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American University fans will get at least one more chance to cheer on the men’s basketball team as the Eagles gained a No. 15 seed in the NCAA tournament’s East Region to face second-seeded Tennessee on Friday in Birmingham, Ala. — Greg Whitesell/Examiner
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The packed crowd of students at Leo J. O’Donovan dining hall at Georgetown exploded in cheers of elation and relief when the Hoyas were revealed as a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region for this year’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
The Hoyas hardly flinched.
“A lot of teams [on TV], I saw them jumping up and down,” said Georgetown senior center Roy Hibbert. “I think our team stayed calm, and we’re led by a veteran group right now that knows what it takes.”
The Hoyas’ reserved approach came in the wake of a Big East final loss to Pittsburgh the night before that did not cost them the seed they’d been predicted to receive for much of the season. Georgetown (27-5) will play No. 15 Maryland-Baltimore County (24-8) on Friday in Raleigh, N.C., just down the road from Winston-Salem, where it began last year’s road to the Final Four.
George Mason took the exact opposite approach to the Hoyas, basking in the glory of earning the upset-special No. 12 seed in the East Region. The Patriots (23-10) face No. 5 Notre Dame (24-7) in Denver on Thursday.
“There’s gonna be a lot of green and gold in Denver,” said Patriots head coach Jim Larranaga told a crowd of 1,500 at George Mason’s Johnson Student Center, slightly more than the two-dozen he said were at his house two years ago. “But it’s gonna be us with the luck of the Irish.”
Upstart American (21-11) learned that its first-ever appearance in the Big Dance will be as a No. 15 seed Friday in Birmingham, Ala., against No. 2 Tennessee (29-4).
“Believe or not, I was more nervous before they announced our name than I was before any game this season,” said Eagles junior guard Garrison Carr. “As soon as it happened, all my nervousness turned to excitement.”
Selection Sunday’s local impact of was significant, as three of the Retrievers’ top four scorers are from Prince George’s County, while the Patriots were paired with the Fighting Irish, a Big East foe Georgetown knows well.
“I expect a call from Kevin Broaddus,” said Thompson of his former assistant, who is now head coach at Binghamton, which is in the America East Conference with UMBC. “Actually, I’ve already received one. I don’t expect a call from Coach Larranaga. He’s done quite well without touching base with me on anything.”
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
6 agree | 8 disagree
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
76 agree | 72 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
604 agree | 363 disagree
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