MSG Doubleheader

[DFW HOYA]

Georgetown-St. John's, followed by Iona-Manhattan on Jan. 30.

When was the last time Georgetown was the opener at a Garden doubleheader?

www.gojaspers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12500&ATCLID=1254235

[HoyaSinceBirth]

any way we get to watch that game after our game?

[azarin]

Even if you could, would you really want to? Iona was 2-28 last year, and Manhattan was 13-17. It is MSG though, I suppose...

[1227]

Why is the big east game first?!

[hoyachick]

Well, my Dad is a Jasper, so I'd gladly stay if this is the undercard.

And don't be so ready to dismiss the mighty Jaspers of Riverdale (Da Bronx!). They have ushered many a coach into Big East Nemesis Category: Fran Fraschilla, Bobby Gonalez, Steve Lappas to name a few.

To replace the outgoing Bobby-Go, they snagged a Pitt assistant (Rohrssen).

In a good year, the MAAC is no joke. They routinely scare the be-jesus out of you in your 2-15 and 3-14 games (and have pulled out the victory twice in the last decade, for all you gambling folks).

[HoyaSinceBirth]

yeah i have a friend at manhattan so i wouldn't mind knocking back some beers in the garden with him. we could invite all my other friends in NY to the game too and have a great time.

[tal1286]

a few years ago I went to Duke v. Texas and then Duke v. Oklahoma at MSG in December. As I recall they played before the other teams did. I bet this is because they would rather have the big teams' game start at a set time as opposed to possibly having to wait on end for a game nobody cares about.

[HoyaNyr320]

Based on the large news item about MSG today, I was thinking this thread was going to be about something else.... possibly involving Stephon Marbury and interns.

[SirSaxa]

renolesaxa said:

Why is the big east game first?!

Probably for TV.

[prhoya]

renolesaxa said:

Why is the big east game first?!

To come back earlier.

[jacko]

I'll watch the game, of course, and I'll bring my cheering voice. I owe Manhattan for the joy they brought me in '06 when they smacked the 1 seed Twerps right out of the NIT in the first round despite fouling out the last of their top 4 post players with about a minute and a half left. Plus I think I might be a bit college basketball deprived this year.

The only downside to this is that I'm assuming it'll be tougher to buy a nosebleed seat and then find a closer seat without being called out for not having a ticket. This was simple a few years ago when I went to the Garden, but I'm assuming the arena will be fuller than normal during the first game.

[1227]

Fuller - with GU fans.

[SirSaxa]

dfw said:

When was the last time Georgetown was the opener at a Garden doubleheader?

DFW, I do recall a game at MSG in the late 70s or maybe 1980, GU was in the opener of a doubleheader. I am pretty sure it was the old ECAC Holiday Festival. My GU buddy Joe and I were at the Game. Hoyas lost a close won.. painful. I think to BC.

Why do I remember this? Because we had been enjoying the GU game and maybe a beer or two. The loss hurt, but the team was so much better than it was before JT took over a few years earlier that it wasn't all bad. We stayed for the second game, we saw JT come out and sit in the stands. He wasn't looking happy. So we decide to go over and "cheer him up". Great idea. A couple of young alumni, maybe we had more than one or two beers, telling JT not to worry, you'll get-em next time coach, etc. He wasn't pleased. In fact, he was steaming. Not at us, but at the team for losing, maybe himself for coaching -- but we definitely were NOT helping! We suddenly realized maybe this wasn't a good time to cheer up Big John! So we beat a hasty retreat.

Funny, Joe and I don't recall the exact details of the game, but we often recall that night and our well-intentioned, but inappropriate -- and brief! -- meeting with Coach!

So yeah, I would say about 27-30 years ago was the last time I recall GU being in an opener of a double header at MSG -- not counting BET of course.

[FOTP]

Not sure about this, but the leading of the doubleheader could be for TV purposes. Maybe that was the slot we could get an ESPN game instead of later.

Just a guess.

[Hoya69]

Hoyachick ask your dad if he ever had a beer at the Pinewood or stood up to listen to Kate Smith sing "God bless America" at the Terminal Bar. The bar tender ensured that everyone stood by pacing up and down the bar with a baseball bat. gotta love the Bronx!!!

[Gold Hoya]

GU played in the consolation game of the Coaches vs. Cancer game on 11/11/1998. I can't remember whether the GU-Temple opening-round game the day before was game 1.
www.thehoya.com/sports/111398/sports7.htm

[SirSaxa]

goldhoya said:

GU played in the consolation game of the Coaches vs. Cancer game on 11/11/1998. I can't remember whether the GU-Temple opening-round game the day before was game 1.
www.thehoya.com/sports/111398/sports7.htm[

/quote]

Good one!

I forgot about it, but I was at those games too.
At least the first night, AI was in the house. (OK, a long time ago but I am almost certain). A number of other Hoyas too. It seemed like Braswell and Perry were intimidated by that. They didn't play well. Very disappointing start to the season. Maybe that's why I blanked it out. I think they opened both nights, but not sure. Clearly, having lost the first round, they opened the second night.

Two months later, that team was back at the Meadowlands vs. SHU. My GU buddy Joe and I went to that one too. We didn't know it at the time, but it would be JT's last game as Head Coach. Then there was a dark period. And now things are better than ever!