Jan. 5, 2009
Welcome to the Big East, fellas.
Just as Pitt spoiled the Hoyas home winning streak on Saturday, the Hoyas look to do the same in South Bend against the Fighting Irish on Monday. Notre Dame enters the game with a 43 game consecutive winning streak at the Joyce Center, second longest in the nation, and look to redeem themselves after the unexpected loss to St. Johns. With the Hoyas and Irish coming off their first Big East loss of the season, Big Monday will prove to be another competitive, brutal, and key Big East matchup. No team wants to or can afford back to back losses, considering the nature of this league this year. Welcome to the Big East, fellas.
Growing up in Northwest Indiana, living only 63 miles from Notre Dame, having the opportunity to see Luke Harangody play in high school (my sister, Valerie, a year younger than “Gody” both attended Andrean High School), and supporting my good friend, Gene Cross, who was an assistant coach at Notre Dame, now the head coach for the University of Toledo, are a few reasons why I have kept tabs on this squad throughout the years. .
I would be lying if I said I was not the least bit concerned about the game on Big Monday; actually I would be less apprehensive if we played the Irish at the Verizon Center tomorrow night. For the past two and a half years, ND has been very inconsistent on the road. On the contrary, the Irish are one of the toughest teams in the nation when playing at home.
Notre Dame mirrors Pittsburgh in a variety of ways. Like Blair, Harangody will be another force to be reckoned with for our young Monroe. Harangody ranks tenth in the nation in scoring, with 23.5 ppg and third in rebounding, with 12.5 rpg. The reigning Big East Player of the Year has been outstanding thus far, even after suffering from a bout of pneumonia after the Maui Invitational. ND’s McAlarney and Ayers will challenge Sapp, Wright and Freeman with their ability to shoot 3’s, and Jackson will test our trio with his speed and ability to penetrate and dish or drive to the basket.
Another similarity between Pitt and ND is their veteran play. Notre Dame starts 3 seniors and 2 juniors. They are a very mature and experienced team who is poised and probably the best squad for the Irish in recent history.
The key for the Hoyas is tempo. Notre Dame averages 82.6 points per game and the Hoyas have been holding opponents to 57.4 ppg. We need to control the tempo of the game from the onset making smart plays and taking good shots. I would not expect Georgetown to have another poor shooting performance as they did on Saturday. Look for Sapp, Wright, and Freeman to come out with a vengeance and focused in on the Irish.
On Saturday, if you didn’t notice, there was an additional Hoya on the bench, Hollis Thompson. Thompson has enrolled at Georgetown a semester early, yet unable to play this season. I could not help but think, “We sure could use him this year.” Our bench play really needs to become more of a presence, allowing the starters valuable breaks throughout games. The Big East season is just beginning, but after a plethora of competitive games, energy, endurance and bench depth will be vital in order to pull out victories late in the season.
Big Monday will showcase two of the Big East’s most talented and classy teams as the Hoyas and Irish look to avoid their second loss in the league play. It will be an extremely competitive, intense game in which I am leaning to a Hoya victory and spoiling the party in South Bend. No luck for the Irish on Monday.
Georgetown vs. Notre Dame - January 5, 2009,
Time/Location - 7 pm tip off time, South Bend, Indiana
TV: ESPN
Radio: 980 AM, 92.7 FM, 94.3 FM
Leslie A. Tyburski, MSB 06
