BET Final: Hoyas 2007 Big East Champs!!!!!!!!!!!

[DanMcQ]

Wash Post - Camille Powell: They're above it all

Jeff Green stood at the foul line with about 90 seconds left in the Big East tournament final Saturday night, and prepared to shoot a free throw that would have no impact on the final outcome. Top-seeded Georgetown was well on its way to a dominating 65-42 victory over third-seeded Pittsburgh.

As Green left for a substitute after his shot fell through the net, Coach John Thompson III -- often so controlled emotionally -- stood on the sideline with a broad grin, his arms open wide to welcome the player who dominated the tournament. He wrapped Green in a hug, as the Georgetown fans at sold-out Madison Square Garden celebrated the program's first Big East tournament title since 1989.

"I needed a hug," Thompson III joked. "That's when it kind of set in, just how special this is, just how special the performance he turned in all week is, just how special what this team just accomplished is. . . . It's been so few teams that get the opportunity to play in a Big East championship game, let alone teams that win the regular season and win the conference tournament. At that point, it finally settled in with me, 'Hey, we're going to win this thing.' "

"Just to look behind our bench and to see the alumni -- Big John, Big Pat, Jerome Williams, Coach Ronny Thompson -- just to see that and see them proud makes me proud," sophomore guard Jessie Sapp said. "We're following in their footsteps. The legacy continues. It's in good hands. . . . It just shows that we have a lot of heart. That's what the legacy of Georgetown basketball is. Even though we're different players, we have the same heart; we play tough."

"With him just standing at the sideline, I was walking towards him and I didn't know if he wanted a hug or a high-five," Green said. "So I just went in for the big hug. It's great to see our coach's reaction like that. But it didn't hit me until the clock struck zero that we won it."

Wash Post - Sally Jenkins: Hibbert, Front and Center

Afterward, the two men met for handshake, and Hibbert put an arm around Gray, and told him, "You're a really good player." It was a generous gesture, from a player who had come up large.

"We're both competing out there, so you know, we're going extremely hard," Hibbert said. "We have respect for each other, and off the court, we're two human beings. So I just told him, 'Good work out there; you're a really good player.' We'll see him again, hopefully, if we keep working."

Wash Times - Barker Davis: Return to the top

"That's another thing I can scratch off my to-do list," joked Georgetown coach John Thompson III after completing the three-year renaissance of the program his father built into a dynasty by leading the Hoyas to a Big East-best seventh tournament title. "Honestly, the opportunity to with the Big East regular season and the Big East tournament is extremely special. And to do it in just our third year is even sweeter. We're going to enjoy it for a day or so. Then we're going to turn that off and get ready for the NCAAs."

"I'm just extremely proud to wear Georgetown on my uniform," Hibbert said. "This is for the school, our fans and former players, and most of all for Coach Thompson."

"Aaron just had a bad day. He's one of the best players in the country," Thompson said after Gray finished an abominable 1-for-13 from the field with three points. "They are a significantly better team than they looked like tonight, and everybody knows that. That said, Roy did a very good job on him, just knowing Aaron's tendencies and being attentive to that."

Now, Georgetown will simply sit back and await today's tournament draw.

"It feels good to be on top of the Big East, but we're not on top of the world yet," Green said. "By the end of April, maybe we'll be able to say that."

Wash Times - Hoyas Report




Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pitt falls to Georgetown in Big East title game, 65-42

By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NEW YORK -- Pitt already had made the Big East Conference record books by becoming one of only three teams in the history of the Big East to play in six tournament championship games in a seven-year period. But the history the Panthers made last night in the title game against Georgetown is something they would like to forget.

Georgetown leveled Pitt, 65-42, before a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden. It was Pitt's fifth championship game loss. The Panthers also lost the title game in 2001, '02, '04 and '06.

This one was by far the ugliest. The 42 points were the fewest points scored in a Big East championship game and were the fewest for a Pitt team since the Panthers scored 30 against Temple on Jan. 15, 1969. The 23-point margin of defeat was the most since Pitt lost to St. John's by 24 in 2000.

"We never showed up," senior forward Levon Kendall said.

NY Times - Pete Thamel: Georgetown Goes Old School and Captures Big East Title

The byproduct of Georgetown’s dominating performance in New York is a compelling case for a No. 1 seed in the N.C.A.A. tournament.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up there,” Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey said Friday night. “I’ve seen everyone this year, and they’re as good as anyone out there.”

Whether Georgetown has earned a No. 1 seed or not, it has evolved into a dominating team that no other team will want to see in its bracket. The Hoyas showed on consecutive nights that they could win two completely different styles of games against high-caliber opponents — a good harbinger for the N.C.A.A. tournament.

