Jan. 16, 2009
Bring on the Crazies…
Anyone who talks to me about Georgetown basketball knows that I truly believe this year's squad is one of the most talented teams under JTIII's reign on the Hilltop. The challenges that confront the Hoyas, aside from the tough BIG EAST competition, has been the youth of the Hoyas and lack of production from the bench. It goes without saying, anytime the Hoyas can dominate Syracuse always makes for a sweet and celebratory victory, especially when you work in an office with a handful of 'Cuse fans. However, the win over Syracuse wasn't just another win over another BIG EAST team. This victory demonstrated how our bench play is the key component for future success of the Hoyas this season.
The presence of the bench is exactly what we need in order to go down to Kryzewskiville and pull out another hard fought victory. Sure, the BIG EAST is tough night in and night out, but the young Hoyas have yet to experience anything like the Cameron Crazies. If the Hoyas can come out in the first 5 minutes of the game and show they are unfazed by Duke's 6th man, they have an extremely good shot of dominating another top 10 team in impressive fashion.
As I sit here and write this posting, there is one thing that keeps crossing my mind, "How the heck is Duke ranked 2/3 in the nation?" Every time I have seen Duke on TV this season, the competition they have faced has been, ohhh lets just be honest, not ESPN worthy. Duke's opponents might as well have been the University of "St. Mary School of the Blind." Duke has only played 2, yes 2, ranked opponents: Xavier an always competitive mid-major team and a struggling Purdue squad. The Hoyas have faced 6 ranked opponents: a struggling Tennessee team, a young Memphis team, a too big for their britches UCONN team, a mature Irish team, and the Orange (in which I think we caught them on a very bad night, oh dang).
As always, the Blue Devils are a very structured, well disciplined team. They are an experienced team, loaded with upperclassmen, but as my good friend Reggie Love (a former Blue Devil) told to me, his Devils are playing very inconsistent this year. If Georgetown can come into Cameron Indoor Stadium and exploit the Blue Devils weaknesses from the tip, the more athletic and prepared Hoyas can win this game. This is the perfect opportunity for Greg Monroe to have one of his best games of the season and he is due for another amazing showcase as he displayed in Connecticut.
The intimidation factor and the bench play are the two key pieces to Saturday's match up. If the Hoyas can block out all the distractions and our bench can provide for valuable minutes, there is no doubt in my mind the Hoyas can dismantle the Blue Devils just as they did with Syracuse.
HOYA SAXA!
Georgetown vs. Duke
Saturday, January 17 - 1:30 PM Tip Off Time
TV: CBS
Radio: 980 AM, 92.7 FM, 94.3 FM
Leslie A. Tyburski, MSB '06
PS- If anyone just so happens to have 2 extra tickets to the game on Saturday, 2 former Lady Hoyas are more than willing to make the trip to Kryzewskiville and cheer on the Hoyas. Never hurts to ask J.
