. John's is next on Sunday.

The Youth Shall Lead Us: Georgetown Beats Rutgers 52-50, Moves To 16-3

JGD — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:19:32 -0000

Newsflash time - this freshman class is special. Not sure if you folks knew that. Otto Porter scored the last 6 points for Georgetown, as the Hoyas narrowly escaped Rutgers 52-50 after being down 4 points with less than 2 minutes to play. The Hoyas played Porter and fellow freshmen Jabril Trawick and Greg Whittington for the majority of the second half, with the young fellas leading us to victory. Porter was the late game hero, but Whittington's 7 straight points after Rutgers went up 38-31 singlehandedly saved the game. Trawick was unbelievable on defense, spending his time guarding 5'9" Myles Mack and completely taking him out of the game.

The freshmen got help from seniors Henry Sims and Jason Clark as well. Sims had his first double double of the year, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Clark played excellent defense on Eli Carter throughout the game and added 11 points, 8 of which came from the free throw line.

More recap after Le Jump.

No one will ever say this was a pretty game. The Hoyas shot 29% from the field and 21% from the three point line. Sims, Clark, and Hollis Thompson combined for 4 field goals, and Georgetown's starters had a combined 6 field goals. Part of this statistic was poor shooting, but another part of it was by design. Mike Rice and Rutgers wanted to ugly this game up, evidenced by 29 personal fouls and Georgetown's 36 free throw attempts. It was clear that Rice knew his young squad couldn't outscore Georgetown, but he definitely thought he could outslug them. He saw Georgetown's free throw percentage the last few games and thought his team could outlast the Hoyas in a brutally ugly game. I'm sure Rice will find a way to complain about the refereeing in his post game remarks, but he only has himself to blame. Each of those 29 fouls were legitimate. Rice took a gamble and it almost paid off. Rutgers is a team no one in the Big East will want to see the rest of the year and in years ahead, no doubt about that.

But today, the Hoyas won a type of game that many in the media didn't believe they could. SI's Seth Davis wrote earlier in the season that many couldn't see Georgetown winning an ugly game, and that the Hoyas have to shoot well to win games. In 2010-2011? Absolutely. But this year's team has won ugly, and has won ugly often. And trust me, there was no uglier game than today. The Hoyas made THREE field goals in the first half. Yet, here we are, sitting at 16-3 overall, 6-2 in the Big East and top 10 in the country in a year that we were predicted to finish 10th in the conference.

With the news out of Syracuse that Mookie Jones is done for the year and Fab Melo has academic issues forcing him out of today's game against Notre Dame and Monday's game against Cincinnati at a minimum, the Big East got a whole lot more interesting. For the Hoyas, the next week should be focused on getting Hollis Thompson and Markel Starks back on track before heading to Pittsburgh next Saturday. Nate Lubick played another nice game, grabbing crucial offensive rebounds and playing stellar defense.

Thankfully, even in a game in which we shot the ball so poorly, this year's Georgetown team has enough pieces to grab a victory from what looked to be certain defeat. Onto the next one, a win is a win, and any other sports cliche you can think of.

Hoya Saxa, Pittsburgh is next.

Go Shorty, It's Your Birthday: Jason Clark Leads Georgetown To 83-75 Victory Over DePaul, Scores Career High 31 Points

JGD — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:17:35 -0000

Now that's how you ring in your 22nd birthday. While us mere mortals tend to accomplish nothing the day after our 22nd birthday, Jason Clark dropped a career high 31 points to lead Georgetown to a 83-75 WIN over DePaul tonight. The senior guard scored 31 points on an Austin Freeman-esque 14 shots, while acting as the primary ballhandler with Markel Starks unable to go tonight for yet to be discovered reasons. Clark's partner-in-crime, Henry Sims, scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds before fouling out with 3 minutes to go. Hollis Thompson scored 14 points as well, as Georgetown's top 3 scorers contributed 61 of 83 points.

With this victory, the Hoyas now move to 15-3 overall and 5-2 in Big East play with a game at the Verizon Center against Rutgers on Saturday. After losing games to West Virginia and Cincinnati, the Hoyas have regained their composure, winning consecutive road games in the rugged Big East.

More thoughts after The Jump.

With Starks out tonight, Georgetown's freshmen were counted on even more than usual. Otto Porter only scored 4 points, but grabbed a RIDICULOUS 15 rebounds to go along with two steals and two blocks. Greg Whittington played well again, with 5 points and 4 rebounds. Most impressively, Jabril Trawick handled DePaul's full court press very well, also scoring 9 crucial points and committing only 2 turnovers.

Nate Lubick played excellently as well. The sophomore banger filled up the stat sheet with 4 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and a steal. In addition, Lubick was the subject of nearly 100 different white person basketball cliches in 27 minutes of action.

