Georgetown vs. Pittsburgh: 03/15/2008

74
Team 1 2 T
Pittsburgh 31 43 74
Georgetown (#9) 28 37 65
65

Well here we are, the Big East Championship game at Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York. Johnny here with you, checking in about an hour away from the opening tip. As I was coming in, I could hear rivaling chants of “Let’s Go Pitt” and “Hoya Saxa” as the fans were awaiting the gates to open. That should happen in about five minutes, so right now it’s pretty quiet in here. The two teams are warming up and all the scoreboards in the Garden have the Georgetown G and Pittsburgh PITT written on them.

It’s going to be an exciting game - a rematch of last year’s final and the chance for Georgetown to beat the only Big East team it has yet to defeat. I’ll check back with whatever info I get, so stay tuned. And feel free to tell me what you think about the game or ask me any questions you have in the comments.



Comments

  1. DJ Says:

    man, sooo nervous about this one, lets play hard and leave it all on the court, another title in our grasp, lets grab it!!!


  2. Nick "At Nite" Austin Says:

    We gotta win this one!


  3. Nick "At Nite" Austin Says:

    One question? Do you think Gtown is deep enough in terms of bench play to make it far in the Tourney? All of the games this year have had TIGHT margins of victory. What do you think about this?


  4. Johnny Says:

    Well Nick, I don’t know. I think the Hoyas are pretty deep this year. It hasn’t looked that way too much of the Big East season with Chris Wright out and some interspersed injuries to DaJuan, Austin, and even Pat a little bit. But the Hoyas can legitimately play ten players, and Coach has said before that this team is a group of guys who he trusts on the court at all times. He said that he trusts everyone on the roster and that’s a pretty bold statement.

    And besides, I’m not sure if depth matters too much in the tournament because the timeouts are all a little bit longer since they’re all on CBS. The extra bit of rest for the players seems to cancel out what a team might gain by having a deep bench.


  5. Chris Says:

    I think the Hoyas are so deep that a starting squad of Macklin, Rivers, Wright, Ewing, and Crawford would be good enough to get an 11 or 12 seed in the Big East Tournament.


  6. DJ Says:

    IS IT 9 YET???????????


  7. Johnny Says:

    It’s 8:50, the clock here says 10:00 to go, and the teams are back in the locker room for one last pregame pep talk from the coaches.


  8. Johnny Says:

    National Anthem played by Mark “The Loveman” Pender from Late Night with Conan O’Brien.


  9. Johnny Says:

    This is actually pretty impressive. He’s playing the trumpet, and the fans are singing the words. Pretty well too. Go New Yorkers, I guess.


  10. Sam Says:

    dont know if this is a bad omen or not, but all the gameday people picked gu to win, hubert, digger, coach knight and jay bilas, lets hope they’re right


  11. Johnny Says:

    And here are the starting lineups:
    For the Pittsburgh Panthers - Fields, Ramon, Benjamin, Young, and Blair.
    And for the Georgetown Hoyas - Wallace, Summers, Freeman, Sapp, and Hibbert.

    Very loud crowd for the Panthers, probably a little louder for the Hoyas.


  12. Hoya Gray Says:

    You got any idea who the refs are today?


  13. Johnny Says:

    Oh, sorry. Refs are Bob Donato, Jim Burr, and John Cahill


  14. DJ Says:

    lets go


  15. Johnny Says:

    Hoyas lose the tip and they turn it over on the first possession.


  16. DJ Says:

    fts are key today just relax and make em


  17. Johnny Says:

    DaJuan hits one of two free throws to start the scoring.


  18. DJ Says:

    automatic


  19. Hoya Gray Says:

    I like to see Roy getting involved early. And looking smooth.


  20. DJ Says:

    big one jessie


  21. Johnny Says:

    For those not watching, Roy’s not wearing an undershirt today, just like yesterday. No T-shirt, no cut-off, just his jersey and biceps.


  22. big A Says:

    Good start, keep playing hard


  23. Mike Says:

    Jessie Sapp makes a three from the top of the key to make it a 6-0 lead, Pitt calls an early timeout, with just under two minutes played.


  24. Hoya Gray Says:

    No foul?


  25. Mike Says:

    Pitt answers with a five point run of their own, a 6-5 lead for Georgetown with the ball, but only four seconds on the shot clock. 15:44 left in the first.


  26. Johnny Says:

    Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm is being awarded the first annual Leadership Award at center court. A lot of basketball fans are uninterested.


