Casual Hoya

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 MOP 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!

Orange Crush: Georgetown Defeats Syracuse 91-84 in a Classic

2010-03-11T20:04:31Z

More photos » Frank Franklin II - AP

2 days ago: Georgetown's Jason Clark (21) passes around Syracuse's Wes Johnson, center, and teammate Rick Jackson (00) during the first half of a quarterfinal round NCAA college basketball game at the Big East Conference Championships Thursday, March 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Browse more photos »

Holy crap. That was quite a game. Georgetown defeated the #1 seed Syracuse Orange today in Madison Square Garden, 91-84. Chris Wright led the Hoyas in the finest performance of any Georgetown player this entire year. Wright had 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists while carrying the Hoyas for the entire game. It wasn't just the statistics for Wright, it was his poise in shredding the zone, the timing when he hit huge shots, and the control he showed running the point position.

Syracuse shot 54% from the field and 55% from three point range and still lost. And by now everyone recognizes just how good this Syracuse team is. Yet, today at least, the Hoyas were better. This game was phenomenal, back and forth, up and down, each team making runs, playing their guts out. And Georgetown was better. It was Wright's virtuoso performance, Austin Freeman icing free throws and attacking the basket, Greg Monroe guarding our rim like Georgetown heroes of yester-year and Jason Clark hitting dagger three after dagger three. Georgetown was better. If nothing else, that has to give us fans a lot of hope for the next month. We just played one of the three best teams in the country, took every shot they had, and still won. Syracuse did not overlook us, they were not flat, they just got beat by a better team today.

Monroe, Freeman and Clark chipped in 50 points, scoring 15, 18, and 17 respectively. Hollis Thompson played 25 minutes, contributing 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals and more than a few heart attacks with those free throws. Vee Sanford scored 2 points with a beautiful floater, those measly points just happened to be the two points that gave us our first lead since early in the first half. What's great about Thompson and Sanford is that they are contributing, they can be trusted, and they will continue to help Georgetown as this month wears on. Hopefully Julian Vaughn is back to full strength soon, he seems to still be fighting the flu bug. Also hoping Arinze Onuaku's injury isn't too bad, nothing worse than not going into the tournament at full strength. If Syracuse is going to make a deep run they need to stop relying on threes and run their offense through Wesley Johnson. Outside of Evan Turner, he is the best swingman in the country, and damn near unguardable for the Hoyas.

Georgetown's defense was erratic for the first 25 minutes of the game, there were too many open layups and open Rautins threes, but we really clamped down in the second half, getting steal after steal and protecting our glass. The defense keyed transition baskets for the Hoyas as well. I'll say it once, I'll say it again, as long as we come with defensive intensity, we will be in every single game. The bad losses weren't from offensive execution, they were from lazy defense.

More than anything, this game put Chris Wright on a different level than he was before, and I'm very happy for him. He takes a lot of crap from Georgetown fans, and all he's done is come out the last two days and been the MVP of the entire Big East Tournament. Big East voters must be kicking themselves a bit for Wright not even getting an honorable mention on any post season tournament team. Hopefully he is using that as fuel to continue his dominant effort in the tournament.

Georgetown will play the winner of Villanova and Marquette tomorrow night. I'm fine seeing either team, although the Revenge Tour 2010 would continue if we played Marquette.

Plenty more tonight and tomorrow. HELL YES WE BEAT CUSE.

Box Score

#22 Georgetown Hoyas (21-9, 10-8) vs. #3 Syracuse Orange (28-3, 15-3)

2010-03-11T15:36:12Z

Quick Link to In-Game Commentary: Online / Mobile

TV: ESPN
Online TV: Channelsurfing.net
Radio: ESPN980
Online: Hoyas vs Orange coverage
SB Nation: Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Time: 12:00 PM EST
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

(Perspectives After the Jump)

View from the Student Section - A Perspective from Campus:

Last time we lost three in a season to Syracuse some dude named Esherick was coach and I was still in diapers. The team played well yesterday in spite of the efforts of the refs to throw the game; even the waiters serving me pina coladas agreed that something smelled like rotten fish tacos at MSG. Squash the Orange. Hoya Saxa.

