The Hoya: The Guide: November 11, 2016

the guide F R I D AY, N O VE M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

Photographs from the night Donald Trump was elected president.

ILLUSTRATION BY JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

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Election Night 2016

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friday, november 11, 2016

ANNA KOVACEVICH/THE HOYA

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

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JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

friday, november 11, 2016

Election Day 2016

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the guide

THE HOYA

Friday, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

FEATURE

DANI GUERRERO/THE HOYA

The second show in the Davis Center’s 2016-17 season, “Wind Me Up, Maria!: A Go-Go Musical” highlights the rich musical culture of D.C. in its depictions of go-go and funk music. Revolving around the titular Georgetown student and aspiring go-go singer Maria, the show portrays the interaction between Georgetown and go-go culture.

DC’s Funk Vernacular on Display Dani Guerrero Hoya Staff Writer

Go-go music buffs have descended upon the Gonda Theatre. The first go-go musical in the university’s history, “Wind Me Up, Maria!: A Go-Go Musical” began its run on Nov. 3 and is playing through Nov. 12. A large-scale collaboration among the theater and performance studies program and student-run groups Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society and the Black Theatre Ensemble, the show revitalizes a local subgenre of funk popular in the mid 1960s and early 1970s.

“Wind Me Up, Maria!: A Go-Go Musical” is the second show in the Davis Center’s 2016-2017 season, which is themed “Discover and Celebrate.” The idea for the production originated when Professor Natsu Onoda Power, artistic director of the Davis Performing Arts Center, first introduced her go-go musical to her students. At the time, she envisioned a show comprised of ‘70s dancers, skirts and tall boots. Together with music producer, children’s group “The Capital Kidds” educator and D.C. go-go band “Rare Essence” lead singer Charles “Shorty” Garris, Power created a homegrown version of the capital’s funk music. “The Capital Kidds” are an educational tween hip-hop group founded and run by Garris as part of the Innovative School of Performing Arts to educate children through the arts.

“The musical certainly came about from an on-going discussion about diversity and integration within Georgetown’s theater community,” Power said. “There were some concerns about proactive roles available, there was a need for facilitating greater inclusion and diversity.”

The story follows Georgetown’s rising senior and aspiring go-go singer Maria, played by Myiah Sahulga Smith (SFS ’20).

Although Maria is an exceptional singer, she just “hasn’t found in what way,” in the words of her best friend and roommate, the business-driven overachiever Morgan Adams, played by Vanessa Chapoy (COL ’18).

Following the path of classics, such as “Mary Poppins” or “The Sound of Music,”

the production’s central character is a nanny, with supporting roles held by a blended ensemble of Georgetown students. “The Capital Kidds,” go-go professional D.C.based musicians — renamed “The Graveyard Band” in a nod to the Davis Center’s location overlooking Georgetown’s Jesuit cemetery — and famous go-go groups, such as The Junkyard Band and The Backyard Band, all contribute to the performance.

The plot revolves around Maria’s summer dilemma. When the play begins, she still has yet to find a job, as opposed to Adams, who has already packed copious pencil skirts and tops “perfect for light blazers” for her internship at a prestigious company. Professor Sherry Kalorama, played by Kate Ginna (COL ’18) offers Maria a convenient employment opportunity as a live-in tutor for six children in a Georgetown household. She introduces Maria to her friend, a successful single mother and wealthy doyenne, Ms. Kay Street — played

by Mar J. Cox (COL ’16) — who struggles to balance motherhood with her schoolbuilding projects in Malawi and other humanitarian efforts. Over the course of the summer, Maria teaches the kids about the roots of ’70s go-go, correspondingly allowing the audience to learn a few things too.

“This is the culmination of a heartfelt tribute to Chuck Brown and go-go music, which has never really broken out of D.C., even though a lot of go-go music is used in popular music,” said assistant director Velani Dibba (SFS ’17). “It’s about this sort of meeting between Georgetown culture and go-go music culture, which are very different.”

Dibba emphasized the importance of the collaboration between northeastern D.C. artists and Georgetown students.

“A lot of the band members are professional go-go musicians in D.C. and had never worked in a theatrical production before. On the reverse side, we have a lot of students who had never heard of go-go before working on the show,” Dibba said.

The plot thickens as Joseph, played by Ray Gao (COL ’19), the eldest Street family member, self-described as a “highly intelligent, yet socially awkward, young man,” falls in love with Terrance, his UPS

deliveryman, played by Jonathan Austin Kyle Compo (NHS ’20). To add suspense, Terrence steals the wallet belonging to Maria’s charmingly obnoxious love interest, Barnaby Woods, a confident, smooth go-go music producer, played by David Toledo (MSB ’19). In a mix-matched intrigue, Joseph uses Terrence’s stolen wallet to sneak into a go-go show, which results in a muddled escape once his fake ID is taken.

“This is the culmination of a heartfelt tribute to Chuck Brown and go-go music, which has never really broken out of D.C., even though a lot of go-go music is used in popular music.”

