Nov. 16, 2009
Yo Adrian, Laissez les bons temps roulez!!
The blog schedule has me slated to write for Temple, but I can't let the opportunity pass to write about the first road trip of the year - - the season opener against Tulane at Fogelman Arena in New Orleans. From the date the game was announced, everything about it shouted "ROAD TRIP!!" And it certainly did not disappoint! In fact, I am happy to report that I left for New Orleanson Friday afternoon and made it in plenty of time for the whole game (unlike that unfortunate, unforgettable Saturday game in Atlantaa few years ago)!!Moreover, the Hoyas began the 2009-10 season with a 74-58 trouncing of Tulane's Green Wave in the Great Greg Monroe Homecoming! But more about that later.
For anyone who has not taken a Hoya road trip, I have to tell you that you are missing out on a mini-Hoya Reunion! My trip began with a walk with Joe Guarriello, B'71, L '74, down Rue Royale, across Canal, to 701 St. Charles and Herbsaint, a neighborhood French-Southern restaurant led by James Beard Award Winning Chef Donald Link. There we met up with Mark Siskin, Rich Hluchan, and Rob Couhig, all F'71, and their wives for a wonderful modern Creole dinner! After dinner, Couhig, whom I have not seen since he graduated in May 1971, and his wife Missy drove Joe and me to Fogelman, where we headed into the Arena, in time for the game, but, unfortunately, not in time for the New Orleans Club's pre-game tailgating gathering, which, from all accounts, appeared to have been a great success. Taking our seats, we were soon joined by Joe's nephew, David Guarriello, B'91. As the tailgating crowd began to file in, I saw, among others, Hoya Hoop Club President Al Bozzo, B'85, Vice-President for Events Karen Schneider, N'76, Secretary Chris McArdle, B'93, John Reagan, B '84, Bruce Simmons B'69, Paul Goodrich, C'65, the brothers Laborde from the host city, Hoyas Unlimited Associate Director Mara Vandlik, C'07, and Chris Haines, B'07. Indeed, there was a very substantial Hoya contingent at the game, including many of Greg Monroe's friends and family who had come for his Reunionin the Big Easy!!
The Hoyas began their season with a convincing victory over the Green Wave. After jumping out to a 11-0 lead, the Hoyas let Tulane narrow the gap to three at one point in the first half, largely on the basis of some strongoutside shooting by Tulane. Then, the Hoyas "kicked it up a notch" in the second half and quickly put the game out of reach. Based on one game's performance, I make the following observations about this year's team. This year's team may have the longest arms of any Hoya team in history and they enjoy using them as effective defensive weapons! At times, when the Hoyas set up their defense, all that I noticed was the length of the players' arms, which, in basketball terms, adds say at least two inches to a player's height. I saw this and I smiled. I also saw that this team enjoys playing defense and is rather good at it!They have a toughness about them and are not averse to mixing it up inside and on the boards. They also seem to enjoy playing with one another! Not surprisingly, Greg Monroe led the Hoyas with 18 points, but I was especially pleased with the play of Austin Freeman, who seems to have regained his freshman form, and Julian Vaughn, who brought a welcome toughness to the Hoyas inside game. The Hoya fans were in mid-season form and cheers of "Hoya Saxa" and mini-waves highlighted the fans' contributions to the victory! It is only one game, but it was a good one! Congratulations to Coach Thompson and his charges on their opening day winand best wishes for the rest of the season!.
After the game, I was joined by my wife, Linda Morgan, L'76, and daughter, Meredith Karam, C'07, for a mini-weekend walkathon in NOLA. On Saturday, we first walked to the Crescent City Market on Magazine, then toured the Quarter, walked around Jackson Square, past the French Market, then back to Canal. Meredith and I went to 5:00 P.M. Mass at St, Louis Cathedral. Thereafter, wewalked from our hotel on Rue Royale to a scrumptiousdinner at Emeril's Restaurantat 800 Tchoupitoulas.After dinner, we walked back to our hotel. On Sunday, we caught a late morning flight back to DC.
The Hoyas open their home season against the Temple Owlsfrom Philadelphiawith a 4:00 p.m. game Tuesday at Verizon Center. The Owls are coming off a 76-56 thrashing of Delaware's Fighting Blue Hens. The 4:00 p.m. start is, of course, dictated by ESPN's 24 hours of college hoops coverage. Thankfully, the Hoyas did not get the 6:00 a.m. game!
Despite following the Hoyas since 1968, I do not have that much memory of a rivalry tradition between the two schools during that time. There was our 62-46 NCAA rout of Templein Hartfordduring 1984-85, Patrick Ewing's senior season. After that, there was a 74-53 Templerout of the Hoyas during the 1988 NCAAs when frosh phenom Mark Macon led the Owls to a #1 regular season ranking. And I can well remember that Temple, then coached by the legendary Don Chaney initiated the Coach John Thompson III era at Georgetownwith a 75-57 shellacking of our Hoyas! Despite our limited recent rivalry history, I was surprised to discover that between the 1932-33 and 1942-43 seasons, we played annual home-and-home series against Temple. At that time, we both played in the Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball Conference (EIBC). (Other members of the EIBC were Pitt, West Virginia, and the Carnegie Institute of Technology.) Even then, the Temple Owlswere a tough out for the Hoyas!
During the more recent period, the two squads were coached by legends John Thompson, Jr. and Don Chaney, who were the definition of "old school" and it is somewhat surprising that their teams appeared primarily to meet during pre-season or post-season tournaments, rather than regular season games. To stress the value of education, Big John had his deflated basketball and Coach Chaney had his 5:30 a.m. practices so that class schedules would not be impacted by basketball practice. They both changed the game in immeasurable ways!!
This year's coaching match-up features a reprise of many earlier Ivy League contests when our own JT III led his then-Princeton Tigers against Temple Coach Fran Dunphy's then-UPenn Quakers, in games that often directly impacted the Ivy League championship. The Owls will miss departed senior Dionte Christmas, who would often put the Owls on his back, leading them to back-to-back Atlantic 10 Tournament Championships and consecutive NCAA appearances.This year's squad is led by Lavoy Allen, a 6'09" power forward, known for his rebounding and defense, sophomore point guard, Juan Fernandez, who spent the summer playing the point for Argentina's U-19 team, and Ryan Brooks, who opened the season with a 23-point and nine rebound performance in the Owls' win over Delaware.. From what I saw in New Orleans, the Hoyas commitment to defense and toughness will come in very handy against the Owls, as the two teams pair up in the late afternoon contest at the Phone Booth. So come early, wear blue and grey and kick off the new home season with the first of many home victories!One thing is for certain,given the styles of play, it won't be easy for either team!Go Hoyas!!
WE ARE GEORGETOWN!!
Respectfully submitted,
Michael E. Karam, F'72, L'76, L'82
Proud Member of Generation Laughna
