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Post by RockawayHoya on Jan 21, 2009 11:07:21 GMT -5
... we put ourselves back on the map with: Georgetown 87, Duke 84. The Hoyas were unranked and looking to scratch their way back to respectability, while Duke was 17-0 and coming into the game ranked #1 in the nation. We all remember J-Wal's spin move on Dockery, Jeff's domination of Shelden Williams, DJ's breakaway dunk in the closing minutes, and Brandon's diving on the loose ball to seal it.
It all seems like yesterday, doesn't it? Still the best college basketball game I've ever witnessed in person and the loudest I have ever heard the Verizon Center.
Thoughts...
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nathanhm
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Post by nathanhm on Jan 21, 2009 11:15:23 GMT -5
It does seem like yesterday and it was one of my favorite memories of my senior year.
What a great game, the student section was electric, the bleachers felt like they were going crumble underneath us.
I remember when I stormed the court Sheldon Williams hit me with elbow to the forehead, but I was too excited to feel anyway pain (well until the next day that was).
The guys were just as excited as the students, for Brandon & Ashanti it was probably the biggest home game of their careers.
The afternoon was unseasonably warm and I just remember taking a cab back to Berlieth and hanging out the entire day talking about how amazing Jeff & Brandon had played, how amazing of a coach JT3 was, and did anyone think we had a shot at being ranked on Monday.
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Jan 21, 2009 11:16:21 GMT -5
When I saw this title, I knew exactly what it was going to be about. On that same day, Florida, the only other remaining undefeated team, also suffered its first loss. Strangely enough, I can't remember if it was Tennessee or Vandy. Funny how it's a whole heck of a lot easier to remember details about wins than losses. In any case, both Florida and Georgetown have established/reestablished themselves since then. But as happy as I was that Saturday afternoon, I must admit I was quite irritated that night. We (Gators) were the de facto #1 team in the land for all of about 4 hours.
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Filo
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Post by Filo on Jan 21, 2009 11:16:31 GMT -5
Given how tough things had been for the program and the significance of that win, it was one of the few times when a court-rushing was warranted.
Thanks, JTIII, Brandon, Ashante, DJ, Jeff, Roy, Jon, Tyler, Jessie and the rest!
Edit - Hifi -- delete your post, please. We are not talking about the Gators here, toolshed.
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hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by hifigator on Jan 21, 2009 11:20:49 GMT -5
Filo, short and to the point. No harm intended. I do remember that day quite clearly. Barely made it to the bar after a half-day at work in time to see the very end of the game and the court rushing. Rest assured, there were no Duke fans around. We all hate Duke down here anyway.
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tgo
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Post by tgo on Jan 21, 2009 11:33:54 GMT -5
i realize i will be unpopular for saying this but...
am i the only one who thinks this board obsesses way too much about that game? great game, big win, historic for being a turning point for the program that had been down for so long- yes to all of those and yes i watched it on tv from california so those who were there in person of course it means a little more to them, but it seems to me that a program that has since that day been to the final 4 and won a BET and two regular season BE titles would not be so stuck on nostalgia for a regular season victory. we have had so much else to celebrate and more importantly so much else to look forward to that i dont understand the continual obsession that it gets new threds about it once every couple of weeks.
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Post by williambraskyiii on Jan 21, 2009 11:42:14 GMT -5
i realize i will be unpopular for saying this but... am i the only one who thinks this board obsesses way too much about that game? great game, big win, historic for being a turning point for the program that had been down for so long- yes to all of those and yes i watched it on tv from california so those who were there in person of course it means a little more to them, but it seems to me that a program that has since that day been to the final 4 and won a BET and two regular season BE titles would not be so stuck on nostalgia for a regular season victory. we have had so much else to celebrate and more importantly so much else to look forward to that i dont understand the continual obsession that it gets new threds about it once every couple of weeks. Agreed...such fawning is beneath us, especially when it involves the Great Satan.
