Casual Hoya

Georgetown Leaps to #14 in Final Poll of the Season

2010-03-15T18:21:19Z

Georgetown Leaps to #14 in Final Poll of the Season

Five of the Top 15 teams in the country are in the Midwest bracket. The South bracket has three, one of which is an injured Purdue. And Justice For All.

Announcing the Inaugural Casual Hoya Bracket Contest!

2010-03-15T15:57:45Z

Want a chance to outsmart THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON and earn eternal glory? What better way to prove your worth to us than to join the Inaugural Casual Hoya Bracket Contest!

What's the Casual Prize you ask? A lifetime supply of free Casual Headbands? An autographed photo of you with the Casual Hoya bloggers? A date for your wife and/or girlfriend with the Casual Hoya bloggers?

YOU TELL US!

The best idea from the comments thread below will be selected and announced prior to the tipoff of the Tournament, but for now be sure to sign up and make your picks.

Get in the action now!
CLICK HERE! and Join a Group with the ID and Password below.

Make sure you sign up your brackets with your blogger names so we can identify and ridicule you mercilessly.

Group ID# is 106171

Password is: casual

Morning Chatter: What Others Have to Say About Georgetown & the Midwest Bracket

2010-03-15T14:18:07Z

You heard what we had to say about the scam bracket unveiled by the NCAA yesterday, so here is what others have to say. There is no doubt that Kansas, Ohio State, Georgetown and the rest of the Midwest got screwed while Duke had its first Final Four berth since 2004 handed to them on a diamond encrusted silver platter. The following is an excerpt of a must-read article by Jason Whitlock:

But let's deal with the reality of why Duke was given a favorable draw. The NCAA is desperate for television ratings. The $6 billion CBS paid over 11 years financed a lot of things the NCAA likes to do - stuff like propping up nonrevenue sports.

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if the NCAA mandated that Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Shane Battier referee all of the Blue Devils' tournament games.

This is the price of television being in total control of the sports world. At contract time, the NCAA Tournament isn't much different from "American Idol."

Below is what the rest of the blogs/media had to say about Georgetown and the Midwest bracket.

(More after the Jump)

NCAA does no favors for tourney favorite Kansas - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
But take a closer look at Kansas' field and you'll find a common denominator. It's not necessarily the teams themselves that should scare Self -- it's their star players. St. Louis is going to be brimming with star power no matter which teams advance there. Likely National Player of the Year Turner, Georgetown center Greg Monroe, Maryland guard Grevis Vasquez, Oklahoma State swingman James Anderson and Georgia Tech big man Derrick Favors -- all potential first-round picks, all playing in the same regional.

Michael Wilbon - This year's NCAA tournament is wide-open - washingtonpost.com
Northern Iowa, which won 28 games, will be a threat to Kansas in the second round. Maryland, with seniors Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes, would be a serious threat to Kansas . . . if the Terrapins can get past Houston and Michigan State, which would be a serious threat to Kansas. Georgetown would be a serious threat to Kansas, and certainly Ohio State would be, seeing as Evan Turner of the Buckeyes is the most versatile, most highly skilled player in college basketball this season. I can't see Kansas, which I think is the best team in the field, going through all four of those teams in the Midwest Region. This, without question, is the Group of Death.

No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks earn overall top seed for NCAA tournament - ESPN
"It will be a good recruiting mailout this week," coach Bill Self said of the No. 1 overall seed. "After you look at the bracket, you say, 'Well, I don't think we had a lot of favors done for us."

NCAA TOURNAMENT AT A GLANCE FOR BIG EAST | NBE Basketball Report
Georgetown is the Big East’s lone representative in the Midwest and takes the region’s No. 3 seed. Despite a 10-8 conference record, the run to the Big East Tournament championship game and one of the highest rated strength of schedules help the Hoyas land in the Big East city of Providence for their start to the Big Dance. Greg Monroe and company will face the MAC champion Ohio Bobcats on Thursday and if they can advance past the 14th seed they will meet either Tennessee or San Diego State in the second round at the ‘Dunk’.

Hoya Prospectus: St Louis bracket: log5 prediction
The bump gained by playing Tennessee is smaller than it seems at first, and the downside of the bracket is being in a region with one of the two strongest teams in the field (Kansas/Duke) without the benefit of a particularly weak #2 seed in KenPom terms like Duke got in Villanova. The cumulative effect is the Hoyas' chances of making the Final 4 are only 80% of what they'd be in the next weakest region.

The Duke conspiracy theory - Beyond the Arc - msnbc.com
Watching the NCAA tournament field unfold Sunday, one thing became clear: The Midwest is stacked. The region’s home to the No. 1 overall seed (Kansas), perhaps the nation’s hottest team (Ohio State), a team that thrashed Duke (Georgetown), the co-ACC champ (Maryland) and the only two schools that have beaten the Jayhawks this season (Tennessee and Oklahoma State). Four of those schools are in Ken Pomeroy’s top 11 teams and Jeff Sagarin’s top 15. Heck, a team with 28 victories (Northern Iowa) is a 9 seed.

While all this attention about the scam brackets is certainly entertaining, the reality of the situation is that the brackets are set and we have to deal with the hand we were dealt. Now it is time to focus on Georgetown. And Georgetown's first opponent: Ohio. Here are some level-headed quotes from Thompson and Monroe.

Georgetown earns No. 3 seed in Midwest Region, will face Ohio in first round of 2010 NCAA basketball tournament - washingtonpost.com
"I'm ready," said Monroe, named to the Big East's all-tournament team, along with Chris Wright. "I mean, to me, it's a year late, so I've been waiting for this chance. I'm very excited."

Hoyas and Terps ready for Madness - wtop.com
Georgetown sophomore Greg Monroe says the team played in Providence a month ago. "We're familiar with the gym, that might be the most important," Monroe says

Ohio U. draws No. 3 Georgetown | cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com
"You can't get to this part of the year and overlook anyone," Thompson said Sunday after his third-seeded Hoyas drew the Mid-American Conference champion Bobcats for a Thursday game in Providence, R.I. "The teams are too well-coached, too poised. They won their league or they're playing well and got an at-large bid – that's what makes (the NCAA tournament) so special."

Georgetown v. Ohio at 7:25pm eastern on Thursday

2010-03-15T03:21:53Z

Georgetown v. Ohio at 7:25pm eastern on Thursday

Hoyas installed as an early 13 point favorite.

NCAA Tournament 2010 - This is a Joke, Right?

2010-03-15T00:28:14Z

I have some questions. What drugs was the selection committee on when they drew up the 2010 NCAA Tournament? Did they watch basketball over the past month? Have they ever watched a game of basketball? Is Coach K on the committee? Is Dick Vitale on the committee? Are all members of the committee on Duke's faculty? Did Bill Self sleep with a committee member's wife? Did Bob Huggins sleep with a committee member's daughter? Does someone on the committee want to sleep with Jay Wright? Did the committee mix up Georgetown and Villanova's resumes because they are both catholic schools? Is there a real bracket that is coming out later?

