Countdown to Midnight Madness Week 4: Georgetown Downs ACC Champ Georgia Tech

March 23, 1985, #1 ranked Georgetown outlasts #14 Georgia Tech in Providence to return to the Final Four. In 1985 the Hoya fans were often spoiled. It was rare that we did not win a game by at least 30 points. The Big East set a record that year sending 3 teams to the Final Four. If Syracuse did not unexpectedly falter it could have been 4 teams. I had an uneasy feeling going into the Georgia Tech game, as I suspected we were looking forward to a third meeting at the Final Four with the #2 ranked St. John's Redmen. Georgia Tech had a young team led by sharpshooter Mark Price, and John "Spider" Salley. Neither team shot well from the outside. The YellowJackets spread the floor not allowing the Hoyas to start their vaunted fast break. John Salley used his mobility to make Patrick Ewing chase him all over the court. Early in the second half Patrick Ewing, and Michael Jackson got their 4th fouls. Georgia Tech then started to use up the clock. Luckily, Mark Price was only 3-16 from the field. David Wingate led the defense, smothering Price and not allowing him to get good looks from the field. Coach Thompson smartly used his bench, as Horace Broadnax, and Grady Mateen helped pull the Hoyas ahead. Indeed the famed Hoya defense won this game. As the team cut down the nets, the Heart Attack Hoyas looked relieved. I can still picture Patrick Ewing lying on the floor, looking up to the heavens! It was one of those games when you could hear John Thompson, and Red Auerbach telling the team that if they could shut down their opponent during the key stretches of the second half, they would win the game! The defending national champion Hoyas had survived to reach another Final Four and fight another day.

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Countdown to Midnight Madness Week 3 Georgetown outlasts Notre Dame in a Big East TN Classic

The Hoyas victory over Notre Dame in the semifinals of the 2007 BE Tournament will go down in the annals of MSG as one of the Garden's great college basketball games. Earlier that year, GU had routed the Irish 66-48 at Verizon Center as the Hoyas dominated Notre Dame in every aspect of the game. As I awaited the Friday night contest, I knew that we were in for a battle. The young and talented Notre Dame team had nothing to lose. They came out firing 3-ptrs from beyond the NBA 3-pt line. Every one of them seemed to be falling. Georgetown played well in the first half, but their 3-ptrs were not falling. In the second half Georgetown and Notre Dame went at each other. There were 13 lead changes and 9 ties in the second half alone. After Georgetown opened up a 7 pt lead late in the game, guard Tory Jackson went on a tear tying the game. It took a career performance from eventual Big East regular season & tournament MVP Jeff Green who had 30 pts and 12 rebounds to win the game. His jump hook with 13 seconds left, electrified the Garden crowd. Tory Jackson had a chance to win the game for the Irish, but some tough defense by Patrick Ewing, Jr. caused his shot to be off the mark. As the ball was tipped out to half court, Georgetown had survived a thriller to reach the finals of the Big East tournament. As I exited the Garden, I was relieved that Georgetown still had its "swagga," and had lived to fight another day. The Heart Attack Hoyas were back!

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President--Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Countdown to Midnight Madness Week 2: Austin Freeman Rallies GU past UConn Huskies

In one of the greatest comeback wins in Hoya history, Austin Freeman propels the DC Hoyas Fantastic Four to a victory in a Verizon Center Classic. We rarely see this at Georgetown, but Austin Freeman became a One Man Gang in the second half. The Hoyas were very inconsistent in the first half falling behind by 15 points. The second half would be a sign of the many exciting games to come in 2010. After close losses to Marquette, and Old Dominion, the Verizon Center was quiet after the Hoyas fell behind by 17 early in the second half. However, Austin Freeman led the way as Georgetown tied the game with about 7 minutes remaining in the contest. The last few minutes saw several lead changes as the Hoyas would triumph 72-69. Julian Vaughn's two handed tip in late in the game would be a big key to the Hoyas' win. Greg Monroe scored the last basket, andwill be missed this year as he goes on to star for the Detroit Pistons. The Hoyas will be led in 2010-11 by four returning starters who are all local products and former Washington Post All-Metropolitan selections. Indeed the DC Hoyas Fantastic Four of Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, Jason Clark, and Julian Vaughn will lead Georgetown starting with Midnight Madness 2010. Come to see the Verizon Center Rock! I cannot wait!