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

OldHoya is feeling good enough about this game that he sent HoyaSonOne up to watch at MSG. The reason for optimism: Gtown is playing with house money and the Hoyas have played pretty well over the past 2 games, particularly as the big men battled with Cincy.

As loyal readers know, OldHoya's new digs include a 103 inch HD television. Some say that tourney time leads to lower productivity - OldHoya questions the manhood of anyone who claims that watching the Hoyas dominate the Orange is anything other than productive.

Third time's the charm.

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

The Line: Syracuse -4.5. Over/Under 141.

The opening line above has now moved to Cuse -6 with an o/u 139. I'll play the current 6 point line here since that's what you'll be getting in at if you wager this morning.

One of the things you always hear in sports is how difficult it is to beat a team three times. This is based on the premise that by the 3rd go-around, the team that had lost the prior two times will figure something out and that the team that had won the previous two times won't be able to match the tenacity it brought in the first two matchups.

Syracuse is a really good team, and we all know that the damn 2-3 zone gives Georgetown fits. But maybe, just maybe, the Hoyas will be able to build off that 2nd half comeback effort at Verizon. And maybe, just maybe, this noon start will prevent Cuse from streaking to a large early lead. The pick here is Georgetown +6.

Final score: Georgetown 109 - Syracuse 2.

On the Season:

Casual Hoya is 19-7 ATS.

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

Casually.

Check back for updated media coverage and game updates.

I THINK I'M GONNA BOMB A TOWN! I woke up this morning pretty confident that we were going to lose. ...

2010-03-11T14:48:30Z

I THINK I'M GONNA BOMB A TOWN!
I woke up this morning pretty confident that we were going to lose. Then I watched this, and I knew we were going to win. (but I have since watched "The Humpty Dance," so now I think we'll probably tie.)

Sleeping With The Enemy: SYRACUSE ARMAGEDDON

2010-03-11T14:00:39Z

Oh, man. Here we go again. Georgetown versus Syracuse. Hoyas versus Orange. Good versus Evil. Man versus Food. The curtain to Act III of the biggest and best rivalry in the Big East rises at noon, but first here's another installment of our feature that brings you inside the ropes, outside the lines, and behind enemy territory to get you all the info you need to know about the Syracuse Orange. Special thanks to Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician, our biggest rival for Big East blog supremacy, for valiantly stepping up to the plate and answering our penetrating questions. Be sure to check THIS for our answers to some of theirs. Troy Nunes, this Coors Light is for you.

In prison they make you wear Syracuse garb.

CH: Syracuse had 34,000 strong for the big game against Villanova last month. I'll admit it looked pretty casual on TV and it was nice that you had Erin Andrews parading around the Carrier Dome, but why not just move the damn court to the middle of the Dome so that 50,000 fans could have attended? It's not like there's anything better to do in Cuse on a Saturday night!

It's a valid point. We've wondered for a while now why they don't give it a shot. Based on the initial feedback from the Nova game it sounds like it's something SU will attempt in the near future. The only person who seems to be against it is Jim Boeheim...and if anyone has the pull to put the kibosh on things...it's Jimmy. So we'll see. If not for Syracuse games, I think you'll start to see the move made for when the Dome hosts NCAA Regionals in the future. That's the way things are going in general.

What's it like to be ranked #1 and then blow it by losing to Louisville for the 2nd time in 3 weeks?

It was a bummer. It was awesome to be No. 1 and finally get that validation. By losing right away, it sends out the signal that we aren't quite ready for that kind of rep. True or not. Not to mention the fact that it's official...we can't beat Louisville. We hate you guys but at least we can beat you when the time calls for it. With Louisville, they've got some kind of kryptonite that we can't seem to get around. Maybe it's Pitino, maybe it's their three-point shooting, maybe it's their affinity for random bench players having career games against us...maybe it's all three. It's something all Syracuse fans are miffed about. Yeah, I said miffed.