  27. DJ Says:

    crazy


  28. Johnny Says:

    Wallace just swished a three pointer from a mile out with the shotclock expiring.


  29. Sam Says:

    needed to dunk that one roy


  30. Johnny Says:

    Roy gets a layup blocked and the Pittsburgh fans are loving it here. It was a good catch from Roy as Pat kinda misfired on the pass, but once he had it he needed to dunk it.


  31. Johnny Says:

    After the Ramon turnover, Pat and DaJuan had a breakaway. Pat fed DaJuan who slammed it home.


  32. Hoya Gray Says:

    Woulda though Pat coulda taken that one himself or alleyooped it or something Those guys are the best dunkers on the team


  33. Hoya Gray Says:

    What is that fouL? Jeremiah didnt even use his arms?


  34. Sam Says:

    rivers you’re killing me, a turnover and a needless foul


  35. Johnny Says:

    Jeremiah picks up his second foul on a questionable call, and Pitt cuts the lead to three, 11-8.


  36. Johnny Says:

    Looked like the ball was off the Hoyas as Pat threw away a backdoor cut, but Donato gave the Hoyas the ball.


  37. Johnny Says:

    Count the basket, offensive foul on Brown. Pitt leads 13-11 as we reach the 12:00 timeout.


  38. Johnny Says:

    Rare play you don’t see very often. Pat turned down an easy layup to set up Austin for three. He hit it to give the Hoyas the lead 14-13.


  39. DJ Says:

    smoothness from austin


  40. Johnny Says:

    Foul there was on Roy. I thought it could have been on Pat, as they both kind of smashed into DeJuan Blair, but they gave the foul to Hibbert, his first.


  41. DJ Says:

    NO! blair initiates all the contact


  42. Johnny Says:

    From NBA range, Jessie Sapp gives the Hoyas a 22-16 lead.


  43. DJ Says:

    darnit!


  44. Mike Says:

    The fifth team foul is called on Sapp and brings us to the eight minute timeout. Hoyas up by one, 22-21 with 7:01 left in the first half.


  45. Johnny Says:

    I’m just checking back through the comments, and I said “Rare play you don’t see very often.” Most people call that “Redundant”


  46. Sam Says:

    need to be aware there austin


  47. Sam Says:

    why reach there roy???


  48. DJ Says:

    good work for roy there, hoyas need to get some rebounds tho


  49. DJ Says:

    great hustle from pat


  50. Mike Says:

    Hoyas use a thirty second timeout down three, 29-26, with 3:32 left in the first. Next whistle will also be the four minute timeout.


  51. Hoya Gray Says:

    They clearly hit Wallace there. Why no call? They only seem to call fouls inside nothing on jumpshots


  52. DJ Says:

    come on hoyas, lets close out the half strong and take a bit of a lead into halftime


  53. Mike Says:

    As I mentioned, we are at the four minute timeout, same score, Hoyas ball with only eight on the shot clock.


  54. Johnny Says:

    Last time the shotclock was winding down, Hoyas had a violation. The time before that, Wallace hit a three from near midcourt. I wonder what the Coaches are drawing up for this one.


  55. Sam Says:

    freshman mistake there


  56. Sam Says:

    rebounding are killling us


  57. Johnny Says:

    DeJuan Blair missed a freethrow and there was a violation on the second. So the Hoyas have the ball down five when it could have been seven.


  58. DJ Says:

    someone must have told cahill it was 7-2 on fouls


  59. Hoya Gray Says:

    Nice hands by Dajuan. just too close to the sideline.


  60. Johnny Says:

    Crawford is checking in for the last 46.4 seconds of the half.


  61. Johnny Says:

    Pitt has been getting a lot of offensive rebounds. But Tyler saved that one there.


  62. DJ Says:

    need a hoop here


  63. Hoya Gray Says:

    hOW IS THERE NO FOUL THERE?


  64. big A Says:

    not a good half but we’re still in decent shape


  65. Johnny Says:

    That’s the end of the half. Hoyas trail by 3, 31-28. The Panthers seem to be having little trouble with the Georgetown defense, taking and hitting several jump shots from near the foul line, and they are outhustling the Hoyas, earning several second chance points.


  66. Hoya Gray Says:

    Sorry about the capslock there.


  67. Johnny Says:

    Here’s something I noticed. I haven’t received the halftime stats yet, so I can verify for you later on. But I think Pat has only taken one shot. I think he made a bet with someone on the team that he could have a double double, and he’s concentrating on assists and rebounds. I can’t think of another explanation since he’s been giving away easy looks at the basket.


