Georgetown

Before I begin tonight, I'd like to introduce a contest sponsored by Alltel called the "My Circle Pick & Roll Challenge." I'm not one for advertising, but this sounds like an interesting competition.

As it was explained to me, "Basketball fans predict the winners from various conference games (Big East included) and accrue points for correct guesses for a chance to win $100,000, a ride on a private jet to the Big East tournament (and any other tournament you want) and a meeting with Dickie V. Feel free to check it out here: fanu.com/alltel."

Would be fun to win something like that. Why, might you ask, am I including this on a Notre Dame blog? The Exec responsible for the contest is none other than the sister of former Irish guard Megan Duffy. Good luck to Megan as she continues her professional basketball career in Italy.

To basketball we go. Last night Villanova and Syracuse pulled out victories and today we have four games going on in the Big East. Marquette and Louisville is the marquee matchup, with the loser dropping to two league losses.

No View from the Opposing Bench this week, so the Georgetown preview will come from yours truly tomorrow.

A couple notes for you today, however:

• Roy Hibbert, preseason Conference Player of the Year, leads the team with 12.5 PPG
• Hibbert averages 6.7 RPG
• Jonathan Wallace and Austin Freeman provide some outside shooting, hitting 45% and 42% of their three-point shots, respectively
• Wallace and DaJuan Summers join Hibbert as the only three players averaging double-figure point totals
• The team averages 72.7 PPG and gives up 56.7 PPG
• Georgetown's RPI is 22, but have played only four top 100 teams this season, going 2-2 against them
• Georgetown lost their only nonconference game against a 100 opponent, an 85-71 affair to #3 Memphis
• The Hoyas have scored 80 or more only three times, once a 110-51 affair against Radford (the 11th worst team in the nation)
• They have one of the slowest tempos in the country, ranking 319th in possessions per game
• In contrast, the Irish have scored 80 or more seven times and rank 83rd overall in raw tempo

In will be an interesting contrast in styles on Saturday. A win will certainly propel the Irish to the upper echelon of Big East teams and dispel notions that this team cannot win on the road. A loss, as long as it is not a blowout, shouldn't kill too much of the momentum this team has earned at home. Still, the Irish need to establish a road identity in order to succeed to the level it desires.

A note about Luke Harangody. Bamm-Bamm leads the Big East in points per game (19.3) and is fourth in the league in rebounds (9.6 per). He has been getting a little attention as a possible Player of the year candidate. Good for him, even if it is a bit early to talk about such things. Plenty of basketball to be played. Keep it up, Luke.