The Washington Post's Alex Prewitt tweeted that Maryland has committed to play George Washington in the 2013 BB&T Classic. 

twitter.com/alex_prewitt/status/293448495514394625

Great, the first year I'll probably miss it they play UMD.  

If true can we stop trashing UMD?  They drop a date Comcast and the $$$.

To play in the BB&T. Where GTN plays no one locally

Sure hope we beat their ass.  Thanks John Feinstein 

 Ditto on what Fred said.  Is it possible that UMd is rotating local schools as an opponant (last game was GMU).

AWESOME! 

Our freshmen playing time this year will certainly "assist"  us in defeating the Twerps next year.

...and by the way, what the hell's a hoya?  where the hell is mason?  Go GW!

That's fantastic news.  Props to UMD.

 Even interesting because Turgeon recently made very discouraging statements about the BB&T. Wonder what the about-face was? And the fact they will actually play GW to boot! Think Feinstein did some lobbying.

 Maybe they can go to a two day format with a second pair of very good teams. Hey, do you think that Michigan State would come back?

Maybe two other local teams?

 Does ML still have contacts at UMD?

WaPo reports a one year deal for MD to return to BBT in '13. then MD and Feinstein will evaluate the future. the article did not mention other teams.

 Highly doubt MSU would come back for this especially with what happened last time. Hopefully we don't embarass ourselves like last time we played UMD in this. 

The BB&T's last harah?

 Wonder if gtown interest interest rumors grow as they try to stake out their post big-east identity.

Seriously.

I have mad respect for Maryland.

They have totally done what they could for this tournament. 

I'm going to write a thank you note to their AD.

And, I'm going to buy some Maryland basketball shorts.

I've always had respect for MD when they played us and this is an act of decency and doing the right thing for both Children's Charities and basketball in Washington.

A showplace game between what will be the best two local teams.

Props to Turgeon and Umd for agreeing to this and Feinstein for making it come about.

 Post says GMU will play in the other game, but opponent has not yet be named.

It was nice of GW to not require a return game of MD. Don't you think?

Herve, I'm also wondering what swayed Mark Turgeon on playing in the BB&T. I heard him say on his radio show that he liked to make his own non-conference schedule and not have someone else determine who he plays. That definitely came across as "Screw The BB&T"!!

As for the game next year, It's possible that Maryland's best player will declare for the NBA Draft after the season and they could be worse in 2013-2014, and when you consider that GW will return all 5 starters next year, it wouldn't be that much of a surprise if GW beats Maryland again in the BB&T.

 True though Maryland has upped it's recruiting and GWay lose it's website bench.  Of Nigel Johnson comes and claims the starting role waiting for him and we land one more good frontcourt recruit (or Paris' defense and rebounding catch up with his offense) then it gets interesting.  

Yeah, ever since Maryland stopped playing CUPCAKES, they have developed Georgetown-itis meaning its a struggle for them to score 55 points!!! Alex Len is the one guy who has shown he can score consistently in ACC games and if he goes to the NBA, next year could be rough for them. Even if GW fails to make the A-10 tournament this year, at least Mike Lonergan is starting 4 freshman who are gaining valuable experience and look to be getting better in each game along with a 1st or 2nd Team All A-10 player who will all be back next year and should have high expectations.

Was cheered to read about this in the Post today. Glad to see some sense prevailed over the foolishness that was going on the last few years. Looking forward to the game!

I am thinking that John had a good talk with Mark and spelled out the positives. I am sure that John got all storyline on the Maryland coach. He probably did play up that there is no return game. One and done. PLUS, there are two other factors in the game's favor (1) GW should be a decent SOS team; and (2) The Terps know the Colonials as they had already scrimmaged. 

He also probably figures that he will run into a team that is somewhere between losing to MSM at home and Beating UMASS on the road.

I appreciate the Gtown reference, but I think strong programs depend on good local rivalries to add to the season's press and, for that matter, excitement. 

I think the goal of every program is to produce a schedule of teams that it plays for entirely selfish reasons. GW never will get there, nor will UMd.

Its a big country. There are plenty of schools to play. I am unconcerned about UMd, Georgetown, AU or Mason. I do wish, though, that the BB&T could be regenerated as a big time tournament; and I'd favor an 8 team BB&T tourney that allowed in all local comers. Its just not gonna be.

I understand from plenty of articles in ESPN or SI that the big, multi-teamed, resort area, made for TV tourneys are pushing the older styled tourneys out of business in favor of planned matcups. Too bad for us all.

My guess, this GW/UMd clash is part of a last gasp by John F. and the BB&T. I doubt it will pay off as planned. If not, I trust there will be guys who will write checks to charities without being paid off with a bball game or a dinner. If not, shame on us.