Velani dibba (SFS ’19) Assistant Director

One of the show’s most memorable songs, “Run Joe,” comes during Joseph’s getaway. With an established tension gripping the audience, the band is given momentum in this number, dominating the stage with vibrant percussion and Shorty’s smooth voice. The track follows Joe’s run home, as he is scared for his life, and has a go-go-tempo, filled with trombones and a quirky beat. “‘Run Joe’ is the song from which I built the rest of the play,” Power said. “I basically just wanted a valid excuse to have this great song onstage. It has such a highspeed energy that just makes something wake up inside you.”

Power’s favorite song from the show is the “SAT Song,” which was co-written by Power and Garris.

“We are so proud of the SAT song, just because of how specific and whimsical it is at the same time. We’re thinking about releasing a full version with all the SAT prep

words, which will probably make it a twoday song,” Power said.

The versatile go-go performance would not have been possible without Garris’ Capital Kidds, who choreographed most of the songs and brought an authentic perspective to the musical, filling it with their awe-inspiring energy.

“Without ‘The Capital Kidds,’ the show would definitely be lacking a huge chunk of culture, because they are all native Washingtonians. They’re from the [D.C., Maryland and Virginia area]. They bring go-go. They bring the funk”, Smith said.

“We can’t imagine the show without them.”

With its musical originality, the play attempts to convey a positive message about go-go music.

“Go-go music is our music, and it is the best thing about D.C.,” Power said. “This musical isn’t here to question the controversies that have unfortunately been built around it but is here to celebrate this great tradition all Washingtonians have in common.”

Certainly having fun with her own creation, Power does not hesitate to drop dialogue sequences with bite. With lines such as “He’s my sugar daddy … He brings me candy,” Joseph does not hold back. She even added entire runs spontaneously two days before the show’s debut.

Gao, who worked with Power this past summer to set up a show in Boston, witnessed firsthand her refusal to stop creating.

“Things maneuver really quickly in the show. That’s her style, and it’s really beautiful,” Gao said.

Gao also said it was an immense pleasure to work with professional go-go musicians brought in by Garris.

“It was eye-opening. We got to hear the best stories about D.C. from them. I got to see where Shorty is coming from. He really wanted to give back to the community,” Gao said.

“Wind Me Up, Maria!: A Go-Go Musical” will have shows at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12. A matinee showing has been added on Saturday due to overwhelming demand.

FEATURE

Gaston Hosts 26th Annual DC A Cappella Festival Mateo Garnica Hoya Staff Writer

The most anticipated a cappella event of the semester returns this year with an eclectic lineup. The 26th iteration of D.C. A Cappella Festival, hosted annually by the Georgetown Phantoms and the Georgetown GraceNotes, kicked off last weekend with an array of performances

by Georgetown University’s resident a cappella talent and guest performers.

As one of only a few coed groups that performed Saturday, the Saxatones’ chemistry and coordination were on full display during the entirety of their performance.

Started in 1990 by the Phantoms and the GraceNotes, the event spans two weekends and demonstrates the rich a cappella tradition at Georgetown and other universities. In addition to performances by the two host groups, Resonant Essence Live, the Beelzebubs, the Saxatones and the Chimes will be performing everything from pop hits to hip-hop to television theme songs.

This year’s guests are the Beelzebubs, an all-male a cappella group from Tufts University.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, the GraceNotes ushered in the 26th festival with nods to Christina Aguilera and Fergie. Their per-

formance was followed by the Phantoms, who pulled off lively renditions of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” and Katy Perry’s “Rise” among other pieces.

The Beelzebubs sang with palpable confidence, energizing the crowd with creative takes on Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom” and the Pokémon theme song.

Their performance was also marked by an impressive, theatrical choreography.

Following the intermission, the Saxatones’, Chimes’ and GraceNotes’ performances made up the second half of the festival. The Saxatones performed a unique take of Chance the Rapper’s “Finish Line/Drown,” among other measured pieces. As one of only a few coed groups that performed Saturday, the Saxatones’ chemistry and coordination were on full display during the entirety of their performance.

Georgetown’s oldest all-male a cappella group, the Chimes, demonstrated its tested pedigree with rich renderings of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Harry Belafonte’s “Zombie Jamboree” and Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling.” Having performed for countless American presidents and international audiences, the Chimes dazzled the audience in Gaston Hall.

The final portion of the show saw another performance by the GraceNotes, who gave a performance of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.”

The talent on display Saturday night promises an equally fulfilling second act next weekend with performances by the Gracenotes, Superfood, the New York University N’Harmonics, the Johns Hopkins University Octopodes, the Capitol G’s and the Phantoms.

