Georgetown Hoyas @ Pittsburgh Panthers GameThread, Jan 20, 2010 7:00 PM EST

#12 Georgetown Hoyas (13-3, 4-2) vs. #9 Pittsburgh Panthers (15-2, 5-0)

by Hire Esherick on Jan 20, 2010 10:08 AM EST in Game Threads

Georgetown Hoyas at Pittsburgh Panthers, Jan 20, 2010 7:00 PM EST

Quick Link to In-Game Commentary: Online / Mobile

TV: ESPNU
Radio: ESPN980
Online: Hoyas vs Panthers coverage
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Peterson Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA

View from the Student Section - A Perspective from Campus:

My semester is already starting to go downhill as I fall behind in work (yes, one week into classes). Hopefully our Hoyas tear up the Big East, while I try to pass at least a couple of my classes. As one astute, drunken Senior proclaimed on Copley lawn last Spring to a passing tour group, "Go to your Harvards and your Yales, we have grade inflation!" Amen to that.

One place where few people want to actually go to college is Pitt. I will not be traveling to the ArmPitt of America for today’s game. I will definitely watch the game, although in a more sober state than Sunday’s battle, because I am not in the B-Frat and thus do not drink 6 days a week.

A win would be beautiful because somehow Jamie Dixon has Pittsburgh atop the Big East. He must have robots playing out there because no one thought Pitt would be this good again this year. I feel confident that if our bench gives us more than five points we will at least have a shot. Hoya Saxa!

View from the Court Side Seats - A Perspective from OldHoya:

OldHoya has been toiling with the Pitt Panthers for years and is apprehensive about tonight's game. Similar to Nova, there's little love lost with the Pitt crowd and OldHoya remembers games from 3 separate arenas:

Fitzgerald Fieldhouse, a bandbox that was far less luxurious than McDonough (the Ewing led Hoyas got thumped there in 1983)

The Igloo, where the Penguins played and OldHoya saw a fight break out between Jerome Lane and Perry McDonald - most notable for OldHoya was sitting next to Jerome Lane's mother. Seems Ms. Lane was a precursor to Jeff Green's Mom and wore a sweatshirt with the simple statement, "I am Jerome Lane's Mother."

Peterson. OldHoya notes that it must be nice to have $53 million in state money to throw together a nice 12000 seat arena.

A long time rival, after joining the Big East in 1982, OldHoya is concerned about this year's Pitt team but believes that the key to the game will be neutralizing what can be a brutal crowd.

View from the Sportsbook (via DonBest) - A Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: Pitt - 1.5. Over/under 124.

Dearest JT3 and the Hoyas:

As fans, it is very difficult for us to watch when the team gets down by double-digits in the first half in Conference games against ranked opponents. STOP DOING IT.

Sincerely,

Casual Hoya

Despite the loss at Nova, I liked what I saw out of the team as they fought back, and specifically Greg Monroe's ability to lift the team on his shoulders and refuse to lose. Yes, they still lost, but you get my point. This is not last year's Hoyas.

Pitt traditionally is one of those teams that plays great defense and likes to grind it out on both ends of the court, a tempo that suits Georgetown just fine. Georgetown matches up well with Pitt and Monroe can have a decent game and get some of Pitt's bigs into foul trouble. We all know the Hoyas aren't a deep team, but Wright, Freeman, and Clark can cause those evil Pitt guards fits.

Stat to remember: The Hoyas are 12-0 when CW scores in double-digits, and 1-3 when he doesn't. I think Wright goes for 13+ in this game, and the Hoyas will win outright.

The pick is Georgetown +1.5, and I'm going OVER with a final score of 66-61.

On the season:

The Hoyas are currently 7-5 ATS (that's 'Against The Spread' for those just tuning in).

Georgetown is 3-1 ATS on the Road, 2-4 ATS at Home, and 2-0 on Neutral Courts.

Casual Hoya is 7-5 ATS.

www.CasualHoya.com : Where Your Money Stays And Plays.

Casually.

Check back throughout the day for updated media coverage and during the game for updates.

0 recs | 328 comments

Comments

Pregame articles

Georgetown starters to be tested during difficult five-game stretch – washingtonpost.com
As for his starters’ stamina, Thompson says his players are sufficiently conditioned for whatever playing time a game dictates. “There has been an understanding internally from the beginning they were going to play big minutes,” Thompson said. “They understand they have to take care of their bodies as much as possible — eat right, get your rest — because they’re going to play. They understand the demands of them. They’ve prepared for that and are ready for that.”

