#8 Duke Blue Devils (17-3) vs. #7 Georgetown Hoyas (15-4)

by Hire Esherick on Jan 30, 2010 9:00 AM EST in Game Threads

Duke Blue Devils at Georgetown Hoyas, Jan 30, 2010 1:00 PM EST

Quick Link to In-Game Commentary: Online / Mobile

TV: CBS
Radio: ESPN980
Online: Blue Devils vs Hoyas coverage
Time: 1:00 PM EST
Location: Verizon Center, Washington DC

View from the Student Section - A Perspective from Campus:

Campus is excited for the game tomorrow. It seems that more people hate Duke than hate Syracuse, which is ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong though, I enjoy watching Duke lose and I am very excited for the game.

The plan is to paint my body for the first time. I have been hitting the gym every day for the last two weeks to make sure that my beer gut is not as big as it usually is. When Obama sees me on the jumbotron,I have to be looking good. I made a trip to Arlington with my friend Dave this week to pick up some body paint. The first stop was Michaels, because they have arts and crafts items. However, they were trying to sell us straight paint and I’m really not trying to get lead/acrylic/…? in my body. Party City had what we were looking for thankfully.

I am pre-gaming right now for sitting out in the cold for more hours than one could possibly imagine. I want to be front row. Hypothermia, bring it on. Let the slaughter of Duke begin. Hoya Saxa!

View from the Court Side Seats - A Perspective from OldHoya:

This is not a team that OldHoya likes. At all. On top of that, OldHoya's gotten to know and become friendly with lots of refs. But not John Cahill and promises to be all over that smug zebra should he step on the court.

Obviously, there have only been a handful of games between the two but that's enough to establish a rivalry. Few can forget the loss that the Hoyas took at teh hands of Duke in the 1989 NCAA regional and OldHoya prefers to focus on the payback game 2 years later when the Hoyas took Duke down 79-74 at the beautiful Cap Centre. Zo and Mutombo simplly dominated the Duke front line and held Duke's big three to a woeful 32% for the game.

Certainly recent memory is lukewarm with the program changing win at Verizon finally showing the potential of Coach Thompson's program and the disastrous loss last year at Cameron.

In a nut shell: Let's beat the f--king Blue Devils and then meet OldHoya after the game to casually celebrate the game.

View from the Sportsbook (via DonBest) - A Perspective from Vegas:

The Line: Duke -1. Over/Under 142.

I'm pretty surprised at this line, because I thought that the Hoyas would be at least a 2 point favorite playing at home in front of a rowdy Verizon crowd. Home court advantage aside, I think Georgetown matches up well against Duke, and should be able to exploit Duke's man-to-man defense by back-dooring the crap out of them to get some easy looks inside.

Georgetown will win this game for 2 reasons:

1) Chris Wright will have more than 10 points in this game, which means guaranteed victory.

2) Obama will be there with his manservant ex-Dukie Reggie Love and likely rooting for Duke, which means guaranteed victory.

It should be no surprise then that the pick is Georgetown +1, with a final score of Georgetown 76 - Duke 71.

BEAT DUKE.

On the season:

The Hoyas are currently 8-7 ATS (that's 'Against The Spread' for those just tuning in).

Georgetown is 3-2 ATS on the Road, 3-5 ATS at Home, and 2-0 on Neutral Courts.

Casual Hoya is 9-6 ATS.

www.CasualHoya.com : Where Your Money Stays And Plays.

Casually.

Check back throughout the day for updated media coverage and during the game for updates.

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Comments

line moving all over the place

now its a push.

Good talk.

by Hire Esherick on Jan 30, 2010 9:03 AM EST reply actions

lot of activity in downtown dc right now

firetruck and cop sirens starting since 830am

painful

Good talk.

by Hire Esherick on Jan 30, 2010 9:06 AM EST reply actions

lordnick's favorite post! MEDIA DUMP

Casual Hoya – Working Hard So You Don’t Have To

No break for the Hoyas – Washington Times
“[John Thompson Jr.] says I’m crazy for playing this series,” Thompson said. “Is it piling on? To a certain extent, yeah. But at the same time you want to play against the best teams, against the best programs, and they are one of them. At the same time you want to get as many different experiences for your group as you can. And hopefully you can go through that without beating (the players) up too much. Big East play, you’re going to be beat up.”

