Dan’l B noted that West Virginia is actually quite a good team who suffers from a low ranking because of losing a bunch of close games. UConn, up until today, had been winning a bunch of clos games. So it didn’t surprise me today that they lost in a close game against Villanova — one of these coin flips had to end up being tails. Here are the highlights, courtesy of ESPN:

Here are some quick thoughts I had. I’ll let Coach O affirm/negate my observations — perhaps he saw something different in person (if he ever made it to the game):

• Scottie Reynolds is so absolutely dangerous when he gets his shoulders square. He has one of the best-looking shots in the Big East.
• UConn typically plays a high post-low post game with Adrien in the high post and Thabeet in the low post. That makes sense superficially — Adrien is the power forward, is shorter, and has more basketball skills to make better decisions; Thabeet is 7′3′’ and is the center. But I think having Thabeet up top and Adrien down low is at least something to continue to try out. Thabeet surprised me with two great passes to Adrien down low, so perhaps his basketball skills aren’t that bad. Adrien is a better finisher than Thabeet and also can catch the ball in traffic. Here are two examples from the game:
  
  

  Both nontrivial passes — in the first one, he leads Adrien a bit, and in the second, he throws a left-handed, wraparound bounce pass.

• Villanova has the best jerseys in the Big East (although Marquette’s powder blue uniforms are pretty close). Syracuse and UConn have the worst jerseys.

Categories: Commentary, donald, Connecticut, Villanova, Game Banter
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• Say hello to The Mountain Top, which covers West Virginia basketball (It’s the first blog I know about that covers West Virginia — have there been others?). The guys (or gals) over there do a good job in summarizing the WVU-Georgetown game last night. What a game it was — it came down to Da’Sean Butler driving the baseline and putting up a shot which Patrick Ewing Jr. blocked/goaltended, thus securing the Georgetown win. Check out the highlights and judge the call for yourself:

  (I have to give major props to ESPN for realizing that they could never fight sports bloggers recording their content and putting it up. Their new web video player, and the ability to embed it in any page is dope. They in turn get way more control than before– they control what content gets showed, maintain their branding, and know exactly which bloggers are doing this. Brilliant move, guys.)

• UConn!!!!!! Calhoun sums up the gigantic win:
  

  “To do what we did is certainly the greatest I’ve had and it’s going to get up there since the national championship team beat Georgia Tech,” he said. “Quite frankly, they deserve more than a hug from me. They deserve one from the state of Connecticut, from the university, from our fans.”

• Check this out. Apparently some prank callers got a handle of the weekly Big East media conference call number/passcode. Normally, journalists ask questions to the coaches in the league. This past week, the prank callers asked questions about the sexual relations between the students and players. The link has the audio of the call, which is slightly amusing.

Categories: Commentary, BlogWatch, Georgetown, donald, Connecticut, West Virginia, Game Banter
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Georgetown could have made it a great week for the Big East. Pittsburgh beat Duke on Thursday night to earn some much needed respect for the Beast. But today, Memphis defeated Georgetown handily, 85-71. You have to give a lot of credit to Calipari — in the first half Memphis looked lost both on offense and defense, but something Calipari did at half really lit a fire underneath the Tigers. They came out in the second half with a swagger and never looked back.

The one constant in the game was that Roy Hibbert contributed very little — he ended up with 6 points on 8 shot attempts, and only really asserted himself during a small stretch in the second half. Of course, he was going against Joey Dorsey, who is nothing short of a a cuter version of Ben Wallace. While much of the press will blame Hibbert for the loss, I don’t think he played terrible. He could have drawn more fouls (he shot 0 free throws, which is inexcusable) and been a bit more aggressive, but overall he played within the Georgetown system.

Georgetown ran into trouble today not because Hibbert disappeared (yes, that’s the reason for the title of this blog post), but because they didn’t play great defense and started their offense too late. This was somewhat an issue last year, too (see here).

