The Casual Awards: Young Hoyas Come of Age in Win Over Louisville

Well, that was something. In the Big East opener for both teams last night, your fighting Georgetown Hoyas defeated the 4th ranked and previously undefeated Louisville Cardinals at the KFC Yum! Center, stopping Louisville's 20-game home winning streak in the process. To celebrate the BIG WIN, we here at THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON are handing out hardware to those most deserving. Away we go...

Chris Wright Heart of a Champion Award:
Markel Starks. Though I was inclined to give this award to the entire team for last night's effort, Starks deserves recognition for his team-high 20 points on 7-8 shooting including a perfect 4-4 from three point range. More importantly however, Starks has emerged as a leader on the floor, occupying what we all thought would be a gaping hole after Chris Wright's departure. A scant 12 games into his sophomore season, Starks has virtually quashed any questions as to whether he can guide this team, and the next few months are going to be fun to watch.

More Awards after The Jump:

A Legend In The Making Award:
Otto Porter. The small town kid from Nowhere, Missouri is turning heads throughout the country. He could be averaging a double double when he is a sophomore. On top of that, the clutch free throws down the stretch and huge tip in off the Sims miss to stop an 11-0 Louisville run will be one of the biggest Hoya baskets of the season.

The Sparkplug Award:
Jabril Trawick. The Phreshman phrom Philly singlehandedly kept Georgetown in the game in the first half. It is crazy how much his defense and attitude can change the momentum for the Hoyas. On top of that, he is light years ahead of where I expected him to be at this point on the offensive end. His shot, with some work, could be deadly from three point land, and he can consistently get into the lane with his big and athletic frame. In addition, he handled Louisville's full court pressure very well. In further addition, I love him.

Enjoyable Place To Watch A Game in NYC at a Bar that Isn't Also a Syracuse Bar Award:
Tribeca Tap House. Four flat screen TVs in the back of the place at full volume. Good nachos, dip, and calamari. Affordable buckets of beer. Attractive waitresses. All is well at the Tribeca Tap House.

John Thompson III Is Awesome Award:
JT3. Come Monday, barring a major letdown against Providence, this will be the sixth straight year that the Hoyas will be ranked in the top 10 at one point in the season. Sure, there have been some late season flameouts, but Georgetown basketball has been consistently relevant and excellent for the better part of a decade, and that is really sweet. His ability to reload this year's team has been nothing short of remarkable. Now we need to get the man a practice facility.

Depth Is Cool Award:
On a night where Hollis Thompson, Henry Sims, and Jason Clark scored a combined 24 points, Georgetown still beat the undefeated #4 ranked team in the country on their floor. Markel Starks, Jabril Trawick, and Otto Porter combined for 43 points. Those three are two freshmen coming off the bench and a sophomore who is our fourth scoring option. Suffice it to say, this has not happened with previous JT3 Georgetown teams.

Austin Freeman Scoring Efficiency Award:
Markel Starks. 20 points on 7-8 from the field. That stat line could make even Freeman blush.

Alumni Support Tweets Award:
Between Chris Wright, Austin Freeman, Jeff Green, and Patrick Ewing Jr., our alumni's Twitter pages are becoming about as entertaining as the actual games. I particularly enjoyed Freeman's "Otto has taking my name...Otto Porter i now dub u as AWESOME!!! LOL" and Wright's "i have no clue where otto is from lol but he is niiiiicccceeee". I also enjoyed when they made fun of JT3's wardrobe.

The One To Have When You're Having Two Award:
Suntory Yamazaki and Hibiki 12 Year. We will tell you that we did not expect that to end up as well as it did; and in moments of such pleasant surprise, why not have a nice glass of the Hibiki 12 year? And you know what, why not have some Yamazaki 12 too? You've earned it.

Why the hell not?

The John Wooden Coaching Award:
Little Ricky Pitino Jr. He had his clean suit, his pressed shirt, his seat on the bench next to dad. "Sometimes I draw plays on my iPad between turns on Words With Friends."

The Award For A Horribly Bad Decision That Will Surely Destroy The Season:
Pricing rooms at the Westin New Orleans for Final Four Weekend. $179. Sorry. Couldn't resist. Surely this decision will go better than pricing rooms at the Westin Detroit in 2008.

The Media Relations Award:
Rick Pitino. First you start the game telling ESPN that your quote that could not possibly be interpreted any other way besides you saying you'll retire in 5 years was not about retiring and was misconstrued. Then to end the game you shove the camera out of your face. Well played.

