SB Nation DC: All Posts by Hire Esherick

Game Thread: #15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. #2 Georgetown Hoyas

2013-03-22T20:00:07Z

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
#15 (24-10, 13-5); RPI: 93		#2 (25-5, 14-4); RPI: 11

Date:	March 22, 2013	Location:	Philadelphia, PA
Time:	6:50 p.m ET	Arena:	Wells Fargo Center
TV:	TBS	Spread:	Hoyas -13.5
Radio:	ESPN 980	Over/Under:	123.5
Online:	CBS Sports	SBN Affiliate:	n/a
HOYA SAXA

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
#15 (24-10, 13-5); RPI: 93		#2 (25-5, 14-4); RPI: 11

Date:	March 22, 2013	Location:	Philadelphia, PA
Time:	6:50 p.m ET	Arena:	Wells Fargo Center
TV:	TBS	Spread:	Hoyas -13.5
Radio:	ESPN 980	Over/Under:	123.5
Online:	CBS Sports	SBN Affiliate:	n/a
HOYA SAXA

Peanut Gallery: Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. Georgetown Hoyas

2013-03-22T13:27:45Z

View from the DJ Booth - A Musical Perspective from lordnick:

I know we've had some rough times this year with the Blog DJ. We had a good run with The Cranberries for so long, then the perhaps ill-conceived foray into classical piano. But you know what? It worked out. 2-1 against Cuse, a #2 seed in the tournament. A REALISTIC SHOT TO MAKE IT INTO THE SECOND WEEKEND AND NOT BRING SHAME DOWN UPON THE ENTIRE PROGRAM AGAIN. So there's nothing left to do, but go to work. Take it, Huey.

View from the Student Section - A Youthful Perspective from Campus:

So guys, I've done a little thinking lately. After speaking to various authority figures (my professors, my parents, President DiGioia, Otto, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, that guy at Greenpeace, His Holiness Pope Francisco I, holographic Tupac), I have come to the conclusion that I have to be a little more positive and not focus on the negatives so much. The following is how I expect this game to pan out:

The game starts out amazing for us. Mikael, instead of tipping the ball backwards, as he normally does, decides to tip the ball forward, but by "tip", I mean "swat". Mikael, in all of his greatness, hits the ball so hard that it actually goes into the opponent's basket for a three-pointer, and Georgetown jumps on top with just one second running off the clock. Next, Georgetown's press, headed up by the peskiness of the well-versed Markel Starks and his million dollar smile forces Florida Gulf Coast into 25 consecutive turnovers without getting the ball past half court. Each one of these turnovers results in a dunk for Mikael, as he scores every point in the game and has 53 at the under-12 timeout. JTIII can't let all of these guys get TOO tired of winning, so in come Moses, AirBow, and DSR. Otto, perplexed at how he has yet to accrue any statistics, realizes there's a reason for having a Casual Award named after him and goes to work. In the span of two minutes, Otto purposely misses 5 layups so he can get the rebound and score again, boosting his line to 10 points in 5 minutes, at which point he takes himself out of the game so David Allen can have a chance to play in the NCAA tournament (#ottoporterfacts). Allen hits 7 consecutive threes, with Moses' shot-blocking ability still preventing FGCU from scoring at all. At half time, Georgetown leads 89-0.

Half time will be even more Casual. Instead of fielding a performance from both the Georgetown and FGCU cheerleaders, halftime will instead feature a two performances by the FGCU cheerleaders, one in their original outfits, and one in Georgetown uniforms. After realizing how much more fulfilling it is to root for such a splendid school, the lovely ladies will all decide to transfer to Georgetown, where they give the cheerleading squad (and student body) a much-appreciated boost. After the performance, the camera will pan to the sideline, where the FGCU coach will be engaged in a heated squabble with his hot supermodel wife. The wife will pull her ring off, throw it at the coach, and proceed to center court where she will be joined by Kate Upton, who will ride the ACTUAL Wells Fargo Wagon into the arena. The ladies will throw their heavy winter clothes to reveal Georgetown-themed dance outfits/bikinis and will do the cat daddy and dougie for the remainder of halftime.

