In a game of counterpunching, Georgetown is headed to the Final Four after a T.K.O. of an O.T.
Georgetown nearly blanked North Carolina during overtime in the Hoyas’ 96-84 victory Sunday night for the East Regional championship in East Rutherford, N.J. Down 10 with 7:19 remaining, Georgetown simply manhandled North Carolina when it mattered to force overtime.
North Carolina entered with a six-game losing streak in overtimes. That stat alone bought a round during the break around many Georgetown bars. Sure enough, the Hoyas scored 14 unanswered points before the Tar Heels avoided an embarrassing blanking with a late basket.
How did North Carolina blow it? This explanation just in — cough, cough, cough. Wow, that was as big of a choke job as it gets. Not that Georgetown didn’t deserve to win, but no way a championship team loses like that. The ACC’s only title contender just blew it.
Was this an instant ESPN classic? It sure didn’t resemble the 1982 national championship when North Carolina hung on for a 63-62 victory. North Carolina led 50-44 at halftime and reached 63 points with 14:30 remaining.
However, it was one of the better games of an exciting tournament. That is, if the Hoyas 66-65 win over Vanderbilt on Friday on an improbable and controversial shot could be upstaged.
Few teams can withstand opposing 11-0, 20-4 and 10-2 runs and remain anywhere near the lead. And yet, there were the Hoyas within a point with 2:37 remaining after their own 11-2 streak. Jonathan Wallace’s 3-pointer forced overtime at 81-81.
The most amazing stat was North Carolina’s 29-12 advantage in converted free throws. Georgetown barely saw the foul line until the final minute of overtime. The Tar Heels held a 41-35 rebounding advantage, but only converted 35.2 percent despite high-percentage shots.
Maybe it was Hoya Paranoia scaring the Tar Heels once more?
The NCAA Tournament ends up being a chalk eater’s dream. No. 1 Florida versus No. 2 UCLA in one semifinal — too bad last year’s final couldn’t be the last game again. No. 1 Ohio State meets No. 2 Georgetown in the other semifinal on Saturday.
You should be alive in your bracket. Everyone with a pulse has most of these teams. The Hoyas can still make me look good with two more victories. After all, they never surrender.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
