Hoyas Weekly

By: Joe Cardoso

Here we are Georgetown Hoyas fans, the 2019 Big East Conference tournament is upon us and after a regular season-defining win 86-84 over Marquette. Seeded number 6 and set to face Seton Hall for a 3rd showdown, and a chance to beat the Pirates for a second time. The first time they met the Hoyas got blown off the court, and the 2nd game is remembered that for Big East Freshman of The Year James Akinjo have a moment with Quincy McKnight. In a scene from the 1990’s days, they were slapping the floor and going chest to chest.

With a spot in the big dance possibly on the line, a good tourney showing is a must and would be a substantial step for a program on the come up. Few things are as traditional as Madison Square Garden in the early spring and Big East hoops. The tourney NEVER fails to entertain us and give lots of drama, sign me up and inject it in my veins.

This week the Big East award winners and All-Conference teams came out, and the Hoyas did the school, and it’s fans proud. Starting with the All-Freshman team where we had three players make it:

James Akinjo 13.3 ppg along with 5.4 assists per game

(4x Big East Freshman of the week and Freshman of The Year)

Josh LeBlanc  9.4 ppg 7.5 rebounds per game six double-doubles

Mac McClung  13.4ppg and a handful of great highlight dunks

Akinjo joins a list of Hoya greats to win the award as the conference top past freshman winners include:

Allen Iverson, Greg Monroe, Othella Harrington, Fred Brown and of course Patrick Ewing 

#BIGEASThoops Freshman of the Year – James Akinjo

Another @GeorgetownHoops youngster looking to #GOLEGEND pic.twitter.com/sDMzIAzw3v

— BIG EAST MBB (@BIGEASTMBB) March 13, 2019

Not too many people still doubt Patrick Ewing ability to recruit but if they are,  look at this list and call me later. Also, Jessie Govan made first-team All-Big East and had a stellar senior year and doesn’t want it to end anytime soon. The legacy of the big man on the Hill Top is alive and well.

Now onto the first round matchup versus the Seton Hall Pirates and my keys to the game.

*Get Govan involved EARLY and often touches in the paint some good looks. Being back home in the New York area may give him some extra juice.
*Tempo we need to run, run, and run some more keep them on their heels we lead the league at 80.6ppg for a reason lets show it.

* Rebounding with all the athletic players we have crashing the boards at a high clip is key

* Change the narrative that we can’t get stops when it’s needed especially in the 2nd half. Lock it up on D and get those key stops that can get you those key wins or send you home heartbroken.

*The kids need to show out and show up. All season they have shown nothing is too big for them, so this is the time to keep the trend going.

My prediction for this game is for both teams to come out tight to start. With the Hoyas taking over late and getting the W 88-79. Onto the next round! For all things, sports follow @NutsAndBoltsSP and for Hoyas talk and more follow me @JoeCardoso301 until next week HOYA SAXA!!!