  68. Johnny Says:

    Whereas the West Virginia band was playing “Kung Fu Fighting” yesterday. Pitt’s pep band is now playing “Soak Up the Sun.” I think I now see why Dan Steinberg was so fond of the Mountaineers.


  69. big A Says:

    Pitt has a 19 - 9 rebounding advantage. 10 - 0 on the offensive end. We’ve got to do better to win


  70. Johnny Says:

    big A is right, Pitt is outrebounding the Hoyas. I just got the official stats. They say Pitt’s rebounding edge is 20-11 and they have 11 offensive boards.

    Also, Pat is 0-1 from the field with 3 assists. No rebounds though. He does have three blocks, so maybe that’s what he’s aiming for. I’m sure the Hoyas would be pleased with more boards, though.


  71. Anonymous Says:

    what is the atmosphere in the garden? are our fans vocal? can’t really tell on tv.


  72. Johnny Says:

    Atmosphere is kind of mixed. Pitt fans get loud when they’re doing well, and Hoya fans are loud in their own regard. I’d say it’s pretty even right now. We’ll have to see when it gets to crunch time.

    Lame answer, I know, sorry.


  73. DJ Says:

    lets go hoyas, right now, no excuses, lets go


  74. Johnny Says:

    To start the second half, Roy misses a hook from the baseline, and Sam Young hits a jumper.


  75. Sam Says:

    pretty poor start for the hoyas so far


  76. DJ Says:

    wow, we got lucky on that ramon miss lets take advantage


  77. Johnny Says:

    Goaltending on a Roy hook gets the Hoyas on the board in the second half, 35-30.


  78. DJ Says:

    big shot jessie


  79. Johnny Says:

    “Let’s Go Pitt” is echoing pretty loudly in here


  80. Johnny Says:

    “Let’s Go Hoyas” is now doing the same.


  81. Mike Says:

    Timeout on the floor, 15:28 left in the game, Hoyas down four, 39-35, Blair to shoot two free throws due to the third foul on Summers.


  82. tlp Says:

    someone at the garden page mean roy please


  83. DJ Says:

    box out, need the rebounds


  84. DJ Says:

    LETS GO!


  85. Johnny Says:

    Wow. After some sloppy play back and forth Wallace feeds Summer for a huge alley-oop jam.


  86. Hoya Gray Says:

    Where is the foul??


  87. Johnny Says:

    Whoever was asking, the crowd erupted for the Georgetown commercial they’re playing on the big screen, while the University of Pittsburgh ad got nothing.


  88. Mike Says:

    There’s a large difference in free throws today, as the Hoyas have only shot two on the first play of the game. Since then, Pitt has shot 14 free throws. Fortunately, they have only made 5.


  89. Chris Says:

    BS foul


  90. DJ Says:

    dont bail them out on that garbage refs


  91. Johnny Says:

    Questionable call there gives DaJuan his fourth personal with 13:04 left in the game.


  92. DJ Says:

    this is garbage, disgusting


  93. Johnny Says:

    Refs are looking at the replay. I don’t know why. Maybe they’re questioning if the foul was on Ewing or someone else.


  94. Hoya Gray Says:

    Travelling for sure. Ridiculous.


  95. DJ Says:

    this is getting ridicuous, no foul there on freeman drive????


  96. Mike Says:

    Hoyas ball down six at the 12 minute timeout. 11:52 left in the game, 43-37 Pitt. As for the foul disparity, the Hoyas have 12 fouls, while Pitt has only been whistled for four. In other words, DaJuan Summers has committed as many fouls as the entire Pitt team.


  97. DJ Says:

    need need need the fts jeremiah, lets go


  98. Johnny Says:

    I don’t know how the refs missed that goaltending on Roy. The Pitt shot hit the backboard way before Roy got there.


  99. Hoya Gray Says:

    That’s the worse call of the game.


  100. Johnny Says:

    Rivers now has 4 fouls as well. I don’t think he did a thing there, though.


  101. Sam Says:

    very poor shot selection for the hoyas


  102. Johnny Says:

    Third foul on Hibbert puts Pitt in the one and one.


  103. Sam Says:

    now four on roy, this game is over


  104. Johnny Says:

    Now Roy has four fouls. That makes four personals for Roy, DaJuan, and Jeremiah.


  105. Johnny Says:

    Hoyas just can’t seem to find the mark from long range, and they’re defense is not doing anything.


