Check out Tim Shine’s postgame coverage in Voice sports.

Photos by Jackson Perry

Georgetown will look to cap what has been a week of revenge by beating West Virginia, who defeated the Hoyas 81-68 in their penultimate regular season game. That contest was played without Austin Freeman, who had to be hospitalized after leaving Morganstown before the game and was later diagnosed with diabetes. Now, Freeman is back in full force, and the Hoyas are ready for payback.

When asked last night whether revenge has been a motivating factor throughout the tournament, Freeman and teammates Greg Monroe and Chris Wright responded with a resounding chorus of “Yes.”

The Mountaineers know better than to expect to see the Georgetown team they played last week though. They’ve seen the Hoyas run rampant the past three days in Madison Square Garden. And they’re not likely to rest on their laurels either—West Virginia is playing for a possible number one seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The game will likely come down to Georgetown’s ability to contain senior forward Da’Sean Butler, who broke out of a minor slump against the Hoyas last week and hasn’t slowed down since. He banked in a buzzer-beating three to beat Cincinnati in the Mountaineers’ tourney opener, and scored 24 of their 53 points last night against Notre Dame.

Of course, the Hoyas are riding plenty of hot hands as well, be it Jason Clark, Wright, or Monroe, who has been threatening to put up a triple-double for the past two games. That’s all in addition to a lurking Freeman, who has had a quiet tournament so far, which for him means averaging 12.7 points per game. If they all carry on as they have all week, Georgetown could be cutting down the nets for a Big East-record eighth time.

Photo by Jackson Perry

“It’s not like I knew there was a university with college students in the neighborhood when I moved here…”

But not this week. This week, neighborhood residents were commenting in full force on Vox—profane, united, and angry.

When students left indignant comments on the aforementioned 2010 Campus Plan post, for example, Altex shot back:

“Hey Kiddos, this is not your neighborhood and you are not liked nor welcome here. Just make sure you follow the law or you will get arrested. Your parents will not like it and it will be hard to get one those middle management jobs you are drinking so hard for.”

And when a student suggested that Hoyas protest at the next CAG meeting, Altex was there again:

“LOL! Protest? Please! You white trash kiddos can’t even find the address unless it smells of horse manure.
Let’s see how many present and future losers will show up. Wanna bet?”

When Carol Joynt suggested that Georgetown secede from D.C., If they can do it… posted a satirical comment about Georgetown University seceding from the neighborhood:

“Let’s take that principle and apply it to our own situation.

Georgetown University should secede from Georgetown neighborhood!

Think about it. If you’re part of the University community, how much of the management of the neighborhood government relates to you in a positive way? How many neighborhood government decisions are made with the University even remotely in the equation?

On the other hand, we bring in lots of business. I would imagine a good chunk of the real estate market and M Street haul comes from Georgetown University students, visitors, faculty, staff, and the larger University community. We are a major tourist attraction, from which the neighborhood benefits. I’m just not convinced an appropriate amount of our contribution to the neighborhood is credited to the University.

Why should we wait around, caving into powerlessness, when we could come together to create a governing body that helps to improve the quality of living right here where we study?

If the University seceded from the neighborhood, we would be free of their bogus zoning regulation and police presence. We could finally ignore the neighbors and do what is right for our University community.

Let’s secede, brethren! The University should be its own legal community, free from the shackles of Georgetown Neighborhood and its crazy residents.”

BillSars was not amused:

“Please go ahead. You will not be missed. Your contribution to the neighborhood is negative and you don’t pay taxes. You are just a nuisance that needs to be controlled.”

And when students bashed BillSars, F you came to his rescuse:

“Leave bill alone. He’s just a towne trying to piss us off.
By the way, GU came to Georgetown long after Georgetown was incorporated.
So it’s true, we are in their neighborhood and the residents were here first.
So what? Let’s keep drinking and vomiting on ourselves and never ever get laid because we are too wasted.
GU rules! I don’t want to go back to minnesota.
Please please let me stay!!!”

