Post by DanMcQ on Mar 3, 2007 1:08:38 GMT -5
Wash Post - Thomas Boswell: For the Hoyas' Hibbert, a Quantum Leap
Wash Times - Barker Davis: Big East's Top Dogs
Wash Times: Hoyas Report
Wash Post: Hoyas Claim Share of Big East Title
GUHoyas.com Post-Game Quotes
BIG EAST REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS! Box Score
GUHoyas.com Recap...includes link to game photos...
Hartford Courant: In Washington, Another Deficit
UConn's Output Is Its Lowest Since 2002
Hartford Courant: Georgetown 59, UConn 46
"I have never seen a player develop as rapidly as he has," former Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr. said. "They really needed him in the first 10 minutes of this game. They came out flat as hell. He had to step up. Stars have to be stars when you get into this time of year. It wasn't the time for equal-opportunity basketball."
Connecticut's Thabeet often seemed as lost as Hibbert did two years ago and finished with six points and four rebounds. "I told him afterwards: 'Keep working on your game. You'll be all right,' " Hibbert said.
"He's a project. I was there at one time."
But not anymore.
Connecticut's Thabeet often seemed as lost as Hibbert did two years ago and finished with six points and four rebounds. "I told him afterwards: 'Keep working on your game. You'll be all right,' " Hibbert said.
"He's a project. I was there at one time."
But not anymore.
Wash Times - Barker Davis: Big East's Top Dogs
"Do the Wizards play tonight? I hope not, because my wife and kids and I are going to come back and cut down the nets and take them home," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said after his Hoyas (23-6, 13-3) ascended to the top of the conference in just his third season on the Hilltop. "It is not over. We have other things we want to accomplish. ... But the regular season is over and we're sitting at the top, and that feels pretty good."
As the top seed in the Big East tournament, No. 9 Georgetown has earned an opening-round bye in New York and faces the winner of Wednesday's game between the eighth- and ninth-seeded teams in Madison Square Garden on Thursday at noon.
"We checked off a couple of significant goals today by beating UConn and getting at least a piece of the regular-season championship," junior Jeff Green (14 points) said. "Now, another goal is waiting in New York."
The game-defining stretch came just after halftime, when the Hoyas went on a 15-1 run to turn a four-point lead into a 45-27 cushion with 14:06 left.
"It was their defense in the final analysis which started to take its toll," Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said after the young Huskies slogged to the school's worst league record since 1989. "The first seven minutes [of the second half] were just a nightmare. We went seven minutes, and we never completed any set."
"Rasheem was taught a lesson by Hibbert today," Calhoun said. "I remember a couple of years ago when we had Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong, and they couldn't even play [Hibbert] against us. That's a great tribute to him and just how much he's improved. Today he dominated the game."
Said Hibbert: "This is the time of year to step up. For the rest of the year, we're in a one-and-done situation, so there's no time for letting your focus slip."
Actually, there was just such a time over the final minute yesterday, as the Hoyas had the game well in hand and Thompson had the luxury of inserting senior reserves Sead Dizdarevic and Kenny Izzo. Dizdarevic committed a turnover less than five seconds after checking in, but Izzo put an exclamation point on the Georgetown victory by blocking the final shot of UConn's Jerome Dyson (nine points), who entered the game as the Huskies' leading scorer.
"Kenny's block was a perfect way to end it," Green said. "That was definitely sweet."
As the top seed in the Big East tournament, No. 9 Georgetown has earned an opening-round bye in New York and faces the winner of Wednesday's game between the eighth- and ninth-seeded teams in Madison Square Garden on Thursday at noon.
"We checked off a couple of significant goals today by beating UConn and getting at least a piece of the regular-season championship," junior Jeff Green (14 points) said. "Now, another goal is waiting in New York."
The game-defining stretch came just after halftime, when the Hoyas went on a 15-1 run to turn a four-point lead into a 45-27 cushion with 14:06 left.
"It was their defense in the final analysis which started to take its toll," Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said after the young Huskies slogged to the school's worst league record since 1989. "The first seven minutes [of the second half] were just a nightmare. We went seven minutes, and we never completed any set."