The Hoyas outrebounded DePaul 43-18, in the single most dominant performance on the glass this season. Georgetown shot 54% from three and 53% from the field as well. Not as impressive, the Hoyas managed to shoot a measly 57% from the free throw line. I am going to call that an anomaly and assume it won't happen again this year, because I'd rather not think about gauging my eyeballs out again for a while.

We'll find out more about Starks and why he didn't play tonight during the post game press conference, but from the looks of it, he looked more under the weather than concussed, which were the two prevailing theories. That's what 0 years of Medical School will teach you, folks.

Rutgers is NEXT.

Sleeping with the Enemy: The Blue Demons of DePaul

JGD — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:30:41 -0000

The delusion is back after a dominant WIN over St. John's on Sunday. Before Tuesday's showdown in Chicago, we here at the GLOBAL PHENOMENON are providing you with everything you need to know about the Hoyas' next opponent: The Resurgent Blue Demons of DePaul. Special thanks to the fellas at WeAreDepaul.com, the grandest DePaul blog of them all. Fellas, these steins are for you.

via chicagoist.com

Questions for Depaul after The Jump.

After a great home win against Pitt, DePaul seems to have hit the skids with 3 tough losses. With Georgetown next, how will Coach Purnell right the ship?

This team has definitely had it's struggles on the road in the Big East. After a losing all three on a three game road trip, they'll be glad to be back home on Tuesday. Purnell can right the ship by shoring up this team's defense. The Blue Demons' full court press has been giving up too many easy baskets. DePaul is dead last in the Big East in scoring defense. Some lineup changes are in order as Purnell tries to get this team to defend better, especially on the interior.

Speaking of Purnell, the guy is a true program builder and did great work at Old Dominion and Clemson. Of course, he also has a rap for never being able to fully seal the deal - what's the Blue Demon faithful's opinion of him so far?

Similar to his work at Clemson, Purnell's grade right now is an incomplete. The team is improved over last year. Purnell brings a exciting brand of basketball to Chicago, but lacks the right personnel to execute his system right now.

Most people know the vaunted Chicago dog and the deep dish pizza - explain the Italian beef sandwich and where we can find the best one in the Windy City.

Don't knock it till you try it! For me it's Al's Beef and you have to order it "wet with mozz". (Portillo's is vastly overrated)

Movie makers have smiled kindly on Chicago with some defining comedies set there, ranging from the Blues Brothers to Ferris Bueller's Day Off. When the chips are down, though, what's your pick as the top movie set in Chicago?

The Untouchables. We do things the Chicago Way!

Chicago is one of the most talent rich parts of the country yet DePaul has only 5 kids from Illinois on its roster. What's it gonna take to keep home grown talent (like Anthony Davis) in the city?

Lots and lots of cash. (again, do things the Chicago Way). Just kidding! Seriously, it's interesting that DePaul resembles Georgetown's recruiting with three Baltimore players on the Blue Demon roster. It will take some special Illinois recruits who are interested in staying home and who have the vision to see that they can turn around this program. DePaul does have DeJuan Marrero from Gary, Indiana, which is a Chicago suburb, coming in 2012-13. They also have a top 50 recruit in Billy Garrett, Jr. committed for 2013 and are looking to build on that. Of course, Jabari Parker's seat is ready for him any time he wants to commit to Purnell.

It's been a wild year so far in the Big East - who do you see as likely to have a bye the first round of the BET?

Hmm, Syracuse, Georgetown, UConn, and kills me to say it - Marquette.

Does the average DePaul student have any clue who Ray Meyer is?

Absolutely. Ray Meyer left an indelible mark on the university. Even the most oblivious DePaul student sees the campus recreation and fitness center which was dedicated in Ray's honor and bears his name.

As a non-football Catholic school, what's your opinion on the reshaping Big East? Where would you like to see DePaul end up?

As a non-football school, it's tough to see football dictating the changes made to the landscape of college sports in 2011. I think the Big East ended up alright in this latest round of realignment. However, if realignment were to continue, I'd like to see DePaul end up in a league with all of the other non-football (Div. I) programs in the Big East - Georgetown, Marquette, St. John's, etc. That would be a good nucleus to a solid basketball league.

Proxy question - is there any way the Skins can convince the Bears to take Rex Grossman back?

Haha, not on your life! Lovie Smith used to say at every weekly press conference - "Rex is our quarterback". Well, Rex is YOUR quarterback now.

What's the best case scenario for DePaul this season? Worst case?

Best case - 6 or 7 wins in the league and make the postseason in the NIT or CBI. Worst case - 1 and 17 in the league again.

Who are the team's best scorers and rebounders? Who has been the biggest surprise? Who has been the biggest disappointment?

