You’ve heard from my negative side. You’ve heard from my positive side. Today, here is what I think, having weighed both sides of the argument, on what the Hoyas must do to succeed:

There are certain characteristics that you never know you possess until the moment they surface. If you live all your life on the ground, you might say you don’t have a fear of heights. But then when you find yourself on your first hot-air balloon ride, you might discover that you are terrified of heights. There are a lot of characteristics that have this unknowable component, including bravery.

If you ask a person, “Are you brave? Do you have courage?” most people will answer “Yes.” But in real life, for most people (excluding police officers, fire fighters, and the military), courage is rarely displayed, and bravery even less frequently. With courage and bravery, you only know if you have it when you show that you have it. The Georgetown Hoyas will find out if they are a brave team on Saturday.

The Hoyas bravery will be called into action on Saturday. The season turned very quickly during the loss at Duke, and now Georgetown has a chance to turn it back. If the Hoyas are going to salvage this season from the doorstep of the NIT, it will happen in the Carrier Dome. Over the past few games, the Hoyas have been playing very timid. Whether playing with the lead or playing from behind the tentative attitude has been apparent, and the lack of decisive, aggressive play has been a big reason for the slide.

Georgetown cannot win in Syracuse without energy and aggression; another lackluster effort from the Hoyas and the game will be over by halftime. Syracuse is a wounded animal, having lost five out of six and six out of their last eight games. There is no doubt that Syracuse will be fired up. If the Hoyas fail to match the intensity, they will lose. The atmosphere at the Carrier Dome often has an incredible affect on opponents, who end up playing like shadows of themselves. It will be a daunting environment for the Hoyas, forcing each member of the team to answer the following questions. Are you brave? Do you have courage?