 But Ziik, I live for the reviews of the buffet. Come on, have a heart.

Buffets, though I love them, are overrated. (Well, just about everything is overrated.)

1) Wite a check for a coat for a kid, or a coat charity. Deduct the cost of the buffet from your check, if you wish.

2) Write a second check, to a second charity. For the cost of a buffet.

The only better feeling you will get is when GW wins a BB&T game.

But I think we're about to have our last chance.

As long as it's the "John Feinstein Invitational" (or as Jamie Dixon called it, "the Feinstein game"), don't expect Georgetown on the BB&T's shortlist. Ever. This is less about GW and more about the triangulation of John Feinstein, Kevin Anderson, and the ghost of Gary "I Want The Next Game In College Park" Williams that makes this a non-starter.

I've been saying for years that GW and Georgetown could set up a series as Georgetown does each year with American, but it won't be under Feinstein's auspices.

The larger concern should be attendance. If Turgeon can get twice as many people to watch Maryland play UMBC at home, a game at Verizon will have less and less interest to him when B10 play rolls around.

Yeah, right DFW.  Are you saying Georgetown would play home and home, with every other year being at the Smith Center?  Or that they would be willing to play us as long as we give them home court advantage every year? 

Either...

1. Verizon Center every year, with GW being the "home" team (and responsible for paying the Verizon Center rent) in alternate years, (probably more preferable to GW fans, less so for the school), or

2. Verizon Center every year in late December, with GW taking a guarantee check as the road team. May be OK for Nero, maybe not.

Gee, thanks.  So what you are saying is as long we give you the home court advantage, you'll play. Maybe we should just do  Smith Center every year, with virtually no cost for putting on the game, and Georgetown can be the "home" team every other year? 

Seriously, why is Georgetown so cowardly? 

I have a lot of respect for you as a poster and a fan, so I don't mean this to be flippant, but does it embarrass you that your school is so cowardly about playing on decent local teams' home courts?   It's so bush league.

What people do not understand is that teams do not voluntarily play at smaller arenas for simple financial terms. Why doesn't Maryland play at the Smith Center? Why won't Syracuse play at St. Bonaventure? Anyone expect Kentucky to play at Morehead State?

The Smith Center, much like McDonough Gym, is just too small to make financial sense for non-conference scheduling. Asking Maryland to give up 17,950 vs. UMBC at Comcast to play at the Smith Center is just as unlikely. Is there "cowardice" involved that Georgetown isn't playing at Bender Arena or Burr Gymnasium either? No, it's economics. I'm in the last group of GU alumni who actually attended games at Smith Center (GW) and Ft. Myer (AU) in 1980-81, but for thousands of alumni since, there's no history to even consider and few would even argue it's necessary.

Longer term, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for the schools to play across all sports and that'a a concern. Georgetown has played football and lacrosse for the last 49 years, GW competes in neither. A series in baseball attracts no attention, and regattas along the Potomac are not always fan-friendly. Another annual game in the downtown arena, regardless if it says "Hoyas" or "Colonials" on the court would be a step up for GW and draw fans that normally aren't going to Foggy Bottom.

 Wow DFW Hoya- it's kinda sorta maybe a bit hard to digest all the truth in your post above.  While many of us will argue that you are right on economics- it's blatantly true as well that JT made it clear that he will not have his teams play GW. His son has sent that same message.  A matchup at the Verizon should of happened years ago.  I guarantee Nero would be in favor of a playing every year at Verizon.  Except that - its never ever been close to being offered. D'oh

Was going to jump on the half-assed offer, but FQ said it all.

We really don't need apologies on this board for the Thompson, the cowardly  lion.

Not buying it.   Economics is why Ge**getown won't play at the Smith Center, yet reportedly they lose money every game at the Verizon Center due to the rent they have to pay.  Seems like they should try to avoid the Verizon Center rather than insist on playing there.  No, Ge**getown has that "our feces don't stink" attitude where they are "above" having to go on the road to play any local rival.  Sure, come to our house and we will bless you with a game, but "travel" to the Smith Center?  No, we can't do it.  Yes, it is cowardace.  They don't play us because they can lose, and what would that do to their standing in the City or in their ability to sign local recruits for whom both schools may have interest.  Just grow a pair, Ge**getown.  Home and home against a local school.  Its not that difficult to arrange.

So Georgetown can afford to play home games in front of announced crowds of 5,283 (against Longwood) and 6,743 (against Liberty) but a sell-out date at the Smith Center simply won't work from an economic standpoint?  Please.