NY Times: In a Matchup Between Big Men, Hibbert Stands Taller

After the game, Hibbert was asked about his struggles as a young basketball player. Hibbert and Thompson laughed before Hibbert said, “I tried to be good at what I was — being tall.”

Last night, he was all that, and more.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Georgetown outclasses Pitt for Big East crown

ere's all you need to know about the Big East championship game Saturday night:
Roy Hibbert had more dunks than Aaron Gray had points.

GUHoyas.com Recap with photo gallery link


GUHoyas.com Box Score and Play-by-play


Hoops Weiss:
nydailynews.com/sports/2007/03/11/2007-03-11_untitled__weiss11s-1.html


BET Coverage Links from Princetonbaskteball.com:


Pitt game:
www.princetonbasketball.com/blog/index.php/archives/2007/03/11/georgetown-65-pittsburgh-42/

ND:
www.princetonbasketball.com/blog/index.php/archives/2007/03/09/georgetown-84-notre-dame-82/

Nova:
www.princetonbasketball.com/blog/index.php/archives/2007/03/08/georgetown-62-villanova-57/

[daytonahoya31]

It's gonna be a war all the way through.

This will be a battle of attrition as both teams are going to be pretty tired. The team that executes will win. As always, Pitt has no matchup for Jeff. On the bright side, Roy may be pretty fresh seeing that he hardly played tonight

[brooklynhoya]

Maybe we'll get Lurch and Pretty Boy into early foul trouble again tonight, and Roy will be unshackled to roam the hardwood at will.

[SFHoya99]

All right, stop. Collaborate and listen.

[HoyaTejano]

Hibbert will be fresh -- and at this point in the BET, you probably don't need much in the way of motivation.

Nobody else's conference tourney is this entertaining, challenging, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Nobody else's conference has the tournament in the jewel of basketball that is MSG.

[YB]

True about the BET- it really is a special event.

This will be our toughest game yet. Rubber match, they've seen us twice, both teams will be pretty exhausted. I wonder who this will hurt more- we can't expect another 30 from Jeff tonight. If we do, don't expect too much from him in rounds 1 or 2 of the NCAAs.

Tonight Roy will have to step up. Rivers, Sapp, and maybe even a guy like Crawford or Ticket. We'll have to use our depth more than ever this game.

Should be tough, but hard fought. And I can't get back to sleep waiting!

[casualhoya]

Section 328 tonight will not be cheering for the Pittspuke Panthers.

Casually.

[miracles87]

Oy. I work from 10am til 8:30 pm tonight. Race from the metro, open a nice bottle, lets see, 1st final in 11 years? Perhaps a nice Burgundy. Maybe some Grand Cru Alsace. Eh, whatever, maybe a six pack of something domestic. One things fer sure. I am floating on a cloud of soft, voluptous bosoms this am. What a game last night, and tonight, WW3, BET style. Life is good. President Green might want to give the 'football' to VP Hibbert tonight, I think he may need, tragically, to drop the 'big one' on the Panthers...

Now, I must boil a couple eggs sprinkled with salt, pepper and a powerful anti-psychotic, draw my talc bath, have a peaches and cream colonic, and call out a hit on that low grade mental defective Jon Lovitz, er uh, Joe Lunardi.

See yas later.

HOYAS!!!!

[guhoyasfan36]

sfhoya99 said:

All right, stop. Collaborate and listen.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D lol

[MassHoya]

Seven hours and forty two minutes to the Game. How good is this? Roy is fresh and should destroy Gray tonight. Enough with the dumb fouls. PE, Jr is peaking at the right time. And then there is Jeff...Go HOYAS!!!!!!!!!!!

[SirSaxa]

The Challenge for JT3 is to get our guys prepared for tonight's game.
It's not just the 40 minutes that Jeff played, or the two tough games in two days.
It's recovering from the emotional highs and lows of last night's game.
Just think about how you feel today. Still kinda giddy. Still a little shaky.
The adrenalin rush of being in the game and pulling out an amazing victory,
and the mental stress of playing from 14 down in the first half, and then a really tight game the rest of the way takes a serious toll. Recovery isn't quick or easy.

Pitt is facing some of the same issues. But JT3 has to get our guys prepared... this thing ain't over 'cause we won last night. and you sure as heck don't want to get to the final for the first time since '96 and not complete the job.

We've won 14 of 15, first place in the Conference, top 10, and came from 14 down to get to the final by scoring the winning bucket with 13 seconds to go... and then being lucky enough to hang on.

