takes out #13 Georgetown at home 61-58

there aren't many "easy" games in this conference...and I believe we play the Johnnies twice this year with many of us counting this as two wins...which they may end up being but geesh...

one thing is for sure...gotta win your home games....no exceptions

Lavin has them going now. They struggled early on with some games they shouldn't have lost.

Although, I'm not sold on Georgetown since they lost Greg Monroe. Definitely not the same team and possibly their ranking is based more on history than this year.

(01-04-2011 06:18 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  one thing is for sure...gotta win your home games....no exceptions

Definitely. I hope the fans embrace this mentality throughout conference play as well.

Saw some of that and wondered right away if 500 is doable in the BE. It just looks that hard.

(01-04-2011 07:58 AM)Vottomatic Wrote:  Lavin has them going now. They struggled early on with some games they shouldn't have lost.

Although, I'm not sold on Georgetown since they lost Greg Monroe. Definitely not the same team and possibly their ranking is based more on history than this year.

Their ranking based more on history than this year? Are you kidding?

Name one other team in the country with two out of conference road wins against ranked teams. Hell Kansas and Missouri only played a combined two road games out of conference.

(01-04-2011 07:58 AM)Vottomatic Wrote:  Lavin has them going now. They struggled early on with some games they shouldn't have lost.

Although, I'm not sold on Georgetown since they lost Greg Monroe. Definitely not the same team and possibly their ranking is based more on history than this year.

Georgetown definitely deserves their ranking and they have some big wins. They have so many great shooters, but the problem with relying on great shooters is if they are all cold, you lose. Last night they were cold and they still almost won. Here is hoping the Cats defense can help make them go cold.

ESPN just showed the graphic of St Johns upcoming schedule. Good God. Gotta love big East hoops.

(01-04-2011 10:49 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  ESPN just showed the graphic of St Johns upcoming schedule. Good God. Gotta love big East hoops.

Haha yeah incredible they play eight straight ranked teams ending with #1 Duke.

(01-04-2011 07:58 AM)Vottomatic Wrote:  Lavin has them going now. They struggled early on with some games they shouldn't have lost.

Although, I'm not sold on Georgetown since they lost Greg Monroe. Definitely not the same team and possibly their ranking is based more on history than this year.

I've either attended or watched every GTown game this year so I want to weigh in here. I would say their situation post-Monroe is very similar to UC's post-Vaughn/Stephenson in that the Hoyas are much more cohesive now than last season, things aren't running through just one guy, and their defense as a team, and the individual defense of Monroe's replacements, are considerably better. Nobody can replace Monroe's unbelievable passing ability, but the kid was ridiculously soft, and they unquestionably play better now as a unit.

GTown's problem is the same one they had last year - they get some big OOC wins (Duke/Butler last year, Mizzou/Memphis in 2010), turn arrogant, and play down to their competition. Sure, they can play lights out against #18 Memphis, but freaking Depaul came within 1 point of the Hoyas in the 2nd half at Verizon the other day, and while St. John's is a really good team, the Holy Trinity of Wright/Freeman/Clark was abysmal last night, going 7-27 and 2-13 from behind the arc. Instead of running it through Monroe, the offense runs through those three, and they've all been crap lately.

Also keep in mind that GTown is on break until next week (at least) and a lot of Hoya fans think that's part of the recent problem. They need focus and structure and they have neither right now.

(01-04-2011 11:06 AM)CD11 Wrote:  I've either attended or watched every GTown game this year so I want to weigh in here. I would say their situation post-Monroe is very similar to UC's post-Vaughn/Stephenson in that the Hoyas are much more cohesive now than last season, things aren't running through just one guy, and their defense as a team, and the individual defense of Monroe's replacements, are considerably better. Nobody can replace Monroe's unbelievable passing ability, but the kid was ridiculously soft, and they unquestionably play better now as a unit.

Completely agree about Monroe being soft, but he was a great passer, and he was highly regarded, and definitely was one of the main focuses of the opponents defensive plan. G'town doesn't have as much inside presence now, and opponents can focus on shutting down the guards. It is far more of a loss than people think, from a strategic standpoint.

Quote:GTown's problem is the same one they had last year - they get some big OOC wins (Duke/Butler last year, Mizzou/Memphis in 2010), turn arrogant, and play down to their competition. Sure, they can play lights out against #18 Memphis, but freaking Depaul came within 1 point of the Hoyas in the 2nd half at Verizon the other day, and while St. John's is a really good team, the Holy Trinity of Wright/Freeman/Clark was abysmal last night, going 7-27 and 2-13 from behind the arc. Instead of running it through Monroe, the offense runs through those three, and they've all been crap lately.

Also keep in mind that GTown is on break until next week (at least) and a lot of Hoya fans think that's part of the recent problem. They need focus and structure and they have neither right now.

I've watched some G'town games too and here's my take.

Early season wins favor teams that were good the previous year and that return alot of starters/key reserves (EXPERIENCE!). Jason Clark, Austin Freeman, Julian Vaughn, Hollis Thompson, and Chris Wright all averaged between 20 to 40 minutes per game last year for Georgetown.

I think other teams are catching up to them. Usually happens late December/early January. Other teams with equal talent but less experience are starting to put it together, and G'town's weaknesses are being exposed.

People, Georgetown is a very, very good basketball team. They have beaten Memphis and Mizzou on the road. They have lost Big East games to St. John's and Notre Dame on the road. That should tell you how good the Big East is. The Big East regular season champion will likely lose 4 games. Whoever wins the regular season can gloat about it for about 4 days until the Conference Tournament in NYC starts. Then they must sweat bullets again. There are no easy BEast games, folks.

West Virginia 67 DePaul 65
Pittsburgh 83 Providence 79
Notre Dame 73 UConn 70

No easy games in Beast indeed

(01-04-2011 06:33 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  People, Georgetown is a very, very good basketball team. They have beaten Memphis and Mizzou on the road. They have lost Big East games to St. John's and Notre Dame on the road. That should tell you how good the Big East is. The Big East regular season champion will likely lose 4 games. Whoever wins the regular season can gloat about it for about 4 days until the Conference Tournament in NYC starts. Then they must sweat bullets again. There are no easy BEast games, folks.

I've read to NCAA Tournament analogies stating that Memphis may not make the Big Dance, and that they are way overrated. I wouldn't hang any hats on beating them. They are now projecting Memphis to finish third or fourth in CUSA.

I'm not sold on Mizzou quite yet either. And as I pointed out, G'town had the advantage of returning experience early on in that schedule to beat some of those teams with lesser experience.