Baltimore natives Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young are the best scorers. Rebounding is more of a by committee thing and is a big weakness for DePaul. Biggest surprise has been juco transfer Worrel Clahar. He enrolled at DePaul a few days before classes started in the Fall and has done a terrific job as a backup point guard. Worrel has been great in his last two games. I wouldn't be surprised to see Clahar crack the starting lineup very soon. Biggest disappointment is senior guard Jeremiah Kelly. On DePaul's European tour this summer, Kelly emerged as the team's third best scoring option. Since then he hasn't lived up to that billing. Kelly is averaging only 7.4 ppg in Big East games, he's been very inconsistent from one game to the next. I expected more from Kelly as a senior.

How do you see this game playing out? What is the final score?

After seeing the Hoyas destroy St. John's at the Garden on Sunday, I'm not too optimistic. Georgetown 69, DePaul 61.

The Casual Awards: Starting A New Winning Streak

JGD — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:59:41 -0000

Yup, we're working our way back to glory. Your Georgetown Hoyas got a big W yesterday in New York City yesterday. Now the Hoyas are in Chicago, hopefully taking care of Depaul on Tuesday night and maybe enjoying a nice deep dish pie in the intermediate. But before we focus on our Midwest opponents, we would be foolish not to honor yesterday's performance. As always, here's some hardware for those most deserving.

The Chris Wright Heart of a Champion Award:
Jason Clark. 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists by our senior captain in a game we badly needed. Special shoutout to Clark because it is his birthday today, and we hope it is a good one. Honorable mention goes to Hollis Thompson, who dropped 20 points in the second half yesterday.

More Awards after The Jump:

LeBron James Way Bigger In Person Award:

Otto Porter. Dude is a good 6'9" in person, taller than Nate Lubick and barely shorter than Henry Sims. He also has a broad frame that will allow him to put on a lot of muscle very quickly. On top of that, he can handle the ball like a shooting guard. I came away from yesterday thinking that we will be lucky if we get four years of Otto in a Georgetown uniform. He is going to be an absolute superstar.

Boom Goes The Dynamite Award:

Madison Square Garden's announcer. There is no better place to watch a basketball game than MSG, the world's most famous arena. And in those moments before the tip, when your favorite team's starters are announced, the anticipation is palpable. Yesterday, just as the Hoyas were about to be announced, the familiar starting five were sitting on Georgetown's bench. Cut to the PA announcer, who started with "A 6'9" freshman from Hyattsville, MD, Mikael Hopkins!" Bad news was Hopkins wasn't actually starting, and Nate Lubick never got announced. Speaking of Lubick...

Cheer Up Bucko Award:

Nate Lubick. For one reason or another, Lubick seemed incredibly down on himself yesterday. After two games in which he seemed to be getting his mojo back, yesterday was not ThunderSnow's day. He played only 11 minutes, got crossed over to the point that I was fearful he broke his ankle, and got stuffed hard by a St. John's guy when he went up for a layup. St. John's wasn't a good matchup for him, but I wish he'd be a little bit easier on himself. He was plenty effective for parts of his limited minutes yesterday, and there will be plenty of games when we play more bruising teams that we're going to need Nate.

Born To Be A Leader Award:

Markel Starks. The kid was born to be a point guard and leader. Even though he didn't play as much as he is accustomed to, he was consistently coaching from the bench, in guys' ears, and the first off the bench to congratulate his teammates during timeouts. During yesterday's game, his infectious enthusiasm was reminiscent of Patrick Ewing Jr. Having Markel as the floor leader for the next three years is a very good thing.

Length, Length, Length Award:

Greg Whittington. He is like Stretch Armstrong out there. Having a 6'9" shooting guard at the top of a 2-3 zone is such a weapon. In addition, 6 crucial offensive rebounds is something we're going to continue to need as the season goes on.

Best Moment Of All Time Award:

Sofia Vergara and Salma Hayek were on the same stage at one point last night during the Golden Globes last night. /Head explodes.

Disproportionate Head-To-Body Award:

Greg Whittington. Jason Clark takes a ton of grief for his baby head, but Whittington will be the butt of those jokes after Clark graduates in May. His head belongs on someone half his size. I'm not sure he even needs above a 7" fitted baseball cap. Just a staggeringly small domepiece.

Find The Shooter Award:

Georgetown's offense. We all know the offense is a thing of beauty when it is firing on all cylinders. It is a thing of beauty to watch passes being whipped around the court, especially because the offense always seems to find open shooters. My one complaint is that it is not an offense that necessarily lends itself to finding the hot shooter, specifically Hollis Thompson. Hollis has shown an ability to score many points very quickly. He has also shown an improved midrange game and post game. What I am trying to say is Hollis can score from anywhere on the court, and it'd be very super to just continue to feed him the ball when he gets on one of those streaks.