(More after the Jump)

Midwest:

Here's what Kansas gets for being the best team in the country - a #2 seed with the best player in the country (Ohio State), a #3 seed that has beaten two #1s (Georgetown), a #4 seed that won the ACC (Maryland), a #5 seed that won the Big 10 and went to the finals last year (Michigan State), and a #6 seed that beat the other two #1 seeds (Tennessee). Five of these six teams would CRUISE through the South region. I cannot get over how stacked the Midwest is. Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, West Virginia, Ohio State and Georgetown are the six best teams in the country right now. 3 of them are in the Midwest. Not one is in the South. I'm going to lose my mind.

One bright spot is this bracket is incredibly disrespectful to Georgetown. As we saw this past week with Revenge Tour 2010, the Hoyas respond pretty well to adversity. I can guarantee that not a single expert will pick Georgetown to get to the Final Four. Band together and start wrecking house. I hope the team is as enraged as I am right now. My poor keyboard is getting pounded worse than that dude Manny Pacquaio destroyed last night.

With all that said, I still like this draw for Georgetown. The beauty of it is there are no Big East teams there, and if you were paying attention the past week, it's been abundantly clear that the Big East is far and away the best conference in basketball. Teams that rely as heavily on one player as Ohio State relies on Evan Turner have not done well in recent years, just look at Kevin Durant and Texas in 2007 and Michael Beasley and Kansas State in 2008. Tennessee is an athletic team, no doubt about that, but they were 4-5 on the road, and lost their last game by 30 points. Now for the elephant in the room, the Kansas Jayhawks. They are clearly phenomenal, and I'm not going to say anything bad about them other than I think we match up better against them than we match up against Kentucky or Syracuse.

The Pick: Georgetown.

South:

So let me get this straight. Duke wins a weak ACC Conference, gets smoked by Wisconsin and Georgetown, and ends up with Villanova, Baylor and Purdue as their 2, 3 and 4 seeds. Villanova has lost 5 of its last 7, and it is considered the 6th best team in the country by the committee. Baylor has two quality wins this year - Texas and Texas. Every game they were supposed to win, they won, every game they were supposed to lose, they lost. And that's worthy of a #3 seed? Purdue lost its best player and its last game by 27 to an 11 seed. This is the route Duke faces? What is going to make me laugh is when Louisville upends them in the 2nd round. I've never, ever hated Duke or the NCAA more than I do right now.

The pick: Winner of Winthrop / Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

West:

Shocking to me that a team that goes 28-4 in the toughest conference in basketball somehow gets passed by Duke. Syracuse has a pretty nice bracket, but it's not the South. Then again, Louisville is in the South, so Cuse fans should be thanking their lucky stars. Kansas State isn't that good, neither is Pittsburgh. Vanderbilt always plays well in the tournament, but hard to imagine they give Syracuse much of a scare.

The pick: Syracuse, very easily.

East:

Like Kansas, Kentucky should be furious with their draw. People that actually follow the game, also known as writers, had West Virginia as the fourth #1 seed, not Duke. Instead, Kentucky draws them as their #2 seed. Also, if you've watched Kentucky and West Virginia at all this year, you'd know West Virginia is a terrible matchup for Kentucky because they have long armed defenders and rebound the ball like animals. Still, I see Kentucky getting out of the region on talent alone. Demarcus Cousins and John Wall are damn near unguardable.

The pick: Kentucky.

If the brackets shake out like I've predicted here, we would face Syracuse for a fourth time in the Final Four. Also, had the brackets shaken out differently, I could have easily seen Georgetown, Ohio State and Kansas all getting there. I could not have easily seen Duke, Villanova, and Baylor all getting there. The travesty is that the top 4 teams in the country do not have a shot to get to the Final Four. How the Selection Committee could look themselves in the eyes and honestly think Kansas State and Villanova were the 5th and 6th best teams in the country is beyond me. How the Selection Committee thought that Duke had a more impressive resume than Syracuse is also beyond my comprehension.

There is no rhyme or reason to the committee's decisions either. They disregarded Villanova's last 7 games, yet punished Syracuse for theirs. I have no idea why Kansas State is considered the 5th best team in the country when their best win came against a #8 seed. In the NCAA Tournament, you have to play good teams, I understand that. Unfortunately a team that is not very good will be in the Final Four, and that has been decided before the first tip-off. I'd write more, but my head is about to explode from rage.

Selection Sunday: Where Will Georgetown Be? - Open Thread

2010-03-14T17:01:28Z

This isn't Georgetown, but it could be...

Big East Tournament is officially an after-thought and now it is time to focus on the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Will Georgetown be a 2 seed?
It is better to be a low 2 or a high 3 seed?
Who will be the #1 in Georgetown's bracket
Where will they play?
They can't possibly put us in Syracuse, right...?

For those in DC, the Hoya Hoop Club is hosting a Selection Sunday watch with Coach Thompson and the players at the O'Donovan Dining Hall from 5:30-7pm.

Ready. Set. Discuss.

The Casual Awards: Georgetown Gets Served by a Butler

2010-03-14T16:13:34Z

Great game, bad ending. The Hoyas played tough, they played poised, they played like warriors. We here at THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON are not going to dwell on last night's game because the reality is that there simply isn't time. The Hoyas showed everyone in NYC that Georgetown will be a force to be reckoned with over the course of the next few weeks, and I can't wait for the Madness to begin. But first, here are some Awards to those most deserving. Selection Sunday is so close, I can taste it. It doesn't taste like anything because it is not really edible since it is an event and not food.

Elvis, the sage visionary that he was, wrote this song in advance of last night's game

Chris Wright Heart of a Champion Award:
The Georgetown Hoyas. I have never been prouder of the Hoyas after a loss as I am now. This team has come together remarkably since the season began and is a legitimate contender for the national championship. From top to bottom all of the guys left it all on the floor and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

Even a Blind Squirrel Finds a Nut Some Days Award:
Not the most beautiful game of all time but the last few minutes were simply outstanding. If you're going to lose on a last second shot, make sure it's their best player who hits it and make it tough. Accomplished on both fronts.

More Awards After the Jump

Da'Sean Butler is Good Award:
Da'Sean Butler. He is good. Very good. In fact, here is a link to a site that complied his game winning shots this season, all six of them. I loathe him.

Smile! Some drunk with a blackberry is taking a picture of you!

Eat Your Words Award:
Me. You. All of us. We're a good team. A very good team. I still don't understand how we lost that game on a toss up shot but we're still good. Bring on the bracket.

The NSync I Drive Myself Crazy Award:
This game. Dammit. What if Freeman hit that floater? What if we grabbed a few more offensive rebounds? What if Butler got called for a travel? What if Wright didn't intentionally foul in a tie game? What if we came up with a steal right before WVU called timeout with 10 seconds left? Dammit.

Deja Vu Award:
I personally witnessed the Hoyas lose a Big East Championship at MSG by missing a layup after a circus shot from an opponent's best player. This loss isn't going down any easier than that one against UConn and Ray Allen. Ugh.

Who the F Do You Think You Are Award:
Off the Wagon. Told me to take off my CASUAL HEADBAND unless it was religiously affiliated apparel. OFF THE WAGON?!?I went there in high school to hook up with middle schoolers with fakes. Which leads to the obvious question: Why the hell was I there?

The Daylight Savings Award:
I have no idea what time it is, but I do know that today is 'itsallthatmatter's' birthday. Happy bday, Big Fella. Keep it casual.

