So I guess I wasn’t paying too much attention. Maybe I was too focused on the Memphis game, I don’t know, but I completely forgot that Roy Hibbert and the Pacers were coming to the Verizon Center to play the Wizards last night. I realized it yesterday morning, and without a press pass, I decided I would fork over the $20 to see the game from the stands.

My fiance and I got a couple seats in the front row of some section in the 400s, and we had a nice view of the Hoyas’ new Final Four banner. We were excited to see Roy earn his second career NBA start, and we cheered for him when they announced his name in the starting lineups. After that, he got set up to take his first jump ball in the Verizon Center since Senior Day. It’s kinda neat thinking that the last time he was in this arena, he was holding the Big East Championship Trophy.

Roy won the opening jump and picked up an assist on the first basket of the game, seven seconds in. After that, things started to get ugly. Foul, air ball, foul, rebound, foul, bench. Not to happy a return for the Big Fella, as less than six minutes into the game, he had already picked up three fouls, and was set to sit out the rest of the half.

When he came back in to start the third quarter, he did better, but he still looked suspect on defense and missed a couple putback layups on offense. He had a nice goaltending, which I was very supportive of, and eventually got sent back to the bench. While he was out, the Wizards managed to catch up and tie the game and then fall back behind by twenty.

Roy got to make a final appearance in the final minute of the game, but by that time most of the fans – including the group of Hibbert fans I saw below me wearing We Are Georgetown shirts and a Navy Blue #55 Jersey – had already gone home. That was when Roy picked up his first points back at the Phone Booth off a pair of free throws.

Not the best performance for Big Roy, but he was welcomed home by the Hoya faithful, and we all wish him the best as he learns the ropes of becoming an NBA center.