Feb. 9, 2011
There Are Games, and Then There Are Cuse Games
When HHC Blogmaster John Hawkes sent our assignments for the 2010-2011 season, I saw my name next to 2/9 @Syracuse and immediately knew I was facing a challenge greater than even the most effective 2-3 zone: What does one say about Georgetown-Syracuse that hasn't already been said? Countless words have been written over it (including at this very blog) TV commercials have appropriated it, and for those of a certain (small-g) generation and pop-culture orientation, it's been the proper venue to recast Chuck Klosterman books. In fact, a shared belief in the power of Georgetown-Cuse may - may - actually be a stronger feeling on both sides than the antipathy for the other.
For myself, I've had the pleasure of seeing five live Georgetown-Cuse games, including two at the Carrier Dome. Will any of those five, between 2005-06 and 2008-09, rank in the Top 10 Georgetown basketball moments of any Hoya fan with a longer memory? Probably not, but to my mind, it doesn't really matter. For all of the excitement of buzzer-beaters and deep Tourney runs, nothing feels quite the same as beating Syracuse, regardless of the final margin, and nothing feels more crushing than a loss. There are games, and then there are Cuse games.
The Hoyas and the Orange tangle for the 85th time tonight at the Carrier Dome, where the Hoyas are still looking for their first win since 2002. 2009 gave the appearance that the Hoyas had cracked the code, mounting a furious comeback that came a DaJuan Summers three-pointer shy of sending the traveling Hoya student faithful into a frenzy, although given what actually transpired in the stands, a fully-frothed Syracuse crowd could have let to some injuries. Last year fans were treated to three matchups. Both regular season games brought the rivalry to the front of the national consciousness where it belongs, as both featured GU and SU teams ranked in the top 10. Unfortunately for the Hoyas, the Carrier Dome freeze continued, and the Hoyas were edged by the Orange at Verizon in the return match. When it came down to crunch time, though, the Hoyas exorcised the demons of Gerry Macnamara, knocking the #3 ranked Orange out of the Big East Tournament in their first MSG matchup since 2006.
This year both teams are just on the cusp of the top 10 again, taking very similar, yet differently timed, routes to get there. The 13th-ranked Orange have bounced back with wins against UConn and USF to reverse a four-game losing streak, while the #11 Hoyas overcame a 1-4 Big East start with six consecutive wins of their own.
Regardless of records, tonight's game will perhaps be instrumental in deciding the final Big East outcome, has all the makings to become a classic in the storied history of Georgetown-Cuse, and will definitely be louder and more passionate than any other game on the schedule, with the Hoyas facing the toughest home court crowd they will see all year. Tonight the lights of the Carrier Dome will descend on the current rosters of the Hoyas and the Orange, some of whom weren't yet born for the ECAC, Leo Rautins, Patrick Ewing, Jim Boeheim with hair, Sleepy Floyd, Pearl Washington, Alonzo Mourning, their Greg Monroe, our Dikembe, their Jo(h)n Wallace, or "Manley Field House is officially closed." Regardless, when tipoff comes, every player, coach, student and alum will know that this game - this unrivaled rivalry - is special.
Paul Campbell
MSB '09
Generation Roy