Could it possibly get any better after half time? You bet your Hoya ass it could. Nate's father, who is actually a basketball coach (WHO KNEW?!) will come out of the locker room to assistant coach. Also, so his son might be able to enjoy a nice massage and cigar to celebrate his winning Coach of the Year, John Thompson Jr. will take over head coaching duties for the remainder of the game. Under the direction of Big John, Georgetown will continue its assault of FGCU's meager squad. With 2 minutes left, Otto will actually hand the ball to an FGCU player so he may attempt an open layup because Otto just wants the other team to experience what it is like to score sometime (#moreottoporterfacts). Georgetown will finish the game perfect from the field AND the free throw line en route to a 187-2 victory. Nobody storms the court because that's totally gauche and Doug Gottlieb, Pete Thamel, and Jim Boeheim all spontaneously combust upon the sounding of the final horn. Casual.

View from the Cheap Seats - A Nervous Perspective from JahidiLikesPie:

Oh God, please let this be a relaxing game. Please, please, please let this be a relaxing game.

Nervousness Level: Shit's Creek Nervous. Can't be any higher though it will be if we get to play Sunday.

View from the Sports Book - An Unbiased Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: Georgetown -13.5. Over/under 123.5.

FGCU is undefeated ATS this season at 4-0, which means that in all 4 of their games in which a point spread was available they've covered it, with 3 of those 4 ATS wins coming on neutral courts and the other on the road. The 3 neutral court games were each of FGCU's last three games in the A-Sun Tournament, which means that not only is FGCU unbeaten against the spread this season, but it is riding a 3-game ATS winning streak onto the streets of Philadelphia. But how are they going to score against Georgetown?

The pick is Georgetown -13.5. Final score Hoyas 72 - Eagles 51.

Casual Hoya is 18-9 ATS this season.

Overall 74-43-1.

Game Thread: #19 Syracuse Orange (25-8, 11-7) at #5 Georgetown Hoyas (25-5, 14-4)

2013-03-15T21:00:10Z

Syracuse Orange		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
#19/20 (25-8, 11-7); RPI: 15		#5 (25-5, 14-4); RPI: 8

Date:	March 15, 2013	Location:	New York, NY
Time:	7:00 p.m ET	Arena:	Madison Square Garden
TV:	ESPN	Spread:	Hoyas -1.5
Radio:	ESPN980	Over/Under:	115.5
Online:	WatchESPN	SBN Affiliate:	Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
HOYA SAXA

Syracuse Orange		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
#19/20 (25-8, 11-7); RPI: 15		#5 (25-5, 14-4); RPI: 8

Date:	March 15, 2013	Location:	New York, NY
Time:	7:00 p.m ET	Arena:	Madison Square Garden
TV:	ESPN	Spread:	Hoyas -1.5
Radio:	ESPN980	Over/Under:	115.5
Online:	WatchESPN	SBN Affiliate:	Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
HOYA SAXA

Peanut Gallery: Syracuse Orange vs. Georgetown Hoyas

2013-03-15T15:19:07Z

View from the DJ Booth - A Musical Perspective from lordnick:

Worked last time.

View from the Student Section - A Youthful Perspective from Campus:

Didn't I just get done writing about these losers? Ugh ok. Some of you people are looking forward to this game. Well I'm not. The amount of satisfaction and elation that came after Saturday's game cannot be matched, and it was my hope that I would be able to preserve that as my last memory of this rivalry. Instead, I will be cheated out of this privilege as the two meet for (presumably) the final time as conference foes on Friday night. I know we beat the crap out of these guys just 6 days ago, but honestly, I'm terrified to play Cuse for a third time. Something just doesn't feel good about all of it. They're going to be out for redemption and, even though it won't entirely negate the thumping we put on them last weekend, a loss to Cuse now would seem to undo all the good that came from our first two victories. This Hoya team doesn't seem to care about that sort of thing though; they're unflappable. Therefore, there is still hope that maybe I'll end up wrong, just like I was proven to be after my comments during the Cincy game. Final Score: Orange Devils 62, Hoyas 58. Hoya Saxa!

View from the Cheap Seats - A Nervous Perspective from JahidiLikesPie:

We really have to play them again? I can't keep doing this. I suppose if this is the year, it has to be this way. The game last Saturday was such a one-sided affair that my head tells that I shouldn't be all that nervous. Having said that, the fact that this is the BET coupled with JTJRs post-game remarks, makes me 'get sick in my lap at work at 7:55am' nervous. The only upside to this game is that we aren't forced to look at the ugliness that Adidas has bestowed upon ESPN's Championship Week.

