G L I D E H O Y A S: Super thoughts on Super Saturday at The Mecca

Never give up, never give up

"You're not going to beat Michigan State or any team in the Big East if you aren't physically tough," Thompson said. "You need to be tough enough to make the hustle plays, run down the loose balls, run down the long rebounds and have communication on defense."

“Use what you've been through as fuel, believe in yourself and be unstoppable!”

Hoyas WIN 64-60! Amazing, simply amazning! That's what this life is all about, not giving up. The Hoiyas have been through the storms, the season, you can either feel sorry for yourself or you can have "faith through adversity." The Hoyas took things one day and one game at a time. The hurt was there but not for long. They didn't worry about the past, they didn't look back because they knew something would be gaining on them. What an excellent stage to beat a tough Big Ten foe like Michigan State in The World Most Famous Arena.

The Hoyas' defense was at it's best. The will to want to play defense was at it's best. Most of the Spartans shots were well earned. Communication was at it's best today for the Hoyas. Senior leadership was at it's best. Starks and Lubick good job! Hoyaball, inside, outside the whole game. Great decision making. I knew the is game would be a battle of the guards. It wasn't about who was better, it was about who was tougher and smarter, The Hoyas proved this yesterday.

"Everybody contributed in the frontcourt," Lubick said. "Coach told us this is a team notorious for rebounding and we beat them up pretty good on the boards and that was a point of emphasis for us."

Our fearless senior leader Markel Starks (16 pts, 4 asts, 2 rebs.), and super sophomore D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (12 pts, 8 rebs, 1 ast, 3 stls.) went toe to toe with Michigan State Spartain's guard's Gary Harris (20 pts.) and Keith Appling (7 pts.), and won the duel. For a very short moment a shoot out occurred between Stark vs. Harris. At 4:23 Starks knocked down a three point shot to take a 50-45 lead, but in the next twenty-three seconds Gary Harris knocked down a three point shot to make it a three point game 50-48. The duel was on! Starks gave Harris a head fake dribble drive to the basket and made nice floater take his team back up by four points 52-45 with 3:43 to go in the game.

Leaders are made, and they are made by effort and hard work. - Vince Lombardi

The Hoyas shot about 44% for most of the game. the inside/outside basketball was great. The Hoyas got to the line 24 times, Michigan State 16. Really? Normally, it's the other way around as far as foul disparity's in our Big East games. This is a way to get those referee's off your back but playing smart. Just keep driving, keep getting the ball inside. Hoyas had 6 blocks. The bench played well scoring 13 pts. Shout to to Moses Ayegba, Aaron Bowen and Jabril Trawick.

Who said the Hoyas are limited to only two players scoring the basketball? "Jabril and Nate (Lubick) were very, very good today," Thompson said. "Their presence out there was unbelievable down the end and Markel made plays. Big, big plays."

A three point was not shot for the whole first half. Great! Most of the pointers 2-12 16.7% came in the second half. As both teams struggled to score 6:42 the scored remained 48-45 for over two minutes, sgame still in favor of the the Hoyas. Starks managed to take over with a big basket 3:43 to go in the game to boost the score 52-48. Spartans Harris was fouled and went to the firee throw line for two shots. He made one of two free throws.

The score was 52-49. Good play here, senior leadership, with 2:56 to go Starks grabs a key rebound and gives it to forward Mickael Hopkings for the dunk! Score 54-49 Hoyas! At 2:09 Spartan guard Gary Harris comes down and makes a layup, score 54-51 still in favor of the Hoyas. As the Hoyas hold steady and poised. Hopkins knocks down two key free throws with 1:48 to go in the game (free throws wins championships) 56-51 Hoyas. Harris knocks down a three pointer at 1:36.

One team going inside another team relying on jumpers. Wow, what a a game, but hold on. it's 1:32 left on the clock the Spartans called a timeout. Out of that time out the Philly Patrol was out, as the tough junior leader Jabril Trawick made a tip shot. 58-54 still 1:14 to go in the game. So far so good Hoyas were keeping it inside and making good decision down the stretch. At 4:29 Starks took Appling off the dribble and was fouled he knocked down one free throw to make the score 59-54.

Smith-Rivera's smart inside play put him on the line with 0.37, soon afterwards there was Trawick's seal the deal thunderous dunk to end the game. What a performance on the big stage at Madison Squared Garden on Super Bowl weekend for the Georgetown Hoyas.

As Villanova Jay Wright said, "they're in every game, I mean it's amazing." It was good to see the old blue and gray stay poised, determined and never give up. Not for one second! This day was truly amazing Hoyanation. A BIG SHOUTOUT TO THE STUDENT SECOND AND FANS! I could hear you well in the world's most famous arena.

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