What concerns me most about Georgetown and Hibbert is that Hibbert must be thinking NBA this year. He gave up a great chance last year, and certainly one of the questions about him is his assertiveness. The difficulty is that “taking over the game” isn’t really a part of the Georgetown system. Making great cuts, passing the ball, moving without the ball, ensuring good spacing on the court — these things are part of the Georgetown system. As such, it is difficult to “take over the game” without messing up the system. My fear is that Hibbert will feel he’ll need to show his assertiveness this season, but this will mess up team chemistry. I thought I started to see this happen during this sequence in today’s game:

What do you think — am I reading too much into this?

Categories: Commentary, Georgetown, donald, Game Banter
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I’m not sure how it happened, as I wasn’t able to see the game last night. But it sure seems like Villanova was down by 15 points with 3 minutes remaining in the game, and still beat LSU…in regulation. The bloggers at LetsGoNova have a good account of the action.

It seems as though LSU decided to employ the ever-popular “foul your opponent when he’s attempting a 3-pointer” strategy to ensure Villanova could get within striking distance.

Categories: Mister D, Villanova, Game Banter
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It’s early on Saturday afternoon, and I have the TV to myself for this great game.  Lots of implications in terms of the Big East Regular Season Title (for G’town) and in terms of actually getting to the Big East Tourney (for UConn).  It’s a Big East game at the end of the year, so this one’s gonna be close.  Can’t wait.

I was psyched for the opening tip: the 7′2″ Hibbert vs. the 7′3″ Thabeet.  Turns out to be one of the weakest tips ever.  You couldn’t have scripted a more anti-climactic opening. The tip goes out of bounds, the refs are slightly confused…they guess it’s UConn’s ball.  Nice job, Thabeet.

19:40. A fantastic first play by UConn: a pass from the top of the key down to an open Thabeet for the lay-in.  You’d almost think they ran an offensive play or something.  Nah…

19:00. Georgetown responds with a garbage bucket by Hibbert.  I’m still psyched about this Hibbert/Thabeet matchup.  There’s something delightfully awkward about these two guys which gives them a somewhat endearing quality.  I mean, when Thabeet pumps his fists after a good play, can you really take him seriously?  Moreover, can you even keep a straight face?  Is it even possible for these uncommonly tall and gawky-looking gentlemen to give off a genuine bad-ass persona?

17:34. Green is probably the best player on the court right now, but he’s off to a shaky start.  Other than a sweet running hook in the lane, he’s turning the ball over, missing some gimmies…looking like he hasn’t figured out the UConn defense yet.

14:21. Hibbert is playing like a man possessed.  He’s blocking everyone in sight, rebounding on both ends, and he’s got 6 of G’town’s 8 points right now.  Maybe he really is a bad-ass.

13:01. Good things happen when you get Jeff Adrien the ball at the high post.  I’m not sure if Calhoun is aware of this fact, but it seems as if UConn scores 80% of the time when this happens.  Adrien can shoot from anywhere within 17 feet, and as long as he doesn’t try to do too much with the ball (i.e. dribble-drive and juke people), the UConn offense is typically successful.

Timeout.  I’m sitting here watching this commercial, and I can’t say for certain whether I’ve ever consumed a Michelob Light in my entire life.  I mean, I went to college.  I was until now convinced I had tasted every awful-tasting cheap brew known to man.  On an unrelated (sort of) note, I don’t know if Michelob’s new bottle shape is going to make the predominantly male audience want to head to the local package store.  Is that why guys buy beer?  I mean, what is the marketing strategy over there at Michelob?  New, interesting-shaped bottle will appeal to young American males, so let’s show off the new bottle with this commercial!  I’m happy not to have stock in Michelob. 

How much do you want to wager that Patrick Ewing Jr. looks in the mirror every single morning and thanks the Lord On High that he doesn’t look too too much like his father?  Yeah, I wouldn’t want to take that bet either.

9:00. UConn has just gone on a 10-2 run, causing G-town to call a timeout.  A few excellent dribble-drives by the UConn guards, capped off by an improbable over-the-outstretched-arms-of-Hibbert shot by Adrien.  The Hoyas seem to be having some trouble on defense.

7:58.  Jeremiah Rivers drives the lane, slips a bit, and is called for traveling.  This of course begs the question: is he white, or black?  My money is on the latter, though if he is black, he’s not black by much.

Random trivia question:  Who is Hasheem Thabeet’s father?

