In their 2007 Big East Tournament debut, the top-seeded Hoyas were able to hold off a strong second-half run by the feisty Wildcats of Villanova, and secure a spot in the semi-finals with a 62-57 victory.
Analysts nationwide called the match-up a “David and Goliath bout”, but with the results of two meetings between the teams this year already in the books, a blowout seemed unlikely.
“Seedings don’t matter,” Head Coach John Thompson III said after the game. “We had already had two really good games against them this year, and the teams are evenly matched.”
The close match-ups include a 56-52 Wildcat victory at the Verizon Center on Jan. 8 and a thrilling 58-55 Hoya win in the rematch at Wachovia on Feb. 17. But Thursday’s rubber-match looked destined to be the blowout that the seeds suggested.
There was no giant-dropping shot for the “Davids” of Villanova, as the Wildcats missed early and often, shooting an abysmal 27 percent from the field in the first half.
Georgetown had no such trouble, shooting 55 percent and storming out to a 14-0 lead.
“We didn’t hit our shots early,” Villanova senior forward Curtis Sumpter said. “We had a couple bad possessions and Georgetown took advantage of them.”
The Hoyas seemed to have solved all the problems that plagued them in the first two meetings. Hibbert, who was held to four total points in the earlier match-ups, doubled the mark with eight in the first half en route to a team-high 14.
With an inside presence established, Georgetown went to work on the troublesome press. The Hoyas struggled on offense against the press earlier in the season, but with the confidence of a big lead, they attacked it with long, cross-court passes and continued to pile up points against the baffled Wildcats.
“We owed them one for the loss at home,” junior center Roy Hibbert said. “We had to come out strong and aggressive, running our offense and communicating on defense.”
The defensive communication allowed Georgetown to contest every perimeter shot, effectively neutralizing star guard and Big East Rookie of the Year Scottie Reynolds, who managed just three points in the first half.
“Their greatest strength is their length and athleticism,” Villanova Coach Jay Wright said. “They will switch Hibbert and Green onto guards on the perimeter to use their length.”
Everything seemed to be clicking for the Hoyas on both sides of the court, and they strutted into the locker room with a comfortable 19-point lead. The game was a tale of two halves, however, and the Georgetown dominance did not last long.
“We seniors know that you can never give up,” Villanova senior forward Will Sheridan said after the game. “We came out to play in the second half with our pride at stake.”
Sheridan and the Wildcats came out inspired, improving to 45 percent from the floor and increasing the defensive pressure. Georgetown came out ice cold, shooting 28 percent from the floor in the second half.
“Teams are too good and too well coached at this point in the season,” Thompson said. “You’re not gonna run away with it anymore.”
The 19-point lead was quickly cut to 10, where it stayed for most of the game. The Villanova crowd began to make itself heard, waiting for their Wildcats to bring the game within single-digits. The Hoyas were determined not to let that happen, as junior forward and Big East Player of the Year Jeff Green took a charge in the lane, leading to a three-pointer by junior guard Jonathan Wallace to increase the lead to 13. Green and Wallace finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Villanova reclaimed the points on the ensuing possession as Reynolds began to find his shot.
Reynolds and Sumpter each scored on the next two possessions, as Villanova finally brought the lead under 10. With the crowd at boiling-point, the Wildcats took the pressure to another level and forced a turnover on the in-bound pass from Wallace. Reynolds squared up for a three-pointer that clanked off the rim to the dismay of the Nova Nation.
“We had that one chance,” Wright said of the play. “We got the steal on the press and Scottie had the open shot, it would’ve blown the roof off this place.”
But the chance went by the wayside, and Georgetown sealed the win emphatically with a rim-rocking two-handed dunk from Hibbert.
“Phew, that’s all I can say about it,” Thompson said, wiping his brow for emphasis. “We got too tentative and started watching the clock. They are too good of a team to do that against.”
Georgetown advances to face Notre Dame, who defeated defending champs Syracuse on Thursday. Georgetown won a decisive victory in January to open up Big East play in the only other match against the Fighting Irish.