The Award For Only Undefeated Big East Team Coached By Someone Who Harbored an Alleged Child Molester:
Syracuse.

Award for Play Most Reminiscent of the High-On-Cocaine 1985 National Champion Villanova Wildcats:
Markel Starks 20 points on 7-8 shooting. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Starks missed one shot all night en route to that game-high 20, including going 4-4 from three. Starks is our new Supreme Leader. BRING ON THE NORTH KOREAN NATIONAL TEAM! THE SKIES WILL CRY SNOW IF STARKS EVER MISSES TWO SHOTS IN ONE GAME.

The VERY UNCOMFORTABLE Date Near-Symmetry Award:
Dec. 29, 2008. One of the Douche Canoes in the Gamethread comments pointed this out and it is worth mentioning, and HIGHLIGHTING here: Your Georgetown Hoyas went to Hartford on Dec. 29 2008 (one day short of three years ago) and put down the #2 UConn Huskies while cruising to 10-1 to start the season. On the way to that triumph we had a nice OT win over Memphis a SHELLACKING of Maryland and an unpleasant evening vs Tennessee. No matter, we had cracked the top ten. What happened after that? WE LOST TO BAYLOR IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NIT! (and not one of those good Baylor teams that have a Heisman-trophy winner). If history is any guide, on Saturday we'll lose to Providence by 30.

Feed The Beast Award:
Otto Porter. Gone are the days when dominant inside forces like Roy and Monroe battled down low but didn't receive the ball. Back then, so often our guards glanced inside before swinging it around the horn a few more times. But not Otto. He always looks inside to Hank and it completely opens up and settles the offense.

"Broad Street Brilly" Award:
Jabril Trawick. Jabril wore a t-shirt inscribed with the words "I Will Step On You To Win" -- and that's all I could think of when he tore the loose ball away from a Louisville player, jumped over him, then charged into the lane for a huge and-one. Louisville may be the first college team to be stepped on by Jabril, but it will not be the last. Special shout-out here to yaboynyp for coming up with this nickname.

HoyaSinceBirth Positive Postgame Prognosis Award:
The hell with it. THE DELUSION TRAIN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING. All predictions are acceptable. Discussions of whether Georgetown can beat the Wizards are encouraged. Hell, they might be able to beat the Packers.

Growin' Up Award:
The freshman class. For several minutes in the second half, in a tight game, the lineup on the floor against the NUMBER FOUR TEAM IN THE NATION was Starks, Whittington, Porter, Hopkins, and Trawick. That lineup played really well and held court to give the more experienced players a chance to catch their breath.

Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert Award for Outstanding Alumni Support:
Jahidi White! Damn sure looks like the holidays have been kind to him. Anyone have a clue what he was doing in Louisville? How far is that from St. Louis?

Rocky Balboa Award:
The 2011-'12 Georgetown Hoyas. Rocky was the People's Champion because he came from humble roots, took a bunch of punches, and still had the mettle to fightback and land haymakers when it mattered. These Hoyas, with not a single McDonald's All-American amongst them, have taken both Alabama's and Louisville's best punches late (and on the road up against formidable home winning streaks), yet still clawed out wins with deft execution in the final moments. Also, I cried during War Horse and if it doesn't win best picture it is a travesty.

Casual Spy Award:
Special thanks to wadetandy for sending in this documentation from last night's game. Also, please feel free to check out wadetandy's revolutionary website, www.documentyourlunch.com. What a novel and innovative concept!

Beat The Traffic Award:
When Louisville called a timeout with 21 seconds left while down 3 points, at least a third of the sold out crowd headed for the exits.

Beltway Traffic Award:
KFC Yum! Center. The only way to exit the upper concourse is via two long escalators at the front of the arena, and the lower concourse can only be left from the two ends as well. The baffling decision to force everyone to exit through these limited exits is probably why everyone bailed early per the above.

Family Matters Award:
Otto Porter's parents/siblings and Markel's dad were in the Hoyas section and they both had ridiculous games, so that's maybe something. In related news, I am shocked that the kid who played Steve Erkel hasn't managed to have a legitimate career as an adult.

Shut Yo Mouth Award:
Louisville's Chane Behanan and Gorgui Dieng. Earlier this season Behanan smartly predicted that Louisville would go undefeated, and prior to last night's game Dieng said "I guarantee you that any big man I face, I'm quicker than them," Dieng said, "and I'm faster than them." Good work.