The AT&T Long Distance Award:
The 4th game in as many days seemed to effect Georgetown's legs as the Hoyas shot 25% from 3. West Virginia shot 25% from 3 as well, but that's because they stink.

American Idol Award:
The girl who sang the national anthem. She is 15 years old and she crushed it. CRUSHED IT. I am a grown man who writes for a college hoops blog who will never do anything that well. Dammit.

The Bad Decisions Award:
Lordnick. A Chevy Impala and an LL Cool J CD seemed like a great idea yesterday. Somebody is sitting in traffic on the Jersey Turnpike right now and sick of "Doin It."

The I Remember My First Time Award:
West Virginia. What a fun time. A trip to New York. A room in a hotel where the door doesn't open out into a parking lot. All-you-can-eat salad and breadsticks at the Times Square Olive Garden. Oh and a Big East Championship. Good for you West Virginia. I remember when we did that. In 2007. And 1989, 1987, 1985, 1984, 1982 and 1980. Suck it Mountaineers.

"Oh look honey, there's a red lobster here too"

The Sonia Sotomayor Award for Tearing Down Barriers:
The Moutaineerette. Really? You've got a girl with the (fake) rifle and the coonskin cap? Anything is possible, I guess. And for all I know, the person wearing the Jack the Bulldog suit is Kim Kardashian.

The "If you're not going to be able to watch the 1st half you might as well be here" Award:
Mosca's in New Orleans, La. Did your parents schedule an unfortunate weekend to come down and visit you? Mosca's makes your longing for updates easy with its family style chicken cacciatore and oyster's Mosca.

Fan Friendly Award:
Madison Square Garden. There is no better arena to watch a basketball game. The place was electric yesterday.

The Wonders of Technology Award:
Madison Sqaure Garden. The scoreboard has real-time shooting stats! AWESOME! Now I know second-by-second how horrible the three point shooting was. So useful!

The Rip Off Award:
Madison Square Garden. I think the Bud Lights were $8.50. Great. We lost. I'm hungover, AND I'm broke.

Madison Square Garden Award for Most Awards for an Arena:
Madison Square Garden. They did it again, a new record!

The Bangladesh in Monsoon Season Award:
The Weather. How can it rain so much? What miserable weather. I guess God knew the Mountaineers were going to win and started crying early. It's going to be ok, God. Stop soaking me!

The Georgetown Hoyas are a nationally ranked powerhouse.

We have no idea who is neXt.

The Morning After: Post-Game Articles, Quotes & Deep Thoughts

2010-03-14T15:09:02Z

More photos » Frank Franklin II - AP

Browse more photos »

We lost - I'm disappointed. We nearly won against a team that played a lot better than us - I'm content. We put together a great run in the Big East Tournament that reminded everyone what this team is capable of - I'm proud. We beat Syracuse when they were the one seed - I'm still ecstatic.

Mike Wise - Don't forget how far the Georgetown Hoyas have come in six years under John Thompson III - washingtonpost.com
Six years after irrelevancy, they have won two Big East regular season titles, a conference tournament championship, been to one Final Four and are on the cusp of securing another NCAA tournament bid -- a feat almost taken for granted outside the Hilltop.

(More after the Jump)

Georgetown falls to West Virginia in Big East final - washingtonpost.com
There was nothing elegant about this coronation. It was a bruising affair in the tradition of Big East basketball, marked by stifling defense, fiercely contested shots and near brawls over rebounds and loose balls. And it was thrilling entertainment, with a capacity crowd of 19,375 on its feet as Georgetown's Austin Freeman hit the three-pointer that knotted the score at 56 with 51 seconds remaining.

Georgetown Hoyas vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Recap - March 13, 2010 - ESPN
"I was just thinking to get to the basket, try to finish, get a layup," Wright said. "I had time on the clock, I wasn't thinking about a pull-up or anything, just get to the basket.

Postgame Quotes - GEORGETOWN OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Q. Coach, you came into the tournament on a little bit of a downer. But it seems like everything flipped around for you in this tournament. How do you look at the way you're coming into the NCAAs?

COACH John Thompson III: It's hard to analyze that right now just because I'm extremely disappointed. We got three guys up here with me that are extremely disappointed. We have a locker room back down the hall with a bunch of other guys that are disappointed. You know, that being said, I don't think you said we came into this tournament on downer. I don't think this group has ever lost confidence in what we're doing, lost confidence in each other. And that's still true right now. You know, I said this prior to tonight's game, I said this after last night's game, we're playing well. I like where we are going into the NCAA Tournament, and I probably can still say that. We did some things tonight we have to do better, obviously.

Georgetown’s Frustrations Evident in Big East Final - NYTimes.com
Even with the defeat, Georgetown, which lost four of its last six regular-season games, put together a consistent stretch of play with three wins at Madison Square Garden. There is now a clearer sense of what the Hoyas can sustain in a survive-or-desist scenario. Georgetown is expected to be as high as a No. 3 seed in the N.C.A.A. tournament when the field is announced Sunday.

Butler Provides Dagger in Hoyas' Heartbreaker at Big East Finals | The Hoya
Thinking that the Hoyas were losing, Wright fouled Joe Mazzulla to stop the clock, a move Wright admitted was a mistake.

Hoya Prospectus: Recap: West Virginia 60, Georgetown 58
In a game where Georgetown was obliterated on the defensive boards, struggling to hit outside shots and saw Greg Monroe shut down as well as any time all season, the opportunity to steal a win and the Big East title was still within reach.

Big East - West Virginia 60, Georgetown 58 - Late Drive Gives West Virginia Its First Big East Title - NYTimes.com
"We’re playing well," Georgetown Coach John Thompson III said. "I like where we are going into the N.C.A.A. tournament."

SNY.tv: News: Mountaineers on top of the Big East
"It's March. And we are extremely disappointed, but this too shall pass" Hoyas coach John Thompson III said. "We need to move on and get ready for next week."

Revenge Tour Rolls To A Close: West Virginia defeats Georgetown 60-58

2010-03-14T05:07:18Z

In a tough loss reminiscent of the Ray Allen off-balance heave in the 1996 Big East Final against UConn, Georgetown lost by 2 to West Virginia tonight by a score of 60-58.

We'll have plenty to say about this tomorrow, but this was a solid game that was determined by the best players on the floor. The Hoyas had some phenomenal teamwork, highlighted by three plays that deserve immediate recognition: Greg Monroe leading the break to find Chris Wright for the dunk, Wright's heroic full court sprint to save the ball and feed Austin Freeman for a layup, and Wright feeding Freeman for a 3 with under a minute left - even getting the normally stoic Freeman to show some emotion.

In the end, Georgetown was unable to overcome two things: West Virginia's power on the boards (outrebounded 34-19 and the Mountaineers had 17 offensive boards) and Da'Sean Butler, the tournament's MVP who came through with two last second game winning shots in this tournament.

Georgetown's run through the Big East cemented the fact that they can play with anyone in the country and set the stage for at least a 4 seed and possibly a 3. There are definitely lessons to be learned from this game but here's hoping that it provides a solid sendoff as the Hoyas enter the NCAA Tournament.

Now the real fun begins.