More fun with Troy Nunes after The Jump:

If Georgetown would have pulled off that comeback against Cuse at Verizon, would any of your followers on Troy Nunes have killed themselves?

If Georgetown could have pulled off that comeback, it would have been really awesome. via www.altergroup.com

Possibly. Not sure we would have had any suicides but I think a lot of habitual cutting would have gone on that night. Ten years in the future you would have been able to look back and chart an increase in the amount of self-immolating SU fans to that exact moment. We averted a crisis of epic proportions.

Andy Rautins is faced with a decision. A building is burning and three things are trapped inside - Leo Rautins, Eric Devendorf and his hair gel. Which one is he saving?

He can only save one? I mean, he's got two very chiseled arms...I'm sure he could grab at least two of those things. If he can only take one, it's the hair gel. Sorry, but if Andy's hair can't survive, no one can. If he can take two of them, I think it's the hair gel and Leo. Devo's old news...that ship has sailed (to New Zealand).

Any chance that Wesley Johnson returns for another year? Would it be that much of a paycut to go to the NBA?

No way. Especially once he gets the word from actual NBA folks that he's lottery material and not just the word of some guy with a mock draft website. We as college basketball fans can't possibly expect these guys to turn down those opportunities anymore. I'm sure he'll miss all the free cars and handouts from SU boosters but something tells me he'll make just enough to cover things. I'm sure you'll miss him.

We here at CasualHoya hate all things Cuse and particularly all things Boeheim. Save, of course, for the incomparable Mrs. How's she look in person and will she show up at G&T for the next CasualHoya postgame party?

I haven't seen her in person, or at least close enough to make a judgment call. But as far as I can tell, no one has a bad word to say about her in any category. She may in fact be infallible. She doesn't do housecalls but if you have a regional product that serves the good people of Central New York, she's available for spokesperson opportunities. Inquire within!

Why do you guys make t-shirts to commemorate every little thing?

A picture is worth a thousand words. A t-shirt is worth a thousand pictures. Think about it. (Casual Note: That's pretty deep for a Cuse grad).

Will the 3rd time be the charm for Georgetown? How do you see this go-around playing out? Final score prediction?

I'd like to think that the Orange have re-affixed a chip to their shoulder after the Louisville loss and will come out firing on all cylinders. But I don't know. They'll have the crowd behind them, sorry about that, and they'll be fresh. So there's really no excuse for them to lose this one. I'm sure if anyone is motivated to beat SU however, it's Georgetown. And they've certainly had enough time now to figure some things out. It should be a great game. Still think SU wins, but, I expect fun times.

Syracuse lost to LeMoyne. No question here.

If that is the cost we pay for the chance to win a national title, I pay it gladly.

BEAT CUSE.

A Wager with Hoya Suxa: Part Deux

2010-03-11T01:43:08Z

After Georgetown lost to Syracuse at the Verizon Center last month, I was forced to do the unthinkable. After my heart was broken, pieced back together during an unfathomable second half run, and then cruelly stomped on during the closing minutes of a game against a team that bears the name of a citrus fruit, I did something so traitorous that John Carroll rolled over in his grave while shedding a tear. I penned a poem lauding Gerry McNamara, the most famous Orange oompa loompa. The composition was forced by HoyaSuxa, a merciless and doomed soul who insisted I publicly pay my debts in full.

Now, as the third installment of the Georgetown - Syracuse saga is set take place at noon, it is time for vengeance. And as any wounded but proud warrior would do, I emailed the dude and said let's do it again, bro.

(Details of the wager after the Jump)

The bet is as follows:

If Georgetown wins, HoyaSuxa will create, direct and star in a video illustrating his pain and emotion following a Syracuse loss to Georgetown.

