tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106072262024-03-14T00:37:09.995-04:00The Van Buren Boys: The Blogosphere's home for Georgetown Hoyas basketballThe Blogosphere's best source for the latest analysis & commentary from the world of Georgetown Hoyas basketball.Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.comBlogger785125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-48822759558549078132009-01-23T08:41:00.003-05:002009-01-23T09:00:18.814-05:00Georgetown-WVU Recap: The Jester Is Not LaughingThe Hoyas got throttled at home last night by the West Virginia Mountaineers. I'm not happy about it. I'm not happy about it, but things like that are going to happen to a young team. You're going to lose a game or two that you were expected to win. It's like Coach Thompson said during his post-game news conference. It's a "blip." You have to move on. So, I'm not happy about losing, but I can take it.<br /><br />What I cannot take, however, is a team that gives up. Sometimes even well coached players lose their poise. But last night, in the waning minutes of the game, I saw a JTIII-coached team just complete give up while the clock was still running. In the last minute, or minute and a half, the Hoyas figured out that they didn't have time to come back and they just stopped caring. They let WVU get an uncontested, and monstrous, dunk. They started walking away from the ball as the last 20 seconds rolled off the clock.<br /><br />I understand being upset at a bad loss. I do not understand not having enough self-respect, or respect for your fans, to let your opponent disrespect you on your home court like that. The game is 40 minutes long. You are supposed to play all 40 minutes. If I was the Georgetown coach I would sit every player on the floor at the end of last night's game for the beginning of Sunday's match-up against Seton Hall.<br /><br />That's all I have to say about that.<br /><br />Otherwise, the game was what it was. We shot horribly (20-51, and 2-16 from behind the arc). We turned the ball over like it was our job (19 turnovers for the game, with 11 coming in the first half). We missed free throws (16-25). WVU played good defense. They focused on Greg Monroe--denying him the ball and then double teaming him when he managed to get his hands on the rock. In return we played sloppy defense. The Mountaineers seemed to have an open shooter on every possession, and even when it was apparent that Da'Sean Butler was tearing us up (he had 15 in the first half) we couldn't manage to get a defender on him to slow him down (he finished with 27). It was just a bad game on every level, and still we were within two points with less than 12 minutes to play.<br /><br />Let's hope the Hoyas shake it off for their three game road trip. The first two games, at Seton Hall and at Cincinnati are infinitely winnable. The game at Marquette on January 31st will be very tough. Let's see if these young Hoyas can remember how to fight.Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-8687285626497393652009-01-15T16:31:00.001-05:002009-01-15T16:57:02.811-05:00Musings on Georgetown-Syracuse<div>I don’t have a lot of time to post, but I just wanted to say that last night’s thrashing of the Syracuse Orangemen was one of the most enjoyable Georgetown games I can remember. In fact, I think I enjoyed this game more than any that I have seen in person since Roy Hibbert hit that three to beat UConn at home last year.<br /><br />It was just a thing of beauty. When’s the last time we saw the Hoyas look so unstoppable with their shooting. This year’s iteration of the Blue & Grey has never looked so hot from the floor. Everything about the game was just a lot of fun, from the students chanting “Ni-ki-ta, Ni-ki-ta” as Mescheriakov left the floor after shedding his normal “deer-in-the-headlights” play for two quick and timely threes; to the monster jam from Henry Sims; to the dejected look on the face of the ‘Cuse fans who I had to contend with in the Comcast Sportsnet box (thanks to Behemoth for pulling those tickets).<br /><br />Just a few quick points:<br /><br />1.) It was nice to see the Hoyas put together a strong performance in a game where Monroe didn’t do a lot of scoring. His final line (10 points) is misleading. Many of those points came down the stretch when the game was already firmly in hand. Don’t get me wrong, Greg did a lot of other things (i.e., leading the team with 6 assists). It was great, however, to see other players hitting the shots. It will serve us well down the stretch.<br /><br />2.) The bench was the real story of this game. If you had told me a week ago that the bench would score 29 points against a top 10 team I would have said that you were crazy. Well, it looks like crazy just happened. Not only did the bench produce some points, but they played some valuable minutes, which left our starters looking rested and ready to play down the stretch. In our losses to Pitt and Notre Dame the most apparent problem (to me, anyway) was how absolutely exhausted our starting five looked. Exhausted players = ineffective players. The more the bench develops and is able to spell the starters, the more prepared the Hoyas will be to go the distance against the other elite teams of the Big East.<br /><br />3.) On a related note, how about the rise of Jason Clark. He’s looked fantastic the last few games. He really is becoming the player that we expected him to be when he came to Georgetown. He scored 12 points last night on 5 for 6 from the field (including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc). He also looked comfortable handling the rock.<br /><br />4.) The flip side of the rise of Jason Clark is the disappearance of Jessie Sapp. I didn’t expect Jessie to be a star this year, but I feel like he’s fading away. It’s sad. I’ve always enjoyed the energy that Jessie brings to the floor. At times, I feel like you can actually see the boxer in him. Last night he played less time than any other starter (19 minutes) and only scored 2 points -– making him the lowest scorer of the 10 individuals that got playing time. He also had two turnovers. The only bright side was the three steals he picked up.<br /><br />5.) Did anyone else notice that Hollis Thompson dressed for the game and Byron Jansen did not? Is Byron hurt? Or is there a limit on how many players you can dress for a game? If the answer to that second question is “yes,” did JTIII just choose to dress Thompson instead of Jansen? Why would you do that for a player that isn’t supposed to play this year? I could probably dig around the Hoya Talk boards and find an answer, but if someone can save me the trouble by explaining in a comment it would be much appreciated.