Box Score

FINAL STOP ON THE REVENGE TOUR 2K10: Big East Tournament Championship - #22 Georgetown Hoyas (23-9, 10-8) vs. #7 West Virginia Mountaineers (26-6, 13-5)

2010-03-13T21:00:24Z

Quick Link to In-Game Commentary: Online / Mobile

TV: ESPN
Online TV: Channelsurfing.net
Radio: ESPN980
Online: Hoyas vs Mountaineers coverage
Time:9:00 PM EST
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

(Perspectives After the Jump)

View from the Student Section - A Perspective from Campus:

I'm a moron. The Bahamas suck. I wish I was there. The crowd sounds great on TV, I am proud of my Hoyas and the support of the fans. Hoya Saxa.

View from the Court Side Seats - A Perspective from OldHoya:

OldHoya is extremely satisfied with Georgetown's run in NYC and is looking forward to kicking back with a nice bottle of pinot tonight as the Hoyas try for Championship #8. OldHoya respects Huggins as much as he respects toilet paper.

View from the Sportsbook (via DonBest) - A Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: West Virginia -2.5. Over/Under 134.

There is no line out there that can convince me NOT to take Georgetown while they are playing at such a high level...and I'm getting points tonight? Sweet lord jesus we cannot lose to these banjo playing inbreds.

The pick is Georgetown +2.5. Final score Hoyas 76 - Brokeback Mountaineers 62.

On the Season:

Casual Hoya is 21-7 ATS. (that's not a typo)

www.CasualHoya.com : Where Your Money Stays And Plays.

Casually.

Check back for updated media coverage and game updates.

Well, we KNOCKED OUT Cuse. We were DOIN' IT against Marquette. The Georgetown Hoyas are rockin'...

2010-03-13T16:56:09Z

Well, we KNOCKED OUT Cuse. We were DOIN' IT against Marquette. The Georgetown Hoyas are rockin' in MSG. Let's not mess with the flow.

Tonight it's the Big East Championship, and you know what that means. You hear those bells West Virginia? IT'S TIME FOR WAR!

I BUILT AN EMPIRE AND THEY TRIED TO KEEP ME OUT IN THE RAIN!

The Casual Awards: The Golden Eagles Get a Golden Shower

2010-03-13T15:22:01Z

The Georgetown Hoyas are working overtime during this Revenge Tour 2K10, so it's only right that the team's favorite blog works overtime as well. Before we focus on winning a record 8th Big East Tournament championship tonight, THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON is coming at you with another set of Casual Awards.

And we're not apologizing for the title of this post.

Greg Monroe and Georgetown were REALLY good last night. So was this photographer.

Chris Wright Heart of a Champion Award:
Once again, this one goes to the good old Wrecking Ball. 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 turnover in 37 minutes. Just another ho hum day for Chris. Wait, what? The craziest part of Wright's transformation is how quickly I have become so comfortable with him in big spots. Marquette cut it to 48-47 with 13 minutes left when Wright decided to score 6 of the next 8 points and the Hoyas never looked back. I feel so safe with Chris, I just want him to hold me. This is getting weird.

The Weber Grill Stay Hot Award:
Um. Our Georgetown Hoyas? Think about this for just a second. The USF and Marquette games were cakewalks. Syracuse is one of the best teams on planet earth, and though it wasn't easy, we did win. Well. Is this team peaking A THE EXACT RIGHT MOMENT? And by that, I mean the exact right moment when I am crossing the Delaware River on the way to MSG for the Big East Championship? I don't want to jinx it. Nevermind.

The Syracuse School of Business Award:
Delta Airlines. The Saturday/Sunday morning roundtrip from National to LaGuardia on USAirways? $180. The same flight on Delta? $400. Is this a joke? No, seriously, is this a joke? I understand the USAirways flight is a little cheaper because it tends to land in the Hudson River, but different by a factor of two? Hello Chevrolet Impala from Hertz.

More Awards after The Jump:

The These People Are From Pleasantville Award:

We love Marquette. via berryaficionada.com

Marquette. The school, the players, the fans, the bloggers. All of them. Every single person I encountered has been respectful, nice, and appreciative. They make it so much harder to cheer against than their counterparts at UConn, Villanova, West Virginia, and of course, Syracuse. Just a ton of Midwestern charm with these folks.

The Roy Hibbert Award For Taking an Open Look When You've Got One:
Greg Monroe. Here is a stat line for you: Greg Monroe from three was 1-1. Yeah, I yelled at him too. But it went in. Well, if you're going to take that shot, you might as well make it.

The "If you're not going to be able to watch the 2nd half you might as well be here" Award:
Cafe Minh in New Orleans, La. Did your parents schedule an unfortunate weekend to come down and visit you? Cafe Minh makes your longing for updates easy with its delectable summer rolls and spicy beef udon soup.

The Who Wants To Sex Dikembe Award:
Julian Vaughn. ESPN says he only had two blocks. That is bullshit. THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON says he had 50. No, 100. Doesn't matter. Somebody asserted themselves inside today. No, we're not being coy. It was Julian. He is back on the awesome list. And he's at the top of it because our wives think he is very good looking.

The "Enjoy It While You Can" Award:
The kid who wears #10. The good news is Monroe was aggressive on the boards, assertive in the paint, and showed everyone that he is arguably the best passing big man to come along in awhile. The bad news? See above.

Your Spring Break is Awesome Award:

Screw Cancun, New York is the place to be this weekend.

The James Naismith Must Be Rolling Over In His Grave Award:
The Notre Dame - West Virginia "battle". The game was so poorly played and hard to watch that it killed any inkling of going out for me. Great for my liver, bad for my eyes. I would rather have bleach thrown in my eyes than ever have to watch that trainwreck of a game again. It's the Big East gentlemen, not the Big 10.

West Virginians Are The Dumbest People On Earth Award:
To the morons sitting behind me at Madison Square Garden. For 5 straight hours I had to hear these cavemen talk about the girls they wanted to slam, the fights they were going to get in, and the books they never read. I'm pretty sure the average IQ in the entire building dropped by 10 points because of this collection of missing links.

West Virginians Are The Smartest People On Earth Award:
To the West Virginia fan who duped me into buying 2 400 section tickets for $120 a piece for tonight's game. He recognized I was a noob and took full advantage of it. The direct quote was "Well it's $110 face value, so I'll charge you $120." Little did I know that every ticket in the building has the same face value. You got me this time, you crafty West Virginian.

The Windex Award:
The Hoyas outrebounded Marquette 41-18. Absurd.

Lady Gaga Award for Constantly Reinventing Oneself:
Austin Freeman. When the team needs a scorer, he drops huge second halves on UConn and Louisville. When the team needs clutch free throws to finish Syracuse, Austin nails them. When the team needs a stat stuffer, guess who does that? Austin. In the Big East Tournament, he's taken a backseat to Chris and Greg, but has impacted games by increasing his rebounds, assists and MONSTER tip-ins.

I think we just compared Austin Freeman to Lady Gaga. via thepigskindoctors.com

The Einhorn is Finkle, Finkle is Einhorn Award:
The Georgetown Hoyas. Guards getting rebounds! Centers leading the team in assists! Centers running the fast break! Big guys hitting threes! Little guys getting tip-ins! The Hoyas are confusing the crap out of their opponents because they are all, as JT3 would say, "basketball players."