If Syracuse wins, I will hand over the keys to this blog's most prized possession: the post-game awards. He will gain full editorial rights for all post-game awards of the Georgetown - Syracuse game, and this blog will most likely implode.

Good talk.

You asked for it, we provided it. A Casual Pregame before tomorrow's game at Stout Bar, 133 W...

2010-03-10T21:48:47Z

You asked for it, we provided it. A Casual Pregame before tomorrow's game at Stout Bar, 133 W 33rd St, btw. 6th and 7th. Start as early as you want to, bar opens at 10am, although most will arrive between 10:30 and 11. We wanted to keep you safe from the Cuse lepers so ask for the reserved area upstairs called The Carriage House. For friends of the blog only.

The Casual Awards: Hoyas Vanquish Bulls

2010-03-10T20:07:22Z

Well, that was easier than expected. A relatively relaxing 20 point win against Dominique Jones and the South Florida Bulls was kind of nice given the explosion that lies ahead tomorrow. We here at THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON have a lot of work to do to satiate the appetites of our loyal readers before the monstrous 3rd matchup with the Orange, but before we turn the page on USF we're handing out some awards to those most deserving.

We've had enough of the Bulls.

Chris Wright Heart of a Champion Award:
Chris Wright. Put simply, Georgetown loses this game without Wright. Offensive production aside, his floor leadership with Austin Freeman off of his game and Monroe and Vaughn on the bench with foul trouble was invaluable. CW finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and ZERO TURNOVERS. A remarkable performance from our beloved Wrecking Ball. Well done, sir.

Scottie Reynolds Award:
Dominique Jones. If there was one guy in the entire Conference who you would want on your playground team, wouldn't it be Jones? This guy scares the crap out of me whenever we play USF, and I'm just gald we were able to survive his latest onslaught and move on. I'm already looking forward to my Knicks 'Jones' jersey next season.

The Tim Donaghy Award:
All the refs. Good God they were atrocious. They were inconsistent, dumb, and fat. Referees in the Big East have caught a lot of flack this year, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I'm usually not one to criticize officiating because they generally do a thankless job that is nearly impossible to always get right, but this game had some very questionable whistles. The 4th foul on Monroe was one of the worst calls I have ever seen, as were the 5th on Vaughn, 4th on Thompson, 4th on Wright, etc..

The Corey Haim Award for Most Entertaining In-Game Comment:
It wouldn't be appropriate to honor the memory of the late great Corey Haim by singling out just one of you to earn this award. Instead, we're giving it to each and every one of you who nearly shut down SBNation's servers by contributing a whopping 500+ comments during the game. I'm sure your bosses are thrilled.

More Awards after The Jump:

A Few Good Men Award:
The GLOBAL PHENOMENON staff. We have collectively decided that potential dismissal from our jobs be damned, we're bringing you content fast and hard for as long as the Hoyas play. Please do come join the fun.

You want us on the blog. You need us on the blog. via www.enterstageright.com

Fundamentals Award:
Despite all the fouls that were called against the Hoyas, Georgetown was saved by USF's atrocious free throw shooting. USF finished 16-25 from the charity stripe for a 65% margin. If they had made ALL of their free throws, oh, they still would have lost 69-58. Nevermind. USF sucks. Thanks, guys!

The AT&T Long Distance Award:
USF. 1 for 10 from 3 point range, with the only make being with 30 seconds left by a guy who has probably played 6 minutes all season. If they had made ALL of their three-pointers, we here at the GLOBAL PHENOMENON would be sitting in a bathroom stall at work fingering the safety of a large caliber handgun because USF would have won 76-69. Thanks, guys!

Can't Play Like This Tomorrow Award:
Julian Vaughn. 6 points, 2 rebounds and 5 fouls. Yes, some of the calls were horrendous, but Vaughn needs to stick around on the court more against the Orange.