COURTESY HELENA LE PICART

The 26th annual D.C. A Cappella Festival, hosted by the Georgetown Gracenotes (pictured) and the Georgetown Phantoms, began last weekend and will continue on Nov. 12.

the guide

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

THE HOYA

RESTAURANT REVIEW

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SETTLING IN SEOUL

Jasmine White

Soul Food In Streets Of Seoul

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HAIKAN

Generous bowls of ramen are the key ingredient to Haikan’s success. Housed in the brutalistic structure of the Atlantic Plumbing Building, this newly born Japanese gem holds promise for rising to the top of the D.C. dining scene.

Third Time is the Charm With Haikan 805 V St. NW Cuisine: Japanese VERA MASTRORILLI Hoya Staff Writer

Rivaling the forceful brutalistic architecture of Lauinger Library, the Atlantic Plumbing building in North End Shaw has been housing a colorful new Japanese eatery, Haikan, for three months. The 49-seat restaurant, which opened in August, is the latest product of the owners of popular ramen eatery Daikaya and Japanese fried chicken joint Bantam King.

Like its sister establishment, Haikan primarily serves ramen. It packs around 50 customers into its bar, booths and tables on a first-come-first-serve basis and does not accept reservations. In mild weather, the storefront opens its garage-like doors, allowing another 30 customers to sit at an outdoor bar.

Amid servers carefully carrying arranged appetizers and generous bowls of ramen across the crowded floor, the dining room bustles with conversation and upbeat, bassheavy music, which the red plaster and exposed concrete walls do not sufficiently muffle. The color-blocked ceiling’s pattern of plywood triangles contributes to the vibrant design.

What sets Haikan apart from its two predecessors are its kozara, or small plates. The menu offers seven distinctive options including mussels, deviled eggs and salad, along with daily specials.

The crab rangoons ($7) are served on a folded piece of Japanese newsprint. The crunch of the freshly fried shell contrasts with the thick, slightly sweet cream cheese filling,

 which would require a more distinct crab flavor. Kaki-Kaki oysters ($5.50), a daily special, are served on the half shell on a bed of seaweed. Each oyster is artfully topped with a dollop sweet puree, green shoots and a piece of dried fruit. The light citrus flavor is an unexpected foil to the briny bite of the meat, and the combination of the two creates a bright tone.

The small plates offer an enticing and unusual start to the meal, but ramen is the main event. Following in the steps of its sister restaurants, Haikan uses Sapporo-style noodles, made from a custom recipe and imported from Japan. In most dishes aside from the vegetarian ramen, noodles are cooked in a typical chicken, beef and pork-based Chitan stock.

The four ramen options add staple flavors like miso and shio and offer standard toppings such as roast pork and sprouts. For a few cents to a few dollars extra, diners can add a variety of additional toppings.

The shoyu ramen ($12.75) arrived promptly, with its toppings piled on a dark broth.

The ground pork, akin to stew meat in heartiness, lends the broth its charred flavor. The barbecue-flavored chashu pork was slightly chewy, while the three thick slabs of pork belly ($3), a daily special topping, were herbmarinated and dry. Although each iteration of pork is distinct, none features the salty, marinated flavor and tenderness one expects of pork in ramen.

The portions of vegetarian toppings are even more generous than those of the porkbased dishes, and each additional element contributes its own distinct flavor to the bowl.

The massive quantity and intense flavor of the tender memna ($1.75), or bamboo, feature its prominence among the ingredients. Even though it would benefit from more spice, the egg is boiled to perfection. The wakame ($0.50) has a characteristic ocean flavor, while the sharpness of the onions stands out in the otherwise darkly flavored dish.

The vegetarian ramen ($13.75) stands out in light of its slightly creamy broth. Though sweet at first sip, the yellow broth unveils a fiery flavor that immediately sweeps across the palate.

The spicy-and-sweet veggie spice bomb ($1) complements the broth’s simpler flavor. The proportions of vegetables are balanced, a rare and desirable feature among ramen bowls. The corn kernels add bursts of sugar that further distinguish the spice bomb from typical salty, hearty bowls. The onion and bitter romaine cut the sweetness to round off the delightfully unusual dish.

Heaped at the bottom of the bowls, the reputed noodles have a mild but distinct warm and rich flavor and maintain their firm consistency to the last slurp. Despite falling short of acting as the most dynamic element of the dishes, the noodles’ flavor appears to recede whenever combined with the texture of other ingredients.

The over-21 crowd can peruse the extensive sake menu, and, for a treat at the end of the meal, customers can indulge in red-beanstuffed bread or a shaved ice dish. The intriguing and varied sampling of small plates and loaded bowls of ramen keep Haikan bustling and establish it alongside its reputed sister restaurants on the Washington, D.C., ramen

scene.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Adventure and Authenticity Within Range 3309 Connecticut Ave. NW Cuisine: Indian

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BRIAN DAVIA

Hoya Staff Writer

Founded by James Beard Award-winning chef Vikram Sunderam, Bindaas aims to take its diners on a tour through the streets of India one course at a time by serving Indian street food in a sophisticated manner. Located in Cleveland Park, the restaurant exemplifies the neighborhood’s ability to attract adventurous eaters and those looking for a quick trip off campus alike.

