Keep Your Heads Up Hoyas!

[RDF]

After last night's game, I just want to say that one feeling kept coming through the television and that was frustration. Not on my end as a fan--but from the entire program. You could see it in III's face, you could see it in player's faces, and you felt it at home watching--which Len Elmore picked up on various times. I alluded to it in another thread on this site--but let's face it, you can care as much as you want as a fan but it's the players/coaches who eat, breathe, and live to perform and enjoy the game they all love to play. I can be very critical of the team and have been over my years--but the reality is what my/other criticisms do is NOTHING. It doesn't help a damn thing to get on someone--and why I think it's helpful--the truth is it only helps me as a fan get over a loss and "vent".

Well I apologize for that. Last night I felt badly about my comments for first time because I saw how badly the guys were hurt with their performance. It is one thing when guys are not playing hard and do NOT care. When you see guys trying their best and if anything playing too tight because they are desperate--you just wish you could remind them to not forget to have FUN! Nobody has been having fun playing the game. They have been thinking of their record and their slump, and the time/score--and not just playing. Last night--I saw that in III too--he wasn't having fun--he was more down then I've seen him and again--felt the tension from the team in my living room.

Guys--it's BASKETBALL--a game--have some fun and play it out. The frustration we fans have is minimal compared to those involved and I'll be first to admit I owe Dajuan Summers and his family an apology for some of the criticisms I've laid upon him the past few weeks. He was lost on court last night and not from lack of effort-if anything he was thinking about things on court and you could see it. I applaud Chris Wright and Jessie Sapp for doing what they could to just play the game and get team going-and it worked--thought the effort was great for the 2nd Half--but the execution wasn't quite there against a quality team like Louisville.

Thing is--these guys are still the same talented people who we all celebrate when they decide to attend Georgetown. They are same young men who will be better off for going through this no matter what they individually decide because it teaches you about more then basketball--it teaches important lessons that someone of my age should know more then them--but they tought me something about myself last night--and it was to be less critical and more supportive. It's one thing to watch kids who beat up women, have no character, and act like punks on the court. When you have guys who aren't hitting shots, are struggling on defense, etc... but trying--well that is something that can happen--especially with a young team. When I woke up today--I felt I as a fan owed an apology to the team/coaches--not that I even know or expect anyone associated will know about it--but felt it needed to be said. I have been a fan for 30 years and look forward to #31 next year. HOYA SAXA!

[Filo]

Amen, RDF. It has been a frustrating season all around. I was typing out a post earlier today that I did not wind up posting. Basically, I was expressing my frustration but I ended it by saying that as frustrating as it has been as a fan, it is far worse for the players and coach.

I feel bad for the players, since they are trying and they are a good group of young men. They are learning some valuable lessons -- about basketball and about life -- that I hope they build on.

[hoyabinx]

(Stands in Applause)

[krukster201]

AMEN BROTHER!

[Boz]

I don't think there is anything we shouldn't be supremely proud of about the character of our players and coach. This is a good point, RDF, and one we should all remember.

[prhoya]

Tough and frustrating all around...
As fanatics, we'll be back next year.
The season is not over!

[CAHoya07]

Amen. All you can do as a fan is support your team through thick and thin.

The season is not over, but our NCAA aspirations most likely are. So, let's finish this season on a high note, so we can send off Jessie as well as build for next year - give Nova a good fight (a W would be amazing, but I'm being realistic), take care of business at St. John's and vs. DePaul, and make some noise in the BET and beyond.

[The Stig]

I'll add to the chorus of amens!

Our team is a group of good guys. They don't cause trouble, and I'm sure that all of them will do our University proud after they leave, on the basketball court or in another area.

We clearly have some problems this year, but I don't think the character of our players is one of those problems.

[SirSaxa]

Congratulations on an excellent, reflective post RDF. I admit, I was surprised and didn't know you had it in you.

Team and Staff have had a really tough year. But they are still Hoyas. And they have been HUGELY successful the past 4 years.

Let's hope they finish the season strong -- then take the summer off, work on skills, get everyone back, add a couple guys and build for next year. The Hoyas will be BACK!