"Rasheem was taught a lesson by Hibbert today," Calhoun said. "I remember a couple of years ago when we had Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong, and they couldn't even play [Hibbert] against us. That's a great tribute to him and just how much he's improved. Today he dominated the game."
Said Hibbert: "This is the time of year to step up. For the rest of the year, we're in a one-and-done situation, so there's no time for letting your focus slip."
Actually, there was just such a time over the final minute yesterday, as the Hoyas had the game well in hand and Thompson had the luxury of inserting senior reserves Sead Dizdarevic and Kenny Izzo. Dizdarevic committed a turnover less than five seconds after checking in, but Izzo put an exclamation point on the Georgetown victory by blocking the final shot of UConn's Jerome Dyson (nine points), who entered the game as the Huskies' leading scorer.
"Kenny's block was a perfect way to end it," Green said. "That was definitely sweet."
Wash Times: Hoyas Report
"There isn't a better player in the league than Jeff Green," Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said. "I'm going to sit down and look at it and fill my ballot out [today], but there isn't a better overall player than Green. He's so multidimensional. He's so unselfish."
Wash Post: Hoyas Claim Share of Big East Title
GUHoyas.com Post-Game Quotes
BIG EAST REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS! Box Score
GUHoyas.com Recap...includes link to game photos...
Hartford Courant: In Washington, Another Deficit
UConn's Output Is Its Lowest Since 2002
Hartford Courant: Georgetown 59, UConn 46
OF NOTE
Thabeet wanted a shot at Hibbert.
Hibbert wanted the ball. "I wanted to take over," he said.
Hibbert did. He had 11 points in the first half and controlled the paint throughout.
"Roy is personally challenged every game," coach John Thompson III said. "He gets fired up. He is an emotional person for every game. In many ways he is more comfortable playing against someone his own size."
Thabeet, 7 feet 3, and Hibbert, 7-2, spoke after the game.
"I just wanted to give it my best, but he got me first," Thabeet said. "He told me to do like him and keep working on my game and I really appreciate that. He's experienced. He's played three years and this was my first time to play against a real center, somebody my height." ... Dyson's final shot was blocked by walk-on Kenny Izzo, the final blow in a disappointing day. Dyson, from Rockville, Md., played before about 20 family members and friends. He shot 4-for-13. "I was looking forward to it," he said. "I wasn't able to play in front of my family in a while. I just wish my stomach wasn't as upset as it was. It hit me right before we came out to warm up, some kind of stomach bug." Coach Jim Calhoun said he had a feeling Dyson wouldn't have his best day even before learning he didn't feel well. "As soon as I saw him look at the ticket list, I knew we were in trouble," Calhoun said. "Every time a guy goes away and he is worried about family - and he should be; I'm not criticizing him by any stretch of the imagination - I get nervous."
Thabeet wanted a shot at Hibbert.
Hibbert wanted the ball. "I wanted to take over," he said.
Hibbert did. He had 11 points in the first half and controlled the paint throughout.
"Roy is personally challenged every game," coach John Thompson III said. "He gets fired up. He is an emotional person for every game. In many ways he is more comfortable playing against someone his own size."
Thabeet, 7 feet 3, and Hibbert, 7-2, spoke after the game.
"I just wanted to give it my best, but he got me first," Thabeet said. "He told me to do like him and keep working on my game and I really appreciate that. He's experienced. He's played three years and this was my first time to play against a real center, somebody my height." ... Dyson's final shot was blocked by walk-on Kenny Izzo, the final blow in a disappointing day. Dyson, from Rockville, Md., played before about 20 family members and friends. He shot 4-for-13. "I was looking forward to it," he said. "I wasn't able to play in front of my family in a while. I just wish my stomach wasn't as upset as it was. It hit me right before we came out to warm up, some kind of stomach bug." Coach Jim Calhoun said he had a feeling Dyson wouldn't have his best day even before learning he didn't feel well. "As soon as I saw him look at the ticket list, I knew we were in trouble," Calhoun said. "Every time a guy goes away and he is worried about family - and he should be; I'm not criticizing him by any stretch of the imagination - I get nervous."