The menu offers a wide variety of flavors. The options are divided into three main sections: chaat (savory dishes), kathi roll (wraps/buns) and shashlik (kebabs). Additionally, there are options for sides of naan bread and rice pancakes as well as an extensive wine selection, with pairings suggested upon request. Despite maintaining a certain degree of flexibility in combinations, the menu may prove quite difficult to navigate for anyone without knowledge of Indian cuisine.

That being said, the staff makes itself fully accessible in answering inquiries regarding ingredients or other menu requests.

The chooza kebab ($12), the lamb kathi roll ($12) and olive oil naan bread ($2.50) made for excellent entrees. The kebab featured chicken, onions and peppers smothered in a makhani sauce and laid atop a bed of saffron rice. The combination of the three flavors was uniquely savory. This dish highlighted and harmonized the three separate textures of the rice, kebab and sauce.

The second entree my party chose was the lamb kathi roll, which revealed a flavor profile with which I was unfamiliar: a combination of roast masala and fennel seed. Although the first bite was somewhat surprising, the more I familiarized myself with the dish, the better it tasted. Accompanied by a green chi-

BINDAAS

Serving Indian street food in a sophisticated manner, chef Vikram Sunderam’s Bindaas takes its diners on a tour through the colorful streets of India one course at a time. michurri sauce, the lamb kathi roll ultimately succeeded in embodying typical Indian street food.

The final addition to the entree was naan bread. While naan tends to be used as a side to soak up the sauces from a main dish, Bindaas’ naan was executed to such perfection that it could have been a full dish on its own. It also served as the perfect complement to the meal and offered a break from the bold, spicy flavors of the other dishes.

The dessert menu at Bindaas is limited to three options, and I opted to try what seemed to be the most authentic of the three: kulfi, an Indian-style ice cream served in the shape of a cone covered in sweet sauces. The ice cream itself had a

nice texture with subtle, refined flavors.

The sweetness of the sauce was intended to complement this delicate base; however, an overpowering abundance of sugar eclipsed the milder flavor of the kulfi.

While Bindaas encourages diners to order multiple dishes to share at a table, each dish seemed capable of existing as a meal on its own. Especially with the addition of naan, it is difficult for one person to finish more than one of the main plates.

As a whole, Bindaas delivers in providing its diners with a take on Indian street cuisine. While certain flavor profiles may be distinct and unfamiliar at first, the dishes provided a unique balance of flavors and textures.

hile the Southerner in me misses her sweet tea, buttermilk cornbread and made-fromscratch macaroni and cheese, the transition to eating Korean food has not been a difficult one. In fact, I’m not sure how I’ve gone my whole life without having kimchi at every meal, and I do not know how I will survive without it once I return stateside.

For too long, Korean food has been largely underappreciated in America. It is spicy and savory while still actually being healthy. Banchan, little side dishes served alongside main dishes in most traditional Korean meals, is sometimes even the highlight of the meal. From fresh vegetables to fish to Korean potato salad — which rivals its American counterpart — there is such a wide variety of dishes that each meal offers a genuine surprise. Every time I go to a restaurant, I am always hoping to encounter a food that I have yet to try.

For better or worse, the conversation about Korean food cannot be separated from the one surrounding Korean drinking culture, which is intense to say the least.

I have also grown to love Korean street food. Some of Seoul’s most delicious and cheapest treats lie within some of the tiny, shabby stands that line certain streets.

One of my favorite places to continue my culinary exploration is in a neighborhood called Myeongdong here in Seoul.

Myeongdong is a major shopping area for tourists, but it also boasts dozens of food stands with items like mandu, which arefried dumplings, hotteok, a type of Korean pancake, and even lobster.

Outside of Myeongdong, there are food carts in most major neighborhoods. Often times when I am walking back home, I stop and order at my favorite ajumma stand. Ajumma is a Korean word that is used to refer to an older woman and is sometimes roughly translated to mean “auntie,” though it does not imply a family relation. At the ajumma’s stand, my goto item is tteokboki — rice cakes in a spicy chili sauce. It is one of the most common street foods and is very cheap as well, usually only around $2 per serving.

For better or worse, the conversation about Korean food cannot be separated from the one surrounding Korean drinking culture, which is intense to say the least. While not everyone drinks, it is certainly the norm. Back in 2014, the Daily Mail published an article stating that the average Korean of legal drinking age had about 13.7 shots of alcohol per week.

There is such an allencompassing sense of community that comes just from eating a meal with people. The sharing of a dish or the pouring of drinks for one another quickly makes people closer.

Drinking is embedded in Korean social culture. Whether it is an after-work meeting, a celebration or even a funeral reception, alcohol is usually involved whenever there is a large gathering of people. For example, it is not uncommon on college campuses in Korea for all of the group members to go out for drinks after every club meeting.

However, there is method to the seeming madness. When drinking with Koreans, it is good to keep in mind certain cultural etiquette. The most important rule would probably be always to pay attention to social hierarchy, meaning the youngest pours for the oldest first before the oldest would then pour for the youngest. It is important never to let someone pour his or her own drink and also never to let his or her glass be empty.