Craig Esherick Award:
I'm still not sure why Georgetown played more than a single possession in man-to-man defense. If they can't shoot, play zone! Do I need to send JT3 all the tapes from my Syracuse Collection? Also, at some point JT3 needs to stand up to the officials for his players and get T'd up. I'm not suggesting he should have, but it would be nice to see for once, especially with the zebras acting so absurdly in this one.

The Phillips/Magnavox Award for Having No Idea What is Going On:
To whomever watched the game on a television this small:

Is that Henry Sims? Greg Monroe? Wait, am I watching the right game? What is the score? That looks like a 6. Or an 8. Dammit. This sucks. Good thing Doris Burke is coming through LOUD AND CLEAR on my headphones.

The OldHoya Award for Dominant Television Upside

Move into a new office? Why not get an 108 inch HD projection set to watch games? OldHoya the best.

Robert Horry Award for Stepping Up in Big Moments:
Jason Clark. Go go gadget hit big three after big three for the Hoyas today, snapping out of a late season funk that made me very unhappy with him. He played well against Butler in MSG earlier this year, hopefully this trend continues.

Tracy McGrady Never Getting Past the 1st Round Award for Weird Statistic:
Austin Freeman has never scored in double digits in the Big East Tournament. That strikes me as odd. At the same time, he was the 4th or 5th scoring option as a freshman, last year didn't happen, and we've only played one game thus far this year. Something tells me Austin will break that streak tomorrow.

Amare Stoudemire Big Man Camp Award:
Greg Monroe. How about his footwork today? Somebody looks to have won most improved camper at Amare's skill camp, right? How many more rhetorical questions can I ask? Plenty? Is this thing on?

Revenge is a Dish Best Served At Madison Square Garden Award:
The Georgetown Hoyas. Eat it, South Florida. Have fun in the NIT.

Y'all came to see Dominique Jones go home. via cdn.bleacherreport.com

The Georgetown Hoyas are a nationally ranked powerhouse.

Syracuse is NeXt.

HUGE.

Y'all Came to See Georgetown Play: Georgetown Thrashes USF 69-49

2010-03-10T19:07:09Z

More photos » Frank Franklin II - AP

3 days ago: Georgetown's Chris Wright (4) drives past South Florida's Toarlyn Fitzpatrick (32) and Dominique Jones (20) during the first half of a second round NCAA college basketball game at the Big East Conference Championships on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Browse more photos »

Exacting revenge on Dominique Jones and his cronies, the Georgetown Hoyas beat South Florida 69-49 in the 2nd round of the Big East Tournament. The Hoyas got absolutely no help from the referees, who apparently were very interested in South Florida's tournament aspirations. Julian Vaughn played about 10 minutes and fouled out, Greg Monroe was saddled with 4 fouls, 3 of which were complete nonsense. Hollis Thompson and Chris Wright joined the party with 4 fouls as well.

Yet, all that said, and Georgetown won. And they won pretty easily. Chris Wright had 15 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds, and 0 turnovers, in his best performance of the year. We've been hard on Wright, but when someone needed to step up, it was Wright. Monroe, even with his foul trouble, scored 16 points, and put the game out of hand in the last 4 minutes with back-to-back three point plays. Jason Clark added 16 points, including some monster 3 pointers. Austin Freeman played smartly, with 8 points and 4 assists, yet had his worst shooting performance of the year, going 3-12 from the field.

Any time you can beat the 9th best team in the conference by 20 points, getting about 25 combined minutes from your big men and a 3-12 shooting day from your best player, you are impressed. Georgetown's defense, except for the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half, was phenomenal. More than anything, our defense will be the key to sustained runs in the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. Keep it up fellas.

Good news is Monroe and Vaughn will be plenty rested as the Hoyas square off with Syracuse for the THIRD time this season. I'd write more but my hands are shaking and my vision is blurry. Man, isn't tournament time the best?

Plenty more to follow today and tomorrow. Enjoy the NIT Dominique, I'm sure people from far and wide will want to come watch you play. Syracuse, we're coming for you.

Box Score