Men’s Basketball: Panthers prepare for Georgetown’s unique offense | The Pitt News
Pitt handled Connecticut’s transition offense and Syracuse’s 3-point shooting, but Georgetown presents an offensive scheme unlike anything the Panthers have seen. “They’re so unique in how they play,” Dixon said. “You never quite feel totally comfortable with what they do.” Gibbs agreed with Dixon, noting the Hoyas’ proclivity for screens and backdoor passes. “They’re a tough team to guard,” Gibbs said. “They can shoot the ball, so we got to contest shots as well. It’s going to be tough for us.” Statistically, tonight’s game unites the two youngest teams in the conference, but the senior-deprived Hoyas still have plenty of experience. Junior guards Austin Freeman and Chris Wright, sophomore guard Jason Clark and sophomore forward Greg Monroe all see plenty of playing time as Georgetown coach John Thompson III keeps a short bench. “Those four guys have played a lot of minutes from day one,” Dixon said. “Their starting five is as good as anybody in the country.”

Greg Monroe stands at center of Georgetown’s success – washingtonpost.com
What’s undeniable is that the 12th-ranked Hoyas will go only as far this season as Monroe takes them. What remains to be seen is just how far the broad-shouldered center can carry the Hoyas — and whether he’ll return for a third season on the Hilltop, as Jeff Green did before bolting for the NBA, or possibly a fourth, as Roy Hibbert did.

Hire Esherick - January 20, 2010 reply

ESPNU blows

Why can’t the game be on a tv station that people actually get? Does anyone have any suggestions, is there an internet link someplace?

SomebodyBuyAustinaSteak - January 20, 2010 reply

Bars

offered on DirecTV and DISH packages

Hire Esherick - January 20, 2010 reply

Staying Alive.

The Hoyas may have lost on Sunday but they covered, so I am 7-5 ATS. As I stated previously, a loss tonight would be SEASON ENDING. I do not want the season to end, so I must pick GEORGETOWN +1.5 though it worries me greatly.

Is the game on MASN?

lordnick - January 20, 2010 reply

no MASN

They showing UConn / St. John’s.

ESPN owns rights to this game and is foolishly showing a #12 Georgetown vs #9 Pitt matchup on is crap channel instead of on ESPN where they are showing #24 UNC vs unranked Wake Forest.

They also showing South Florida at Cincy on ESPN2

IDIOTS

Hire Esherick - January 20, 2010 reply

completely inexplicable.

WTF?

SomebodyBuyAustinaSteak - January 20, 2010 reply

haha

I was just going to post the same thing. Why on earth are they showing Cincy-South Florida on ESPN2? I understand UNC to an extent (huge following, ESPN loves them some ACC), but not Cincy-SoFla at all.

Chris Haines - January 20, 2010 reply

im going to buffalo billiards tonight

they playing with sound.

official hoya hoop club watch is at black finn but im not a fan of watching with uber excitable hoya fans.

Hire Esherick - January 20, 2010 reply

Channel 730 on Comcast

for those in DMV area.

most dont get it though.

Hire Esherick - January 20, 2010 reply

DMV

I love that you just used that expression…you know Greg Monroe tweets @ Wale all the time? DC baby babeeee

TheYellofAllYells - January 20, 2010 reply

ESPN gearing up interest......

Obviously, ESPN is televising the UNC-Wake Forest game due to the recent surge in interest surrounding the Wake Forest program….. The excitement is building as their Nikita Inauguration Day at Winston-Salem is only 11 months away…..
[Notice to ACC athletic directors…. purchase extra padding for your backboards now]……

MerlinWilson'sSister - January 20, 2010 reply

Gary Parrish on the Hoyas

Picks Pitt

Hire Esherick - January 20, 2010 reply

Gary Parrish's List of Daily Activities

1. Tan
2. Apply half-bottle of hair gel
3. Talk to Jason Horowitz over the phone but never in the studio
4. Back to the Tanning Salon
5. Finish off that bottle of hair gel

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/K9v9f4Q3olc/0.jpg

Vee Sanford's Next-door Neighbor - January 20, 2010 reply

Pauly D

Better in both tanning and hair styling

itsallthatmatters - January 20, 2010 reply

Seth Davis and Dana O’neil both picked pitt.

Greg Anthony Picked us though!

hoyasincebirth - January 20, 2010 reply

It isn’t even on ESPN360.

KingSpeedy - January 20, 2010 reply

Dear Student Perspective Guy

Historically, GU Hoops teams drive fans to drink! The day of the week or time of day matters not. I was in London for our loss to UF and I was ordering Jameson shots @ 5 AM AFTER the loss!

I also made it back to tombs for last call after we beat carolina to advance to the final four a few yrs ago to get the “student perspective”.
Don’t be a female sex organ!

JahidiLikesPie - January 20, 2010 via mobile reply