Out of everything, the element of sharing has to be the part I love the most about Korean food culture. There is such an allencompassing sense of community that comes just from eating a meal with people.

The sharing of a dish or the pouring of drinks for one another quickly makes people closer.

In Korea, food is made to be a group activity. It’s a time to connect, to share and just to enjoy being in the presence of others.

Jasmine White is a junior in the College.

SETTLING IN SEOUL appears every other Friday.

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the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

MOVIE REVIEW

Zoe Rosen

The Music On My Playlist Zoe Rosen is a senior in the College is majoring in American musical culture.

‘MILLION REASONS’

BY LADY GAGA MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT

“Dr. Strange” boasts revolutionary and awe-inspiring visuals through its special effects, resulting in the creation of an immersive cinematic reality supporting by excellent acting from a star studded cast and a refreshingly complex storyline.

Dr. Strange

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams Directed by: Scott Derrickson JOSE VILLALOBOS Special to The Hoya

A powerful testament to the power of special effects in creating an immersive cinematic reality, “Dr. Strange” is a revitalizing, fresh addition to the Marvel cinematic universe. Aided by awe-inspiring visuals and strong performances from its cast, the film overcomes its slow start to deliver a memorable and inventive superhero narrative.

An arrogant and self-infatuated neurosurgeon whose life loses meaning after a horrible car accident robs him of his steady hands, Stephen Strange — played by Benedict Cumberbatch — sets off on a voyage to Nepal in an attempt to regain purpose. He finds much more than he was searching for, learning about the incredible, unexplored reality of parallel universes, mysterious sorcery and superhuman threats to the world. Under the tutelage of the Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinto, he must help defeat the evil Kaecilius, played by Mads Mikkelsen.

Some elements of Strange’s journey of personal discovery are lost in the film’s generic plot. The doctor’s path to recovery is burdened by the need to follow a typical superhero storyline, with rushed and predictable developments. Strange’s coworker and former romantic interest, played by Rachel McAdams, makes the most of her limited

screen time, but does not have an actual impact on the story.

Still, “Dr. Strange” has a lot more in mind than setting forth a typical superhero crusade, incorporating deep personal exploration, tormented heroes and extensive character development. The Ancient One, an idealistic role model and righteous guide, and Kaeciliu, a villainous former prodigy fallen from grace, go beyond the characterization of a typical mentor and villain.

Swinton steals every scene she is in, perfectly blending a sense of authority and wisdom with kindness, while Mikkelsen does more than enough to become one of the few memorable foes in recent superhero movies.

Cumberbatch, perfectly cast as a flawed but charismatic and sympathetic protagonist, is one of the film’s highlights. Drawing from his portrayal of Khan in “Star Trek Into Darkness” — haunted by his past and in conflict with the present — he creates a persona distinct from other Marvel heroes. He possesses the bad boy extravagance of Tony Stark and the crisis-leading-to-existentialdoubt narrative of Bruce Wayne, but his internal struggles make him a more complex and human hero.

Director Scott Derrickson — a savant of horror films — dives into the world of action and superheroes for the first time with positive results. After directing “The

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‘DIE A HAPPY MAN’

BY THOMAS RHETT

Exorcism of Emily Rose,” it was only fitting that he be put in charge of helping Strange exorcize his own demons. The expository segments of the movie — explaining the many rules and laws of this complicated universe — are excessive at times, but Cumberbatch’s characterization of Strange relieves tension and allows the movie to move forward with ease. The convincing portrayal of his own skepticism toward the complex spiritual world he is delving into, as well as his sarcastic remarks and quick jokes, gets viewers through otherwise tiring segments.

The visually mesmerizing cinematography and animation are also impressive. As Strange runs through Manhattan, having to deal with gravity shifts, spiraling buildings, multiple gravity fields and the world collapsing in on itself, the viewer cannot help but embrace the full-on craziness of it all.

While reality gets warped as Strange travels through the multiverse and explores different dimensions, his own character never succumbs to the incredible developments around him. Cu mberbatch maintains a refreshing humanity as his character improves his skills, confidence and understanding of the world of sorcery, matching the awe and amazement of viewers as they delve into the amazing intricacies of this unexplored reality.

MOVIE REVIEW

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back Starring: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders Directed by: Edward Zwick JEFF NAFT

Hoya Staff Writer

When Tom Cruise was first cast as Jack Reacher in 2011, fans and critics alike questioned how the action star, best known for his role in “Mission: Impossible” franchise, could portray a 6-foot-5, 230-pound ex-military police officer in Lee Child’s beloved crime series. On top of the odd casting choice, the film had to delay its premiere date in North America following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Many predicted that the ultraviolent “Jack Reacher” would be a massive flop due to the film’s vicious plot and Tom Cruise’s out-ofcharacter performance.

