Nov. 16, 2009

The Hoyas’ home opener against Temple is a writer’s dream in terms of interesting little side plots. 

      There’s the coaching match-up:  Temple’s current coach is Fran Dunphy.  He helmed Penn for years, including the time period when John Thompson III was coach of Penn’s bitter rival, Princeton.

      There’s the other coaching match-up:  both coaches are tasked with replacing (though not directly) legends who elevated and defined their programs.  Georgetown had John Thompson, Jr., of course, while Temple was led by John Chaney for years.

      There’s also the fact that John Thompson III lost his first game as the Georgetown head coach five years ago to Temple, at home.  Temple’s physical match-up zone bewildered a young Hoyas team struggling to learn a new coach and a slew of new teammates.  The Hoyas lost 75-57 and trailed by 13 at the half.

      Of course, I’m going to ignore most of those storylines, because they would require research, and also because this season interests me more.  What today’s game brings in terms of current storylines is this:  it’s a really tough game, and I’m not sure we fans really notice it.

      This game versus Temple isn’t going to be one of the Hoyas’ toughest tests of the year.  Even forgetting the deadly conference slate that is eighteen Big East games, Temple does not crack the Top 3 of non-conference opponents.  That’s what happens when you have nationally ranked Butler, Duke and Washington on the schedule.

      Perhaps that’s why fans seem to be lolling into the home opener.  Temple isn’t Duke, hated by all for its over-abundance of media attention and perceived smugness.  It isn’t Butler, returning essentially an entire team from last year’s 9 seed.  It isn’t even Washington, who, despite losing Jon Brockman, is still ranked.

      Here’s the thing, though. Temple did win the A-10 tournament last year and was in the Big Dance, unlike Georgetown.  They are coached by someone familiar with Thompson and his teams.  They won their first game easily.

      Just as important, Temple is big.  Really big.  Temple’s frontline is 6’9” and 6’11”.  They start three guards, but the shortest is 6’3”.  And there’s plenty of size off the bench. In their first game, they out-rebounded Delaware by 10, led by Lavoy Allen’s 15.  In other words, they match-up.   

      When Georgetown has struggled in the past to out-execute an opponent, the team has often had the ability to simply win on size.  That won’t be a choice here.  In fact, it will be a significant test for the newfound rebounding prowess the Hoyas displayed against Tulane.

      Temple is very strong opponent, and they match up well against the Hoyas.  We have one extra added advantage, however – we get them at home.  Of course, since it is a 4pm start, that advantage may not be as strong if people do not show up.

      So here’s the pitch:  show up.  As a west coaster, I am more than familiar with 4 pm start times.  I understand the issue with that pesky work thing keeping you from where you want to be.

      So we’ve decided to go ahead and jot down these keys to success when it comes to getting out of work for a game that starts before the workday ends. Take a look and let us know if you have any more creative ideas so we could potentially, umm, borrow them down the road.  
 

The Keys to Getting Out of Work 

      Out on the West Coast, work intrudes on most Hoya games, so we’ve developed a system for finding our way out of the office and into the sports bar.  Given the 4 pm Temple start time, this should come in handy. 

1. Don’t feel guilty about leaving.  It’s a documented fact that Hoya fans generate about 1.8 times more productivity than their average colleague, so leaving work an hour or two early is really your bonus for being so good at what you do.  Anyway, you’re going to get the work done at some point.
2. Choose from your suite of possible “leaving options.”
   1. The computer on/jacket on the back of the chair gambit.  Upside:  People will think you are in a meeting and working late.  Downside:  You need to come back to the office or get in really early to avoid someone realizing you aren’t there.
   2. “Working” from home.  Upside:  It’s accepted more and more, and you can actually follow through with work, after the game.  Downside:  People will still schedule conference calls, which could be awkward in between “Hoya Saxa” chants.
   3. Leaving for “personal reasons.”  Upside:  Perfectly legal in most states and if you have a more HR-sensitive company, no one would ever ask exactly what that personal reason is.  Downside:  Hard to repeat many times without someone thinking something is seriously wrong.
   4. The Ferris Bueller:  “The key to faking out the parents is the clammy hands. It's a good non-specific symptom; I'm a big believer in it. A lot of people will tell you that a good phony fever is a dead lock, but, uh... you get a nervous mother, you could wind up in a doctor's office.”  Upside:  Faking sick is guaranteed to work, but… Downside:  You have to be okay with lying.
   5. The Cool Boss.  Upside:  If your boss doesn’t care, you’re golden.  Downside:  These bosses aren’t exactly a dime a dozen.
3. Don’t give it away the next day.  Remember, if you aren’t supposed to be there, you can’t crow too much about how awesome it was to see Monroe on that dunk.

 There you have it.  I won’t guarantee success, but the team needs your support, and let’s face it, you deserve a break.  Enjoy Responsibly. 

--Alan Greene