Beltway Basketball Bonanza...rooting interest?

Sports is a passionate pasttime where the heart often overrules the head. So the question this week is if your main rival plays a team from a rival league-- who do you hope wins? Three years ago I rooted for Georgetown to beat North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament because I was tired of all the Big East bashing and ACC air of superiority...same case in 1999 and 2004 with UConn-Duke in the Final Four. I was rebuked by more than one fellow Syracuse alum who told me that under no certain terms was I even to wish for a tie regarding the hated Hoyas and Huskies. I started to agree until I ran into my ACC apologist friends who wouldn't shut up about how much higher their league's academic standards were compared to my Big East brethren. So heading into Saturday's Georgetown-Duke game... I rooted for the only possible option-- a mononucleosis breakout at Verizon. Little did I know President Obama and Vice President Biden (SU law grad) would be attending. Only college hoops could turn me unpatriotic.





Georgetown bounced back from its loss to Syracuse by blasting Duke... the 89-77 margin not indiciative of their domination. While a lot of attention goes inside to sophomore Greg Monroe (21 points in the victory), Chris Wright's play (3 steals and 2 blocked shots) is more of a barometer-- the Hoyas are 15-0 when he scores in double figures, 1-4 when he doesn't. Red Flag-- they were outrebounded by the Blue Devils... and have only outrebounded one Big East opponent (lowly DePaul) thus far this winter.

Alma mater update-- nice week by the Orange... a 17 point thumping of archrival Georgetown and then a sqeaker in a trap game at DePaul (SU trailed by 18 in the first half). This team has become a pleasant surprise-- one just wonders when the patented 3-game losing streak shows up.

Maryland missed a chance to stay atop the ACC as a second half rally fell short at Clemson (no shame in falling 62 to 53 to the #21 Tigers)...turnovers told the tale as the Terps gave up the ball 26 times (9 by Greivis Vasquez). Factor in 20% shooting from three point range and you're going to have trouble winning anywhere-- especially on the road in the conference. Still, the league this winter is the type than can be tamed by the Terrapins-- 12 ACC wins and title contention remains likely if they can continue to focus as they have thus far. Special props to the play of freshman Jordan Williams-- named ACC rookie of the week (21 pts and 19 reb in two games).

Two, four, six, eight-- is the Big East really great? The league has the second, fourth, sixth and eighth ranked teams in this week's coaches poll...with #6 West Virginia flying under everybody's radar and no longer ranked UConn simply crashing minus its pilot (best of health wishes to coach Calhoun). Writer's rankings have a not-so-catchy 2-3-6-7 lineup. As February unfolds, watch the middle class (one game separates 6th from 11th place) sort itself out.

George Mason fought the snow and James Madison Saturday, prevailing 70-68 despite a dominant day by the Dukes' Denzel Bowles (20 points, 13 rebounds and plenty of alliterative opportunities)... the Patriots have won 17 straight at home and own a one game CAA lead over Northeastern and Old Dominion...GMU plays both this month in an unfriendly February that has only two of seven games against teams with losing conference records.

It's not spelled Dar Heels for a reason-- North Carolina's D has been somewhat absent this winter... the latest disaster saw the Heels allow 40 points in the final fourteen minutes of a 75-60 loss to Virginia. Don't worry, UNC faithful... usually after a national championship a team has to reload and reconfigure its roster--you'll be fine eventually, if not after a late season run. Attention: Florida St., Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia--there's a window of opportunity at the top with the lone bully (Duke) fallible as well this winter.



George Washington ended its Atlantic Ten slide with an overtime victory over St. Louis; thank goodness for basketball's sake the Billikens eclipsed their 20 point output of 2008 (a shot-clock low). A 72-66 loss at Rhode Island saw 20 turnovers, an early 16 point deficit and another disastrous outing for Damian Hollis (3 for 12 shooting and 4 turnovers). After a strong start, opponents have focused on stopping the senior: since netting a double-double against LaSalle-- Hollis has shot 7 of 32 over four games and has been held without a rebound twice. Still, plenty of time to turn this team around--after facing Charlotte GW's next three opponents are a combined 4-18 in the league.


The Ringo of Tennis Majors wrapped up over the weekend... with Serena Williams and Roger Federer winning Austrailian Open titles. With Rafael Nadal brittle as can be... is this the year Roger gets his grand slam? And will they ever move Tennis' PGA Championship to February or April where it remains summer down under but more in sync with the tennis major season? Until they do otherwise, this tournament remains a "who's stayed in shape" contest...

American faces first place Lehigh this Saturday after beating first place Lafayette 76-66... Vlad Moldoveanu's tear through the Patriot League continues with no mercy. Lost in the transfer's shadow has been sophomore Stephen Lumpkins-- the perfect anvil to Vlad's hammer: five double digit rebounding efforts highlight his presence inside. Schedule favor? AU's three remaining road conference games are against schools that are a combined 6-15 in league play.


Evidence to the rumor that there are only 5 new ideas out there: the Washington Post ran a feature on Eagle Nick Hendra... his piano playing... and how his father played the band manager in "This is Spinal Tap". Within a week FOX Channel Five and Comcast Sportsnet aired features about Hendra...by the way, my profile of Hendra's coming up next week. Such a fine line between clever and...stupid.


Howard is midway through a weekend roadswing... a one point loss at Maryland-Eastern Shore saw the Bison shoot just 6 of 15 from the free throw line-- Curtis White's late three point shooting not enough to save them this time. Schedule slammer-- just three home games remain on their February slate.