Setback at Syracuse, dismantling of Duke leave team in top 10
The drubbing Georgetown received at Syracuse last week had observers ready to pronounce that the end of the Hoyas’ season was coming. But their dismantling of Duke in front of President Obama and a national television audience reversed that opinion just as quickly. Georgetown didn’t move up or down this week from its top-10 spot in the two major national polls.
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Why can’t the Hoyas just decide whether they’ll make a dramatic surge or decline? It’s not John Thompson III’s style.
“It’s not that big a deal,” the Hoyas head coach said last week. “After the Pitt game, [which Georgetown also won in dominating fashion,] we said we have to move on. It’s the same. Whether it’s a win or a loss, you can’t get stuck in the past, positive or negative.”
For Thompson, it’s easier not to directly acknowledge what Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski contended explicitly Saturday — that the group of truly elite contenders for this year’s national title still doesn’t include his team or the Hoyas.
“We’re not a powerhouse, and I don’t think Georgetown’s a powerhouse,” Krzyzewski said. “But we’re both really good teams. … You try to find a level of consistency, that consistent excellence, and you can’t let one game define you.”
Regardless, the Hoyas (16-4, 6-3 Big East) need to forget about last weekend, lest they open the door for South Florida (14-7, 4-5) and two-time conference player of the week Dominique Jones, who scored the second-most points (46) ever in a Big East regular-season game in a 109-105 win over Providence. Jones has averaged 37 points in his last three contests, all victories.
