As the New Year approaches, college basketball dishes up an anticipated Big East opener between the No. 12 Georgetown Hoyas who vaulted four spots in this week’s AP Top 25 poll, and the No. 4 Louisville Cardinals this Wednesday on ESPN2. <\/p>\n
Date\/Time: 7:00 PM ET, December 28, 2011 Georgetown (10-1) lands at No. 12, after a big win at home over Memphis, 70-59, extending their winning streak to eight games. At home, the Hoyas play very well, and this win also puts them at 8-0 on their home court. <\/p>\n Jason Clark was the high scorer for the Hoyas with 18 points while Hollis Thompson posted his seventh straight double-digit point game with 17 points and eight rebounds as then-No. 16 Georgetown stood out over Memphis in three pointers and offensive rebounding. <\/p>\n The Hoyas led by as many as 21 in the second half, after forcing 10 Memphis turnovers, but the Tigers roared back with an 18-5 run to pull within 61-54 with 3:59 left. G-town, however, responded with a pair of Thompson free throws to extend the lead back to double digits with 2:39 remaining. Thompson finished 5-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Louisville held steady at No. 4 after wins against Western Kentucky, 70-60 and College of Charleston, 69-62 right before the Christmas break. But Russ Smith scored 23 points off the bench and Gorgui Dieng recorded his fifth straight double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds as they remain one of six undefeated teams in the country.<\/p>\n Now they will face another of their biggest challenges of the young season against the Hoyas a team that has showed some uncharacteristic sloppy play as of late, bit leads the all-time series between the two since 1980, 7-2. Including a close 62-59 edging on New Year’s eve 2010 at the Verizon Center. <\/p>\n The crowds at the Yum Center are electric, and teams have a difficult time there, but I expect Georgetown, to come on strong, bombarding the Cardinals from three-point range en route to a healthy halftime lead. <\/p>\n The Hoyas senior leadership and strong guard play, coupled with Louisville’s suspect play over much lesser teams, spells out a huge road victory for Georgetown here. <\/p>\n
\nVenue: KFC Yum Center, in Louisville, KY.
\nBroadcast: ESPN2
\nSpread: OFF
\nOver\/Under: OFF<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n [soliloquy id=”82219″]
\nAfter barely defeating the Cougars the Cards (12-0) struggled with another mid-major in the Hilltoppers, who raced out to a 22-9 lead midway through the first half.<\/p>\n