Underrated Holiday Award:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What a nice Monday off from work! Georgetown and then the Sunday of NFL playoffs, knowing there is no work on Monday? Yes bartender, I will have another, thank you!

Overrated Food In Excess Award:

Buffalo wings. These tasty delights are quite casual in small doses, but after 20 or so, they become decidedly not casual. Let's just say Georgetown wasn't the only one that had a lot of runs yesterday.

Heart Attack Hoya Fans Of The Century Award:

My new pal Vince and his wife Leslie, a couple that I met at Tribeca Tap House on Saturday night. I am pretty sure this guy is the foremost historian of Georgetown basketball on this planet. On top of that, he told me he once got so worked up at a game in the '90s that he had an ACTUAL HEART ATTACK in Landover and had to get carted out of the stadium with his wife following the ambulance to a Prince George County hospital. That's just good hustle.

Sweet Spot For A Happy Hour Award:

Tribeca Tap House. The folks at our favorite NYC bar had a very casual set up for those who rode the THUNDERTRAIN. They gave us a private room downstairs with a big ol' TV to watch the two Saturday football games. Special shoutout to the member of the class of 2010 who spent most of his time at the tap house passed out with drool spilling out of his mouth. Also an excellent showing of hustle, grit, and determination after an aggressive train ride.

John Wooden and Bill Walton Special Relationship Award:

JT3 and Henry Sims. Wooden and Walton always battled while Walton was at school, testing Wooden in ways no other player did. I get the sense that Sims does the same to JT3, because I have never seen the coach as worked up as when Sims makes a mistake. Nearly every mistake Sims made on Sunday caused JT3 to stomp his feet to the point that he may have ruined the soles on his shoes. Regardless, JT3 knows how to motivate Sims because after he got pulled for a silly turnover with less than 10 minutes to go, JT3 sat him down and talked to him. When Sims returned, he started dominating and caused Moe Harkless to foul out of the game in the decisive run that put St. John's away.

Otto Porter Award For Filling The Box Score:

Otto Porter! 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 block for the fabulous freshman. This is now Porter's fourth game with double digit rebounds in 17 games this season. Mark my words, by the time Otto leaves the Hilltop, he will average a double double for a season. His rebounding skills are better than anyone else in JT3's time at Georgetown.

Jump On The Bandwagon Award:

The San Francisco 49ers. That win over the Saints was spectacular, made all the more dramatic with Vernon Davis sprinting towards Jim Harbaugh with tears streaming down his face for a bearhug with his coach. Throw in the Alex Smith redemption story and how can you not root for San Francisco? This award sounds like a Coldplay song.

Casual Vegas GameWatch Award:

The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. It is nearly impossible to watch these games in Vegas that start at 9am. It's ridiculous, really. With the only real option being to power through from the night before at Marquee, big ups to the casual guy at the sportsbook who was able to decipher my slurred attempt to explain what MASN is and threw on the Hoyas-Johnnies game on a screen just as big as the one showing the lame NFL action between the Texans and Ravens. The half dozen or so fans with a little bit more than just a rooting interest in the game were rewarded by Georgetown's impressive 20 point victory, a reward which lasted about 5 minutes after an ill-fated trip to the blackjack table on the way to the room. Vegas is the best.

Casual Game to Play in Vegas While Watching Georgetown - St. John's Game:

Pro or No. If you have been to Vegas and know the kind of crowd that hangs out at hotel lobby bars in the wee hours then you know what I'm talking about.

Best In Game Documentation Of All Time Award:

Undisputed Order of Best to Worst Seasons of The Wire Award:

4, 3, 1, 2, 5. Also, it was neat seeing a post-Wire Stringer beat McNulty to win that Golden Globe last night. Let's say we had a Best Actor Category for The Wire and the following are nominated for Best Actor: McNulty, Lester, Omar, Stringer, Marlo. Who wins? I wish I had more time to expand on this because I think we could come up with an entire Awards post worth of this stuff. Sheeeeeeet, maybe I will.

Best Office Decoration Award:

Hawaii Is Ultra Casual Award:

Jim Nantz Award For In-Game Commentary:

This is one of those low probability high risk games

Like driving without a seatbelt or not using a condom with your hooker

I have no idea.

by shwonkBC on Jan 15, 2012 10:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Noon games the most difficult

Hard to decide which beer to pair with which cereal.

by Hoya Annoya on Jan 15, 2012 11:28 AM EST reply actions

What's up fucks

Hoyas now -7 at the damn book here at The Cosmopolitan in Vegas

Casually.

by CasualHoya on Jan 15, 2012 11:50 AM EST via mobile reply actions

"God's Gift"

A mere five years ago, "God’s Gift" was merely a tattoo on Marc Egerson’s neck. Now he is a starting forward for St. John’s. Kids grow up fast these days.

