Could there be a more perfect match-up?

Well, maybe if it were the finals, but that would be too perfect.

Could the stakes be any higher?

A shot at the Big East Tournament Championship.  A shot at a number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament (for the Hoyas).  Bragging rights at last Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.  A chance for Georgetown to sweep the series against Syracuse this year.  Most importantly, a chance to end the Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry on top.

A more than 30-year Big East rivalry will officially end tonight at Madison Square.  No. 5 Georgetown (25-5, 14-4 Big East) will battle No. 19 Syracuse (25-8, 11-7 Big East) in the Big East semi-finals to decide who goes to the Big East Championship game.  Georgetown is 7-6 against Syracuse all-time in the Big East Tournament.

“It would be a great game,” sophomore Otto Porter Jr. said after Georgetown’s victory over Cincinnati. “I’m pretty sure they would a rematch against us.”

Those are wise words from the National Player of the Year Candidate. Syracuse most certainly would like a rematch since the Hoyas have embarrassed the Orange so far this year. First, on February 23, Georgetown visited a Carrier Dome full of 35,000 people rooting against them and left with a 57-46 triumph.  Two weeks later the Hoyas thumped the Orange 61-39 at the Verizon Center. It was Syracuse’s worst loss to Georgetown since 1985 and Syracuse’s lowest point total since 1962.

What has changed since Georgetown walloped Syracuse six days ago? The Orange have shown signs that they are getting out of their slump.  On Wednesday, Syracuse defeated Seton Hall 62-59 and then beat Pittsburgh 62-59 last night.  Over the past two games, senior forward James Southerland has looked liked the scorer everyone expected him to be.  He posted 20 points in both games and shot a sizzling 7-of-10 last night against Pittsburgh.  Against Seton Halll, sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams set a Big East Tournament record with 14 assists.

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After an unbelievable escape at UConn and a close first half against Rutgers last week, the Hoyas (23-4, 13-3 Big East) have risen to the consensus No. 5 spot in the country. Despite their active 11-game winning streak, however, the Hoyas go into Villanova (18-12, 9-8 Big East) tonight as a 1-point underdog. This game, more than any in the season, epitomizes the phrase “trap game.”

With aspirations of winning the Big East title outright, this game may be overlooked, even though the Wildcats have been giant-killers this year, defeating Syracuse, Louisville, and Marquette.

Sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr. has been launched into the national spotlight since his jaw-dropping performance at Syracuse and has not faded since, scoring 22 points, including the game winning layup, at UConn and 28 points against Rutgers. Porter is now the clear favorite for Big East Player of the Year and is in the discussion along with Indiana’s Victor Oladipo and Michigan’s Trey Burke for National Player of the Year.

With this spotlight, Porter is clearly being guarded more closely by opponents, which has led to more foul calls; Porter shot 18 free throws against Rutgers. Freshman guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and junior guard Markel Starks have been the other major offensive producers for the Hoyas, averaging 8.6 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Since his big defensive performance at the Carrier Dome, junior center Moses Ayegba has been able to keep producing, scoring 4 points and pulling down 7 boards against Rutgers.

For the Wildcats, the key players will be leading scorers, freshman guard Ryan Arcidiacono, who is averaging 12.2 points per game and sophomore forward JayVaughn Pinkston, who is averaging 12.7 points per game. Arcidiacono has had the hot hand recently, averaging 17.8 points over the current five game stretch.

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After a thrilling 79-78 double overtime win against Connecticut (19-8, 9-6 Big East), No. 7 Georgetown will look to extend its 10-game winning streak this tonight at Verizon Center when they take on Rutgers (13-13, 4-11 Big East) at 9 p.m. The Hoyas will look to complete the season sweep against the Scarlet Knights, whom they defeated earlier this season 69-63 in Piscataway on February 9.

In that game, the Hoyas were very efficient on the offensive end, shooting 57 percent from the field, including 46 percent from three-point land. Sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr. had a big game for the Hoyas, notching a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Junior guard Markel Starks led the Hoyas in scoring with 20 points, on 8-of-12 shooting form the field. Sophomore center Mikael Hopkins and freshman guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera also scored in double figures for Georgetown, with 14 and 13 points respectively. Junior forward Nate Lubick was mired in foul trouble for the whole game and did not have much of an impact, scoring no points in only 15 minutes of play before fouling out.