Obama May Attend Georgetown Vs. Duke Basketball Game – Washington Whispers (usnews.com)
Washington’s most influential basketball fan, President Obama, may be joining the Georgetown Hoyas’ sea of gray at tomorrow’s game versus the Duke Blue Devils at the Verizon Center. Whether or not he’ll cheer for John Thompson III’s No. 7-ranked team is unsure—he might be cheering for his bodyguard Reggie Love’s former team instead—but a source close to the Georgetown administration has confirmed that the president is expected to attend.

Georgetown Big Man’s Loyalties Endure – NYTimes.com
But Norma [Monroe] told her son that he should not go to the N.B.A. until he was certain he was ready. “Ever since my children were little I’ve just asked them to save their pennies for Mother’s Day and my birthday,” Norma said. “And Greg has done that fine without being in the N.B.A.”

Vandy, Georgetown, K-State can prove they belong – Mike DeCourcy – College Basketball – Sporting News
The case for Georgetown: The Hoyas showed their mettle with a win at Pitt and PG Chris Wright dominated. They scored above their 72-point average in four of the past five. The case against: The Hoyas have been vulnerable to lesser teams such as Old Dominion and Marquette. They have a terrific starting five, particularly with PF Julian Vaughn surging. But there is almost no backcourt depth—kind of like the Blue Devils. What we’ll see: Wright could make himself an All-America candidate with another big game.

Georgetown looks to avoid result of last season’s game against Duke – washingtonpost.com
While there are many ways of analyzing which team holds the edge — turnovers, rebounding, Wright’s point production vs. that of Duke’s prolific back court, Monroe’s resilience against the Blue Devils’ big men — one particular intangible may matter more: Does this Georgetown squad, unlike last year’s, have the mental toughness to bounce back from a bad loss?

Duke loss was a learning experience | Washington Examiner
Hoyas head coach John Thompson III, whose first big win at Georgetown was a court-storming victory over then No. 1 Duke at Verizon Center in 2006, isn’t concerned that a slide similar to last year’s is in store. “I don’t think we have to worry about that,” said Thompson, who isn’t sure if the series with Duke will be renewed, "That’s not to say we’re not going to lose games. This team is not last year’s team. It’s much different in every way, shape and form. Monday was not mental fatigue. They just beat us.

Good talk.

by Hire Esherick on Jan 30, 2010 9:09 AM EST reply actions

Time to start making some Casual MANmosas

Good talk.

by Hire Esherick on Jan 30, 2010 9:12 AM EST reply actions

Made myself a bloody mary

waiting for my casual police escort down to Gallery Place

Blip

by JahidiLikesPie on Jan 30, 2010 9:22 AM EST reply actions

TAKE THE POINTS.

I am 8-7 ATS and this would be a season ending loss for me, as well as Georgetown. So GEORGETOWN +1 it is. Time for a cocktail.

by lordnick on Jan 30, 2010 9:51 AM EST reply actions

On my way

to Vegas. Can’t believe I will be in the air while the game is on. Ah the wonder of xanax. Looking forward to the excellent celebratory posts when I land.

by iheartgregmonroe on Jan 30, 2010 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Up an at em

Strongbows at fado. Front room after the bar. Hoyas.

High fives only on three pointers.

by TheYellofAllYells on Jan 30, 2010 10:51 AM EST via mobile reply actions

i am ready

Pedicure on my toes…

Casually.

by CasualHoya on Jan 30, 2010 11:05 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Acela Club

75 minutes before tip. Acela Club crowd predominately gtown. A small measure of comfort. Jahidilikespie on fourth drink (including a lady pint of bud light at the Channel.)

by lordnick on Jan 30, 2010 11:43 AM EST via mobile reply actions