First half:

• (18:12): Looks like it’s going to be just like the game last month — ugly. Villanova is running the press and it’s taking the Hoyas out of their offense. It takes the Hoyas a significant time to get the ball upcourt, giving them less time to get into their Princeton offense, and less chances for backdoor cuts. The first few Georgetown plays have resulted in some dribble drive with the shot clock running down. Looks like Jay Wright knows what he’s doing…
• (17:00): Wow, great block from Sumpter that was a sure layup off of a classic Georgetown backdoor. I’ll be sure to include that in the postgame highlights.

• (15:29): Hibbert with two fouls, no field goal attempts and is sitting on the bench. Villanova is rebounding the ball on the offensive end really well. They seem to do this well year in and year out — anybody got stats on this? Observation: Villanova never has especially big players, but they always seem to have great interior defense.
• (14:03): Three Georgetown team fouls already — all in the paint defending Nova. The score is only Villanova 10, Georgetown 6, but this game is all Villanova so far.
• (12:43): The thing that’s killing Georgetown’s offense is Villanova’s ability to get to the line. As long as Villanova makes their last free throw, they can get into the press easily and delay Georgetown running their offense.
• (9:30): First Georgetown play in a while when they’ve been able to bring the ball up without the press. Result: backdoor to Green for the dunk.
• (7:50): Wow, Scottie Reynolds is really, really good. On three consecutive possessions, Reyonds drains a three, dribble-drives and delivers a perfect pass for a layup, and then drains another three. In my opinion, he’s much more in control than either Ray, Lowry, or Foye ever were.

• (5:41): Nova 25, Georgetown 18: the only reason the Hoyas are in the game is Jeff Green — he’s 4-5 from the field with half of Georgetown’s points. Here’s my analogy for Jeff Green — he’s a poor man’s Chris Webber.
• (3:20): I find it interesting that Georgetown’s offense depends on precision passing — and yet the Hoyas have had so many turnovers on simple passes to beat the press. One thing’s for sure — Georgetown isn’t comfortable making the long passes necessary to beat the press.
• (0:00): Sapp hits an insane three from beyond half court. Villanova’s only up two (29-27) despite dominating gameplay. Hibbert has yet to take a shot. I’d be worried if I was a Nova fan…

Second half:

• (18:00): Nova continuing to dominate the pace of the game. And Scottie Reynolds continues to go nuts — picking off a pass and taking it the length of the court for a layup.
• (13:36): Georgetown’s now up 42-40…with Villanova missing some long shots, Georgetown’s been able to get into its offense. Sapp has hit two big threes in the second half, perhaps feeding off of his energy from that three-quarters-court shot he hit at the end of the first half.
• (11:40): Hibbert with his first points — he’s not having an effect on the offensive end, but he’s contributing on the defensive end with some key rebounds, steals, and blocks. Too bad he just committed a dumb, over-the-back foul…making it his fourth. Now he’s sitting. I think Reynolds is about to go off…
• (9:30): Will Sheridan, Scottie Reynolds…pick and roll..Sheridan baseline jumper. As a UConn fan, that just gives me bad memories.
• (8:06): Jeff Green has a really nice physique. I mean that in the most heterosexual way possible.
• (7:00): [46 Georgetown, 45 Nova] It’s anybody’s game. Time to step up. The team that wants it more is going to win. Okay, I’m done with the cliches.
• (5:34): [49 Georgetown, 48 Nova] Villanova just got two more offensive rebounds. This makes nine for the game (Georgetown only has four). Dan’l B — there must be some stats about this…
• (3:52): [52 Nova, Georgetown 51] Nardi’s made some dumb decisions — he just tried a loopy full court pass that almost got picked off.
• (3:30): [55 Nova, Georgetown 53] Reynolds from NBA three land, then Hibbert with his second basket…this is a great game. (By the way, Nardi just made a dumb decision again..driving into the lane and looking puzzled…)
• (0:00): [58 Georgetown, Nova 55] After a DeJuan Summers free throw and jump shot by Jeff Green, Georgetown hangs on to win its ninth straight. Nova had a chance to win it late in the game with an awkward Reynolds three, but it wasn’t meant to be. The Hoyas lucked out here. If any teams are looking on how to beat Georgetown, they should consult this game.

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