<br /><br />6.) Does <a href="http://www.nbadraft.net/2009mock_draft">this</a> scare anyone else? C’mon just give us one more year!<br /><br />Anyway, bring on Duke! </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291642769542165490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__CaISrlRM0U/SW-xEATTM_I/AAAAAAAAAX8/vjMAN3llMBI/s400/Greg.jpg" border="0" /></div>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-56214161663182684702009-01-14T14:26:00.005-05:002009-01-15T17:08:03.442-05:00An Interesting Anecdote From The L.A. TimesI missed this on Big John's radio broadcast, which I rarely listen to because, well, I have a job and can't spend all day listening to sports radio. Having recently finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Big-Man-Campus-Thompson-Georgetown/dp/0805011250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231961468&sr=8-1">Leonard Shapiro's biography of John Thompson, Jr. </a>(which is a good read), I thought that this was humorous.<br /><br />Anyway, this is what <em>The Los Angeles Times </em>had to say:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Hoya means what?</strong><br /><br />John Thompson III, Georgetown's basketball coach, might want to quit<br />listening to sports-talk radio, especially when the one talking is his<br />dad.<br /><br />John Thompson Jr., the former Georgetown coach, recently told listeners of<br />his show on Washington's WTEM that the Hoyas could cure their rebounding<br />problems if they had some "thugs."<br /><br />As college basketball blog Rush the Court points out, Thompson, who was<br />known for defending his players against such labeling, would have taken<br />"umbrage" if any media type had suggested when he was coaching that some college<br />basketball players were thugs.<br /><br />To his credit, JTIII, while acknowledging his team's rebounding<br />deficiencies, said merely that the Hoyas need players "with a nose for the<br />ball."<br /></span></blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-random14-2009jan14,0,5516346.story">http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-random14-2009jan14,0,5516346.story</a>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-77410256986252466282009-01-07T15:42:00.003-05:002009-01-07T15:46:31.310-05:00Starks Profile in PostTwo painful losses under our belts and I feel like turning to something a bit more fun. (For the record, I expect the Hoyas to rebound just fine (in both senses). We are young, but very talented. The guys just need to get into a rhythm and work on some things. Greg Monroe--just keep doing what you are doing.) The Washington Post has this great video today on Markel Starks, who will join the Hoyas in 2 years.<br /><br /><embed src='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_viral.swf?thisObj=fo304174&vid=010709-9v_title' bgcolor='#FFFFFF' flashVars='allowFullScreen=true&initVideoId=&servicesURL=http://www.brightcove.com&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://www.brightcove.com&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&autoStart=false' base='http://admin.brightcove.com' id='fo304174' name='fo304174' width='454' height='305' allowFullScreen='false' allowScriptAccess='always' seamlesstabbing='false' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' swLiveConnect='true' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash'></embed>Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-29781880565755309342009-01-05T15:43:00.002-05:002009-01-05T15:46:53.742-05:00AP Poll: Hoyas #9Georgetown finished one spot higher in the AP poll, coming in at number nine. Again, Pitt is number one and there are nine Big East teams in the Top 25.<br /><br />The interesting thing is that Georgetown's performance this week (beating UConn in Connecticut and losing to Pitt at home) caused them to gain two spots in the AP poll...while dropping two spots in the ESPN/USA Today poll. <br /><br />I don't know what to make of that.Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-26994978316536039422009-01-05T14:27:00.003-05:002009-01-05T14:32:56.093-05:00Ouch! That's a Little Rough, Gary.Every week CBS Sportsline's Gary Parrish has his "Monday Look Back." One of the standard sections of that column is Gary's "Player Who Should Lose His Scholarship." This is this week's entry:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Player(s) who should lose (their) scholarship(s): </strong>I'm adjusting this category this week to include Georgetown's starting guards, namely Chris Wright, Austin Freeman and Jessie Sapp. After going 12-of-26 from the field and combining to finish with 34 points in that win at Connecticut, they stunk it up Saturday in a 70-54 home loss to Pittsburgh. Wright, Freeman and Sapp combined to go 4-of-22 from the field (including 2-of-12 from 3-point range), and when that happens against a quality opponent the Hoyas are typically going to lose, even when DaJuan Summers and Greg Monroe combine for 37 points.</span> </blockquote><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/sportsline/main11226135.shtml">http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/sportsline/main11226135.shtml</a><br /><br />Ouch!<br /><br />The guards definitely let Georgetown down on Saturday. But Chris Right has been fantastic the rest of this (early) season, Freeman is always solid, and Sapp was one of the few players providing some passion as the game against Pitt started to get out of control (anyone who saw his reaction after the block/tie up he managed down low knows what I'm talking about). They had a horrible game. But it is just one game! Let's see what happens against the Irish tonight!Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-76549810038089369922009-01-05T14:19:00.002-05:002009-01-05T14:24:49.019-05:00ESPN/USA Today Rankings: Hoyas #10The ESPN/USA Today Poll just game out. After beating UConn and getting drubbed (at home) to Pitt, the Georgetown Hoyas are #10.<br /><br />The biggger story, however, is the incredibly strong showing for the Big East. After UNC's suprise loss to BC, The Pitt Panthers take the number 1 slots for the first time in school history. Behind them in the top 25 are another eight Big East teams, including three more in the top 10--UConn at number five, Syracuse at number nine, and, again, Georgetown at number 10. The Big East's other representatives in the Top 25 are Notre Dame (13), Marquette (15), Villanova (17), Louisville (21), and West Virginia (22).<br /><br />It's going to be a long Big East season!Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-47418780379121188692009-01-03T09:55:00.002-05:002009-01-03T10:02:43.376-05:00Hoya Fans are EverywhereFrom my perch at MSK, I've learned that Hoya hoop fans are literally everywhere; from M Street to the bowels of the hospitals in NYC. When I walked into the radiation room last week, I was sporting one of my old Hoya track long sleeve t-shirts. Eddie, my radiation tech, noticed the Hoyas logo and very excitedly began to tell me how he was in his words a "Hoya Hoop nut". He told me how he loved the Hoyas since the days of Patrick Ewing, Sr and followed Papa Ewing throughout his career. He's also a big fan of Monroe. <br /><br />Anyway, the point of my story is that Hoya Paranoia is all over and has afflicted all ages. It's amazing what hooks people in. For Eddie it was Ewing. For me, it was Iverson taking on UConn in '95. Loyal readers, what's the first time you realized you were hooked?Italian Stallionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00898402712556701942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-78427699155765297232009-01-01T17:47:00.005-05:002009-01-01T17:58:00.234-05:00Hollis is at GeorgetownAs reported earlier on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hoyatalk</span>, Hollis Thompson has enrolled at Georgetown. He evidently completed his high school coursework and was able to graduate early. Being fully qualified, he has enrolled at Georgetown as a second-semester freshman, who will practice with the team, but will not actually suit up. This is a great opportunity for Hollis to (1) bulk up, (2) learn the offense, and (3) work with the coaches on his skill development. This could be huge--especially if Summers jumps to the league. Thompson will not have a massive learning curve. By all accounts he is an exceptional student and a great kid. It is great to have him aboard. And barring some surprise, that finishes off the class of 2009.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286462872594172786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PdPt6sujxdQ/SV1J-UdES3I/AAAAAAAAAcU/D9q06t2vXFM/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" /> <div></div><div>Here is the report from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GUHoyas</span>.com:</div><div></div><br /><div><strong>Hollis Thompson to Enroll at Georgetown for Spring Semester<br />California Forward admitted for Spring semester</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Jan. 1, 2009<br />Washington DC - Georgetown University Head Men's Basketball Coach John Thompson III announced today that recruit Hollis Thompson, a 6-6, 180 lb. forward from Loyola High School in Los Angeles, California, has been admitted to Georgetown.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></div></span><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">"Hollis will enroll for the 2009 spring semester," [begins January 7]" Coach Thompson said. "There are no plans for him to play, but he will practice with the team as he acclimates himself to college life. We feel this will be an exceptional opportunity for Hollis. It gives him a chance to adjust to life on and off the court before he begins intercollegiate competition in the 2009-2010 season."</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></div></span><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Hollis is listed as an elite recruit with several recruiting web sites. He averaged 14.0 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ppg</span> and chose Georgetown over Duke, UCLA, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">USC</span> and Arizona.</span> </div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://guhoyas.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010109aaa.html">http://guhoyas.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010109aaa.html</a></div>Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-28955469732993821562009-01-01T13:24:00.003-05:002009-01-01T13:54:58.218-05:00Katz still hearts the Hoyas ... and other thoughtsI loved this mention of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hoyas</span> from Andy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Katz's</span> New Year's piece:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Georgetown closed 2008 with a resounding win at Connecticut. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hoyas</span> host Pitt on Saturday (ESPN, noon) in a game that is as anticipated as any in the Big East this season. Illinois closed the calendar year with an impressive overtime win at Purdue. Michigan is up next for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Illini</span>, and that game could provide insight into the Big Ten winner. This is good for the sport. This is really good. Georgetown has returned to power status. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It proved its strength two seasons ago when it reached the Final Four. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hoyas</span> are not wilting. They're getting stronger and more firm in their standing as an annual title contender, and those back-to-back regular-season Big East titles are evidence. A third is hardly out of the question. Pitt has become a new player among the Big East elite this decade. But having Georgetown back is good for the game. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Why? Well, the sport needs the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hoyas</span>. Call me a traditionalist, but name recognition matters. Georgetown, which plays in the nation's capital, is synonymous with college basketball. Having that school's basketball program on television and mattering nationally is good for business.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3801779">http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3801779</a><br /><br />This got me thinking about just how far we have come since we began this blog to coincide with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">JTIII's</span> hiring as head coach. (Granted, our posting thus far this season has been halting at best.) After that first season, which featured a disappointing fade down the stretch soothed by glimpses of future glory, Jester linked to an Andy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Katz</span> piece that didn't even list Georgetown among the top 50 programs in the country, heading into the 2005-2006 season: <a href="http://thevanburenboys.blogspot.com/2005/08/top-50.html">http://thevanburenboys.blogspot.com/2005/08/top-50.html</a><br /><br />That season we spent much of the year in the top 25 and went to the sweet 16. The following year: top 25, plus Big East reg season/tourney champs and final four. Last year we were almost as good, save the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">disastrous</span> loss in the second round to Davidson. This year we might even be better. What a testament to what many of us said during the ugly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Esherick</span> days. College basketball is all about the head coach. Plan and simple. Are facilities important? Yes. Does this issue need to be addressed at Georgetown? Of course. But it is worth appreciating what a difference a great coach makes.