Nervousness Level: Well, fuck it. Shoot me in the face.

View from the Sports Book - An Unbiased Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: Georgetown -1.5. Over/Under 115.5.

The 1.5 point line means that Vegas views this as essentially a pick 'em with a slight lean to the Hoyas based on the demolition of the Orange just six days ago. Georgetown closed the rivalry at Manley Field House. Georgetown closed the rivalry at the Carrier Dome. And now, the Hoyas have the chance to close Syracuse out of Madison Square Garden, it's so-called home away from home. They can pack as many Syracuse fatties as they want into MSG, but none of them can guard Otto Porter.

The pick is Georgetown -1.5. Final score Hoyas 64 - Oranges 54.

Casual Hoya is 18-8 ATS this season.

Overall 74-42-1.

The Morning After: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Georgetown Hoyas

2013-03-15T13:28:28Z

NCAA College Basketball Recap - Cincinnati Bearcats at Georgetown Hoyas - Mar 14, 2013 - CBSSports.com
"All the attention Otto is getting is well-deserved, but at the same time, knowing that going into games that he's going to have that attention, we have to step up," Starks said. "We don't just say, hey, it's just Otto. No, we play as a team. We play as a unit. We're going to continue to do that, and we will continue to get better."

Top-Seeded Georgetown Uses Second Half Run to Beat Cincinnati, 62-43
For any of the players, do you see Syracuse and Pitt in the bracket possibly in the semifinals. What's your opinion on that intensity that the game could bring tomorrow night? OTTO PORTER: Syracuse, I mean, it will be a great game. I'm pretty sure they will want a rematch against us. I mean, it will be a terrific game to play against them.

Georgetown shows it's more than Otto Porter - ESPN
It was the unheralded trio, the ones who will kill you while you’re paying too much attention to Porter. It was Trawick (9 points), Starks (14) and Smith-Rivera (13) who beat the Bearcats. “It’s key," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. “Otto has gotten a lot of attention lately and deservedly so. He’s one of the best -- the best player in the nation in my opinion -- but we have a very good team. I’ve said that over and over again." Thompson went on to remark about his team’s unselfishness, a bonus of an attribute that happens to work especially well because the player of the year candidate embodies it.

Big East tournament 2013: Georgetown gets balanced attack in win over Cincinnati - The Washington Post
Porter was a factor, as his 18 points and six rebounds suggest, an effort that included eight straight game-sealing free throws in the final minutes. But when Cincinnati stormed back from a 16-point first-half deficit to take a lead early in the second half, the Hoyas got baskets from four players on their next five possessions to re-establish the lead and secure the win.

Rapid Reaction: Georgetown 62, Cincy 43 - Men's College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN
Star watch: It was a true team effort by Georgetown. The Hoyas had three players in double figures -- Porter (18 points, 11-for-11 from foul line), Markel Starks (14) and Smith-Rivera (13). Jabril Trawick chipped in nine points.

Hoya Prospectus: Game stats: Georgetown 62, Cincinnati 43
Efficiency: GEORGETOWN 1.148, Cincinnati 0.811 eFG%: GEORGETOWN 0.510, Cincinnati 0.447 Substitutions: GEORGETOWN 13, Cincinnati 45

Five Thoughts From the Big East Tournament: Thursday Afternoon EditionRush The Court | Rush The Court
Georgetown is suffocating. The Hoyas limited Cincinnati to just 38 shots in a 40-minute game, in some ways due to Cincinnati’s turnovers but mostly due to Georgetown’s style of play. They grind and wear opponents out, especially one that struggles to score like the Bearcats. The Hoyas aren’t the flashiest of teams but they make big plays in big moments (Nate Lubick’s three field goals came at opportune times) and always seem to have an answer on both ends of the floor. This isn’t an overly talented team but it’s one of the nation’s best-coached.

Georgetown, behind Otto Porter Jr., coasts past Cincinnati, 62-43, in Big East Tournament quarterfinals - NY Daily News
Georgetown, looking to land a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, squandered an early 16-point cushion and fell behind briefly in the second half before clamping down with its trademark defense to pull away.