Lord Voldemort Award:
With the win over Louisville the Hoyas became the first team in the nation this season to notch three wins over top 25 competition (Memphis, Alabama, Louisville). But just how good are those teams? Memphis has since dropped out of the top 25, Alabama has struggled, and Louisville is probably ranked 10 spots higher than it should be. Solid wins no diggity, but the jury is still out as to whether these Hoyas are a legit contender.

Expectations Are Through The Roof Award:
Georgetown Hoyas. Where do we go from here? I have absolutely no idea what the ceiling of this team is at this point. Could we end up in New Orleans? WHY NOT. I am starting to get visions of drinking so much at Casual's house that I throw up on his beloved dog Teddy.

Jim Nantz Award for In-Game Commentary:
Here are a few golden nuggets from the Casual Gamethread:

Can Hollis grow his hair back overnight? its not working out for us

by kayyybelita on Dec 28, 2011 7:21 PM EST reply actions

I like that Trawick's getting almost as many early minutes as Porter

If JTIII trusts him against L’ville, it bodes well for using our bench during the rest of conference season

by Hoya Saxual on Dec 28, 2011 7:21 PM EST reply actions

kuric needs to planted into the courtside seats

by bonafide on Dec 28, 2011 7:31 PM EST reply actions

Is there a more assuring place for a basketball than in the hands of Otto Porter?

Amazingly for a freshmen, I simply expect him to make a positive, smart play every single time he gets the ball. Can’t remember feeling that about any freshman…

by hoyaparanormal on Dec 28, 2011 7:36 PM EST reply actions

I can't decide who I love more on this team

Is man-crush-polygamy allowed on this blog?

by Coach K's kneepads on Dec 28, 2011 7:37 PM EST reply actions

I was not expecting to see this much of the bench

in Big East play. Out of character for coach but very exciting.

by AnotherGtownJack on Dec 28, 2011 7:38 PM EST reply actions

8 Different Hoya Scorers

Dickie-V has already run out of broadcasting anecdotes for Trawick beyond "streets of Philadelphia" – hope his Intern is sober.

by JPLHoya on Dec 28, 2011 7:42 PM EST reply actions

Cayman Islands vaca interfering with my ability to watch the game, must rely on ESPN gamecast + these comments

THIS IS MADDENING

by NotJasonClark on Dec 28, 2011 8:10 PM EST reply actions

Screw Congress

MARKEL FOR PRESIDENT

by J-Wall's Mom's Broom on Dec 28, 2011 8:14 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Seth Rogen covering the game with Vitale

by The Lorry Michel Backrub on Dec 28, 2011 8:19 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

i think they just had more o-rebounds in one possession

than we have had all game

by thunderbus on Dec 28, 2011 8:26 PM EST reply actions

At the end of the day

we have Porter (and Starks et al) and they don’t.

Gotta like our chances at the wire.

New sig tba

by PerryMcDonald'sRightCross on Dec 28, 2011 8:28 PM EST reply actions

Starks! From Downtown!!!

…Knicks fans pass out

by WarmupEwing on Dec 28, 2011 8:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions

FINALLY

I just got trash talked. But by a five year old. In a bar. The word poop was used. True story.

I love the south.

by BeerBottlesToTheFaceOfSyracuseFans on Dec 28, 2011 8:51 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Text from out of town girlfriend:

"I’m sad I’m gonna miss this sex."

by AnotherGtownJack on Dec 28, 2011 9:06 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

To their credit

These Louisville fans here have been extra classy. A few just offered to buy me and my friends a round of shots. Basketball and whiskey, bringing strangers togetherz

by BeerBottlesToTheFaceOfSyracuseFans on Dec 28, 2011 9:12 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Left a romantic dinner early

and raced 1 mile with drunk husband trailing behind me down a dark, desolate beach road. Managed to find the only bar with ESPN in this part of the Caribbean. Totally worth it. But seriously, what kind of husband plans a vacation that interferes with the start of Big East play? Bad idea.

by myfiancewenttodukepleasedon'thateme on Dec 28, 2011 10:40 PM EST reply actions

That win was Yum!- my

Next stop: New Orleans.

by hoyamarlin on Dec 29, 2011 1:22 AM EST reply actions

Gratuitous Pic of Cheryl Cole in Green Short Shorts That Wouldn't Fit Me Award:
Indeed.

The Georgetown Hoyas are a nationally ranked powerhouse.

Providence is NeXt.