John Thompson III Coaching Award:
Once again, JT3 outcoached another Big East foe on REVENGE TOUR 2010. The scorecard now reads: Thompson (3-0), Boeheim (0-1), Heath (0-1), Buzz Lightyear (0-1). Next up is Bob Huggins and whatever midget he ate to amass the considerable gut he is currently rocking.

The I Want To Be A Part Of The Cool Kid Crowd Award:
Greg and Austin seem to be obsessed with this Savage Life thing, and I hope it continues through the NCAA Tournament. I also hope to get some clarity on it, along with the White Flag movement that is championed by Julian, Jason, Henry and Chris. It's unclear where the freshmen fit between the Savages and the White Flag crew, but I want to be a part of both. Guys, am I cool enough to be part of your clique?

The Elephant In The Room Award:
Georgetown's foul shooting. Once again, it was below 70%, as the Hoyas went 14-21 from the stripe. Clearly, it didn't hurt last night, but there will be a tight game soon, and free throw shooting becomes slightly important then. Just ask the 2007-2008 Memphis Tigers. Oh wait, they don't exist because John Calipari is a CHEATING SCUMBAG and Derrick Rose is illiterate and couldn't get 800 on the SATs by himself.

Mainstream Media Is Stupid Award:
Georgetown was so maddeningly inconsistent this year that it became consistent. That made sense in my head. Essentially, it became evident in February that Georgetown would win big games and lose games they deemed unworthy of their time, mostly due to lazy defense. Here's what the media hasn't picked up on yet, there is no more inconsistency. Georgetown comes to play in big games, and it's as simple as that. You should know what to do with them from now on. You should pick them to win. Everything. Understood?

Budweiser Stamp of Approval for Good Advertising Award
The Georgetown Hoyas. With prized recruit Nate Lubick in the crowd, the Hoyas came out and put on a clinic. If there was ever a time to advertise Georgetown basketball to recruits, it has been the last 3 days. We've put up 69, 94, and 80 points, dispelling any notion that this offense isn't one suited for athletes. This offense is suited for good, smart basketball players. If you are one of those, then you should come to Georgetown. Great choice, Nate.

The Georgetown Hoyas are a nationally ranked powerhouse.

And one win away from an 8th Big East Tournament Championship.

West Virginia is NeXt.

The Morning After: Post-Game Articles, Quotes and Love for Greg Monroe

2010-03-13T14:00:53Z

More photos » Frank Franklin II - AP

Browse more photos »

It's raining in New York and I could not care less. As far as I am concerned, sun is shining, birds are chirping and the Hoyas are dominating.

Hoya Prospectus: Recap: Georgetown 80, Marquette 57
Defensive rebounding. Greg Monroe is good. There's your recap.

Georgetown Hoyas rout Marquette, 80-57, and soars into Big East title game
Monroe is the most skilled big man this rugged conference has seen since Emeka Okafor, who led Connecticut to the 2004 national championship. He shot 9-for-15 and punctuated his latest virtuoso performance with a two-minute stretch that included a driving jam, a 3-pointer, an assist and two blocks as the Hoyas took total control, driving an 11-point lead up to 70-52 with 5:32 to play.

Hoyas cruise into final - washingtonpost.com
There seemed to be nothing Georgetown and its multi-dimensional sophomore center couldn't do on Friday night. Courtesy of Monroe's virtuoso performance, the Hoyas glided into Saturday's Big East championship game with an 80-57 rout of fifth-seeded Marquette, proving there was nothing aberrant about their upset of top-seeded Syracuse the previous day.

(More Greg Monroe Love After the Jump)

Greg Monroe, humble superstar - Beyond the Arc - msnbc.com
This team first aspect is something that John Thompson III preaches, something that he has ingrained in his players. You ask him a question about a certain player's performance, he will say it is a function of the team, proof that his system is working the right way. The saying goes "there's no I in team", but with Thompson, there's no I, you, he, or me; it’s always we, us, or the team. A perfect example came when he was asked about Monroe's aggressiveness early and whether it helped set a tone for the team and the game. "I think the same thing happens when Austin comes out aggressively, when Chris comes out aggressively. When we come out aggressively and focus, it sets the tone in general." That's a pretty standard answer from Thompson. And it’s refreshing. Incredible, really.

ZagsBlog.com – Monroe Not a Hoya Great – Yet
Still, just as USC is known for producing quarterbacks and ARizona for point guards, Georgetown will forever be associated with producing some of the best big men in the history of the game.

Monroe Leads Hoyas to Big East Finals as Revenge Tour Continues | The Hoya
"It played a lot in [the decision to come to Georgetown]," Monroe said of the other Georgetown greats. "The history here as far as big men is great. There’s no secret about that. I just come in and try to do what I can."

Marquette has no answers for Georgetown in 80-57 loss - chicagotribune.com
Marquette simply had no answer for Georgetown's Greg Monroe (23 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists) and the rest of the Hoyas' interior, getting outrebounded by 20 and outscored in the paint by 24.

Georgetown Hoyas vs. Marquette Golden Eagles - Recap - March 12, 2010 - ESPN
A lot of that success is owed to guys like Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutumbo and Alonzo Mourning, who made playing inside at Georgetown akin to linebacker at Penn State. The tradition has carried on in recent years, to Roy Hibbert and now Monroe. "I'm honored to follow people that were so good here," Monroe said. "The things they accomplished and did and went on to do great things at a high level -- me just being here two years, I can't put myself in the same category as those players." He's leaving that to everybody else.

Sprinting toward Selection Sunday | College Hoops Journal
Georgetown 80, Marquette 57. Greg Monroe was always going to make money, but the check may have added a comma in the past three days.

Revenge Tour 2010 Rolls On: Georgetown Stomps Marquette 80-57

2010-03-13T05:35:54Z

Led by Greg Monroe's 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, the Georgetown Hoyas rolled the Marquette Golden Eagles 80-57 in the Semifinals of the Big East Tournament.

One more to go. via gadgetsteria.com

The Hoyas shot 54% from the field while holding Marquette to a woeful 37%, and outscored the Golden Eagles by 20 in the 2nd half.

The Georgetown Hoyas have now defeated USF, Cuse, and Marquette (all teams that it lost to in the regular season), and look to complete The Revenge Tour 2K10 in the Big East Championship tomorrow night against West Virginia. The Hoyas have probably earned at least a 4 seed with this run at MSG, and a win tomorrow night will likely result in a 3 seed. For West Virginia, however, the stakes are even higher, as a 1-seed is arguably on the line.

More on this to follow tomorrow, but for now we're going to grab a cocktail (or a dozen) and enjoy the moment.

We are Georgetown.

Box Score

Kim Kardashian

Corey Haim

REVENGE TOUR 2K10 ROLLS ON...#22 Georgetown Hoyas (22-9, 10-8) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (22-10, 11-7)

2010-03-12T19:00:26Z

Quick Link to In-Game Commentary: Online / Mobile

TV: ESPN
Online TV: Channelsurfing.net
Radio: ESPN980
Online: Hoyas vs Golden Eagles coverage
SB Nation: Anonymous Eagle
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

(Perspectives After the Jump)

View from the Student Section - A Perspective from Campus:

Wow. What a game yesterday, I had all the old ladies doing underwater aerobics in the swimming pool cheering for the Hoyas (note to self, don't book a Spring Break hotel on hotels.com) Loving the 2010 Revenge Tour. Hating the fact I am in the Bahamas for it. Woe is me. Hoya Saxa!