STFU left some venom on our post about Philly Pizza finally closing:

“Just because some of us choose to live in Georgetown, doesn’t mean that we should give up the neighborhood to bratty ass GU students who think they can: 1) park anywhere they want, i.e., blocking private driveways, 2) urinate AND/OR vomit on people’s property, 3) sit on top of other people’s parked cars and 4) throw parties on side streets any given night till 3am. Oh yes and don’t forget all the trash that’s left on doorsteps and sidewalks because some of you can’t possibly be bothered to put your trash in the garbage cans.

If Philly was operating as a “restaurant” as it claimed it was when it applied for its business license, there wouldn’t be a problem– restaurants would shut down long before 3 am. It is clear to everyone who ever stepped foot in or near Philly, that it was nothing more than a fast food, late night pizza place. If Philly wants to cater to this late night crowd, it should move closer to the campus or be on M Street, not a residential street.

Philly could have been a nice neighborhood addition if they operated legally and actually tried to be a good neighbor. There are plenty of other shops in the neighborhood like Georgetown Cupcake, Subway, Rhino and Booemongers that all manage to operate well without being a neighborhood nuisance. Philly should’ve taken note. But you know what? All these comments about wealthy Georgetown residents shutting down a poor little pizza place is BS. The only people who are responsible for Philly getting shut down are the people who caused it to be a neighborhood nuisance. You know who you are. So stop whining and just STFU.”

But let’s try to end on something positive. Like something that reminds us of Georgetown’s win over Syracuse. When he heard that Philly Pizza was finally closing, Andy Rautins said:

“no philly pizza makes me flacid”

Read Tim Shine’s postgame coverage in Voice sports.

Photos by Jackson Perry

Thomas was charged and found guilty of the crimes, including five counts of first degree burglary, one count of attempted burglary, one count of fourth degree sexual abuse, and two counts of simple assault, in November 2009, ABC News reports. In one case, “Thomas sexually assaulted a student who was sleeping in bed while in another a student was awakened when Thomas massaged his ankles.”

It is not clear whether any of the crimes he was convicted for are crimes that have been attributed, by either the Metropolitan Police Department or the Department of Public Safety, to the so-called “Georgetown Cuddler.” Vox could not immediately reach MPD or DPS but we’ll let you know when we learn more.

Foreign Born w.

Sunday, March 14, DC9 ($12), doors at 8 p.m.

Foreign Born toured with Cold War Kids and We Are Scientists, but to me, the band’s greatest accomplishment was getting screen-time on Chuck. And Free Energy, everybody’s soon-to-be-favorite band once their album Stuck on Nothing comes out next May, opens the concert. Check out DC9 next Sunday, then brag about it to your hipster friends months from now.

Fresh Fest feat. Salt-N-Pepa

Friday, March 19, DAR Constitution Hall ($41.50—$70), doors at 7 p.m.

If you long for the days of parachute pants and Cross Colors short sets, then pine no longer. The annual Fresh Fest, a celebration of all things old school rap and hip hop, will be in D.C. in a week. Salt-N-Pepa headlines the concert, so don’t forget to bring a Betamax copy of Kazaam for DJ Spinderella to sign.

Anvil w. Misstallica

Saturday, March 20, 9:30 Club ($20), doors at 7 p.m.

I’m listing this concert to shamelessly plug Anvil! The Story of Anvil, a documentary about the Canadian heavy metal band that keeps on keeping on. Despite only a single moment of modest success in the early 80s, Anvil, pictured above, has churned out thirteen albums to-date. Please, for me, watch the documentary—it’s a cross between the funniest parts of This is Spinal Tap and the saddest parts of The Wrestler, except it’s not scripted. (Oh right, the concert. Misstallica, an all-girl Metallica tribute band, opens for Anvil.)

Spoon w. Deerhunter

Monday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 23, 9:30 Club (Sold Out), doors at 7 p.m.

Both concerts sold out quickly, but tickets are still to be had on Craig’s List for about $45—just remember to meet any (potential) Internet predators in public, well-lit locations. Knowing is half the battle.

Alicia Keys

Thursday, March 25, Verizon Center ($49.50—$128), doors at 6:30 p.m.

Although this concert will be great, it would be better if Stephen Colbert would join her to duet “Empire State of Mind,” as he did back in December. Maybe if we ask him nicely, he’ll come?