College Basketball Betting Recap: Georgetown, Illinois, and Iowa State advance
Georgetown is 13-4 ATS its last 17 games, with two misses being by half a point, and another coming when the refs allotted Villanova a huge free throw edge against them in Philly. Georgetown is 9-4 ATS this season away from home dating back to the very beginning. ESPN’s BPI didn’t have them top 16 heading into the day even though they won the Big East and went 2-1 straight up during the season against the other co-champs.

Big East M5: 03.15.13 EditionRush The Court | Rush The Court
Georgetown showed off its composure and balance in a 62-43 quarterfinal win over Cincinnati that was at times much closer than the score would indicate. “For the most part, this group doesn’t get rattled,” said John Thompson III, whose team weathered a three-point shooting barrage from the Bearcats that eroded a 15-point lead into a deficit early in the second half. Markel Starks said after the win that his team takes pride in its defensive adjustments, and that players’ enthusiasm for shutting down their assignments is not a new phenomenon: “It’s no formula. Everyone’s talking about our defense now, but we’ve been playing defense all year.”

Vox Populi » Postgame Roundup: Hoyas knock off Cincy, will face Syracuse in Semifinal
“Otto is getting a lot of attention and he should,” Thompson said. “But we have a very good team. During the same stretch, Otto played well, Markel, and Nate played very well.” After struggling with his shot for much of the year, Smith-Rivera seems to have found his stroke. He knocked down 5 of his 11 shots in the game. “I never lost any confidence in my game,” Smith-Rivera said. “It was just a matter of understanding my role is on the team.”

Last act for Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry - College Basketball News | FOX Sports on MSN
Maybe today’s final matchup really will be a cathartic release at the end of this 34-year relationship. Maybe it’ll be good for everybody. Maybe this really is the stars aligning to give us one more taste of something great. Or maybe it would better for everybody if we could look at all these memories and leave them as just that: something that’s in the past, and should stay there.

Syracuse-Georgetown is fitting for the final Big East tournament - college basketball - ESPN
This is not a manufactured battle that exists only in the stands and in the minds of fans; this is real, coursing through the coaches, the players and the history books, a distaste that is passed along like a generational heirloom. And for once and for all, it will be over on Friday night.

Syracuse appears to have cured their offensive woes | CollegeBasketballTalk
It’s almost too perfect, but that’s another post for another day. What’s more important, for now, is that Syracuse finally looks like the team that climbed their way into the top five earlier this season. The team that went into Louisville and knocked off the Cardinals back in January. The team that, before the meltdown over the last month and a half, were thought to be a real national title contender.

ACC needs to play its tournament in Madison Square Garden - College Basketball - Pete Thamel - SI.com
The viewing hours at Madison Square Garden will last through midnight Saturday, but this should not be the death of elite postseason college basketball on 33rd Street. This nostalgic week could actually represent the beginning of another college basketball juggernaut at MSG. If he's smart ACC Commissioner John Swofford will call executives at Madison Square Garden soon and broker a 10-year continuous deal. Yes, the ACC is committed to Greensboro through 2015, but if you can stay in the Ritz Carlton why settle for a Super 8?

Pitino: ACC Would ‘Benefit’ From Garden Tourney | ZagsBlog.com
The ACC Tournament is committed to Greensboro through 2015, but after that Pitino half-jokingly said the Big East Tournament should move to Washington, D.C. “I think because Georgetown’s one of the mainstays,” Pitino said with a smile, “they should go to the Verizon Center and we should come here.”

A New Big East Is a Better Big East - NYTimes.com
Georgetown’s John Thompson III definitely has the spirit. After accepting this season’s Big East Coach of the Year award Tuesday, he addressed a media contingent that has spent most of the week crafting eulogies. “I wish you guys would stop writing obits and start looking to the future,” Thompson said. “We are looking forward and we will have Big East basketball next season and the postseason tournament will be played at Madison Square Garden with some of the best teams in the country, some of the best coaches in the country.”