View from the Court Side Seats - A Perspective from OldHoya:

HoyaSon1 reports joy throughout Manhattan following yesterday's game and OldHoya assures you that there was joy at Milano and Martin's last night. Seriously, knocking off those scumbags from Cuse and that clown, Rautins?

Tonight should be an excellent start for the weekend though OldHoya is still confused by geography and doesn't grasp how Marquette is part of the Big East. Don't really have to dig into the memory banks for this one but if past is prelude, Gtown is well equipped to handle the Eagles this evening - that game really saw Jeff Green start to come together in the postseason and OldHoya sees this as Monroe's next step to dominating the tournament.

Oh and if anyone's (un)lucky enough to be in Milwaukee during the summer, drop a hundred on #3 in memory of OldHoya.

View from the Sportsbook (via DonBest) - A Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: Georgetown -3. Over/Under 133.

Bet against the Hoyas during Revenge Week 2K10? Marquette doesn't have a guy taller than 6'6" and if they aren't en fuego from deep they won't be able to keep up with the Hoyas inside. I expect Julian Vaughn to play a big role tonight.

HOYA.

HOYA.

SAXA.

The pick is Georgetown -3. Final score Hoyas 74 - Golden Schlongs 66.

On the Season:

Casual Hoya is 20-7 ATS.

www.CasualHoya.com : Where Your Money Stays And Plays.

Casually.

Check back for updated media coverage and game updates.

Well, we KNOCKED OUT Cuse. The Georgetown Hoyas are rockin' in MSG. Let's not mess with the flow;...

2010-03-12T17:34:56Z

Well, we KNOCKED OUT Cuse. The Georgetown Hoyas are rockin' in MSG. Let's not mess with the flow; just keep Doin' It. I know you got headphones on your computer at work. RIP 'EM OUT! LET THE WHOLE OFFICE KNOW:
WE'RE THE PLAYERS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

Sleeping With The Enemy: Next Stop on Revenge Tour 2010 - Marquette

2010-03-12T16:15:10Z

Revenge Tour 2010 rolls on tonight with a rematch against the Golden Eagles of Marquette in the SEMIFINALS OF THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT. As usual we here at THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON are bringing you inside the ropes, outside the lines, and straight upside your head to bring you everything you need to know about our next opponent. Special thanks to Marquette blog Anonymous Eagle for providing the answers to our penetrating questions. Be sure to check THIS OUT for our answers to their questions. Fellas, this Coors Light is for you.

Bring it. via paganshop1.com

CH: Who is this Johnson-Odom guy and does Georgetown need to fear him?

DJO is a JUCO transfer who originally hails from North Carolina. He was a junior college All-American and one of the last players to commit to Buzz Williams' '09-'10 recruiting class. He was hobbled by a bum wheel early on, but Coach insisted from Day One: this guy is instant offense. And he's been right more times than not. You'll know early on whether Georgetown should be afraid of DJO. If he hits his first few shots, he'll keep gunnin', and he can put up points in a hurry. If his shot is off, he'll probably start deferring to Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler, and you won't have to be concerned.

Admit it: You're just happy to be in the semifinals and don't really care if you win or lose. The city of Milwaukee is more focused on the Brewers spring training camp and the resurgent Bucks.

We had four overtime games in about 10 days, followed by two BEast tourney games that went down to the wire. At this point, I'm just happy I haven't coded.And isn't Washington more focused on whatever marginal free agent Dan Snyder is going to sign to an 8-year, $100 million contract? He's gotta be like a junkie in an opium den with the uncapped year, right?

Casual Hoya has anointed this Big East Tournament Georgetown's Revenge Tour 2010 since the Hoyas have faced all teams that it hadn't beaten in the regular season (USF, Cuse, now you jerks). No real question here.

So ... you're rooting for West Virginia and Notre Dame in the other quarterfinal games, then? (Casual Note: Yes.)

More Sleeping With Marquette after The Jump:

Buzz Williams seems to have a lot of hair, yet always keeps his head shaved like a bald dude. Does he do this purely because his nickname is Buzz? Why is he nicknamed Buzz? Does he aspire to be the most famous Buzz? Even more famous than Buzz Aldrin and Buzz Lightyear?

I've come for your women and children. via www.my-family-fun.com

As a balding man, I was PISSED when Buzz grew out his hair earlier this year. Dude's not even a LITTLE bald. He'd have a glorious head of hair if he turned it loose and let it grow. I'm still upset about this. Legend (and by "legend," I, of course, mean "Wikipedia") has it that Buzz got his nickname from "buzzing" around the basketball team at Navarro College. I don't know; I like your theory better. Also: no one is more famous than Buzz Lightyear. He's a freakin' Space Ranger. Come on.

Marquette is now 8-8 in games decided by 5 points or less after starting out something like 0-5. What has happened to the team that has made it more effective as the clock winds down?

Damn, you know a lot about our team. Yeah, we're trying to figure that one out, too. Part of the cold start in close games was just dumb luck: we miss the front end of a one-and-one against WVU after leading the whole game, and Da'Sean Butler hits a prayer at the other end to beat us. Same thing against DePaul: miss the front end, some dude who's name I can't be bothered to remember hits a fall-away with a second left after Mo Acker tipped a pass right to him. Those things have evened out now, to some extent. We did everything we could to give away the games at Providence and at Seton Hall, but we got the bounces. Add in the fact that Jimmy Butler has stepped up and become the go-to option at the end of the game -- we didn't have one before, since Hayward can't really create off the dribble -- and that's the best answer I can give you.

How far does Marquette have to go in the Dance for this season to be deemed a success? Is making the Tournament enough for you?

I think, for almost everyone, making the Dance is enough. It's a broken record at this point, but whatever: we lost three 1,500 point (career) scorers after last year. We had one returning starter and about eight new faces. Then, in September, our freshman PG blew his Achilles and was seemingly lost for the year (he's getting about five minutes of run per game now), and, in December, our only other power forward quit the team because his (the power forward's) dad was pissed about how his kid was being used in the offense. Before the BEast season started, I penciled us in for 6-12. If we win a game in the tournament after going 11-7 in conference and winning a couple BEast tourney games, the season goes from "wildly successful" to "astonishingly successful."

Where does Buzz Williams keep his neck during games?

He stores it a lock box with Keno Davis' brain, so he knows it'll stay untouched and safe.

Buzz Williams famously left UNO to head to Marquette. Sure it's a better basketball school but please list 3 casual things that Milwaukee offers and New Orleans doesn't:

(1) More encased meats. (2) More serial killers. (3) Bigger women.

Will you guys continue to hit 15+ three pointers for the rest of the tournament? Is guarding the three something we should focus on in practice between today and tomorrow?

We'll keep taking 'em, but I think we'll be hard pressed to make more than 6 or 7 with tired legs. If things hold true to form, we'll probably hit a couple, then miss a whole bunch, then hit a couple more. If you get the timing down, you probably don't have to stand within 15 feet of our guys when they're running cold.

How do you see the game playing out? Final score prediction?