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Vice-President Hoya Hoop Club--Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Countdown to Midnight Madness Week 1: Perry McDonald KO's the Orange

This is one of my all-time favorite Heart Attack Hoya games. A year after Reggie and the Miracles stole the hearts of the Georgetown faithful in Madison Square Garden, the Hoyas were rebuilding. Most people remember Charles Smith driving the length of the court with 6 seconds left to upset the Syracuse Orange in the Carrier Dome earlier that year. This Georgetown team was truly a blue collar team in between the Patrick Ewing era, and the arrival of Alonzo Mourning on the Hilltop. The Hoyas were having a very good 16-6 season but were reeling from recent losses on the road to Villanova and UCONN. Georgetown had an explosive backcourt of the emerging Charles Smith and Mark Tillmon. The front court was manned by Ben Gillery, Ronnie Highsmith, & Perry McDonald with Anthony Tucker, Sam Jefferson, Dwayne Bryant, Bobby Winston, Anthony Allen, and Jonathan Edwards coming off the bench. In fact the 6'4" Perry McDonald who was a defensive swingman for most of his Georgetown career was often playing center. Teams were taking advantabe of our frontcourt this year which was talented but very young. The Orange were hungry to defeat the Hoyas this year as they had a very powerful lineup with Sherman Douglas, Stevie Thompson, Rony Seikaly, Derrick Coleman, and Matt Roe. Rony Seikaly, and Derrick Coleman led what was probably the most imposing front line in college basketball.

At this point in time the Syracuse Orange had lost on all 9 of their visits to the DC area to play the Hoyas. The Orange came to the Capital Centre with a great deal of swagger, as nobody had been able to handle their massive front court. Everyone was predicting that the #11 Orange would defeat the Hoyas handily on this day, except for big John Thompson and Georgetown. As Georgetown was recovering from their Big East road losses, coach Thompson came up with a masterful game plan. Everyone was expecting Georgetown to spread the court and try to turn the game into a perimeter game. When the game started the Hoyas powered the ball inside for dunks and power moves by Ronnie Highsmith, and company. The Orange were caught completely by surprise as they did not expect for us to attack the strength of the Orange defense. The Hoyas led for most of the game with this strategy as they were fueled on by the sellout Capital Centre crowd. However, late in the second half the Orange finally took control of the game as Derrick Coleman, and Rony Seikaly powered the Orange back. It was remarkable to see Perry McDonald, the former Golden Gloves boxing champ from Louisiana, play center against the much taller Rony Seikaly for most of the game. Perry no longer had Reggie Williams or David Wingate with him. Perry was one of those players who could lose to anyone in "Horse," or a practice shoot around. He shot much better in big time situations especially when he was fouled or hit while shooting. Georgetown battled back to tie the game. In one of the most intense finishes of the Heart Attack Hoyas, Georgetown threw the ball directly into the post as they had done all day. Perry McDonald turned immediately into Rony Seikaly in the high post and banked in a 12 footer as the game ended. It was Syracuse's 10th straight loss in DC against Georgetown without a win. The Orange would break that streak the following season, but not on this night. It was evidence that if you gave John Thompson a few days to come up with a game plan, he and the Hoyas were almost unbeatable at home. Coach Boeheim has recently called the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry during the 1980's as the greatest, most intense rivalry in college basketball history. When I heard him make this statement, I thought to myself: "Really! Bigger than Duke-Carolina or any other rivalry?" When I thought about Perry McDonald's game winning shot on February 13, 1988 in Landover, Maryland I realized he was right. When I saw Perry McDonald at the 100th anniversary of Georgetown Basketball in 2007 I enjoyed many Georgetown fans thanking Perry and telling him that the Syracuse Orange never want to see him again. Let's not forget it was a team effort by all of the Hoyas. Everyone on that team executed the game plan to perfection. Thanks for the memories--Heart Attack Hoyas!

We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President--Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

If You're Lucky You'll Dream: A Lifetime on the Hilltop

We are only 30 days away from the arrival of new undergraduate students at Georgetown. I can still remember former GU President Tim Healey, S.J. saying, "If you're lucky, you'll dream. I remember Father Healey quoting Shakespeare where Caliban describes:

That if I then had wak'd after long sleep,

Will make me sleep again: and then in dreaming,

The clouds methought would open,

and show riches

Ready to drop me: that, when I wak'd,

I cried to dream again.

This summer, I have had the fortune of giving some GU tours to some prospective students. I made some new friends in London, UK including an incoming freshman. I have marvelled seeing Kenner Summer League Basketball games with the DC Hoya triplets: Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, and Jason Clark. I have enjoyed seeing the new Hoya freshman: Markel Starks, Nate Lubick, Moses Abraham, and Aaron Bowen bring energy and excitement to McDonough Arena. It reminded me of my student days as I often ran the floor at Yates Field House dreaming of throwing the alley-oop to Patrick Ewing and Michael Graham. I saw the movie tonight Inception for the second time, and was fascinated with their accounting of dreams. As I gave some campus tours this summer I could not get over the prospective students' fascination with the Exorcist steps. I was amazed today to realize we are at the 25th anniversary of the movie St. Elmo's Fire, that was not filmed on the Georgetown campus yet was fictitiously about some recent Georgetown graduates.