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Filo
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Post by Filo on Jan 21, 2009 11:46:22 GMT -5
Your point may have some merit, tgo, but I think the obsession is warranted to some degree. We were unranked and beat the number 1 team in the country. We hadn't had a win like that in years. What was the last big one? Syracuse in 2000-2001? www.hoyabasketball.com/records/bb-2000s.htmAs the initial post said - it put us back on the map. And it has been a great ride from there...
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bubbrubbhoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
We are the intuitive minds that plot the course. Woo-WOOO!
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Post by bubbrubbhoya on Jan 21, 2009 11:48:10 GMT -5
Hifi, in your long and disgraceful history of posting on HT, this could be your gravest offense. "The Duke Game" is a national treasure for Hoyas; delete your post immediately, because as far as this board is concerned, 1/21/06 had nothing whatsoever to do with Florida.
Rockaway, I'm very happy you started this thread. Having come to Georgetown during what seemed to be a long goodbye from big-time hoops for the Hoyas, I couldn't have been more overjoyed at seeing the bright future of Hoyas Hoops explode before me on that day. And to think what we've seen in the short time since--two B.E. regular season championships, an emphatic BET Championship, home games of massive national consequence (Pitt, Louisville, etc...)--the list goes on.
Perhaps the most amazing development since The Duke Game was that another sequence of games was actually able to rival that day in my mind. Traveling to the 2007 NCAAs to catch the BC, Vandy, and UNC games--all epic matchups--was a whirlwind tour that I will never forget. Capped by the UNC comeback, the signature game for the early JTIII years at Georgetown (not to mention the height of the Jeff/Jon/Roy troika), were a rebirth to glory for a Hoyas fan (whereas The Duke Game was a re-conception, of sorts).
III's Hoyas will forever be rooted in The Duke Game that launched them on the road to the future, but perhaps the most incredible thing as Coach's teams move into their second generation is that we likely have many more moments, just as savory as The Duke Game, still to come. Hoya Saxa, indeed!
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nathanhm
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Post by nathanhm on Jan 21, 2009 11:50:58 GMT -5
i realize i will be unpopular for saying this but... am i the only one who thinks this board obsesses way too much about that game? great game, big win, historic for being a turning point for the program that had been down for so long- yes to all of those and yes i watched it on tv from california so those who were there in person of course it means a little more to them, but it seems to me that a program that has since that day been to the final 4 and won a BET and two regular season BE titles would not be so stuck on nostalgia for a regular season victory. we have had so much else to celebrate and more importantly so much else to look forward to that i dont understand the continual obsession that it gets new threds about it once every couple of weeks. I see what your saying and I think our victory over Pitt to open Big East play was more important in the grand scheme of things but I think for the casual basketball fan or the casual Georgetown fan that was the day that made them realize a sleeping giant had been awakened. And for students during that period, after a few years of lackluster home performances against big opponents we beat a team that I think all current programs feel is one of the top handful of programs currently. So yes to me it was a big deal and a great game, still probably the most raw emotion I have seen from the student body.
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MassHoya
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Post by MassHoya on Jan 21, 2009 11:58:22 GMT -5
To paraphrase Shakespeare, what is past is prologue, what to come is JT III's and the Hoyas' discharge. We should always savor the Duke game, but look ahead to bigger wins!!!
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Post by 1984alloveragain on Jan 21, 2009 12:14:57 GMT -5
Bubbrubbhoya.....That first line of your post is probably the most funny start to a post I've ever read on HT!! I'm still looking at it and yelling "AND ONNNNNNNNNE!!!!!!!!!"
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kghoya
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Post by kghoya on Jan 21, 2009 12:22:11 GMT -5
in person i liked the unc win better hopefully i will enjoy another march victory more than that this season
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Post by musiccityhoya on Jan 21, 2009 12:22:23 GMT -5
tgo, I understand where you're coming from but as someone who was a student for the Duke game, I respectfully disagree, because that day is still without a doubt one of my favorite college memories.
