Hoyas host Friars - in game chat here!

December 31, 2011 - Georgetown welcomes Providence today at 2p. In what seems its yearly New Years eve battle, the Hoyas, 11-1, 1-0 in the BIG EAST face a crew of Friars that stand 11-3, 0-1.

The television broadcast is available via ESPN2, while local radio broadcast duties can be heard on AM 570. Rich Chvotkin has the latter's call, Doris Burke and Mark Jones the former.

Typically, this writer would be in the house well advance of tip off, observing both teams for insight into the looming game. But alas, even writers get put on the injured list, as a tooth issue has done just that here.

Resultantly, our in-game, real time chat will occur, accompanied by strategy assessments. Following the game, exclusive pictures are also expected.

The show never stops.

Enjoy the press release below:

No. 12 Georgetown Hosts Providence in BIG EAST Home Opener on Saturday

WASHINGTON - The No. 12-ranked Georgetown University men's basketball team will play its BIG EAST Conference home opener on Saturday, Dec. 31, hosting long-time rival Providence College in a New Year's Eve matchup. Tip-off at Verizon Center is slated for 2 p.m.

The game will be shown live on ESPN2, with Mark Jones and Doris Burke calling all of the action. Locally, fans can tune in to Sports Talk AM 570 for the radio call of Rich Chvotkin.

The Hoyas, winners of nine-straight games, improved to 11-1 overall and 1-0 in the BIG EAST with a thrilling 71-68 win on the road at No. 4 Louisville. The nine-game win streak is the longest for Georgetown since the 2006-07 Final Four team won 11 in a row.

Georgetown has three wins over top-15 teams this season, beating then-No. 8 Memphis in the Maui Invitational (91-88 in overtime), ending a 24-game home court win streak at then-No. 12 Alabama (57-55) and the win over No. 4 Louisville, ending the Cardinals' 20-game win streak at home.

Sophomore guard Markel Starks (Accokeek, Md./Georgetown Prep) scored 16 of his career-high 20 points in the second half during the Louisville win. It was his third-straight game in double figures and he is averaging 17.3 points per game in that span while shooting 64.3 percent from the floor (18-of-28), including 71.4 percent from three-point land (10-of-14). Starks is fourth on the team in scoring overall with 10.6 points per game and is shooting 53.7 percent from the floor.

Senior guard Jason Clark (Arlington, Va./Bishop O'Connell) is one of four players scoring in double figures for the Hoyas, leading the team with 15.0 points per game. He is averaging 3.8 rebounds while shooting 45.7 percent from the floor and leads the team with 1.8 steals.

Junior forward Hollis Thompson (Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola) is second on the team in scoring with 14.5 points per game and in rebounds with 6.0 per game. Thompson, who has reached double figures in 11 of 12 games this season, is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and leads the team with 24 three-point field goals.

Senior center Henry Sims (Baltimore, Md./McDonough) is third on the team in scoring (12.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.3 rpg), and leads the team with 45 assists (3.75 apg). He is shooting 52.0 percent from the floor and also has a team-high 18 blocked shots.

Freshman forward Otto Porter (Sikeston, Mo./Scott County Central), who recorded his first career double-double at Louisville with 14 points and 14 rebounds, led an impressive performance by the Georgetown freshmen. That quartet - Mikael Hopkins (Hyattsville, Md./Georgetown Prep), Porter, Jabril Trawick (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington Friends) and Greg Whittington (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mils) - combined for 25 points, 22 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Georgetown ranks fifth in the league in scoring offense (76.4 point per game) and scoring defense (58.5 points per game). The Hoyas have connected on 48.7 percent of their field goals (second in the league), and rank third in three-point field goal percentage (38.3%) and second in free throw percentage (74.0%).

Saturday's meeting with Providence will be the 60th meeting all-time between the schools. The Hoyas lead the head-to-head series, 40-19, and have won the last five games, including an 83-81 decision last year. Georgetown is 20-4 all-time at home against the Friars.

Providence, picked 15th in the BIG EAST this season, is off to an 11-3 start to the season. The Friars are coming off a 91-67 loss to St. John's in their BIG EAST opener. Junior guard Vincent Council is one of four players scoring in double figures for Providence, scoring 16.5 points per game, which ranks 11th in the BIG EAST. Sophomore guard Gerard Coleman is second on the team with 16.1 points and classmate Bryce Cotton is third with 15.1 points and leads the team with 27 three-point field goals.