<br /><br />I hope that the excitement of this year and the realization that the recent success was not just a fluke will spur more alumni to give to the program and to encourage the university to make the needed facilities investment. Reading between the lines of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">JTIII</span> contract extension negotiations, it seems that he was promised a new practice facility, but Lord knows how long that could take. With the economic downturn, he and we may need to be patient. That said, once the time comes, everyone needs to give generously. <br /><br />Success in such a highly competitive environment is guaranteed to be fleeting without sustained commitment. This is true for great programs and great coaches. We learned that lesson at Georgetown in the late 1990s. Other programs, Temple, Michigan, Maryland, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Depaul</span>, St. John's and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">UNLV</span>, to name a few, have also learned this the hard way. <br /><br />Remember: high school students naturally have a very small frame of reference. They don't know who went to the final four 5 years ago, let alone 10 years ago. We can never become complacent again, as another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">JTIII</span> may not be available to walk through those doors of an aging <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">McDonough</span> gym.<br /><br />So let's enjoy our current success and plan for more in the future! Happy New Year's everyone!Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-72029642719171894062008-12-30T08:43:00.002-05:002008-12-30T08:46:04.257-05:00Bilas on Hoyas' Win Over UConnI'll try to post some original thoughts later today, but I wanted to get something on the board about last night's win over the Huskies. <br /><br />Maybe I was wrong. Maybe we really are a top 10 team.<br /><br />I think we'll know more after Saturday's game at home against Pitt.<br /><br />Anyway, here are the thoughts of Jay Bilas (who has consistently been one of the Georgetown's biggest fans over the last few years), who covered last night's game.<br /><br /><object width="440" height="361"><param name="movie" value="http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3799128"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3799128" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="440" height="361" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-51576016247533017792008-12-15T16:08:00.000-05:002008-12-15T16:46:14.576-05:00Rankings, Memphis, and Where For Art Thou VBB?I admit it. We've been pathetic. Georgetown not only <em>played </em>cross-town "rival" Maryland, but whooped them, and The VBB are silent. The Hoyas rip off one of the most lopsided victories in school history against Savannah State and what do you get, adoring public? That's right. More silence. <br /><br />What can I say? We suck. Much like this year's Hoyas, The VBB do not seem to have the same kind of depth that they've had in year's past. Imagine this. They Hoyas are deep in Big East play and Greg Monroe finds himself in serious foul trouble. JTIII has to sit him. Where does that leave you? Can you rely on Sims to pound it down low? No, you can't. All he wants to do is shoot three pointers (and he is likely to continue to want to shoot three pointers after finally hitting one against Savannah State). That's how The VBB have been this season. Greg Monroe has been in foul trouble and there's no one else to turn to. But, never fear, I'm coming off the bench with four fouls and I am ready to make an impact!<br /><br />Yes, you read that right. I just compared myself to Greg Monroe.<br /><br />And with that done, here are some thoughts.<br /><br />Second, the rankings. With that victory over Memphis the Hoyas have climbed to <a href="http://beta.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings">13 and 15 in the ESPN/USAToday and AP polls</a>, respectively. I am a very pleased with the Hoyas play this year, but I am still not convinced that we are a top-15 team. Those 90 points that Tennessee hung on us in Orlando are still leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Especially, after Tennessee got beat by unheralded Temple. <br /><br /><strong><u>Memphis Win</u></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />First, what a great win this weekend. It was an ugly win, but a great win. I think that the three most important games that the Hoyas are going to play this year are their out-of-conference match ups against Tennessee, Memphis, and Duke. The teams in the Big East are going to bloody up each other in conference play. Even the elite teams will likely have several losses. So, when it comes time to "dance," how you performed in non-conference games are going to be real important. The Duke game is at Cameron. That's tough. Tennessee was a neutral floor and Memphis was at home. Escaping the Tennessee-Memphis stretch with a least one with was very important. <br /><br />It was also important in what it showed us about our team. First, after a slow start, DaJuan Summers is really starting to assert himself more. If he plays every game with the intensity and physicality he showed against Memphis the Hoyas will be just fine this year. The problem with DaJuan has always been that he tends to disappear some games. He needs to bring that intensity night-in and night-out during Big East play. <br /><br />The next big point I took from Saturday's game is that Chris Wright is the man! He is the same kind of steadying force on the floor that we used to have in Jonathan Wallace, except that he about ten times quicker. He also showed some serious defensive intensity against Tyreke Evans in overtime. That was huge. <br /><br />Finally, I am officially worried about our depth down low. Henry Sims got Z-E-R-O minutes. Thompson obviously does not trust him when it counts. Vaughn also got very limited time--only three minutes. Monroe played 42 minutes. I don't think he'll ever make it through the Big East scheduled playing that much. I really hope Vaughn and Sims step up in our two primer games before our trip to Connecticut.