What are these assertions!?

by DHB Enterprises on Jan 15, 2012 12:04 PM EST reply actions

Lubick just got Kemba'ed

Big man fall hard

by rochesterhoya07 on Jan 15, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions

johnnie's cheeleaders look 12 years old

wish tcu would hang around for 1 season

Take No Prisoners, especially if they wear Orange.

by hoyabballownsall on Jan 15, 2012 12:32 PM EST reply actions

I bet Cahill pays for sex

At least twice a month. In Radisson hotels.

by boumtje on Jan 15, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

With all this length... you'd think we could PENETRATE!

by TouomouIsMyHomie on Jan 15, 2012 12:35 PM EST reply actions

I had forgotten how ugly

Gene Keady is.

by Uninformed Person on Jan 15, 2012 12:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions

A friend and fellow Hoya

expressed his first-ever interest in basketball on the day of WVU, and then attended Cincy with me.

I thought about forbidding him to ever watch again, but then decided the only safe place for a jinx like that is the bottom of the Potomac. RIP buddy, had to be done.

by remember izzo on Jan 15, 2012 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Bring in...

The Executioner

by chrisharvey'sfacialhair on Jan 15, 2012 1:08 PM EST reply actions

these 9-year olds on the Big East commercial

are horrible actors.

Keep your day job, 9-year olds.

by SomebodyBuyAustinaSteak on Jan 15, 2012 1:50 PM EST reply actions

Otto and Whitt

Played like men.

by boumtje on Jan 15, 2012 1:56 PM EST reply actions

Gratuitous Pic of Salma Hayek Doing Salma Hayek Things Award:

Indeed.

Depaul is NeXt.

Georgetown Ranked 10th in AP, 12th in Coaches Poll

JGD — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:42:31 -0000

Georgetown Ranked 10th in AP, 12th in Coaches Poll

Up 1 spot in AP from last week, down 1 spot in Coaches Poll.

Syracuse remains #1 in both polls.

We're Back In Action: Georgetown Defeats St. John's 69-49, Moves To 4-2 In Big East

JGD — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:38:02 -0000

Now that's the Georgetown team we are accustomed to seeing. Georgetown beat St. John's yesterday 69-49 at the World's Most Famous Arena. Hollis Thompson paced the Hoyas with 20 second half points. Jason Clark had a stellar game as well, with 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Two of the vaunted freshmen were sensational. Otto Porter had a double-double, with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Greg Whittington chipped in with 8 points and 8 rebounds as well.

For Georgetown, yesterday's game was a game of runs. They found themselves down 13-5 to start the game, then promptly ripped off an 18-2 run. In the second half, the Johnnies cut it to 48-45 with 6:30 left in the game. From there Georgetown closed with a 21-4 run to seal the victory.

More Thoughts after El Jump.

Yesterday was the first time I saw the Hoyas in person. I came away very impressed by the length of the freshmen. Porter, Whittington, Jabril Trawick, and Mikael Hopkins are monsters. They all are physically imposing, and the thought of them with a year of lifting under their belts makes the next few years very exciting. That said, this year's team is EXCELLENT as long as it takes care of the ball. The defense is smothering, we have great shooters, and we have nine guys that can legitimately contribute.

The upcoming schedule is one that Georgetown should dominate. Depaul is on Tuesday, then games against Rutgers and Pittsburgh before facing UConn and Syracuse in early February. Still, it's the Big East, so every game will be a battle. If the Hoyas can handle business in the next three games, I think they will be able to separate themselves from the logjam that is currently known as the Big East conference.

Onwards and upwards Depaul is next.

Saturday Night Fever: Casual Hoya Event At Tribeca Tap House

JGD — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:33:24 -0000

For those of you coming to see the Georgetown Hoyas play St. John's on Sunday, the good folks at Tribeca Tap House are hosting us tomorrow night right after the Casual THUNDERTRAIN rolls into New York. The evening starts at 6:00pm Saturday night and will go until I get so drunk I start crying and talking about emotions.

Rules of gravity do not apply to me

Where: Tribeca Tap House (363 Greenwich at Franklin)
What: $15 Bud Light Pitchers; $20 Craft & Specialty Beer Pitchers; Half Price Wings, Nachos and Dip
When: 6:00pm SATURDAY NIGHT, specials run all night
How: Show up, drink, watch some playoff football, get some Casual swag
Why: Celebrate the night before, because no one knows how Sunday will play out

www.CasualHoya.com - Proudly Promoting Drinking Since 2009.