Big East Tourney Game Thread: Cincinnati Bearcats (22-10, 9-9) vs. #5 Georgetown Hoyas (24-5, 14-4)

2013-03-14T15:00:04Z

Cincinnati Bearcats		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
NR (22-10, 9-9); RPI: 48		#5 (24-5, 14-4); RPI: 10

Date:	March 14, 2013	Location:	New York, NY
Time:	12:00 p.m ET	Arena:	Madison Square Garden
TV:	ESPN	Spread:	Georgetown -4.5
Radio:	ESPN980	Over/Under:	113
Online:	WatchESPN	SBN Affiliate:	Down The Drive
HOYA SAXA

Cincinnati Bearcats		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
NR (22-10, 9-9); RPI: 48		#5 (24-5, 14-4); RPI: 10

Date:	March 14, 2013	Location:	New York, NY
Time:	12:00 p.m ET	Arena:	Madison Square Garden
TV:	ESPN	Spread:	Georgetown -4.5
Radio:	ESPN980	Over/Under:	113
Online:	WatchESPN	SBN Affiliate:	Down The Drive
HOYA SAXA

Peanut Gallery: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Georgetown Hoyas

2013-03-14T12:00:09Z

View from the DJ Booth - A Musical Perspective from lordnick:

I did not enjoy meeting any of you on Saturday. At least this is kind of relaxing:

View from the Student Section - A Youthful Perspective from Campus:

Of all the familiar places. Hello again Cincinnati. We met on the third day of the Big East Tournament last year as well, except now WE are the ones with the double bye. That glorious win in Cincinnati last month is still not enough to get me past how pants-shittingly scary this team is. Hell, we were owning that game and they came back and tied it. The BET hasn't been a bastion of good play for us lately either. Nonetheless, this team just feels different. These guys are on a mission and they have (arguably) the best player in the country at their disposal, something that could not be said for past teams. At this time of year, it's all about who gets hot at the right time and Georgetown could make a case for being one of the hottest teams in the country right now. Wright and company scare me, but I think this team is even better than they were when they traveled to Cincinnati in February. I am incredibly pissed I won't be able to watch this game, but if my TA allows us to blast the sultry tones of Rich Chvotkin, I might feel a little better. Oh, also, from this point on, you guys get a bonus: a final score prediction. I'm not usually great at these, but I have to pay more attention to these games than any others. Final Score: 68-61 Hoyas. Hoya Saxa!

View from the Cheap Seats - A Nervous Perspective from JahidiLikesPie:

Welcome to the 'Send their Asses Packing" Tour. First Stop? Cronan and Cincy.

Nervousness Level: Holy St. Bernard Shit!

View from the Sports Book - An Unbiased Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: Georgetown -4.5.

I'm more than a tad wary of throwing money on the Hoyas coming off that emotional win against Syracuse and having to then turn around and play in the Garden in front of a bunch of suits on their lunch breaks. This game will either be a Hoyas blowout or your traditional Hoyas-Bearcats, annoying Mick Cronin shitfest. I'll go with the latter and a barely there cover by the blue and gray.

The pick is Hoyas -4.5. Final score Hoyas 63 - Bearcats 58.

Casual Hoya is 17-8 ATS this season.

Overall 73-42-1.

Otto Porter Jr. Named Big East Player of the Year

2013-03-12T20:54:04Z

In news deemed the least surprising of the year, Otto Porter Jr. was today named the Big East Player of the Year, in an unanimous vote by conference coaches. There is not much to say about Otto that is already not known. He is the epitome of a John Thompson III player. He is sublimely talented*, versatile, and lethal on the court yet humble, respectful, and soft-spoken off of it. He won't celebrate after a big shot because he is more concerned about stealing the ball on the ensuing inbound. Otto is a rare type of player than elicits only admiration, praise, and envy from opposing coaches, players, and fans. He ended the regular season averaging 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and only 1.5 turnovers a game. He shot 50.2% from the field, 77.4% from the line, and 44% from three. He finished ranked in the top ten in the conference in points, rebounds, steals, field goal percentage, three point percentage, and minutes played.

As this is the last year of the Big East as we know it, this award is also important because it leaves Georgetown atop the conference in the number of Big East Player of the Year trophies awarded to its players since inception. Otto joins a long-list of Georgetown greats, including John Duren, Patrick Ewing (twice a winner), Reggie Williams, Charles E. Smith, Alonzo Mourning, and Jeff Green, giving the school a total of eight awards. Connecticut finishes second with seven, and Notre Dame third with five.

Congrats to Otto, his family, ~~his AAU coach~~, his teammates, and Coach Thompson and the staff.

* Absolutely stole that phrase from Tarik El-Bashir.