<br /><br /><strong><u>Rankings</u></strong><br /><br />Still, that is nothing compared to what I found today. I love Ken Pomeroy. I, like many, have found his rankings to be one of the greatest barometers of a team's actually talent and chances of winning. Well, today I checked kenpom.com and he has the <a href="http://kenpom.com/rate.php">Hoyas ranked number one</a>. What? I know that Ken has been tweaking <a href="http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/ratings_explanation/">his formula</a>. But I'm pretty sure he must have forgotten to carry a number, or misplaced the decimal point, or something. Still, I hope that the Hoyas prove me wrong!Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-66000187863761651952008-11-24T11:42:00.003-05:002008-11-24T11:46:28.309-05:00The Old Spice Classic Bracket<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong>Click the image to enlarge.</strong> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__CaISrlRM0U/SSrZkV2kHpI/AAAAAAAAAWo/_LW6466-MJI/s1600-h/08Bracket.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272265532155109010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__CaISrlRM0U/SSrZkV2kHpI/AAAAAAAAAWo/_LW6466-MJI/s400/08Bracket.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-45010695752198826552008-11-23T16:07:00.000-05:002008-11-23T16:13:39.184-05:00Alonzo Mourning at the Hoyas-Dragons Match-upAnother highlight at the Georgetown game yesterday--besides the drubbing that the Hoyas gave Drexel--was the appearance of former Hoyas' great, and seven-time NBA All Star, Alonzo Mourning. When the in-arena announced Alonzo's pressence to the crowd, he got the hearty standing ovation that a great like him deserves. It was good to have him back.<br /><br />'Zo was at the Verizon Center to sign copies of his new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Resilience-Faith-Triumph-Alonzo-Mourning/dp/0345507010/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227474623&sr=8-1">Resilience</a>. In fact, Mourning was set up right outside the section where I sit. Unfortunately, however, the line was <em>crazy</em> long. I would have love to get a signed copy, but it would have meant missing pretty much the entire game. So, I'll have to be content with the photo I took on my cell phone.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__CaISrlRM0U/SSnHLkAViyI/AAAAAAAAAWg/zcFxW8KOi5I/s1600-h/Zo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__CaISrlRM0U/SSnHLkAViyI/AAAAAAAAAWg/zcFxW8KOi5I/s400/Zo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271963840271452962" /></a>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-72577576313646629072008-11-23T16:04:00.000-05:002008-11-23T16:07:25.048-05:00Some Good Tid-Bits from The Washington TimesThe times provides some good information about two things that were bothering me at yesterday's Georgetown Hoyas' game. First, I was wondering what happened to Julian Vaughan. Second, I was wondering whether I had been pronouncing Nikita's name wrong, seeing as the name on the back of his jersey ended in an "ou." <br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/23/hoyas-report/">The Washington Times</a> has come to the rescue.<br /><br /><blockquote>Georgetown sophomore forward Julian Vaughn didn't practice all week or play in yesterday's game because of a minor sprain just above his left Achilles. The 6-foot-9 reserve is expected to be available for the Old Spice Classic (Nov. 27-30). ... <br /><br />For those who might have noticed the disparity between the way Nikita Mescheriakov's name is spelled in box scores and official releases compared with his jersey (Meshcharakou), the forward explained that the former is the anglicized Russian spelling while the latter is the official Belarusian spelling. </blockquote>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-54351839324575836112008-11-22T17:40:00.000-05:002008-11-22T19:16:06.161-05:00Greg Monroe = AwesomeI suppose the jury will remain out on any freshman who has yet to see Big East action. With that caveat, let me at least tentatively proclaim that Greg Monroe is very, very good. Seeing him today felt similar to the first time I saw Jeff Green play. Like Green, there is not a single facet of his game that stands out. And yet, he rarely makes mistakes and simply makes those around him better. Monroe made a very good choice by selecting Georgetown. Our offense highlights his outstanding passing and frequently has him at the top of the key with the ball in his hands. Now, I love Roy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hibbert</span>, but what a difference from last year! Greg can drive down the lane; he can fire a pass to a cutting guard; he can step back and hit the outside shot. And I don't cringe when he chases an opponent's guard on the perimeter!<br /><br />Greg also showed great discipline on defense by keeping his feet planted against smaller players. We'll have to see how he stacks up against bigger teams in the Big East, but I would doubt there was anyone watching today who honestly expected him to be this good. The offense today looked as smooth as I can recall seeing it in recent years. Of course, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Drexel</span> was not a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fearsome</span> foe, but they aren't terrible either. We may all have to adjust our expectations for this season upwards.<br /><br />I'm not sure much needs to be said about the game. It was a blowout from whistle to whistle. The most interesting aspect was watching the players. Here are my initial thoughts.<br /><br /><strong>The Good (Greg Monroe aside)</strong><br /><ul><li>Chris Wright had an outstanding game; lots of assists and drives to the hoop; knocked down a three. I don't recall a turnover.</li><li>Austin Freeman was also great. He hit a nice three and exhibited his upper body strength taking the ball to the hole.</li><li>Jesse <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sapp</span> was solid as always. His shot looks just as good as it did last year and he made no mistakes.</li><li>Omar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wattad</span> was a pleasant surprise. Sure, he made some unforced errors, but he showed poise and confidence and even hit a three. Omar will be a serviceable sub for years to come.</li><li>Jason Clark showed some nice things. He is quick; his shot looks good; and his arms are freakishly long--should make him a very effective defender.</li></ul><p><strong>The Bad</strong></p><ul><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Dajuan</span> Summers simply wasn't having a good day. He disappeared for stretches, missed fairly open outside shots, and didn't take the ball inside. Not his best performance.