Panic Setting In: Georgetown Drops 2nd Straight Game, Loses 68-64 To Cincinnati

JGD — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:04:23 -0000

That was not a good loss. That was not an acceptable loss. That was a pathetic loss. Losing to West Virginia on the road is one thing, but losing to a mediocre Cincinnati team at home? That just sucks. Georgetown lost 68-64 to the Bearcats in easily the worst performance by both the players and coaching staff this season. Hollis Thompson and Jason Clark missed two shots all night combined, yet they only took THIRTEEN. The junior and senior each had 14 points, but it wasn't enough tonight.

Otto Porter had another challenging game, committing careless turnovers that we did not expect from the stellar freshman. Greg Whittington got torched by Cincinnati's Sean Kilpatrick, who led the Bearcats with a cool 27 points. In addition, Dion Dixon had a smooth 22 points. Yes, two guys on Cincinnati scored 49 of their 68 points.

I may cry, after The Jump.

The Hoyas were again careless with the ball, turning it over 17 times, including 3 out of 4 crucial possessions with less than 3 minutes left. In a year that he has been spectacular, John Thompson III got his pants coached off him by Mick Cronin tonight. Cincinnati had two guys that were hot, Georgetown had two guys that were hot. Cincinnati figured out how to stop Georgetown's guys, and the Hoyas weren't able to return the favor. Yet, that is too simple an explanation. There were a ton of headscratching decisions tonight. JT3 refusing to use Jabril Trawick on Kilpatrick is completely and utterly puzzling. JT3 sitting Markel Starks late in the second half, when it seemed like every Hoya possession ended in a turnover, is just astounding. I really hope that Trawick was sick or something, because if not, that personnel decision is absolutely indefensible.

The poor finish to this game overshadowed the best performance by Nate Lubick this year. Of course, Lubick was also sitting at the end of the game, even though he was by far our most active and engaged player throughout. Half way through the season, it is nice to see Lubick regaining his mojo, we are definitely going to need big minutes from him going forward.

I thought I had this team figured out. Our problems, before tonight, were ball security and guarding aggressive fours. But after tonight's performance, one that was eerily reminiscent of the last three years, I don't know what to think. Can we guard the perimeter? Can JT3 adjust? Will he stop playing favorites? Will we have poise at the end of games? Can we inbound the freaking basketball?

Obviously, tonight is just one game, we are still 3-2 in the Big East with a bunch of winnable games ahead, and it is still January. But, holy hell, tonight's game was EXTREMELY winnable. Lose games like the Kansas and West Virginia games, where we competed as hard as we could, took the other team's best shot, and came out on the wrong side. But to lose a game at home while shooting almost 60% from the field? Give me a damn break.

This year's Big East conference is built on parity, and we stand out from the pack because of our depth and flexibility. Tonight JT3 put a noose on that flexibility, relying on Porter and Whittington for way too long, and getting outcoached by some dude named Mick. Cincinnati has a three game winning streak against us. The same Cincinnati team that got absolutely waxed by Xavier in everything but the end-of-game brawl. There is no excuse for an effort like that, and the blame tonight is focused on the coaching staff. We have an excellent team this year, so let's try to avoid getting outscored 16-6 by a vastly inferior team to end another game this season.

End of rant, St. John's is next.

West Virginia Blues: Georgetown Loses 74-62 To The Mountaineers, 11 Game Win Streak Snapped

JGD — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:06:50 -0000

All good things come to an end. After a captivating 11 game winning streak, the Georgetown Hoyas lost in Morgantown 74-62 to West Virginia. The Hoyas played very good defense, but turnovers and a lack of three point shooting were the downfall today. Truck Bryant and Kevin Jones were very impressive, combining for 47 points and proving that they are arguably the best one-two punch in the Big East. For the Hoyas, Hollis Thompson was the star, scoring 20 points on 13 field goals, but also missing 5 crucial free throws. For a guy with one of the prettiest shooting strokes I've ever seen, that can't happen again.

The Hoyas have very little time to lick their wounds, as a tough Cincinnati squad comes to the Verizon Center Monday night at full strength after half their team was suspended for throwing various haymakers in their game against Xavier.

After The Jump, more thoughts.

Before we go into meltdown mode, let's have some perspective on the first 15 games of the season. This Georgetown team, comprised of 10 freshmen and sophomores, did not receive a single Top 25 vote and was picked to finish 10th in the Big East. All they've done since is win 13 of 15 games, including wins at Louisville and Alabama and thrilling victories over Marquette and Memphis (2x). In addition, the Hoyas are 3-1 to start Big East play when even the most delusional of us would have been happy with 2-2.

Today was just not Georgetown's day. West Virginia, since Bob Huggins has been the coach, has given us fits. They have beaten us in all four years since these seniors stepped on campus. For whatever reason, we never shoot well in that gym, and they always force a ton of turnovers. That said, it is important that we stop relying on magical comebacks and put forth a solid 40 minutes of effort going forward. The last minute comebacks are thrilling, but also a really good way to lose a bunch of games quickly in the Big East grinder if effort isn't 100% throughout the game.

