Happy New Year: Providence Friars (11-3, 0-1) at #12 Georgetown Hoyas (11-1, 1-0)

Providence Friars		Georgetown Hoyas
	vs.
NR (11-3, 0-1); RPI: 140		#12 (11-1, 1-0); RPI: 18

(Perspectives After The Jump)

View from the Student Section - A Perspective from Campus:

Went to the USC-Cal game last night in Berkeley. Hoping that if we make the tournament we play a PAC-12 team. Pretty sure a conference founded by DePaul, Seton Hall, and Providence could beat those guys. Anyways, we play one of the aforementioned schools today, and I am nervous beyond belief. The comparisons to 2008 when Georgetown manhandled Connecticut on the road my freshman year seem to be spot on. However, the young heart-attack Hoyas can prove us wrong tomorrow by handling Providence. Marshon Brooks was an absolute beast for them last year(and is doing well in the league, and happened to be a nice guy, who some Georgetown fans are friends with on Facebook). This year, they're working in a few freshmen with Vincent Council, who has to be considered an under the radar All-Big East contender. LaDontae Henton has been a pleasant surprise as a freshman, and even Gerard Coleman, who was a fairly highly regarded recruit, has started to live up to the hype. The key matchup will be down low, where the Hoyas should be able to do some damage against the formidable frontcourt of Kadeem Batts and Bilal Dixon.....yeah. 2-0 is a lot better than 1-1, let's get there before I jet back to campus for the Marquette game(against a team that will be ANGRY at losing by a billion last night to Vanderbilt).

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

Friends, this has been a hell of a basketball season, huh? From nearly causing an international incident to being one of the surprise teams of the early season, these Hoyas have kept Hoya fans on their toes. But for all the success of the preseason, let's keep one thing in mind - the Big East is simply a murderer's row. Rutgers over Florida is a great indication of how those teams are ready to compete every night.

So while we can still relish the Louisville win, Providence should present a real challenge. In all honesty though, OldHoya feels pretty good about this one. We can make up reasons why this game could be a serious issue but based on the way Georgetown's playing, the only way they lose is when they don't give the effort and that just doesn't seem likely. Everyone on this team is hustling and the poise the team has shown in withstanding runs from Alabama and Louisville to end the game is a sign of good things to come.

Even though this game should be a safe one, it will probably be close. Hopefully by 4pm the Hoya faithful can spill out of the Phone Booth and grab a beer for what should be a great New Year's Eve and a tremendous 2012 hoops season. With Providence in town, OldHoya would be remiss if he didn't acknowledge the late great Dave Gavitt, a Hall of Famer and one of the founders of the Big East who passed away in September.

View from the Enemy- A Perspective from our Sleeping With The Enemy Interview:

It was probably no fun at practice this week after the St. John's game, so I'm guessing the team will bring it on Saturday. However, I think the Hoyas frontcourt will still be too much to handle, especially on the road. It won't be a blowout, but I think Georgetown takes it 75-66.

I am sitting at a bar in a hotel in Rhode Ass Island. I find it strange that I will be watching the game here while one of the blogdork's inlaws that are from RI sit in my seats for this game. Speaking of the game, it scares the living shit out me. I know logic says otherwise, but I am not the logical type. We are coming off a big balls victory in a very hostile place and The Friars blew the goat in Queens whenever they played SJU. As our friend from that Provy blog pointed out, the rest of the week probably wasn't that pleasant for the Friars. Officially: my nervousness level is at Oh Crap!!!!!!!!!! These damn freshmen have raised expectations. Higher expectations mean that I tend to get nervous A LOT easier. No coors lights here, ladies and gents. I guess it will be a Narragansett kind of afternoon! If we come out and get down 10, I will probably switch to Middleton's, at $24 per 1.5 oz.

Happy New Year, nerds! I hope I am wrong.

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

The Line: Georgetown -14. Over/under 138.

If this were last year or the year before that or the year before that or the year before that I'd load up on the Friars in this game because those Hoya teams always kept what should be easy wins like this close. This group however, is like the fresh scent of Lysol lemonfresh disinfectant spray. The Hoyas are 7-0 ATS thus far in 2011 and the boys in blue and gray will look to make it a perfect 8-0 to close out 2011.

HAVING SAID THAT, no way I'm giving Providence 14 points. I may be delusional but I'm not insane.

Happy New Year everybody! May your wagers be successful, your cars be fast, and your women loose.

The pick is Providence +14. Final score Hoyas 72 - Friars 59.

Casual Hoya is 7-5 ATS this season.
Last season: 18-14.
Overall 47-27.

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