Instead of being a critical and commercial failure, the film went on to gross over $218 million.

Cruise proved again to be an unstoppable force in the industry, which led Paramount Pictures to approve a sequel. As far as action movies go, “Jack Reacher” developed a following that would rival other sleeper-hit action films such as “Taken” and “John Wick.”

Cruise, along with director Christopher McQuarrie, surprised everyone with a hardboiled detective film that depicted Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) trying to solve a crime while simultaneously being hunted. For a film rated PG-13, the fight scenes were brutal and pushed the boundaries of the movie’s rating. The film’s plot twists and willingness to have key characters murdered at will shocked audiences, and the climactic final fight was on par with the classic action scenes from the shootout in “Dirty Harry” to the car chase in “The French Connection.”

All of this contributed to why “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” was such a disappointment.

In the second iteration of the series, Cruise teamed up with prolific director Edward Zwick, who directed Cruise in “The Last Samurai,” and helmed other films like “Glory” and “Blood Diamond.” Cruise, who produced “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,” stated in numerous interviews that he wanted to humanize Child’s cold and nearly invincible protagonist. By having so much creative control, however, Cruise tainted the character whom audiences were rooting for in the first movie.

This control turned what could have been a phenomenal addition to a new franchise, with a violent protagonist facing complex murders and gritty plots, into Tom Cruise playing Tom

Cruise. When Child wrote his first Jack Reacher novel in 1997, he envisioned Reacher as a modern day cowboy in a world gone wrong.

Modeled after Gary Cooper and Clint Eastwood, Reacher would drift in and out of towns and cities across the United States and would be compelled by his morality and by the locals to solve a violent murder or clean up a murky conspiracy. At the end of every Jack Reacher novel, the reader is overflowing with adrenaline, knowing that the tall, dark and silent man got his guy.

In this sequel, Cruise opts to tone down the film’s violence and gore, replacing wellchoreographed fight scenes with plentiful exposition. Borrowing from lackluster action films like “Three Days to Kill” and the recently released “The Expatriate,” Reacher is paired with a weaker female protagonist whom he needs to protect. In both movies, Costner and Eckhart are being chased by shadowy government figures while on the run with their respective daughters. In “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,” Jack Reacher is on the run from military contractors with his daughter. The result is a film that features almost every cliche a sequel can offer and buckles under the weight of trying to appeal to a massive audience while trying to please core fans.

The sequel’s failure to build on the successes of its predecessor is perhaps its most glaring misstep. In the first Jack Reacher film,

After not hearing new music from Lady Gaga for years, I was very excited for the release of her new album. “Million Reasons” is my favorite track off her new album, “Joanne.” The song has an organic feel and shows off her voice in a way her previous music did not. As a country song, “Million Reasons” demonstrates the array of genres represented on her latest release.

 audiences saw great supporting performances from Rosamund Pike, prior to her breakthrough role in “Gone Girl,” Werner Herzog as the film’s terrifying antagonist and Robert Duvall in a heartfelt supporting role that stole every scene. In the sequel, Colbie Smulders, fresh from her performance in “How I Met Your Mother,” joins the sequel’s cast as the female lead and Reacher’s love interest.

Smulders is a multifaceted actress, but Zwick does not take enough risks with the fight sequences that involve her. In nearly every fight sequence she is overpowered by the male attacker, prompting her need to be rescued. However, the biggest casting letdown is Robert Knepper as General James Harkness.

Knepper’s electrifying performance as Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell in the television show “Prison Break” proved that he had the acting chops to make him an A-list antagonist. In this performance, however, audiences get nothing more than a generic Jason Bourne villain.

Purely due to Cruise’s star power, this film is bound to be another financial success for Paramount Pictures. However, the franchise would be better off sold to a group like Netflix, where executives could develop a gritty story that does not feel rushed to fit a two-hour runtime, and make a story that captures the cinematic potential of Child’s vision.

After Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man” won single of the year at the CMA Awards, I have not stopped listening to the song. The genuine lyrics never fail to put me in a happy mood. This is the first Thomas Rhett song I had ever heard, and it made me an immediate fan of his.

THE VALORY MUSIC CO.

‘BETTER MAN’ BY LITTLE BIG TOWN I have been listening to a lot of country music this week, especially with the CMA Awards taking place last Wednesday. Little Big Town, who won Vocal Group of the Year, released “Better Man” at the end of October. The song is climbing to the top of the country charts, which is no surprise, especially after the announcement that it was written by Taylor Swift.

‘VILLAINS’ BY JOHNNYSWIM “Villains” is a departure from Johnnyswim’s characteristic style and leans toward a pop sound while still maintaining strong soul and folk influences.

Having lived in Nashville last summer, I was excited to learn both members of this duo, Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez, are originally from there. The chorus is uplifting enough to make you almost forget that winter is almost here.

BIG PICNIC RECORDS

‘THE AMERICAN DREAM’ BY THE FEDERAL EMPIRE This recently caught my attention, especially with Election Day this week.

