Jan. 8, 2008

The Georgetown-DePaul game really crept up on us. Between the December holidays, family vacations, and the real-life jolt of returning to work, it was easy to forget that it's already a week into January 2008, and the Hoyas are getting ready to take on DePaul.

 

Fortunately, Chicago plans a warm welcome for the Hoyas that will get everyone back into the swing of the basketball season. Following up on a great holiday crowd at our Memphis game watch, we hope to fill the Wyndham O'Hare with over 100 Hoyas fans before the January 8 game.

 

This game will be a lot different from the Hoyas last Rosemont visit of two years ago. Remember life prior to the Sweet 16 run? On February 1, 2006, we were still giddy from a win over Duke - but some still thought it was a perfect storm, a fluke, not the indicator of something special.

 

A crowd of about 75 gathered at the Wyndham, confident of a win that night but eager to hear how a brand-new athletic director planned to guide the Hoyas back to the top of college basketball. We trekked across the parking lot where many in attendance saw Green, Hibbert, and Wallace on the court for the first time. Roy did not disappoint, dominating an undersized DePaul team for 17 points and 8 rebounds in only 25 minutes of action.

 

This time? We will be eager to celebrate a Final Four appearance with now-veteran Athletic Director Bernard Muir. Yet despite four returning starters, we will carry nerves about the game.

 

DePaul appears to have adjusted to the BIG EAST, using tough defensive pressure and timely three-point shooting to top Villanova and Providence in its first two games. The toughness of the team should come as no surprise; Head Coach Jerry Wainwright is tough as nails. It's silly to expect anything other than an all-out effort from players coached by a man who cut his teeth at the freshman football coach at East Leyden High School in the 1970s.

 

Tickets are still available for the game - we'd like to see as much blue and gray in the lower bowl as possible. We are still accepting pre-registration for the pre-game reception, which is an open house from 5-8pm. Find all the details and complete your pre-registration at http://www.sporg.com/pom/registration?cmd=event_info&event_id=98967. Bernard Muir will join us at approximately 6pm.

 

If you're not near Chicago (or more accurately, near O'Hare Airport), be sure to watch the game on ESPNU. Eric Collins, Mark Adams, and Sarah Kustok have the call starting at 9 pm EST / 8 pm CST.

 

Jeff Goldstein (MSB 2000)

Sporting Events Chair, Georgetown Club of Chicago