I'm almost always pessimistic about Marquette's chances in any game, but I just don't see how we contain GU inside. When it's the third game in three days for both teams, and we're shooting jump shots and you're getting 8-footers, that doesn't sound promising to me. Plus, the first time Marquette played Georgetown this year, we needed a nightmare game from Chris Wright to steal a win. I'm not confident that happens again. I'll say GU by 7, 63-56. (Is that seven?)

Finals, Here We Come! via macroblog.typepad.com

Casually.

The Casual Awards: Hoyas Beat Syracuse, World Rejoices

2010-03-12T14:15:10Z

How great is this time of the year? In the most satisfying win of the season until we win the National Championship, Georgetown defeated its archrival Syracuse yesterday at the World's Most Famous Arena. Today we continue Revenge Tour 2010 when we face Marquette at 7:00 PM. But first, we at THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON would like to let our loyal readers sink their teeth into an incredibly tasty batch of Casual Awards.

Georgetown's win was a victory for truth, justice, and the American spirit.

Chris Wright Heart of a Champion Award:
Chris Wright. Lumpy has taken the Hoyas and put them on his little-but-muscular back. 27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal in 39 minutes of play. Unbelievable, simply unbelievable. His aggressiveness, which used to be out of control, set the tone for the team and got us plenty of transition baskets. The only way his play could have been better is if he had missed a three off the side of the backboard in a fashion that it hit Leo Rautins right in his fat Canadian face.

Hire Esherick is an Absolute Magician Award:
Never doubt his bets, ever.

The Why Not Keep It Interesting Award:
Georgetown's free throw shooting. Let's say, you know, hypothetically, the Hoyas had been consistent from the line in the game's closing minutes. BO-RING. Nobody wants to beat a hated rival going away. So a few clangs off the rim and all of a sudden GOD DAMN WE'VE GOT OURSELVES A BALL GAME. Thank you for making me nearly pass out under my desk at work. 19-28 for the game, UNDER SEVENTY PERCENT, is an award-winning performance!

More Awards after The Jump:

The Award For A Real-Life Lesson in Supply and Demand:
The streets outside of Madison Square Garden. Would you like to see the semifinals of the Big East Championship? Well, standing on Eighth avenue right now are about 10,000 morbidly obese people in Orange, wondering how they can change their non-refundable bus ticket to get back to Syracuse in time to pick up some extra shifts at the Ruby Tuesday. Oh, and they don't need their Big East Championship basketball tickets any more, either. Offer them $25 for one. Then laugh. Pay them $1.50. That's how capitalism works, suckers!

The You Are What You Eat Award:
The Syracuse Burritomen. Thanks to our pals over that that horribly-named Syracuse blog, we know that at some point during their time in New York, the team went out to eat at Chipotle. Hahahaha. Losers. Nothing like 24 ounces of undercooked rice, overcooked meat and some mild hot sauce to get your game on.

Nothing like a burrito to get you ready for an athletic event!

The You Are What You Eat Award II:
The Georgetown Delicious Steaks. Thanks to Freeman's tweets, we know that the Hoyas went out for some nice aged meat at Shula's Steakhouse in New York after the game last night. Not only delicious...Do you know what Don Shula is? A PROVEN WINNER!

The "If you're not going to be able to watch the 2nd half you might as well be here" Award:
Andrea's Restaurant in Metairie, La. Have an unfortunately scheduled luncheon to attend during the greatest game ever played? Andrea's makes your longing for updates easy with its delectable seafood gumbo and fried oyster caesar salad.

The "Dark Cloud on an Otherwise Joyous Day" Award:
"Ronnie and Sammi are no longer together," a source close to the couple tells RadarOnline.com, and it hasn't been an amicable split, "They were so angry that when they were in Vegas on March 6th they demanded separate rooms and separate tables and wanted to be separate at all their events," the source says.

When a Joke Becomes Reality Award:

THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON and its readers. 700+ comments in a day and not a single bit of work done. Soon we will actually be living in our mom's basement, because we're all getting fired. But it's all good, our basketball team is starting to really come together, just as our lives FALL APART.

The Harlem Globetrotters Award:
Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. On-court theatrics! An alley-oop! Oh lord have mercy be still my beating heart.

The New Musical Ally of THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON Award:
LL Cool J. Whom do ladies love? That answer is obvious. Whom does this blog now love? Cool James Todd Smith. Look forward to us at CasualHoya plumbing the depths of the LL Cool J oeuvre for the rest of this magical post-season run, ultimately ending up with the bizarre selection of 1993's "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings" for the National Championship game.

John Thompson III Award For Awesome Coaching:

JT3. This tournament was a referendum on JT3's ability to adjust his gameplan and learn from previous mistakes. Hell, we've dubbed it Revenge Tour 2010. So far he's made adjustments and outcoached Stan Heath and Jim Boeheim, the latter being a little bit more impressive. How about the Chris Wright running the baseline wrinkle? I thoroughly enjoyed that one.

The Bill Clinton Award For Talking Like A Damn Politician All the Damn Time:

William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States (SFS '68). Anybody watch the Cincinnati/West Virginia mess? Well, I was keeping an eye on it while trying to digest a plate of Hooters wings and, apropos of that, all of a sudden ESPN is interviewing Bill Clinton. Here are the relevant quotes that made me remember what it was like back in the 1990's with our crazy white president we all loved to hate (or hate to love):

OUR GLORIOUS FORMER PRESIDENT ON GREG MONROE:

"He's got eyes in the back of his head and he can score 25 points a game."
"When he gets inside 10-12 feet they have to double team him."
"It's impossible to calculate his benefit to the team."

THAT SLICK WILLIE BASTARD TALKING ABOUT SYRACUSE:

"I love Syracuse and I'm a New Yorker now."
"I never root against Syracuse except when my alma mater is playing them."
"I still think they'll get a number one seed."
"I just think they deserve to be a number one seed."

ALL IS FORGIVEN MR. PRESIDENT:

"When Georgetown is on and they're hitting they can beat anybody."
"If Georgetown can shoot like they did in the second half they can
beat anybody."

Get a Georgetown degree, Greg; I did!

Elmer's Glue Award:

Austin Freeman. In the last two weeks he's been hospitalized for dehydration, diagnosed with diabetes, scored 24 points in his first game back, and has served as the rallying force for a team that was previously in disarray. How about how he cooly iced the game with four free throws at the end? Or his key tip in? Or how he got in Hollis Thompson's face as Hollis was imploding and told him to slow down? Austin has done absolutely everything this year and it's been really fun to watch.

Robert Horry Award for Hitting Shots When It Matters Most:

Vee Sanford. Oh Vee, you sweet little boy. That tear drop floater to put us up 60-59 was just so wonderful. Come to think of it, Vee looks like he could be Robert Horry's kid. Maybe they are related. Even if they aren't, we're glad Vee finally getting some minutes, now all he needs is the flat top back.

Harry Potter Wizard Award:

Greg Monroe. We've said it plenty of times, but his passes are just insane. Syracuse keyed in on him today, so he fed our guards for open three after open three. We hope everyone is appreciating what will probably be his last few games as a Hoya, because he may be the best passer this school will ever see. We also enjoyed him getting in Jerrelle Benimon's face and showing some serious fire.

