Jan. 30, 2009
Continuing with the theme of "bus memories" that our last blogger so nicely described, this coming Saturday, we Chicago Hoyas (and a few dedicated East Coasters who just really want to kick back a few in the back of a Greyhound and reminisce about their various college road trips…not that there is anything wrong with that) will be venturing up to Milwaukee via I -90/94 to hang out with our Wisconsin kin at the Bradley Center and watch the Hoyas take on the Golden Eagles of Marquette.
Things to look forward to: 1) Stopping at the Brat Stop and seeing the guys on the bus eat more brats and cheese curds in 45 minutes than you thought was humanly possible and 2) Getting heckled by all the Marquette fans as we step off the bus with our "WE ARE GEORGETOWN" shirts.
Not to be pessimistic, but I can't help but wonder if this year, with a very different and younger group of Hoyas, and one that (sorry I have to say it) will be entering the game with a 4 game losing streak and less a pretty key player, I will get the same amazing show I did last year when I headed to Milwaukee. If you recall, last March 1st Jonathan Wallace (my Mom's personal favorite…I think she said at one point that she would marry him…sorry Dad) hit one of the biggest three-pointers of his career…well not quite. While almost falling out of bounds, J. Wal threw one up from behind the arc with 2.8 seconds remaining, got fouled and hit all three free throws to send the game into overtime, despite an earsplitting crowd. I can attest to the volume - the arena noise meter was officially at the "crazy loud" level, largely due to the mass chanting of "missssss itttttt" while J. Wal was shooting. But according to him, "(he) knew he had to make the free throws…(he) knew what was at stake.
Last year's fearless leader showed why he held that title, finishing the day with four of the Hoyas seven points in the extra frame and 20 points and four assists overall. Roy Roy Roy was 7-of-11 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line, closing the afternoon with 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Ewing, Jr. finished with seven points, nine rebounds and three assists, while Summers added six points and a career-high 14 rebounds. These performances allowed our 11th ranked Hoyas to come back from an 11-point second half deficit for a 70-68 win over MU in front of 19,085 fans at the Bradley Center. It was the 4th straight win, and the 11th in the last 13 games, for the Hoyas, who improved to 24 - 4 overall and 14 - 3 in the Big East.
So what kind of Marquette team will we be up against this year? Well, the Golden Eagles enter Saturday's contest undefeated in league play, and are looking to continue their 14 game winning streak at home, which dates back to last season. The Hoyas will most certainly have to keep an eye out for Lazar Hayward, who is just one point shy of becoming the 41st player in Marquette history to net at least 1,000 career points. He will join current teammates Dominic James, Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal in the 1,000 point club. The UNC Tarheels are the first to feature four players to reach the mark, but when Hayward nets his 327th point this year, Marquette will be the only other school to accomplish the feat.
Greg Monroe will also have his hands full with 6'8 senior veteran Dwight Burke down low, who ignited the Milwaukee crowd with a put-back dunk with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to give MU a two-point lead last year, before J. Wal played the hero.
In addition to the two things I mentioned earlier, I also am looking forward to making new friends with the lucky Marquette fans that will be sitting in front of me and hearing me bellow various Hoya cheers in their ear (last year it was two guys who were actually pretty cool and, despite their team's loss, said "we brought it" and it was one of the best games they had ever seen). I am also excited to bring my boyfriend, an Indiana University grad, to his inaugural Georgetown event and show him how we roll in the Big East. To all of you who will be on the bus from Chitown (shout out to Rick Hall and the Christie clan) or those that will meet him at the pre-game reception, please keep the Hoosier insults to a minimum, especially since he will be donning all Georgetown garb.
Perhaps JTIII put it best after last year's MU game, when he asserted, "Seriously, this is a brutal league…I've said many times, we're still sitting at the table -- Kenny Rogers' 'The Gambler,' we'll count our money when it's done." Well, its only January 31st…and last time I checked March Madness doesn't start until…ummm…March. So we still have some "money" to earn, and we are far from done.
So for everyone who won't be joining us in Milwaukee, check out the game details below:
GeorgetownHoyas vs. Marquette Golden Eagles
BradleyCenter (Milwaukee, WI)
2:00 pm EST
TV: MASN
Radio: 980 AM, 92.7 FM, 94.3 FM
Commentary: Lou Canellis (play-by-play) and Bob Wenzel (analyst)
Signing off from the chilly Second City,
Christina Besozzi (COL '05)
Member of Generation Wallace
