Countdown to MM Week 8: The Rise of Generation Burton

Generation Burton rises! Beware the Ides of March--Is what many schools fear when facing the Georgetown Hoyas. On this March 15, 2001, the Hoyas defeated Arkansas 63-61 to reach the Sweet Sixteen. In a game that was the highlight of the Escherick years, Nat Burton, the kid from PG County MD, became part of Georgetown basketball lore. It was a year when the Hoyas were undefeated early in the year behind the play of Lee Scruggs, Kevin Braswell, and Anthony Perry. It would see the Hoyas lose a close game to Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen. However, this March 15th, 2001 would belong to the Georgetown Hoyas. Facing a difficult opponent in the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Hoyas came out on fire. It was a close battle throughout with neither team taking control of the game. It seemed as if the Hoyas would go down to defeat, except for a last second sweeping layup by Nat Burton that kissed off the glass. After that shot, the Georgetown players piled up & dove on the court in great jubilation. After that great day in Boise, Idaho the legend of Nat Burton had begun.

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice President--Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Countdown to MM Week 7: David Wingate Steals the Show against the BC Eagles

On January 29, 1983 Georgetown played the Boston College Eagles at Capital Centre. The Hoyas already had three losses at that time. They were coming off the historic loss to UNC in the National Championship game. With the loss of Eric "Sleepy" Floyd and Eric Smith, the Hoyas were much less experienced than the previous year. They had a very young backcourt of Michael Jackson, and David Wingate. On this evening, the Hoyas were not on their game. They were fortunate to be tied 67-67 with only a few seconds left. Michael Adams called time out and Boston College was in control. It was a very tense close game throughout. When BC inbounded the ball, the Hoya defensive pressure caused the ball to be tipped at mid-court. Out of nowhere, David Wingate raced in with his great speed and athleticism. He then dribbled the ball the length of the court swooping in for a long outstretched lay-up. The buzzer sounded as the ball went through the hoop; Wingate, and all the Hoya players raced off the court in jubilation. It was another last second Heart Attack Hoya win!

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President--Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Countdown to MM Week 6: Pat Ewing, Jr blocks WVU Mountaineers

It is a long bus ride to Morgantown, West Virginia. On January 26, 2008 I took that bus trip to see the Hoyas face West Virginia with many of the Hoya Hoop Club faithful. I remember the bus driver getting lost when we got to Morgantown, and knowing we were in for a long evening. Much of the game was uneventful, as the Hoyas struggled against the Mountaineer offense. I knew after seeing WVU play in Birmingham earlier that year, bob Huggins' team would be a force in the Big East. Freshman sensation Joe Alexander played with unbelievable poise, and athleticism for a first year player. It was not until Pat Ewing Jr. entered the game, and got inside Joe Alexander's shirt did the Hoyas start making a comeback. His defense reminded me of former Hoyas Gene Smith, and Mike Riley as he was relentless.

At the two minute mark Jessie "NYC" Sapp had one of the great offensive outputs by a Hoya in recent memory as he scored at will from inside and outside. His NBA 3-ptr from the top of the key put Georgetown up by a point with only a few seconds left. The Hoya players were pumped. I was very concerned that the Mountaineers would get a good shot off before the buzzer. They passed the ball in, and one of their players drove the length of the court. It was apparent that he would get a good shot off before the buzzer. Then I was in shock as he turned the corner on the baseline, driving the lane for a layup. In one of the greatest blocks in Georgetown basketball history, Pat Ewing Jr. came out of nowhere and swatted the shot away. It appeared to me as if he blocked the shot just as it hit its peak. The crowd was stunned as the referees reviewed the instant replay. After a long minute, the block was called good and the Hoyas raced off the floor. I remember running back to the bus, and the happy HHC members as we took the long bus ride back to Georgetown. Thanks Pat, and the Hoyas for the memories!

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 5: The Last Game at Manley Field House

GU wins the last game in Manley Field House. This was one of the most historic games in all of college basketball history. It was the game that launched the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry. Even though Georgetown had upset Syracuse and the Louie-Bouie show a year earlier at Cole Field House, the Orange faithful were confident the #2 ranked Orange would dispose of the Hoyas in the frenzied atmosphere of Manley Field House. I remembered the Syracuse game in the prior year, as there were several fellow residents of 4th Loyola dormitory on 35th street from Syracuse, New York. They had grown up as die hard Syracuse basketball fans, but it would take this victory at Manley Field House to change them permanently to "Heart Attack Hoya" fans. The Orange came out on fire in the first half looking to avenge their loss to GU at Cole Field House. They played up to their #2 national ranking as Marty Headd and company could not miss in the first half. The Hoyas were caught by surprise and only shot a mere 21 percent from the field before halftime. In a brilliant move, Coach John Thompson, Jr. slowed the pace of the game at the end of the first half. Craig "Big Sky" Shelton, and "Fast Eddie" Spriggs scored some key inside baskets to close the half.

In the second half Syracuse came out hot again looking to extend the nation's leading 57 game home winning streak. All the emotions of the past great Syracuse teams led by Dave Bing, et al. fueled the crowd's emotions. Indeed the Orange fed off their great fans, and pushed the lead to 17 points. Georgetown dug down deep, and slowly chipped away at the lead. As I watched the game with my housemates in Village A I boldly predicted that the Hoyas would prevail. The Syracuse fans at Manley began to sing Auld Lang Syne prematurely. They taunted the Georgetown players at every opportunity. However, in one of JT, Jr.'s most brilliant coaching performances, he tightened the Georgetown defense knowing that if he could neutrallize Syracuse center Roosevelt Bouie the game was up for grabs in the final minutes. Sure enough the Hoyas closed the game to 49-44 with two minutes left. Those last two minutes seemed like two hours. Finally, Eric "Sleepy" Floyd knocked down two free throws to win the game as the Orange faithful sat stunned in Manley. I will never forget seeing Coach Thompson and the Hoyas walk off the court as Coach Thompson made the famed statement, "Manley Field House is officially closed." That game was a sign of the many heart attack moments to come in the inaugural year of the Big East Conference. It fueled the modern era's greatest college basketball rivalry. The Hoyas needed all of their experience, focus, and determination to prevail in this game of "Ruthian" proportions. That "Heart Attack Hoya" evening cemented Georgetown's place in college basketball history as the true "Beast of the East."

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 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