So, to all of my fellow Hoyas don't stop dreaming!

We are Georgetown! DC is our Playground!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

DC Summer League BBall at Georgetown

DC Summer Basketball is something only New York City can rival. Seeing Chris Wright in McDonough reminds me of being at the Washington Metropolitan Basketball camp at St. John's College High School with counselors like DeMatha's Adrian Dantley. What games there must have been back in the time of John Thompson, Jr., Dave Bing, Austin Carr, and Elgin Baylor.

The Kenner League had a characteristic opening day with last minute schedule changes in full force. Please note that they have cancelled all games today on the 4th of July and have revised the schedule. The Tombs had a surprisingly easy time routing DCX in the second half behind Austin Freeman, and Hoya Frosh Markel Starks, and Moses Abraham. The out of town freshmen Nate Lubick and Aaron Bowen have not arrived yet. Former Kentucky freshman, and lottery pick DeMarcus Cousins provided additional inside strength to the Tombs. Mr. Cousins also played in the third game of the day with other Hoya standouts Julian Vaughn and Vee Sanford. Other Kenner League regulars Byron Mouton played in the first game, as well as "Coach Rodney" who coached in the third game with his signature passion.

So if you need your fix of basketball before Midnight Madness comes in 100+ days, please make your way to McDonough to see some summer league basketball. I know Chris Wright is anxious to get out on the court and have the referees throw out that opening jump ball: "Let's Play Ball." For the new updated schedule please go to: http://www.facebook.com/notes/hoya-hoop-club/updated-2010-kenner-summer-league-basketball-schedule/400041456121

***Please remember that the schedules change all the time! Have a great 4th of July 2010!

We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President and Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

The Greatest Game Ever Invented

We often forget during March Madness about all the hard work and conditioning that takes place during the summer and off-season. They call it the city game, but a quick look at the movie Hoosiers, reminds of the history of basketball and its roots in the heartland of America. The recent passing of Dennis Hopper, who plays Scooter in my favorite basketball movie Hoosiers, has played heavily on my mind. This past weekend that I spent in New York City, I was very saddened to hear about the passing of Coach John R. Wooden, one of the greatest coaches in history. I was very happy that Georgetown played in the last Wooden Classic attended by Coach Wooden this past year. My memories of meeting Coach as a young boy at the Washington Metropolitan Basketball camp at St. John's College High School is something I will never forget.

On my recent trip to London, I was fascinated by the passion for the sport of soccer in England. I was frequently corrected that I should call it futbol. When I asked my cab driver if he was excited about the Olympics coming to London in 2012, he told me that they really did not care. He was only concerned that London win the bid for the 2018 World Cup. The UK has not hosted the World Cup since 1966. It was with conviction that he told me that London was the best place in the World to host the World Cup. I was truly impressed with the love of the sport on my visit.

As I walked the streets of New York this weekend, I was reminded of the great love of baseball in New York. As you walk through the five boroughs of NYC you can feel the passion for America's Pastime. In fact at this very moment I am preparing to go to Nationals Stadium to see the major league debut of Steven Strasburg. However, my mind continues to drift towards summer league basketball. Indeed you can go out on many of the playgrounds of DC or New York and see some of the best basktball players in the world, like at Rucker Park. I will now make my case for basketball being the world's greatest game. Indeed it is a team sport that is truly the ultimate match-up sports where you can take advantage of individual match-ups. If you have a basketball and a court you can play a team game or one-on-one. Basketball requires tremendous hand-eye-coordination, and arguably the greatest amount of athleticism throughout the entire body. Indeed I concede that any declaration of the world's greatest sport is completely subjective, and this represents my own personal opinion. Indeed any argument for soccer, baseball, football, etc. is truly an exercise in what is pure and great about athletics.

I would like to make my last tribute to the great Coach John R. Wooden. People often forget that he grew up on a farm in Indiana. Indeed his life was the embodiment of integrity. Who can forget in the movie Hoosiers when Barbara Hershey tells coach Norman Dale that every basketball game her brother played was the most important thing that ever happened to her family, and that she just did not get it. If you come out to see the Kenner Summer League at McDonough Arena, and the 2010-11 Georgetown Basketball season you will experience why. My favorite scene in the movie has Dennis Hopper discussing basketball strategy with Gene Hackman telling him that he knows everything there is to know about "The Greatest Game Ever Invented!"

We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President and Director of Communication

Proud Member of Generation Ewing