For the Scarlet Knights, sophomore guard Eli Carter exploded for 23 points for the Scarlet Knights in the contest, almost double his season average. Despite Rutgers only shooting 38 percent from the field, Carter managed to keep them in the game as he carried the bulk of the scoring load. No other Rutgers players scored in double figures as the Hoyas managed to contain sophomore guard Myles Mack, Rutgers’ second-leading scorer, to only 9 points.

Rutgers has struggled mightily recently, having lost 9 of their last 10, including their most recent loss to Providence last Saturday 76-72. Barring an anemic performance by Georgetown, there is no reason to believe the Hoyas will be riding high on a 11-game winning streak into their matchup in Philadelphia against Villanova (18-11, 9-7 Big East) on March 6. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

File Photo: Abigail Greene/Georgetown Voice (Feb. 20, 2013, vs. DePaul)

At the end of the Syracuse game, Head Coach John Thompson III said, “We are getting better.  We are a very young team.  We have used a business-like approach this year.”  Coming off one of the most memorable wins in Georgetown basketball history, that “business-like approach” will certainly be tested tonight when No. 7 Georgetown (21-4, 11-3 Big East) takes on Connecticut (19-7, 9-5 Big East) in Storrs, Conn.

By beating Syracuse and snapping the nation’s longest active home winning streak, the Hoyas now have moved into the top ten in the national rankings and into consideration for a one-seed in the NCAA tournament.  Georgetown became one of only four schools to be ranked in the top ten in each of the past seven seasons.  The Blue and Gray are also now alone atop the Big East rankings.

Sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr. has received buzz as the potential Big East Player of the Year and National Player of the Year.  His 33 points against Syracuse was the most points any Georgetown player has ever scored in the Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry.

The Huskies are not doing too shabbily either.  They have won 4 of their past 5 games including a 66-58 win over then-No. 6 Syracuse.  Last Thursday, Connecticut took down Cincinnati (19-9, 7-8 Big East) 73-66 in overtime.

Perhaps the only player in the Big East that arguably had a more impressive seven days than Porter Jr. last week was Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier.  Against Cincinnati and DePaul, Napier posted 27 points and 28 points respectively.

There is another similarity between Napier and Porter Jr.  Napier is known to affect each aspect of the game.  Although only 6’1,’’ Napier is 2nd on the team in rebounds, averaging 4.2 rebounds per game.  He also leads the Huskies in assists and steals with 4.6 assists per game and 2 steals per game.

Napier certainly is not Connecticut’s only scoring threat as four players average double figures in points.  The most dangerous of those scorers is sophomore guard Ryan Boatwright who averages 15.2 points per game.  Boatwright, like Napier, is not simply a scorer.  He has recorded 4.3 assists per game and 3 rebounds per game this year.

Georgetown will look to extend its winning streak to 10 games tonight.  Will Georgetown’s ascent continue?  The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 7 pm.  Follow along with @GUVoiceSports.

File Photo: Abigail Greene/Georgetown Voice (Feb. 20, 2013)

In what is clearly the most important rivalry in all of sports, the No. 11 Hoyas (20-4, 10-3 Big East) travel to the Carrier Dome for the last time in Big East play to face the No. 8 Syracuse Orange (22-4, 10-3 Big East) today at 4 p.m. This matchup is not only for bragging rights, but will play a critical role in determining the winner of the Big East title. The Hoyas are tied with Syracuse and Marquette atop the conference standings and have a chance to cut the group to two with a win today.

While Syracuse is the only team that controls its own destiny in winning the conference outrightly, the Hoyas can tie for the top spot by winning out, assuming Marquette does the same. Both teams are going into the game with confidence. The Hoyas, as we know, are riding an 8-ame winning streak, while the Orange have not lost at home in 38 games. The game has sold out, anticipating a crowd of 35,012, the largest ever at any NCAA college basketball game.

The Hoyas are coming in hot, riding their longest winning streak of the season. This run has not been against pushover teams as the seven-game streak in non-conference play was. The Hoyas have beaten Notre Dame, Louisville, Marquette, and Cincinnati and have dismissed the lesser teams in the Big East without drama, something that the Blue and Gray often fail to do as expected. Sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr. and junior guard Markel Starks have produced as expected over the streak, averaging 16.7 and 14.3 points per game, respectively. Porter did not play in much of Wednesday’s game against DePaul, but the offense was still able to move effectively, putting up a season-high 90 points. Most impressive was freshman guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who scored 33 points, the highest scoring total for Hoya player since Chris Wright scored 34 against Harvard in 2009. Smith-Rivera’s prowess could be a jump start for the Hoya offense that often goes stagnant.