YB mentioned that we can't expect JG to get 30 again, but we don't expect this game to be in the 80s either. One thing we can count on from Jeff. Over the last 10 games or so, he has finally been willing to step up and lead this team, carry this team. Jeff seems to have gotten over his deference to teammates and team play. As admirable as that is - -and it is one more thing that makes him great -- he also has realized that he is the best player on our team. He NEEDS to carry the load - for the good of the team. He needs to hit those big shots. He needs to Kill for boards. It opens up those great passes like to PE JR. last night. He is the BE POY and we NEED Jeff to carry us to victory. He is one of those great players about whom people write "great players make those around them better". Man, does he ever do that.

Speaking of which, has everyone noticed how well JG and PE Jr play together? These guys are like Hoops brothers. They are awesome. Looking for one another. Backing each other up. Setting each other up.

One more victory tonight!!! GO HOYAS!!! TAKE IT HOME!!!
In our 100th year, with all the tradition, with Pops and Pat in the house, with JT3 and Jr. on the court, go out and win this game tongiht!!!

[Highsmith]

Lots of factors coming into play tonight- fatigue, foul trouble, who gets hot, etc.

We just need to keep their outside guys from getting open looks (see the 2nd half last night against ND) and win the battle inside. ND has better shooters than Pitt, so we should be able to do the first thing and we have a rested Roy, a phenomenon in Jeff and an inspired Ewing--not to mention Summers getting back inside last night and a completely rested Ticket ready to give them some problems if needed. As long as we aren't completely mentally and physically drained from that game last night (shouldn't be an excuse as Pitt had to fight back from a pretty good deficit too) and as long as Roy gets control of his hands again (no silly reach ins and catch those passes!!)--I like our chances. It won't be easy, but I like our chances.

[RockawayHoya]

Good article by Adrian Woj, especially about Ewing Jr. prior to last night's game:

sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_ylt=AmrygHFyOEAvPyDgLN6mHdHevbYF?slug=aw-ewing030907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[hoyaLS05]

College Gameday crewed just broke down todays game:
Hubert likes the Hoyas, as does Bilas, and of course, Digger doesn't. Apparently, he knows that Aaron Gray won't get into foul trouble. Also, because Roy was ineffective last night, he will be tonight too, according to the former head coach of the team we knocked off last night.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

I think that we will see lots of Rivers in this game - and as much as I've ridden that kid this season, he did an amazing job locking down Falls in the second half - I mean did you hear Falls name at all in the second half?

This game is not about scoring points. This game is about defense and grinding out a win with rebounds, free throws, and racking up the fouls on players like Gray and Kendall who have proving pretty prone to picking up fouls in this tournament. I think that we may see a line up that includes PEJr., Wallace, Rivers, Green, and Hibbert for a good stretch tonight with DaJuan being subbed in on offense.

[Nevada Hoya]

Good thoughts, guys, especially by SirSaxa. Tonight will be tough and I think we will be going on fumes, but I think the will to win the tourney is there. It should be a war of attrition, but I think we want it better.

GO HOYAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get the rest of the job done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SirSaxa]

rockawayhoya said:

Good article by Adrian Woj, especially about Ewing Jr. prior to last night's game:

sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_ylt=AmrygHFyOEAvPyDgLN6mHdHevbYF?slug=aw-ewing030907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Rockaway!

Superb article!!
Thanks so much for posting the link.
Everyone should read this one.

[vcjack]

hoyals05 said:

College Gameday crewed just broke down todays game:
Hubert likes the Hoyas, as does Bilas, and of course, Digger doesn't. Apparently, he knows that Aaron Gray won't get into foul trouble. Also, because Roy was ineffective last night, he will be tonight too, according to the former head coach of the team we knocked off last night.

Digger has picked every single game against us, I'm fine with the results of not liking us

[hoyaparanoia97]

miracles87 said:

Oy. I work from 10am til 8:30 pm tonight. Race from the metro, open a nice bottle, lets see, 1st final in 11 years? Perhaps a nice Burgundy. Maybe some Grand Cru Alsace. Eh, whatever, maybe a six pack of something domestic.

See yas later.

HOYAS!!!!

I think I'd recommend something a little more full-bodied, like a nice shiraz. Panther is a little stringy, and it can be gamey if it's not done properly. Something with a robust nose will also cover the stink of burnt fur and hair gel.

On to something basketball related...since KenPom doesn't seem to be doing ratings and predictions with his Log5 machine, I guess we have to rely on CBS SportsLine, which puts us as 58% favorites. I've only looked at this tool once before, but it put us as a 50-50 tossup with ND, and that turned out to be pretty accurate.

[hoyalove4ever]

I wanna see our guys come out tonight ready for WAR. We need to get to loose balls 100% better than we did last night. And we can't let some punk frosh go on a single-handed scoring run against us. If the whole team comes with every ounce of heart that they have, we win.