The song takes a look at the American Dream through a cynical lens, which is particularly relevant during this period of change and uncertainty in America.

The song adds a comedic element with lines such as, “I want a burger with fries, supersize my bacon.”

‘WHITE NOISE’ BY ELLA VOS

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Tom Cruise stars in a suspenseful detective film about an ex-police officer who attempts to solve a crime while simultaneously being hunted.

Ella Vos is a new artist I recently discovered. “White Noise” is part of a growing trend of electro-pop music with highenergy sound and minimal instrumentation. I have been listening to this on repeat, and it has helped get me through midterms over the last week.

the guide

friday, november 11, 2016

WALLS Hoya Staff Writer

Kings of Leon has broken its three-year hiatus with its seventh studio album, “WALLS,” released Oct. 14. With the new album, the Nashville rock band follows the recent ’80s revival trend in pop music, with pop megastars like Taylor Swift and alternative rockers like The 1975 alike embracing lush synth tones.

The band, composed of brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill, approaches this trend without abandoning its rock credentials. Unfortunately, the final product is underwhelming. With a few exceptions, the album relies too heavily on “whoa-oh” choruses and guitar-dominated melodies, and is now too slick and over-produced to have any of the rough, Southern charm that made listeners fall in love with Kings of Leon.

The album’s title is an acronym for “We Are Like Love Songs.” For an album that claims to be about romance, love songs are noticeably absent from “WALLS.” Most tracks instead focus on inner demons: a brush with drug abuse on “Around the World,” a fear of abandonment on “Over” and a reflection on the

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 death of a friend on “Muchacho.”

Even so, love songs have always been the band’s forte. The band sprung to fame in 2008 with two career-altering songs: “Use Somebody” and “Sex on Fire.” Both were more about melancholy and desire than celebration or romance.

The former, for instance, is about trying to find a replacement for a former lover – hardly the subject matter of a typical love song.

Caleb Followill, whose raspy and soulful voice is well-suited for these kinds of yearning tracks, sticks to his trademark sound on “WALLS.” The big difference on the album is that the songs themselves do not feel nearly as engaging as prior releases. Most tracks on “WALLS” sound like songs from former albums, and none have the stadium-filling appeal or the timeless anthemic quality of “Use Somebody.”

However, the album does present a certain emotional maturity. The album’s eponymous track is stripped down and undoubtedly its strongest. Followill repeats the refrain, “and the walls come down,” with mounting conviction to a heart-wrenching crescendo that concludes the album. Featuring the bluesyrock sensibility characteristic of John

RCA

Now that the members Kings of Leon have approached their 30s, these once-anarchic brothers seem to indulge in the mainstream music industry in their new album.

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Kelly Clarkson ‘It’s Quiet Uptown’ RCA

Mayer, the song manages to have a heartfelt message about being let down at the most vulnerable moment. The downplayed moments, as in the Latin-inspired “Muchacho” and the muted, slow “Conversation Piece,” somewhat redeem the album.

This slick, electronic and guitar-dominated incarnation of the band is likely to be temporary. Over the course of eight years on the music scene, the group has visited genres from country-folk and blues to indie and stadium rock. As a band that did not rely on the internet or social media to rise to fame and has been able to maintain a consistent fan base through its various reinventions, Kings of Leon should be applauded. The latest album is no exception. Kings of Leon can still write a great rock chorus, like that of “Eyes on You,” and manage to retain its signature tone while following the vogue ’80s stylistic trend.

Unfortunately for fans of the group’s prior work, the album sounds like the group has sacrificed quality, with most songs seeming second-rate. The larger problem is less apparent. Kings of Leon originally had a special kind of appeal as a group of young, talented and anarchic brothers who used to cancel concerts due to pre-show arguments and sing explicit lyrics about reaping the benefits of being an up-and-coming rock artist. That same appeal is lost for a band of mature 30-somethings who have settled down as an established name in the mainstream music industry.

album review

Revolution Radio

Green Day meena raman Special to The Hoya

There are only a few bands that can produce inventive, powerful music after releasing 12 albums. With the release of “Revolution Radio,” Green Day has certainly proven its ability to do just this. The punk rock group, which formed 30 years ago, has already received rave reviews for its latest release, which revives much of the band’s original sound while also incorporating heavy thematic elements to produce a poignant perspective on our current sociopolitical state.

The album’s third and titular track “Revolution Radio” sets an electrifying, defiant tone for the album, with intricate guitar riffs and rapid drumming. It captures the very musical and thematic essence of Green Day — offbeat, amped up and, as always, rebellious. The song touches a variety of hard-hitting issues. Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong particularly cited the influence of the Black Lives Matter movement on the song’s development.

Perhaps the most emotionally potent single on the album “Bang Bang” weaves

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MUSIC

album review

Kings of Leon

Ellie goonetillake

THE HOYA

This track on “The Hamilton Mixtape” is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful story told in four and a half minutes. Knowledge of the musical storyline is not needed to fully appreciate the simple raw evocations of the themes of love, of grief and of family that Clarkson weaves together with her powerful voice. Ranging from soft, delicate voice flutters to rich crescendos culminating in a belting chorus, Clarkson does not fail in demonstrating her impressive vocal range and abilities.