Notable factors for the Orange will be senior guard and leading scorer Brandon Triche, who has scored 14.9 points per game this season, and sophomore guard and bathrobe thief Michael Carter-Williams who has averaged 12.7 points per game and is the team’s leading assist man, averaging 8.2 per game.

With the rivalry coming to an end, the stakes will be even higher than usual. Said Porter Jr. of the game, “It means a lot… For us, with the last game in the Dome, its huge, we definitely want to come out and win. We’re going to be extra focused when we go up there.”

When asked if he would be sad to see the end of the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry, Head Coach John Thompson III said, “Sad? No. It’s life. Everything is an evolutionary thing.” Sad or not, this game is sure to leave a historical mark in both program and conference history.

File Photo: Miles Gavin Meng/Georgetown Voice (Feb. 20, 2013, vs. DePaul)

Fresh off their 62-55 win at Cincinnati (19-7, 7-6 Big East) this past Friday, the No. 11 Georgetown men’s basketball team will look to continue their 7-game winning streak this Wednesday night at Verizon Center when they square off against DePaul (11-14, 2-10 Big East) at 7 p.m.

As a result of the win, the Hoyas are now tied atop the Big East standings with Syracuse and Marquette and have ascended to a No. 11 ranking in both major national polls, a feat thought unimaginable almost a month ago when the Hoyas fell in disappointing fashion to conference cellar-dweller South Florida and seemed mired in an interminable slump.

Despite the absence of sophomore forward Greg Whittington, the team’s third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, in their past 10 games due to academics, the Hoyas have won 9 of their last 10 and appear to be playing their best basketball so far this year.  The Hoyas’ defense has been the story as they have stifled opposing offenses in their current winning streak, with 6 of their 7 opponents failing to score 60 points.

Junior guard Markel Starks and sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr. continued their strong play for the Hoyas in their most recent win at Cincinnati. Starks and Porter, who have predominantly carried the scoring load for the Hoyas during their streak, led the team with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Although a highly anticipated matchup this Saturday at the Carrier Dome against dreaded rival Syracuse awaits following Wednesday’s game, the Hoyas cannot overlook the current task at hand and underestimate the Blue Demons. Despite what their measly conference record might suggest, DePaul can be a formidable opponent and are coming off a win in their most recent game against Rutgers. The Blue Demons have also played many close games, with two overtime losses against Notre Dame, an overtime loss against St. John’s, and a close 5-point loss to Cincinnati.

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Everything has been swinging in the right direction for the Hoyas of late. They are the winners of six straight, including three ranked wins, they have reached 15th in the AP poll, and with some help from UConn, they have clawed their way to the top of the Big East standings. Now the Hoyas travel to Cincinnati to face yet another dangerous Big East opponent. The Bearcats dropped out of the rankings this last week after two losses, but are sure to still be a test for the streaking Hoyas.

The regulars have been effective over this stretch. Sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr. has come up huge, now averaging 15.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Since the loss to Pittsburgh, Porter Jr. has averaged over 18 points per game. Porter Jr.’s consistency and clutch play has prevented the Hoya collapses that we are all too used to. With this impressive stretch, Porter Jr. has moved up the favorites board for the Wooden Award and has also seen his draft stock skyrocket, now approaching the top 5 in most projections.

Junior guard Markel Starks has been a huge factor, averaging 15 points per game over the current win streak. Sophomore center Mikael Hopkins, who had struggled even during much of the Hoyas’ surge, has started to find his groove of late, pulling down 9 boards against Marquette and averaging over 9 points per game in the last three games, up from his season average of 6.4 points per game. Hopkins’ play will be key down the stretch, as the main weakness affecting the Hoyas all season has been an ineffective post presence. If this problem is addressed, then expect the Blue and Gray to become a very dangerous team in postseason play.

The Bearcats, after getting off to a hot start in conference play, have struggled against Big East teams, going 7-5 so far. However, only one loss has come by double digits, an away game against Pittsburgh last week, and only two losses have come against teams outside of the RPI top 50.