[Grandpa]

Thanks RDF - the sentiments you expressed are ones that resonate with me (and I'm sure many others on the board).

[Nevada Hoya]

One of your best posts, RDF. I think the majority (all?) of us on this board feel the same way. Let's give these guys all the support we can.

[hoyarooter]

Strong candidate for post of the year.

I think it even deserves a milkshake. ;D

[hoyatables]

RDF - you have had some classic posts, and this deserves a special place in the hall of fame. Here's to hoping the team ends the season with a bang.

[RockawayHoya]

I think your 2nd paragraph hits the nail right on the head, RDF. I was definitely concerned about the effort put forth in games like Pitt, WVU and SHU. But the last couple of games, I have really seen a dramatic improvement in effort from the guys. It hasn't translated into wins, but at least the guys are playing their hardest, and as fans that's all we can ask for. That I think more than anything has given me hope that if things don't turn around this year, they certainly will next year.

As a tremendously young team as was pointed out in a recent newspaper article, we have played bar-none the toughest schedule in the country this year and for the most part competed with the cream of the crop as far as college basketball is concerned. It has really been a credit to the guys for their ability to pick themselves up off of the mat time and time again and put forth a worthy effort. For that, I'm extremely proud of our guys.

[the_way]

This is what being a Hoya is all about.

i think the guys just need a break, really.

the off-season couldn't come sooner. i think the guys just need to get away from basketball for a minute and just enjoy life. come back refreshed for next year.

its been a tough year. tough year on a fairly young group.

guys like Wright, Sapp, and even Summers are trying, it just hasn't come altogether for a myriad of reasons.

we can't quit. Hoyas don't quit. Just gotta gut this season out and bear it, learn from it, and build from it.

JTIII is the man. He knows what the problem is. Its hard to fix it during the middle of the season.


I think we need some perspective.

Wasn't too long ago we had the Esh years , remember those? And even the stale portion at the end of JT2's caeer here. remember that?

JTIII comes in, goes to the NIT, then sweet sixteen, then Final Four, a Big East regular season title the following year....breathed new life into this program, made it a nationally recognized program again.

Our frustrations, anixities, agonies, etc. over this season are due to our success the past few years here.

We have built a level of expectation, a high standard that our team didn't reach this year.

Its bigger than the game of basketball. I mean isn't that why we love our beloved Hoyas so much? Its always been more than basketball at Georgetown. thats what made us different than other programs. We won on and off the court.

This year wasn't the best, no matter how we finish, guys just need to give it their all with what they have...thats all they can do at this point. they can't hang their heads when they do that.

Next year is new year, and a clean slate for everybody. Let's build towards that.

[HoyaSox04]

Not to turn this into a "new poster vs old poster" thread, but its funny to me that the majority of the people posting in this thread are people who've been on this board for quite some time. People who I've been posting with for a while. And its arguably the best, and most positive thread, we've had in a while...

This thread made me feel upbeat for the first time in days about this team, and this program. So thanks, everyone.

[Cambridge]

Thank you so much RDF for saying what I've been thinking for a while. I had a conversation with SFHoya in Milwaukee that touched on many of the themes of your post, but (surprisingly) you were much more eloquent and succinct than my drunken ramblings over a bowl of real chili.

[HoyasAreHungry]

good post RDF....the negativity on this board has been melting my screen recently. Sure this season is disappointing but life goes on, the season goes on, and next year comes regardless. I have faith in the program that we will be fine and right the ship

[FrazierFanatic]

Thanks for the slap in the face, RDF - we all need one when we are getting hysterical, whcih has happened alot lately. I have decided to drink more during the games, will take the edge off. And you and Rockaway are right on - the effort the last 3 games has been there, which will eventually lead to the results. I only have 29 years in, so I must always defer to your lucidity when it shows up!

[hoyacrazy]

Agreed! Last night's effort was very good, you have to stand up and cheer for the effort. We were simply over matched by older more experienced players.
I would also like to give a shout to coach Pitino, in his post game comments he mentioned how tough it is to win in this league without experience. A lot of coaches in this league would have made it all about their team. I hope we all understand that now.
GREAT EFFORT GUYS!!! GO HOYAS!