Answer:  Roy Hibbert.

6:13. I’m not really sure what Calhoun is thinking here.  UConn has a clear advantage in the backcourt.  They took the lead just a few minutes ago because their guards were able to penetrate against the G’town defense.  Georgetown has the advantage in the frontcourt.  I’d take Green and Hibbert over Thabeet and Adrien any day.  Therefore, why is UConn passing it down to Thabeet and Adrien in the low block?  It makes no sense.  The only way you’re going to beat the Hoyas is if you let your guards penetrate.  And if you really want to get Adrien involved, pass it to him at the high post or free throw line and let him create.  Oh, and don’t pass it to Thabeet.  Ever.

3:20.  See?  Two straight 15-footers from Adrien.  UConn takes the lead, 22-21.  Timeout.  I’m a genius.

2:41.  Sapp to Green on a gorgeous back-door pass.  This is why G’town basketball has become a gorgeous thing to watch.  I love it when those plays come together.  And here I am a Syracuse fan.  I think I need to take a shower.

1:00. Thabeet twists an ankle.  This is not, however, your typical ankle twist where one player lands on another player’s foot.  Thabeet is so preternaturally talented, he was actually able to twist his ankle by jumping up and landing on the floor.

:08. Jerome Dyson drives past the G’town backcourt, into space, and hits the floater.  Wow, you figured out a way to score against the Hoyas!  Why didn’t I think of that?  Wait a sec…

Halftime. The only way UConn wins this game is if they leave it to their guards to drive and keep the game up-tempo.  If it’s a plodding contest, as it now stands, Georgetown will not reliquish their 30-26 halftime lead.

I’m on Seth Davis overload.  I hear that large quantities of beer will cure this affliction.

19:25. Hibbert is making Thabeet look like a helpless little boy out there on the court.  Here’s what just happened in the last 35 seconds.  Hibbert gets the ball on the low block and draws a shooting foul on Thabeet.  He hits both free throws.  Now on defense, Hibbert literally grabs the ball away from Thabeet (from behind) and outlets to a guard.  Back on offense, he calls for the ball in the post, establishes excellent position, and lays it in over Thabeet.  He then told Thabeet to go to his room, and that he’s lost his television-watching priviledges for the week.

17:48. Is DaJuan Summers trying to keep UConn in the game?  Two straight ugly turnovers, and I’m not convinced he’s done anything positive thus far in the contest.  I think he’s 1 for 6 shooting with 17 turnovers or something.

17:00. UConn turnover

16:51. G’town turnover

16:30. UConn turnover.

Man, this is getting ugly.  Two more turnovers between the 16:30 mark and the 15:45 mark.  And through all of this ugliness, Georgetown is able to establish a 40-27 lead–their biggest of the afternoon.  How exactly they did this despite this sloppy play, I’m not quite sure…

Man, UConn’s rough season just doesn’t feel right.  As has been the case in early March over the past number of years, these two teams’ situations have been reversed.  UConn is usually on top of the standings, Georgetown somewhere down the list.  I imagine sales of Paxil have skyrocketed in the state of Connecticut this year.  Remember, this is a state where UConn basketball IS their professional sports team (ever since…sniff…sniff…the Whalers moved).  Now that the men are not going to make the Big Dance and the women are floundering (relatively), what are people in Connecticut going to do on the weekends other than wash down anti-depressants with brandy old-fashioneds?

Wha…what…WHAT!!!  CBS has just tuned away from the G-town/UConn game to show us Kansas vs. Texas!  NOOOO!!!!  Damn you, CBS!  Thus begins my annual love/hate relationship with CBS, which typically manifests itself during the actual NCAA tournament, but I suppose they decided to start early this year (in their defense, Georgetown was starting to dominate and pull away from UConn…though I really wanted to see more cutaways of Jim Calhoun ripping the hair out of his arm, follicle by glorious follicle).

Final score: 59-46 Georgetown.  Player of the game goes to Hibbert, no questions asked.  If you’re a UConn fan this is a disappointing end to your regular season. Major congrats go to the Hoyas for clinching a share of the Big East Regular Season Championship.

Categories: Mister D, Georgetown, Connecticut, Game Banter
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