</li><li>Nikita! Wow. Not. Good. At. All. And I loved this kid when I saw him play in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kenner</span>. His outside shot--which looked automatic at that point--was not falling, and he made some very bad decisions on offense. That said, if I were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">JTIII</span>, I'd keep him out there and tell him to keep shooting. Let's see how much of this is a dearth of confidence.</li></ul><p><strong>The Questions</strong></p><ul><li>I don't know what to make of Henry Sims. He had some nice blocks, but seems content to flit around the perimeter jacking up shots. He also looks too skinny to me to bang down low in the Big East. I'm not sure what we can really expect from him this year, but he is someone I could see <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">blossoming</span> under <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">JTIII's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">tutelage</span>.</li><li>Julian Vaughn must be injured. I can't think of why he would have been the only player to sit on the bench today.</li></ul><p>All in all, this game has gotten me excited and optimistic for the 2009 campaign.</p>Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-36287602832587866192008-11-21T11:42:00.000-05:002008-11-21T11:47:15.665-05:00Former Hoya Baller as National Security Advisor?Former 6-5 Hoyas forward Jim Jones (SFS' 66) may get the nod to serve as President Obama's first National Security Advisor. General Jones has served as the head of the Marine Corps and as the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><strong>Jones is the leading candidate to be Obama's national security advisor.</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) – Two sources close to the Obama transition team tell CNN retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones has emerged as President-elect's leading choice to become national security adviser in the White House.<br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">The sources said Jones has been given the impression by the President-elect that the job is his if he wants it. But the officials said there are still private discussions underway and no final decision has been made. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The discussions are focused on precisely how much power Jones will have in the staff job since he is used to being in a command role. Among his many posts, Jones served for several years as the operational commander for NATO. In the third and final presidential debate, Obama noted that he deeply values advice from Jones, who has four decades of military service.</span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><div align="justify"><br />One person close to the transition noted Jones is a bipartisan figure who has warm relationships with both current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who may stay on the job for at least a brief period, as well as Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is now on track to be nominated as Secretary of State after Thanksgiving.CNN first reported last week that Jones was getting serious consideration for either national security adviser or Energy Secretary.</span></div><br /><a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/21/sources-jones-leading-choice-for-national-security-advisor/">http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/21/sources-jones-leading-choice-for-national-security-advisor/</a>Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-42235340443660284612008-11-21T11:30:00.000-05:002008-11-21T11:41:40.648-05:00Dash Riley, We Hardley Knew YeAfter rumors flying for several days, Barker has retracted his report that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dashonte</span> Riley signed with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hoyas</span>. He has instead decided to reopen his recruitment. Hollis Thompson has indeed signed, though.<br /><br /><strong>Riley retracts commitment from Georgetown</strong><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Georgetown recruit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">DaShonte</span> Riley informed coach John Thompson earlier this week that he will <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">decommit</span> from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hoyas</span>. The 6-foot-11, 220-pound center from Detroit Country Day (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) gave the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hoyas</span> an oral commitment last summer but changed his mind after taking his official visit to Georgetown earlier this fall. "[Riley] just said after he returned from his official visit that he didn't feel like it was the right fit for him," Detroit Country Day coach Kurt Keener said. "I know his mother felt that he had committed a little too early in the process. They discussed the situation after he returned from his official visit, and he called the staff at Georgetown recently and informed them he would be reopening his recruitment.</span></div><br /><a href="http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/riley-retracts-commitment-from-georgetown/">http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/riley-retracts-commitment-from-georgetown/</a><br /><br />I have a few thoughts on this:<br /><br />(1) We clearly don't want any player who has serious questions about whether he will fit in on the team or on campus. Transfers have been far too common under the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">JTIII</span> era--although, unlike during the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Esherick</span> error, our best players are staying(!). If Dash was not going to fit in, then it is better he figured that out sooner rather than later.<br /><br />(2) I wonder if the staff communicated to him in any way that he was not going to be getting immediate playing time. If Monroe doesn't leave after one year, Riley would have been third string, after Sims, presumably.<br /><br />(3) Riley is clearly a talent and may have had a very productive career at Georgetown, but he is a top 150-type, not a top 25-type, so we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hoyas</span> fans should not lose an inordinate amount of sleep over this. The coaches, however, will have to find some another big man to get up in the mix for 2010. Assuming Monroe only stays two years, we will be very thin up front at that point. If Summers leaves after this year, next year we will probably see a three man rotation in the 4 and 5 spots--Vaughn, Monroe, and Sims. If both Summers and Monroe jump, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">JTIII</span> will have to start scanning the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">juco</span> ranks or hope for coaching changes lead to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">de</span>-commits.Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-41878125420625665782008-11-18T12:59:00.000-05:002008-11-18T13:00:32.113-05:00Geogetown-Jacksonville: An Introduction To The 2008-2009 HoyasFirst, of all, The VBB sincerely apologize for the pathetic state of the blog. It seems that we have all let our real lives get in the way of our collective cyber-life. How selfish of us! We also have been neglectful of all of those emails we have received from our readership. Again, shame on us. But worry not. A new day is upon us, for it is November and the college basketball season has begun. We shall make amends for our previous silence. <br /><br />Last night the Hoyas took on the Jacksonville Dolphins, a team they beat by over 30 last season. This year was a little closer--and a little too close for comfort. Nonetheless, it gave us the opportunity to see what this year’s Georgetown team has to offer. Though the Hoyas are young, last night showed that they have lots of potential. Here are some initial thoughts.<br /><br />THE GOOD: <br /><br />First, Greg Monroe may be the real deal. I was very down on Greg based on the few previous games I saw him play in during high school. Last night he looked polished and smooth on the court. His post moves are very refined for a freshman. And he showed some real promise as a blocking threat. That being said…<br /><br />He was playing against a team that did not have any starters over 6’-7”. And he began to drag fairly early on in the game. He definitely has to work on his conditioning. He also seemed soft on defense. That could be a major problem when we get into Big East play.<br /><br />Chris Wright was very impressive last night. He showed flashes of brilliance last year, but the injured foot kept him from fulfilling it. Last night, he was healthy and he was great. He was quick, and he was aggressive. He slashed to the basket at will and, as a result, ended up leading all scorers last night. He will definitely help us to be more up-tempo this year.<br /><br />THE BAD:<br /><br />DaJuan was still too passive. He ended up putting up good numbers, but it was not because he wanted to. If the Hoyas are going to succeed this year—especially given the Big East’s incredible depth—Summers is going to have to step-up and provide some leadership. He didn’t show me that last night. It’s early, but count me officially worried.<br /><br />Outside shooting. It was horrible. We couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn…and trust me were trying. Thompson actually scolded the team for taking too many outside shots. He was right to. Their shot selection was troubling. But more troubling was their inability to hit those shots. While our young big men will become a force to be reckoned with, they aren’t there yet. Plus, it is relatively easy to defend against a one-dimensional team. If Georgetown is going to be successful, they have to solve this problem. The report on Nikita is that he is supposed to be an outside shooter. He was not last night (he was just awkward). Hopefully, that was just an aberration.<br /><br />Free throw shooting. They’re free shots. No one is in your face. You are relatively close to the basket. You are supposed to make them. The Hoyas, as a rule, had trouble with this simple concept last night. This is something else they will have to work on.<br /><br />THE QUESTIONS:<br /><br />Henry Sims only played two minutes. I am not sure why. It looked like Monroe could have used more of a blow. But JTIII was obviously reluctant to but him in, opting for Vaughn instead. Since Vaughn was not overly impressive, I am guessing that Sims is still really raw. We’ll have to watch to see how this plays out.Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-17812736515945697132008-10-23T14:36:00.003-04:002008-10-27T10:46:05.548-04:00No Respect<p>The Hoyas aren't getting much love from the Big East coaches. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that we deserve to be in the top 3. Heck, maybe we're not even in the top 5. But you're honestly trying to tell me that we only deserved to be seventh? Really?!?!?</p><p><strong>2008-09 Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll</strong></p><p>1. Connecticut (9) 214<br />2. Louisville (3) 205<br />3. Pittsburgh (3) 200<br />4. Notre Dame (1) 195<br />5. Villanova 153<br />6. Marquette 146<br />7. Georgetown 141<br />8. Syracuse 139<br />9. West Virginia 121<br />10. Providence 99<br />11. Cincinnati 91<br />12. Rutgers 53<br />13. Seton Hall 50<br />14. St. John’s 44<br />15. DePaul 43<br />16. USF 26</p><p align="center">* * *</p><p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Georgetown Picked Seventh in Big East<br /></strong>Connecticut Is the Preseason Favorite<br /><br />By Liz Clarke<br />Washington Post Staff Writer<br />Thursday, October 23, 2008; Page E02<br /><br />NEW YORK, Oct. 22 -- On the heels of back-to-back regular season Big East championships and a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the Georgetown Hoyas were picked Wednesday to finish a humble seventh in the annual preseason coaches' poll.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/22/AR2008102203139.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/22/AR2008102203139.html</span></a></p>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-32478072599700552632008-10-20T10:46:00.002-04:002008-10-20T10:52:25.919-04:00Midnight MadnessI don't have ESPNU and did not, therefore, get a chance to catch the coverage of the Hoyas' midnight madness celebration this past Friday. If anyone else did, I would love to hear what they thought.<br /><br />I found these clips on YouTube, which give a sense of the atmosphere inside McDonough. It appears like it was pretty electrifying. I love Sims's enthusiasm. Monroe seemed rather reserved, as usual. Hopefully, he finds some enthusiasm when he hits the hardwood for the Blue and Gray.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tlx_asWKGE8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tlx_asWKGE8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UA0NRYoBfdg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UA0NRYoBfdg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jester of Magellanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890949752290418368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-39591530049710342642008-10-08T09:25:00.002-04:002008-10-08T10:51:04.270-04:00JTIII beats out Beilein for Lubick<div align="left">2010 is shaping up with Nate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lubick</span> now hopping on board the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hoya</span> bandwagon. The versatile 6'8, 215 lb forward picked Georgetown over John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Beilein's</span> Michigan squad. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lubick</span>, who hails from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Southborough</span>, MA, is rated as a 4-star recruit by both Scout and Rivals. Rivals has him as #62 nationally.<br /><br />Here's a scouting report that included video of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lubick</span>. <a href="http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/recruits/player/222/Nate-Lubick.php">http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/recruits/player/222/Nate-Lubick.php</a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Lubick</span> looks like the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">versatile</span> big men that both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">JTIII</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Beilein</span> love. Here's to hoping he can <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">pittsnoggle</span> a few teams for us while donning the blue and grey. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PdPt6sujxdQ/SOzINfKhIdI/AAAAAAAAAUg/rV3p6cd-kG8/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254794999263994322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PdPt6sujxdQ/SOzINfKhIdI/AAAAAAAAAUg/rV3p6cd-kG8/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course, somebody has to jump all over the race issue. Is this not getting tiresome? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">JTIII</span> has never coached an all-black team at Georgetown, nor did he ever coach one at Princeton. I mean all anyone has to do is look at the team photos each year. Hopefully, this is the death-rattle of that unfair (and untrue) smear on the Georgetown program.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">LUBICK</span> NOT WORRIED ABOUT RACE ISSUE</strong></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">It’s been more than four years since Georgetown has had an American-born <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Caucasion</span> [sic] on their team. That was before Matt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Causey</span> transferred out of the program and ultimately landed at Georgia Tech. John Thompson III and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Hoyas</span> landed highly regarded junior forward Nate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Lubick</span> last night. He <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">isn</span>’t set to arrive on campus until the fall of 2010. ``At first, after Georgetown offered, it was like, `Georgetown <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">doesn</span>’t offer white kids,’” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Lubick</span> said. “I thought about it a little bit and after I visited the second time and was with their players, I just said, ‘Who cares.’” ``I went on a bunch of visits and none of the teams were anywhere nearly as close as Georgetown,” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Lubick</span> added. “It’s crazy. They all hang out together like a family and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">couldn</span>’t care less about the white-black thing and that’s what made me so comfortable. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">didn</span>’t even pay attention to it.” The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Hoyas</span> do have 6-foot-8 Nikita <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Mescheriakov</span> on the team, who hails from Belarus.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/goodmanonfox">http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/goodmanonfox</a></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">(I suppose Kenny <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Izzo</span> and Bryon Jansen don't count.)</div>Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-1559718497475439802008-09-25T14:03:00.001-04:002008-09-26T13:26:45.341-04:00Markel Starks picks Georgetown<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PdPt6sujxdQ/SN0bIfvDqeI/AAAAAAAAAUY/UzsMQV_eMF0/s1600-h/PH2008092504525.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250382573355641314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PdPt6sujxdQ/SN0bIfvDqeI/AAAAAAAAAUY/UzsMQV_eMF0/s320/PH2008092504525.jpg" border="0" /></a>Georgetown Prep's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Markel</span> Starks has verballed to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hoyas</span>, reportedly choosing Georgetown over Stanford, Maryland, and others. The 6-1, 180 lb guard graduates high school in 2010. Both Rivals and Scout rank his as a 4-star recruit; #35 nationally on Rivals.<br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092504524.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092504524.html</a><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Here's some video: <a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1659850664/bclid1659879241/bctid1662474871">http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1659850664/bclid1659879241/bctid1662474871</a></div><div></div>Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-64077410649720775752008-09-04T15:09:00.000-04:002008-09-04T15:12:23.374-04:00Hoya Hoops Ads on Orioles GamesI know that Hoya hoops season is a long way off, but due to health circumstances, the Stallion has been watching a TON of sports TV. Not sure if my fellow Beltway VBB have seen, but everytime I see an Oriolems game or highlights, there is a huge ad behind home plate for Hoya Hoops tickets for the upcoming season. I'm pretty sure that it's image inserted for TV. But, I thought it was cool that Hoya Hoops frenzy is starting already. Especially cool to see it on TV here in NYC.Italian Stallionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00898402712556701942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10607226.post-11152439438124665782008-07-23T15:48:00.001-04:002008-07-23T15:50:56.385-04:00SI names Ewing all-time greatest Georgetown athleteCheck out the whole list (spoiler: Jeff Green is #7).<br /><br /><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0807/campus.georgetown.top10/content.1.html">http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0807/campus.georgetown.top10/content.1.html</a>Diamond_Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129512201719922196noreply@blogger.com0