Georgetown v. Providence

The Casual Awards: Divine Providence

By CasualHoya Jan 17, 2013, 2:12pm EST

The Fighting Hoyas of Georgetown won a fairly relaxing encounter with the Providence Friars at Verizon last night. Before we flip to switch to focus on the South Florida Bulls, as usual we're handing out hardware to those most deserving. Away we go!

The Chris Wright Heart of a Champion Award:
This award should go to Otto Porter for his 20 point, 8 rebound effort but I'm going to go ahead and give this to Aaron Bowen for his career-high 8 point EXPLOSION and frankly, I'm not sure I'll have another chance to give him one. Bowen provided a great spark off the bench and threw down both his patented high arching three pointer and his game-sealing dunk, while playing spirited, hustle hoops throughout.

Jon Wallace Memorial Award:
Markel Starks. Starks has been excellent in Whittington's absence, and last night's 16 point, 7 assist and 3 steals effort helped propel the Hoyas to sweet sweet victory. More importantly, after Porter and Nate Lubick fouled out with just minutes to play and the game still in the balance, Starks calmly led the offense and sank his free throws.

Nationally Ranked Powerhouse Award:
The Hoyas dropped out of the Top 25, which is probably fine with a bunch of Hoya fans who think the team plays better without the burden of a national ranking. BUT IT'S REALLY ANNOYING TO NOT HAVE HOYAS SCORES ON THE DAMN TICKER EACH NIGHT.

Manti Te'o Award:

via i39.photobucket.com

Fun N' Gun Award:
What is this Georgetown team? Pushing it up the floor, pressing the pace and making a just a couple of passes before taking shots? Blowout win over the Johnnies? CHECK. Tremendous first half before nearly blowing the lead in what would have been a season-ending loss to the Friars? CHECK. This is awesome!

Lord Voldemort Award:
The offense has looked very good against St. John's and Providence and Georgetown can likely eek out a win against USF as well without Whittington, but I'm not sure this Hoyas team can play with the big boys just yet. Assuming Whittington is still out, the Notre Dame game on Monday will be the first real test and Louisville comes to Verizon next. Though the short term has been fun, the road ahead could be very bumpy. And I don't mean bumps of cocaine. I mean bumps of season-ending, soul-crushing, program crumbling losses.

Charlie Hustle Award:
Nate Lubick was great last night, scoring 10 points, grabbing 4 rebounds and diving all over the floor for loose balls and shit. The Hoyas clearly played better with Nate on the floor and he needs to continue to raise his level of play with Whittington out.

We Are Not Syracuse Award:
Speaking of Whittington, if indeed it is true that he missed a final and wound up failing a class, then he deserves whatever suspension the school gives him. We have student-athletes at Georgetown and not the other way around.

Be Sure To Drink Your Ovaltine Award:
C-A-S-U-A-L-E is the T-I-T-S.

Salvage Your Dignity Award:
Everyone's favorite Verizon Center t-shirt gatling gun dude pulled out this purple thing last night which made sense to no one.

The Father, The Son and the Hoya Sprit Award:

GU Stonewalls. Great work by our new faves in Section 118, who led cheers, wore scarves and most importantly got on TV as a student support presence with all their casual flag waving. Good job, dudes (and dudettes, as it were).

Nut of the Week Award:
Cashews, in a narrow race over almonds and walnuts.

Document Your Providence Game Award:
Special thanks to RileysDressLikeAHoyasJersey, who had better seats than you did:

I Need 9 Foot Rims and Learn Not To Get Stripped Every Time I Have The Ball Underneath The Hoop Award:
Mikael Hopkins. No explanation necessary for this one. I just don't understand why this sort of thing can't get worked out in practice. Hopkins could easily be averaging 10+ points in this offense but he simply doesn't convert his easy chances.

Stop Running Into Defenders Standing Still Award:
DSR has shown flashes of brilliance this season but he's also showed a tendency to commit untimely charges (not sure that any charges are timely, but whatever). On the plus side, I've been impressed with DSR's handle, he's clearly physically ready to play in the Big East and he's given the Hoyas a lot of really good minutes this season.

The Best Ending From A Hoops Game That You Didn't See Award:
Check out the ending in the St. Mary's - BYU game and note that if this ever happened to Georgetown I'd jump off the Key Bridge.

The Jim Nantz Award for In-Game Commentary:
Here are a few nuggets from the casual game thread:

new rules

1. if Hopkins gets the ball and doesn’t pass immediately, he shall be considered a member of the opposing team. STEAL THE FUCKING BALL FROM HIM
2. if the shot clock is under 10, don’t give it to him under any circumstances

by bleeding blue, painted gray on Jan 16, 2013 7:08 PM EST reply actions

This is gonna be another one of those games

That makes us worried about Otto’s draft stock, isn’t it? God I missed those games.

I believed in Nikita Mescheriakov's jump shot.

by SnowpocalypseNow on Jan 16, 2013 7:14 PM EST reply actions

Did they just analyze how to come from behind?

by lahoya on Jan 16, 2013 7:16 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Can I take a moment to comment that MARKEL STARKS is amazing.

he gets little praise here, but truly the guy has stepped up his game 100%. I’m not going to lie and say I thought he would be good, because I didn’t. But he’s doing great.

by Hoya Vey on Jan 16, 2013 7:19 PM EST reply actions

Our own silver linings playbook

Greg being out is giving the bench some serious minutes. SO when he comes back (and he better come back soon) we should have a deeper rotation to rely on.

by jasonclarksalienarms on Jan 16, 2013 7:20 PM EST reply actions

Bowen fan club growing

Important to remember he’s only a soph with redshirt

by !say oH on Jan 16, 2013 7:21 PM EST reply actions

bowen stroking it from long range?

my world is turning upside down

by jasonclarksalienarms on Jan 16, 2013 7:23 PM EST reply actions

As someone who played garbage time in high school

a quick trigger in the last minute isnt the same sort of ball hogging . it’s just trying to make a statement in desperation. glad that bowen doing that finally paid off

by !say oH on Jan 16, 2013 7:25 PM EST reply actions