Kansas St. came to the Smith Center - and they make a lot more off their home games than Georgetown - and aren't even a local rival.

in almost all home-and-home contracts (not necessarily in 2 for 1s), the home team gets all the revenue.  the small size of the smith center has no bearing in a typical home-and-home.  teams don't want to play in the smith center because it still has a reputation for being a "pit" as it was in the jarvis years and to a lesser extent in the hobbs era.  and it means giving up a home game, even against a lesser opponent, that can be either a guaranteed win (eg, longwood) or a big tv game.  if gw should ever play at comcast arena, it's not a guaranteed win for maryland and it would be regional tv at best and even that's not certain.

@The MV: I think you've actually made my point--crowds of 5,283 against Longwood and 6,743 against Liberty still outnumber a likely crowd at the Smith Center or McDonough Gym, which is one reason (among many) that those games are not played on campus.

The Georgetown-AU game at Verizon drew 9,867 on Dec. 22, with most students having left for Christmas break. That's nearly twice the number that could attend at Bender Arena.

 DFW, 

DFW, in addition to Lowpost's point being correct, the Longwood attendance represents around 400 more attendees than a game at Smith Center.  And Lord knows how many of those tickets were freebies.  The simple fact is that Georgetown could well afford a home-and home with GW if it wanted to.  It doesn't, but for reasons having nothing to do with money.

... you're better than that - you know why GU won't play at Smith Center. Put down the cup of Koolaid you were served over at hoya talk!   And what a shame that the Hoyas deprive the District of what was a historic longtime hoops rivalry of DC teams.  Think about the convenience and fun for GU student fans to go to a game at nearby Smith Center at GW ias a break from the cavernous Verizon Center downtown. 

why doesn't someone who has been a GW fan for decades tell the story about Gimmelstob's ALLEGED remarks about a certain G'town player as that was one of G'town's supposed reasons for quiting the rivalry? i would but don't know all the details. personally i believe they might lose and that would tarnish their image just as MD & Lefty stopped playing us after a couple losses in the 70s. both schools have such great community spirit (sarcasm).

Newtman, I always beieved that it was their second-to-last meeting, which Georgetown won in double overtime at Smith Center and which was before Gimelstob's arrival, that essentially ended the rivalry.  After that game, JTII claimed that his team did not need this, and that they had nothing to gain but plenty to lose by playing it.  There was one more game scheduled in the series, the following year at Cap Centre (Brownie's freshman year), which JTII was gracious enough to honor.  Gtown won easily that year, and that was the end of the series.

I think that most of the GW posters are unnecessarily giving hard time to DFW Hoya.

He is being reasonable and IMO has a fairly unbiased look at the facts. We have to grow up and realize that GU is the biggest bbal program in the city (I would say the area) and that playing them every year makes a lot more sense to us than them.

1 game every year at the Verizon with hosts switching every year is a reasonable proposal and a win-win for all. If their game against AU drew almost 10,000 people during the break the GW-GU game can draw a lot more. I understand MV's point that Smith Center is an easy walk for GU students but if they games were played at the Verizon it would be city wide spectacle and would be interesting to a lot of people in the area not affiliated with either school. It would be a tough local rivalry for them, one of the biggest games of the year for us of and the city would get an annual game to look forward to. DC/DC area doesn’t have a big football rivalry and it’s a city that appreciates basketball so this could be a hit.

win-win for all.

We are a smaller program, less famous and less successful that they are and we can look at it in 2 ways:

1) Have an inferiority complex which many on this board display every day.

2) Be comfortable with ourselves and go out there and compete.

I've witnessed this in the business/finance world and through some internships. Some of our alumni love to talk crap about GU and in 95% of the time for no real reason. They are a top tier academic institution and are producing great leaders and very good people. And so do we. I have not witnessed any difference in the quality of alumni the 2 schools produce so far (of course there are always positive and negative deviations from the mean). I have nothing but great things to say about their school and alumni. I've had great work and personal relationships with them and they have always treated me and other GW alums with as equals and as what we all are - alums of top tier schools.

IMO we can choose to look at our rivalry in 2 ways – of equals in many regards like Harvard vs Penn (where one has been historically better in basketball and the other one gets it but doesn’t b**ch about the other one all the time) or as a younger sibling always having inferiority complex of the older one while they’re forced to live in the same house and won’t ever stop talking about it while the older one is going about their life not caring.

My 2 cents - I read this thread and find it useful but rarely post so forgive me for a long-er posting.

Raise High!

If we ever play the Hoyas in hoops again, it must be home and home - not just at the Verizon Center.  GWSB '11, with all respect, you sound like you have an inferiority complex when it come to GW v. GU. 

Could this mean that the BB&T may survive past the 2013-14 season...

A GU-UMD match-up would bring a lot more media attention to the event, and could possibly lead to selling out the event.