Dec. 22, 2009

33 Years Later…Google Rocks

I know I may be stating the obvious, but Google really is pretty phenomenal. Since I wasn't familiar with our past encounters on the court with the Crimson…(yes, Harvard's official mascot is the Crimson, but since it would be kind of difficult to have a color patrolling the sidelines and firing up fans, they sometimes have a costumed John Harvard, the first benefactor of the College for whom the university was named, at sporting events - there is today's history lesson for you but regardless, you should know Harvard's mascot from OUR fight song…if you don't, it may be time for you to brush up J )…I figured consulting our favorite search engine would be the best way to inform myself of our relationship with the Ivy Leaguers. I typed in "Georgetown + Harvard + basketball + history" and sure enough, I stumbled upon an article written in the Spartanburg Herald Journal of Spartanburg, South Carolina, on December 19th, 1976.

On Wednesday, December 22 and Thursday, December 23 in 1976, our Hoyas along with the Crimson Tide of Alabama, and the Harvard Crimson headed to the Carolina Coliseum, home of the South Carolina Gamecocks, for the third annual Carolina Classic. The Gamecocks had won the tournament the two previous years and they would be opening their pursuit for a third title against Harvard on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, our boys would face a 7th ranked Alabama team, which included 6-6 sophomore Reginald King, who at the time was the top scorer and rebounder in the tourney. (Reggie King - aka "The Mule"- would end up being selected 18th overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Kansas City Kings, playing with them for four seasons and then spending his final two years with the Super Sonics) But the '76 Hoyas had there own triumvirate to combat Bama: 6-1 sophomore Al Dutch (who signed with the Hoyas despite offers from the Duke and Notre Dame and has been deemed one of the most important recruits in Georgetown history), 6-1 Derrick Jackson (whose last second 18 foot jumper in the ECAC South final the previous season gave the Hoyas their first NCAA tourney bid in 32 years), and 6-4 Steve Martin (an All-State guard from New Orleans that now serves as a Senior VP for the city's NBA squad).

These boys were the core of a strong Georgetown team that was coming off of a 21-7 season, which ended with a loss to Arizona in the NCAA West Regional. More importantly, the Hoyas were entering the Carolina Classic after a 107 - 65 trouncing of Chicago State (guess this season's Bears team could call Chi State for some sympathy…yeah Chicagoans, I went there), and a 4-0 record. Nevertheless, this momentum wasn't enough to make the Blue and Gray the tournament champs - to quote a subsequent article I found in the Herald "John Thompson (was) building a better basketball team…But Wednesday night, it was not quite good enough" - The boys fell two points short, losing 66 - 64 after Crimson Tide freshman Kent Looney (who apparently was kind of a big deal because he was 5-9 and could dunk with two hands) sank 2 free throws with 10 seconds to play. Thompson would go on to explain, "I don't consider this a moral victory…Moral victories are for people who are never going to be good"

By now, you are probably like "why are we traveling back in time to 1976, and why am I telling you about a nail biter in which we were not victorious?" No, it is not my attempt to distract you from a more recent, dare I say it, "déjà vu" loss on our home, like real home, court this past weekend (I'll agree with you Mr. Karam and say it was exams…they should be banned…I'll make a call). My reason for the rewind is because of our opponent for the consolation game of the '76 Carolina Classic…none other than the John Harvards (alright, that actually sounds kind of weird). In any event, I will spare you more history and sum it up by saying we beat the Ivy Leaguers, 60 - 40, on December 23rd, and we haven't seen them since.

So then what is in store, 33 years to the day later, for our 8-1 Hoyas as they prepare for their Eve of Christmas Eve throw down with Crimson (much better)? Well, let's start with their coach. Tommy Amaker, former Dukie and right hand man to Mikey K has rejuvenated the Harvard program, currently holding a record of 7-2, with their most recent win against the Eagles of Boston College 2 weeks ago on the road. In the second of their two losses against Connecticut, Jim Calhoun stated that "Tommy is one of my favorite people and he's doing a great job of getting a different kind of Ivy League team…better athletes, just a better all-around team. They can do a lot of things."

One of those better athletes is Jeremy Lin, a Big East caliber player whose quickness and innate ability to positively impact the game resulted in him being named one of the country's 12 most versatile players in an ESPN.com feature by Fran Fraschilla. Lin contributed a career high 30 points and 9 rebounds in their battle against UConn and he was the main reason the Crimson even hung around that afternoon. According to Jay Bilas, "he can play anywhere, and in any league". Well on Wednesday, it will be the Big East baby. (Had to get the Dicky V reference in there somewhere)

I can't help but also give a little shout out to some DC locals on the Harvard team - freshman Christian Webster of Landon, who was named the 2009 Gatorade Maryland State Player of the Year, and sophomore Max Kenyi, who joined Harvard from Gonzaga and appeared in 26 games and made 6 starts last year.

Unfortunately this game won't be televised, but you can listen to coverage on ESPN 980 or watch online with Gametracker. I am pretty pumped, as I plan to be there, live and in person…that is if my flight from O'Hare gets out on time. You guys got your 22 inches, and now as I type, it is snowing here in Chicago…awesome.

Happy Holidays everyone and of course…Hoya Saxa.

Christina Besozzi

C'05 and Proud Member of Generation Wallace