I remember waking up that morning and walking across campus feeling a tangible electricity in the air and a buzz among the students; it was the first time in my year and a half on the Hilltop that I had experienced that level of campus-wide excitement as a result of Hoya basketball.
Obviously, our program has since had more monumental achievements (FF, BE titles, etc.), and students now take that buzz over basketball for granted, but the Duke win was the game that made everyone realize that under JTII, Georgetown basketball had a chance to be real special again.
There will always be a special place in my heart for the well-warranted court rushing. I lost a shoe in the melee, but was so happy I didn't mind heading back to campus barefoot.
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Jan 21, 2009 12:27:34 GMT -5
Unless the program takes a terrible turn for the worst, Georgetown students will never again be justified in storming the court at the Phone Booth, and for that reason, this date will live forever in the hearts of Hoyakind. For what it's worth: soundclick.com/share?songid=4796763
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CTHoya08
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Bring back Izzo!
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Post by CTHoya08 on Jan 21, 2009 12:32:12 GMT -5
I was a sophomore for that game and I agree that there was something really special about it.
I don't think this board obsesses over the game, at least not compared to many of my classmates, particularly the more casual fans. After years of ESPN ramming all things Duke down our collective throat, can you really blame them?
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Hoya50
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Post by Hoya50 on Jan 21, 2009 12:53:04 GMT -5
Unless the program takes a terrible turn for the worst, Georgetown students will never again be justified in storming the court at the Phone Booth, and for that reason, this date will live forever in the hearts of Hoyakind. For what it's worth: soundclick.com/share?songid=4796763i would disagree. a couple of events that could justify a court rushing 1. undefeated big east regular season with final game at home 2. undefeated regular season with final game at home
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Post by HoyasAreHungry on Jan 21, 2009 13:47:39 GMT -5
I was at both the UNC games and the Duke games and I think what makes the Duke win so special was that we weren't doing well at the time...no where near the level of that 07 team and we weren't expected to have a shot in that game...but we won and it was craziness.....the funniest moment in college when some guys lit a couch on fire after the game(dont ask me why...i have no idea...and yes it was UMD esque.....) and when the DOPS officers came and asked who did it they said one name: JJ Reddick.
The UNC game is in itself perhaps a more meaningful win but for the Duke game as many suggested was a game that signified things to come...ie going to the final four being nationally ranked every year etc
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Post by vamosalaplaya on Jan 21, 2009 14:03:31 GMT -5
I have been a fan of GU hoops for 25 years, was on campus for the national championship, but this game was clearly a watershed moment.
Now whether it should be "anniversary news" at this point is worth debating.
But if you ask old-time GU fans about the JT II era they will talk not about the GU-Houston game, but other, "seminal" moments - the Missouri game. The Ewing/Sampson dunk exchange. The Iowa loss. The 33-3 run against Kentucky. These were moments in the trajectory of the program that marked progress, that made you as a fan realize all your instincts had been right, and they were also exciting because they played out on a national stage and suddenly everyone else was witnessing what you had seen developing.
The Duke game was that moment for JT III and the program. The backdoor cuts worked. Duke looked really foolish for a half. Coach K had that tightly drawn look on his face where he knew he hadn't prepped his guys. Paulus dribbled it off his knee and cried. (Packer blew the end game call, unfortunately, but he was good the rest of it.)
There have been bigger wins since - Ohio State in the round of 32 at Dayton, the Pitt BET Title, any win against Cuse, of course the UNC game - I was at that one, it was incredible. But Duke was when it seemed clear that as long as JT III stayed the coach, that GU was back.
Now whether it deserves a thread every year, not sure. But its place in the era is assured in my view.
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Post by FromTheBeginning on Jan 21, 2009 14:06:42 GMT -5
However you look at it - it was a "you had to be there" to fully appreciate either of them.
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