Like it or not Duke University has a major impact on college basketball. The amount of publicity and positive representation they receive from all media outlets can be annoying, but it can also be helpful. Take the example of the Duke team from 2006. The Blue Devils were undefeated and traveling on the road to visit a middling Georgetown team that was struggling through Big East play. Of course we all know what happened on January 21, 2006. The win not only was an important milestone for Georgetown Basketball, it was a major step in the Hoyas’ return to prominence. Most of the recognition from that win was a result of the fact that the win came against Duke and the Duke aura. An identical win over #1 ranked and undefeated Kansas or Kentucky would not have been such a springboard for the Hoyas. So on that day, the Duke mystique helped the Hoyas.

Three years later, another Duke game seems to have had the opposite effect on the Hoyas. When the Hoyas put together their all-encompassing win against Syracuse a few weeks ago, it was the type of victory that has the potential to urge a team on to more wins in a row. But instead of being able to use the momentum from an excellent performance against the Orange, the momentum came to a screeching halt in Durham. Now, instead of building and improving, the Hoyas have been flailing and faltering, culminating in an unthinkable loss against previously winless Seton Hall. Ouch.

These Hoyas are still a good team with very good players, but they are fragile. A three-game losing streak has pretty much taken away confidence – shooting, defending, and winning. The regular season three-peat is impossible now, and another slip up today against Cincinnati would send the Hoyas out of the Top 25 and onto the bubble.

The Syracuse game seems like a distant memory; somehow it was only two weeks ago. Things change very quickly in the Big East. There’s no point in looking back, and there’s nothing to be gained from looking ahead. The Hoyas have an absolute must-win game tonight. The coach knows it, the players know it, and the fans know it. So far, the Hoyas have responded very well when faced with games of maximum importance – Maryland, Connecticut, Syracuse. All of those games were wins that showed great growth and progress by the team. None of those wins will do as much for the Hoyas as the one they need tonight.