  106. Mike Says:

    Last 1-1 for Pitt as Ewing was whistled for a foul on Sam Young. 7:30 to go in the game, Georgetown down 49-42. If the Hoyas want back-to-back BET titles, they will have to turn it around right now.


  107. DJ Says:

    box out


  108. DJ Says:

    dagger


  109. Johnny Says:

    DaJuan Summers has just fouled out with 7:25 remaining. Pittsburgh is up 10 and will be shooting one from the line.


  110. DJ Says:

    gimme a break with that call, call it when it matters


  111. Johnny Says:

    Hibbert hits a hook shot to cut the lead to 11, 55-44, and Thompson calls a timeout. It’s going to be tough for the Hoyas as Roy has 4 fouls, Summers is already fouled out, and the Panthers will shoot two on any Hoya foul. There is 5:52 on the clock.


  112. Johnny Says:

    Coach Thompson is doing offense-defense with Roy and Austin coming in for Jeremiah and Vernon.


  113. DJ Says:

    good work macklin, games not over quite yet


  114. Johnny Says:

    Hibbert scores and gets fouled. He makes the free throw. 56-49 Pitt.


  115. DJ Says:

    lets get a stop here boys


  116. Johnny Says:

    That’s also #4 on Blair. They’ve been announcing it wrong, but they just corrected and said it’s 4 for him.


  117. Hoya Gray Says:

    That woulda been huge


  118. DJ Says:

    another dagger


  119. Johnny Says:

    Wallace misses a three, Hoyas almost come up with a steal, and then Ramon buries a three to push the score back up to ten with 3:38 remaining. Timeout Georgetown.


  120. Mike Says:

    Pittsburgh ball with a 59-51 and 2:49 to go. It’s going to be very very tough for the Hoyas now.


  121. DJ Says:

    the execution today did us in i think, the offense never got into a rhytm


  122. Chris Says:

    you assholes sound like a bunch of quitters let’s rally and pull it out


  123. DJ Says:

    make the ft pattie


  124. DJ Says:

    DAMN STRAIGHT CHRIS


  125. Johnny Says:

    Pat’s three-point play cuts the lead to six, and Rivers fouls out on the ensuing in bounds, so it’s 60-54 Pitt, with 2:20 remaining and Pitt shooting two.


  126. Johnny Says:

    One of two from Ramon.


  127. Johnny Says:

    One of two again from Ramon.


  128. DJ Says:

    this is garbage tho, how many drives did we have when the game was close that they didnt call that? pick up hoyas, lets go


  129. Johnny Says:

    Another three-point play from Pat cuts it two five with under two minutes remaining.


  130. Chris Says:

    apparently we are not allowed to go near pitt players


  131. DJ Says:

    lets go hoyas, we’ve gotten it to five, need to get the lead to three, lets go


  132. Johnny Says:

    My statistician of the day is telling me that the Panthers have taken 34 free throws to the Hoyas’ 9.


  133. DJ Says:

    come on there, we are just playing defense ther, no one does anything


  134. Hoya Gray Says:

    That’s the game right there. No foul on Patrick’s drive?? At least call it somewhat evenly.


  135. DJ Says:

    thats such a clear foul, really bad no call there


  136. DJ Says:

    too bad, call of the dogs now


  137. Johnny Says:

    Crowd is going crazy here, sensing a Pitt victory.


  138. Hoya Gray Says:

    The refs gave up on this game with 3:00 left. Call it evenly down the stretch, when it’s important.


  139. Johnny Says:

    Foulshots made (made not attempted) 20-6 Pittsburgh. That’s 14 points, that’s the game.

    They’ve taken 32 free throws this half, with two more on the way.


  140. Hoya Gray Says:

    You know, this game might have been different if DaJuan Summers could have played. Not to rail on the refs, because the Hoyas didn’t perform their best, but come on


  141. Johnny Says:

    That’ll do it. Final score: 74-65. Pittsburgh has just won the Big East Championship.


  142. DJ Says:

    its a travel on fields, the game is over but still


  143. big A Says:

    Good turnament for the Hoyas, not the best showing today. Hurried the offense a little. Give Pitts defense credit but maybe they comitted a few more than 4 fouls in the first 30 minutes of the game. Rebounding killed us and we could have maybe used Tyler Crawford for a little toughness in the first half. As true Hoya fans know this team can beat anyone but we need to play our best and today was not our best.

    I wonder if all the pundits will jump off our bandwagon now. I hope so, we went from being a lucky not so good team to a sure bet final four team. Let see what they think about us tomorrow.


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