For those of you who are now predicting a "collapse", please find another forum to voice those frustrations. College basketball is built on parity, and no one in their right minds would have expected us to win out all the way through April. In addition, WE DIDN'T COLLAPSE LAST YEAR, we lost our best player and heart of the team to a broken hand. We have had one collapse in John Thompson's tenure at Georgetown - being knocked out as a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament is not a collapse, it's a bad game. This year's team has shown time and again that it has great character, and I expect a victory on Monday night. Even if we don't win Monday night, it's still not a damn collapse, so go sit on some rusty nails.

I am not giving up my luxury seat on the DELUSION TRAIN, I hope the rest of you will continue to join me.

Cincinnati is next.

THIS IS THE GREATEST NIGHT OF OUR LIVES: Georgetown Completes Epic Comeback, Beats Marquette 73-70

JGD — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:32:16 -0000

Just when we thought this season couldn't get more awesome, Georgetown decided to erase a 17 point deficit and beat Marquette in a 73-70 thriller at the Verizon Center. The Hoyas' three upperclassmen - Jason Clark, Henry Sims, and Hollis Thompson - were sensational in the victory. Thompson showed that he remains a closer, with his second game winning three pointer of the season. He finished with 16 points on 6-7 shooting from the field. Clark was the best player on the floor, singlehandedly keeping the Hoyas in the game for much of the second half and finishing with 26 points and 6 rebounds. Sims took over late in the game, dominating on both the offensive and defensive ends, finishing with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.

After The Jump, VICTORY.

The upperclassmen shouldn't overshadow the immense impact that our freshmen had on this game. Otto Porter was his usual scintillating self, and it was the contributions from Greg Whittington, Jabril Trawick, and Mikael Hopkins that helped keep Georgetown in the game. Down 17 with 13 minutes left, John Thompson III went to a lineup of the four freshmen and Clark, which started the rally that ultimately ended in the most epic Georgetown comeback since Austin Freeman singlehandedly defeated UConn in 2009-2010.

Whittington, of all the freshmen, really impressed tonight. His defense on Darius Johnson-Odom changed the complexion of the game. It is an incredible asset to have a 6'9" shooting guard on the floor that can defend three positions. His length, coupled with Porter and Thompson, caused the Marquette swingmen fits down the stretch.

Georgetown has now won 11 straight games, the longest winning streak since the 2006-2007 season, which resulted in a Final Four appearance. I'm just sayin'. This season remains very young, but the poise that this team has exhibited in wins over Alabama, Memphis, Marquette, Louisville, and Providence is well beyond what should be expected of a roster comprised of 10 underclassmen.

More than anything, what I love about this team is that different players make huge contributions on different nights. In the victory over Louisville, it was Markel Starks scoring 20 points and Trawick keeping us in the game in the first half. Tonight those two players combined for 2 points. In the Louisville game, Thompson, Clark and Sims combined for 24 points. Tonight the three of them scored 55 of 73 points. In addition, JT3 seems to be having the most fun he's had in a few years, even fist pumping after Marquette missed their last three point attempt and high fiving Trawick for good measure. His coaching performance this year makes him the early favorite for National Coach of the Year.

The Hoyas now sit at 13-1 overall and 3-0 in Big East play, with another massive challenge coming Saturday against West Virginia and then Monday against Cincinnati. With Duke losing tonight at Temple and Providence down two at half against Syracuse, this could be one of the most satisfying nights in a long time.

West Virginia is next.

The Delusion Train Keeps On Chugging: Georgetown Defeats Louisville 71-68

JGD — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:36:40 -0000

THAT JUST HAPPENED. Georgetown beat Louisville 71-68, defeating Louisville for the first time this season on the back of sophomore Markel Starks' 20 points. The Cardinals had only lost 2 games on their home court since opening up the stadium two years ago. Freshman Otto Porter added 14 points and 14 rebounds in one of the most complete individual performances in the John Thompson III era.

The young Hoyas continue to outperform expectations. For much of the first half there were three to four freshmen on the floor keeping the game in range. Jabril Trawick was phenomenal tonight. The Philly product added 9 points off the bench, while fellow freshmen Greg Whittington and Mikael Hopkins played crucial minutes.

More thoughts after The Jump,

Tonight's game, in many ways, marks a new era in John Thompson III's Georgetown career. In previous years, there wasn't enough depth and production to bench starters when they played poorly. Yet, this year, we have 4 eager freshmen itching to get off the bench to prove their worth. When Henry Sims, Jason Clark, and Nate Lubick weren't providing the energy necessary to beat an undefeated Louisville squad at home, there were freshmen ready to jump into the fray. Last year, this wouldn't have happened. Previous teams weren't built for lulls in energy by starters. Those teams ran 6 deep and lived and died by those 6 players. This year's team is different. This year's team has 10 talented basketball players, and JT3 is ready to play all 10 players at any time.