Georgetown played Marquette all the way back on January 6, losing a 62-59 heartbreaker in Milwaukee when Chris Wright missed a three to tie with one second to go. Back then the Golden Eagles were a young squad struggling to establish itself in the Big East. Now they’re one of the conference’s hottest teams, winning 11 of their last 13 games.

Win or lose tonight, the Hoyas can expect to be in a close game. The Golden Eagles played only six Big East games this season decided by more than five points. They closed out the regular season with four of their final five games going to overtime. Both of their tournament games so far have been decided in the final seconds. The Hoyas are well aware that they’re in for a fight.

“Marquette, I don’t how many games, but they lost a lot of games by probably five points or less,” Wright said. “So they’re a very good team, and they have very good players.”

The best of those players is senior forward Lazar Hayward, who averages more than 18 points per game and joins Austin Freeman on the All-Big East Second Team. Undersized at 6-foot-6 and an inside-outside threat, Hayward presents all kinds of matchup problems. But the Hoyas were able to contain him back in January, limiting him to 4-of-16 shooting. If Georgetown can do that again, it has a great shot at the finals. After all, considering Wright’s play in the tournament thus far, he won’t miss the final shot.

Where is Julian Vaughn?

If there was one red flag on the stat sheet after yesterday’s victory, it was free throw shooting (67.9 percent isn’t going to cut it). But after that, the eyes jumped to junior big man Julian Vaughn’s 12 minutes. Vaughn has seemed out of his element for a while, a suspicion that was confirmed on Wednesday when he threw up on the sideline during a timeout in the game against South Florida.

“I don’t know what’s going on with Jules, but he’s not feeling well,” head coach John Thompson III said yesterday. “He almost threw up on his coach.”

There were no more incidents on the sideline against Syracuse, but Vaughn was still limited, playing only four minutes in the second half without any foul trouble. The big man is an integral part of Georgetown’s rotation, and while Hollis Thompson and the rest of the bench have performed well as they soaked up his minutes, the Hoyas need Vaughn to make a deep run in the postseason. His coach isn’t too worried though.

“He’s fine,” Thompson said.

One more look back

ESPN’s Dana O’Neil wrote up a good article on the Hoyas’ all-business attitude after beating Syracuse, and that’s exactly what you want to see from a team with big postseason aspirations. But don’t think the significance of beating the Orange in and of itself is lost on Georgetown. Not only was it the Hoyas’ biggest win of the season, it was against their biggest rival, who had already defeated Georgetown twice this season. JTIII knows the win is special:

“It’s Georgetown-Syracuse. Those the games are special. The history, the tradition, to be a part of it–it’s a rivalry that I’ve grown up. So absolutely, it’s Georgetown-Syracuse, it is more special.”

One of the best things about being on Twitter is being able to follow members of the Georgetown men’s basketball team. Bottom line, they’re entertaining. So from now until the end of the basketball season, we’ll be featuring our favorite tweets from the Hoyas in a special Tweetacular every Friday.

Julian Vaughn thinks it’s time for couples to recognize dating rules for the new decade.

Greg Monroe would like to maintain his individuality among his fellow players.

Austin Freeman thanked fans for their support after being diagnosed with diabetes and geared up for a game.

Stitches gave Jason Clark an opportunity to rag on Henry Sims.

Greg Monroe sends a warning to all of his pint-sized opponents that he’s not afraid to use his height.

Molly Redden contributed.

“A giant in his scholarly field, Richard Stites was also an unusually devoted and successful teacher and mentor at all levels of undergraduate and graduate education, and a source of inspiration to colleagues and students alike,” Provost James O’Donnell wrote in the e-mail to the Georgetown community that announced Stites’ passing.

Stites specialized in modern Russian cultural and social history. O’Donnell wrote that he had a substantial bibliography, curriculum vitae, and honors and awards.

“[H]e taught for a time at the US Army Russian Institute in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and he was Fulbright Professor at the University of Helsinki in 1995,” O’Donnell wrote. “In 2003, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Helsinki—a degree that came complete with a ceremonial sword that he afterwards wore with a combination of pride and good humor at Georgetown convocation and commencement ceremonies.”

Stites’s burial and funeral will take place in Helsinki, but there will be a memorial on campus later this semester.

photos by Jackson Perry