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After a light week ending with a tight win over Rutgers, the Hoyas go into a rematch with Marquette with the intention of avenging their one-point loss earlier in the season. The Golden Eagles have won the last two meetings, but in the last six matchups between these two squads, the victory has gone to the home team.

Not only does this game have implications for momentum in the closing stretch of conference play, but it is also crucial for the battle for the Big East title. Marquette currently shares the top spot in the conference with Syracuse. The Hoyas are one game out of the Big East lead and control their own destiny with this game and two matchups with the Orange remaining.

In the beginning of the season, the Hoya scoring was very concentrated. In the first meeting with Marquette, sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr., sophomore forward Greg Whittington, and junior guard Markel Starks scored 44 of the Hoyas’ 48 points. Since then, not only have the rest of the starters stepped up, but also the bench players who saw limited time before Whittington’s exit have stepped up to help ease the burden on Porter Jr. and Starks’ backs.

Eyes will be on Porter Jr. and Marquette junior guard Vander Blue, who has averaged 19.5 points in the past four games. The wild cards in this game will be Starks, who has put up solid points over the last four games, but has been shooting sporadically different percentages game-to-game throughout the season and Marquette senior guard Junior Cadougan who has alternated between solid performances and scoring in the low single-digits. Cadougan’s performances have often been correlated with result of the game.

Marquette, recently, has come up short in games where they have been tested. Despite blowing out Providence, South Florida (twice), and DePaul, the Golden Eagles were unable to pull out a win against Cincinnati, and looked lost in a 19-point loss against a sliding Louisville. The Hoyas, on the other hand have won their last five, with two ranked wins as part of the streak. However, last time the Hoyas came up short against Marquette, they were riding a seven game win streak.

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Following a week off, the No. 20/21 Hoyas will now enter perhaps their most difficult week of the season beginning with an away match-up with Rutgers today.  In the upcoming week, Georgetown also hosts No. 24 Marquette and visits No. 17 Cincinnati.  For starters, the Blue and Gray cannot overlook the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers.  When Georgetown traveled to New Brunswick last year, the No. 12 Hoyas trailed the majority of the game and needed 6 points from freshman star Otto Porter in the final 1:36 to win 52-50.  In the 2009-10 season, Rutgers upset No. 8 Georgetown at the Verizon Center.

Rutgers is currently stuck in a five-game losing streak, which is primarily a result of the strength of their opponents.  Three of Rutgers’s five losses have been to ranked opponents and four of those five came against the top half of the Big East.  On January 5, Rutgers upset then No. 24 Pittsburgh 67-62.  Two weeks later, the Scarlet Knights nearly defeated then No. 20 Notre Dame in South Bend 69-66.

Georgetown will look to continue its streak of shutting down the top Big East scorers when the Hoyas take on Rutgers guard Eli Carter.  Carter is tenth in the Big East in scoring averaging 15.1 points per game.  He has not been shooting very well of late.  Even though Carter totaled 13 points against Louisville, he went 5-of-14 from the field.

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Two of the Big East’s hottest teams will come face-to-face this afternoon at the Verizon Center.  St. John’s (14-7, 6-3 Big East) has not lost since the Hoyas beat them at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 12. Georgetown (15-4, 5-3 Big East) has won five of its last six games, including three straight.

The Johnnies are undefeated in five games with their most impressive win coming over Notre Dame on Jan. 15.  Their other four wins were against teams in the bottom half the Big East.  On Wednesday, St. John’s squeaked out a win against DePaul 79-74 in overtime.

“They are playing as well as anyone in our league right now,” Head Coach John Thompson III said.  “They are playing smaller which makes them more dangerous offensively.”

Besides forward Jakarr Sampson, who is 6-8, the Red Storm does not start another player who is over 6-5.  When the Hoyas played the Johnnies on Jan. 12, St. John’s started 6-9 freshman center Chris Obekpa and 6-6 sophomore forward Amir Garrett.  Unfortunately for the Hoyas, they do not have a dominant inside scorer.

“They have stepped up,” Thompson III said.  “They are playing much differently and much better than the first time we played them.”

St. John’s did have all starters finish in double figures against DePaul.  The Johnnies, however, are still primarily a two-man attack.  Sampson averages 14.2 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game.  Sophomore guard D’Angelo Harrison continues to be one of the top scorers in the Big East.  He averages 19.7 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game. Read the rest of this entry »