That said, we should focus on how great Markel Starks was tonight. Outside of the 20 points and the crucial three pointers, Starks was PHENOMENAL against Louisville's pressure. He controlled their press and got into offensive sets in ways that only Chris Wright has done before him. Only a sophomore, Starks has shown a propensity for big shots, but even more important, a composure in big games that is well beyond his years.

The freshmen challenged the starters to do better tonight, and the starters responded by closing out the game. Henry Sims has seen better days, yet there he was knocking down crucial layups and free throws to seal the victory. Jason Clark and Hollis Thompson provided leadership and important buckets in crunch time as well. Yet, the story of the night was Otto Porter. The small town kid from Missouri grabbed every rebound, including an enormous tip-in when the game was tied at 63, on the heels of an 11-0 Louisville run. The poise that he, Whittington, Trawick, and Hopkins showed tonight in the face of an undefeated Louisville team at home should make Hoya fans positively giddy about what the future holds.

After tonight, the sky is the limit for the future of this team. At this point, nothing will shock me. Let's just enjoy the ride as we watch this young Georgetown team continue to outperform expectations and take the Big East by storm.

Providence is next.

The Global Phenomenon Comes To NYC: Watch The Hoyas at Tribeca Tap House And Make Some Friends

JGD — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:40:58 -0000

Big East basketball is back tonight! For those of you who have enjoyed the Casual Gamewatches in DC, we're now bringing you a New York Gamewatch courtesy of the Tribeca Tap House.

Rules of gravity do not apply to me

Where: Tribeca Tap House (363 Greenwich at Franklin)
What: $15 Bud Light Pitchers; $20 Craft & Specialty Beer Pitchers; Half Price Wings, Nachos and Dip
When: Game starts at 7:00pm, specials run all night
How: Show up, drink, watch JahidiLikesPie down four pitchers by himself
Why: Yelling at the TV in a group is more fun than doing it alone

Not sure what else is going on in different cities, but post your Gamewatch details in the comments.

www.CasualHoya.com - Proudly Promoting Drinking Since 2009.

Delusion Train Keeps On Chugging: Georgetown Beats Memphis 70-59, Improves To 10-1

JGD — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:08:04 -0000

The young Georgetown Hoyas continue to impress. Tonight, the Hoyas beat Memphis for a second time this season, winning 70-59 in a game they controlled throughout. Georgetown had a very balanced attack with Jason Clark leading the way. The senior had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Hollis Thompson also had 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Henry Sims had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Markel Starks had another 14 points.

After Memphis cut the deficit to 2 points late in the first half, Georgetown went on a 5-0 run and never looked back. The Hoyas led by as many as 20 in the second half as the game got out of hand with about 17 minutes left. There were times in the second half where Georgetown looked sloppy, but all in all, this was a dominant performance, particularly on the defensive end.

More thoughts after The Jump.

Tonight's game was a lot easier than many expected. Memphis is now 6-5 after being ranked in the top 10 to start the season. The Hoyas are currently riding a 4 game winning streak over Memphis, having beaten them in 2008-2009, 2010-2011, and now twice this year. Georgetown continues to outperform and prove that they belong in the discussion about top teams in the Big East.

That said, if Georgetown wants to be considered elite, next week's trip to undefeated #4 Louisville will be a very good test. With Big East play beginning, there are no more cupcakes on Georgetown's schedule (besides Depaul). Clark, Sims, Thompson, Starks, and Otto Porter were excellent today, but there was not a ton of contribution from anyone else in gray. Nate Lubick remains timid on offense, to the point that defenses are sagging on him, daring him to shoot. Jabril Trawick and Greg Whittington are giving the Hoyas solid minutes, but not adding a ton of the offensive end. We've seen how brutal the Big East can be, and Georgetown will need to get contributions from more than just 5 players.

Still, how about the Georgetown Hoyas? One year removed from losing 3 starting seniors, and an 11 point win over a preseason Top 10 team is ho-hum. And this team is not even CLOSE to scratching the surface of its potential. This game, with a few good breaks and a few less turnovers, could have been a 30 point victory. Kentucky, UNC, Syracuse, and Ohio State are clearly the cream of the crop in college basketball this year, but there is no reason come March that this Georgetown team isn't right behind them.

As always, it will be interesting to see how the young team reacts in its first Big East road game against the #4 team in the country. Until then, I am going to thank Santa Claus for the joy that Georgetown has given me in November and December. Lest I forget, thanks to Kris Kringle for John Thompson III, who is putting in one of the most impressive coaching performances in college basketball this year.

Happy Holidays, Louisville is next MOTHERSUCKERS.