The Cordon Bleu Award for Most Inspired Dining Choices:
Jason Clark. There are lots of ways you can go when dining at a fine steakhouse like Shula's in Manhattan, but we here at THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON are fans of French Cuisine and so we must applaud Jason's decision last night to apparently order the Steak au Poivre, per this photo tweet from Sims.

Tonight we dine like Kings. Tomorrow we play like Semi-Final Victors!

The Georgetown Hoyas are a nationally ranked powerhouse.

Marquette is NeXt.

The Glorious Morning After: Post-Game Articles, Quotes and Music

2010-03-12T13:15:10Z

More photos » Frank Franklin II - AP

Browse more photos »

There is nothing I can say that will be better or more insightful and groovy than the rest of this post. So I will shut up. Here's what they all had to say after yesterday's game. In about three hours I will forget about the Cuse win and focus on Marquette. But I am sure gonna enjoy these three hours.

Orange lack a go-to guy - Beyond the Arc - msnbc.com
Today proved nothing about Georgetown. Let me say that again, it proved nothing. I know what you're thinking: "How is that possible? The Hoyas just ran away from the best team in the Big East!" Well, we already knew that Georgetown could beat anyone in the country. We already knew that when their offense is clicking like it was today, they can score like they did today. You can ask Villanova and Duke, who both took a solid whooping from the Hoyas earlier this season.

More after the Jump

Reaction from Katrina and the Waves

Georgetown Hoyas vs. Syracuse Orange - Recap - March 11, 2010 - ESPN
Playing before a lively crowd, Georgetown rebounded from two losses to Syracuse earlier this season and took a 7-6 edge in Big East tournament games between the longtime rivals, the most common matchup in the 31-year history of the event. Five times they've played for the title, with the Hoyas winning the first four before Syracuse broke through in 1992.

Georgetown upends top-seeded Syracuse in Big East tournament - washingtonpost.com
Georgetown's 91 points were the most scored by the Hoyas in the Big East tournament since 1996, and credit was due all around, with four players finishing in double figures and all having a hand in the team's most dogged defensive performance this season.

Georgetown 91, Syracuse 84 - Syracuse Has a Scare in Loss to Hoyas - NYTimes.com
Georgetown will enter the N.C.A.A. tournament next week as a tease. The Hoyas have enough talent to make a run at the Final Four; Monroe, Wright and Freeman are as talented as any in college basketball. The Hoyas’ problem is that they have been as predictable as lottery numbers, as reliable as the airline industry.

Post Game Quotes - GEORGETOWN OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Q. Chris, to beat the No. 1 seed, No. 2 team in the country, a team that's beaten you twice this year, what does it do for this team's confidence heading into next week and this week?

Chris Wright: Next week seems like a long way away. We have to worry about whoever we play tomorrow, whatever draw we get. It's definitely a confidence boost. I don't think this team lacks confidence. I just think we're ready to play. And fatigue is not going to be an issue. We're just going to be ready to play whoever we play tomorrow.

Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - For Syracuse Orange Fans
Georgetown shot 69% in the second today. You want to find "the secret to beating Syracuse?" Shoot 69% in the 2nd half. That'll do it.

Hoya Prospectus: Recap: Georgetown 91, Syracuse 84
Because of the vaunted 2-3 zone, Syracuse normally forces teams to shoot a lot of outside shots: opponents attempt 3FGs as 41% of all shots from the floor, which is the 10th highest rate against in Div-I. Today, Georgetown resisted that temptation, as they shot 18 3FGAs on a total of 58 shot attempts [= 31%], just about at their season average [30%].

Instead, the Hoyas pounded it inside. A lot. If you've been paying attention around here, you may have noticed a post earlier this week breaking out each player's shot selection over the past three months of the season. As a team, the Hoyas take 67% of their 2-pt shots as either dunks, layups or tip-ins - a fantastic percentage. In today's game, Georgetown was even better, taking 82% of the shots from in close.

Georgetown Hoyas Beat Syracuse in Big East... | Gather
Hoyas Chris Wright was today’s superstar, scoring 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Center Greg Monroe should also be recognized for playing great defense in the second half, helping to secure their victory.

The 65 - Poll: Is Syracuse still a No. 1 seed? Will Georgetown be a No. 3 seed?
As for the Hoyas, they have clearly answered any questions about their potential after the stumbles against South Florida and Rutgers. The Hoyas have six top 25 RPI wins and the No. 1 strength of schedule in the country. That’s at least a No. 3 seed to me, and moving up if they can keep surging in the Big East tournament. My No. 3 seeds tomorrow morning probably will be New Mexico, Kansas State, Pittsburgh and Georgetown – a solid foursome. If Georgetown is a solid No. 3 seed, decent chance it could wind up in Buffalo or Providence. If it is the last No. 3 seed, it could be headed to New Orleans or Jacksonville.

Bubble movement, blown chances and a busted knee | College Hoops Journal
Georgetown 91, Syracuse 84. Georgetown is so hot and cold it’s amazing. Monroe was effective and Chris Wright did whatever he wanted. Rest assured, whatever you pick Georgetown to do in your bracket, you will be wrong.

Georgetown topples top-seeded Syracuse - NYPOST.com
"Georgetown attacks zones very well," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "Teams in our league at this stage of the year know how to attack us. We’re looking forward to get out and play somebody that hasn’t seen us."

Third Time's the Charm for Hoyas Against Syracuse Zone | The Hoya
After Monroe struggled at the Dome with eight points and six turnovers and dominated down the stretch at Verizon Center with 20 points, Boeheim wanted to focus on the first team Big East selection. "He’s the best inside passer in college basketball easily," he said. "And he can score in there. I thought overall we didn’t do a bad job with him." With the zone collapsing on him, Monroe had little room to work. Rather than get frustrated, he just shared the wealth, finding teammates in the corner, along the baseline or around the perimeter en route to seven of the teams’ 22 assists.

Georgetown 91, Syracuse 84 - College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN
In an incredibly high-energy quarterfinal game, the Hoyas played smart, focused and forceful, pushing the tempo on Syracuse and upsetting the Orange's rhythm in a stunning early dismissal of one of the best teams in the country.

Arinze Onuaku hurt as top-seeded Syracuse falls to Georgetown 91-84 in Big East tournament
Georgetown pulled the upset, 91-84, and redeemed itself for two regular season losses before a raucous sellout crowd of 19,375.

GEORGETOWN PUTS SQUEEZE ON THE ORANGE | NBE Basketball Report
"I thought Georgetown really played well tonight," Syracuse coach Jom Boeheim said following the game. "The first game we controlled the game. The second game we controlled about 30 minutes. And then they started to get the ball into (Greg) Monroe and they did that tonight from the beginning we had difficultly with it. We just couldn’t get enough stops."

Loss to Georgetown quiets Syracuse University campus | syracuse.com
"Now it begins," said a dejected Steve Mosher, 44, of Syracuse, a university student who also works as a food handler in the dining area. "I'd rather lose by a few points than be walked on."

Moses Abraham Leaning Towards the Hoyas

2010-03-12T01:21:58Z

Moses Abraham Leaning Towards the Hoyas

Good News Thursday Continues! Big man recruit Moses Abraham is expected to announce his decision on Selection Sunday and according to Jerry Meyer of Rivals, "he has been considered a Georgetown lean, especially after the recent commitment of his friend and teammate Jordan Goodman." Hip Hip Hooray!