RCA NASHVILLE

Miranda Lambert ‘Highway Vagabond’ The queen of country returns with a true country single featuring characteristic voice twangs and sharp guitar strums.

Opening with the lyrics, “I wanna go somewhere nobody knows. I wanna know somewhere nobody goes,” Lambert sings to incite adventure, spontaneity and exploration. The latest single shares a name with Lambert’s upcoming 2017 tour, set to launch in January in Evansville, Ind.

 together a haunting lyrical story from the viewpoint of a mass shooter. The track opens with the muffled sound of sirens and news reporters, but quickly evolves into a fast-paced, passionate anthem. Frontman Armstrong delivers its chilling message, singing: “I wanna be a celebrity martyr/ The leading man in my own private drama/ Hoorah, bang, bang, hoorah, bang, bang, the hero of the hour/Daddy’s little psycho and mommy’s little soldier.”

“Say Goodbye” continues thematic threads from “Bang Bang,” as a high-energy song about violence and disorder. With its catchy chorus and heavy drumline, “Say Goodbye” has all the makings of a dystopian film’s soundtrack, teeming with a sense of anger and urgency.

In contrast, “Outlaws” is a softer and slower melancholic reflection on the loss of innocence. It is as stripped down as Green Day gets without going acoustic, focusing on a simple but remarkable melody.

The album’s opener, “Somewhere Now,” and the more mellow “Still Breathing” are other highlights on the 12-track release.

Though the upbeat opening notes and more refined bridge of “Youngblood” also

REPRISE RECORDS

Green Day’s “Revolution Radio” uses electrifying guitar riffs to express the political dissatisfaction resulting from biased news coverage and oppressive judicial systems.

COLUMBIA RECORDS

the Chainsmokers ‘Setting Fires’

REPRISE

show promise, the song eventually devolves into a filler track, with a repetitive chorus and crowded instrumental backdrop.

The album’s accompanying lyric videos reflect Green Day’s feelings of political dissatisfaction and angst, intercutting grainy images to vividly depict different scenarios and encourage the importance of active protest. “Revolution Radio” takes a pointed stance on the current state of political affairs, criticizing news coverage, social media and oppressive judicial and political systems.

“Revolution Radio” follows a relatively underwhelming trilogy of albums — “¡Uno! ¡Dos! and ¡Tré!” released in series in 2012--and 2014’s “Demolicious”--that never received major critical acclaim.

This release, however, is already being described as a much-anticipated comeback with sounds reminiscent of 1994’s “Dookie,” and 2004’s “American Idiot,” as well as those of genre icons like The Ramones and The Kinks, who are among Green Day’s largest musical influences.

Green Day begins touring in early 2017 and will perform at the Verizon Center on March 17. The legendary rock band will also hit the stage at the upcoming American Music Awards on Nov. 20. If its latest album is any indication, the group will deliver an edgy and impassioned performance. This latest release draws on several of the band’s strengths, with standout songs that combine political relevancy with sheer catchiness. Green Day clearly delivers clever and introspective insight on a variety of hot-button issues, quite literally transforming “Revolution Radio” into its own artistic uprising.

Following a slew of hits like “Closer” and “Don’t Let Me Down,” the Chainsmokers just released “Setting Fires,” the final single of its EP, “Collage.” Boasting a captivating techno and electric beat, the duo’s latest upbeat single bridges the pop and EDM genres. With a feature

by XYLØ, an electropop sibling duo, the track highlights the technical talent as well as the vocals of both groups.

ATLANTIC RECORDS

Bruno Mars ‘Versace on the Floor’ The characteristic velvety-rich tenor of Bruno Mars’ voice shines through in his latest single, “Versace on the Floor.”

With a soul-like beat and instrumental arrangement, the single sets a melancholy tone, reminiscent of decades past.

Following the romantic theme of his other hits like “Grenade” and “Marry You,” Mars provides more poignant love lyrics with a powerful vocal delivery. Describing the song as an “explosive ballad,” Mars admitted to Rolling Stone that several iterations were necessary before the final product was achieved.

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sports

THE HOYA

Cross-country

friDAY, november 11, 2016

Football

GU Faces Postseason Tests Seniors Look to End Skid Dan Baldwin Hoya Staff Writer

Both the Georgetown No. 22 men’s and women’s crosscountry teams will travel to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y. to compete in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional championships.

The Hoyas come off a very strong performance in the Big East championships, with the men’s team defending its 2015 championship by winning the meet and the women’s team placing third.

The regional championships come only one week before the national meet this season. Coach Bonsey spoke about his game plan to run hard, but still maintain energy for next week.

“We’ll run a pretty conservative race,” Coach Bonsey said.

“It’s a delicate balance there, because you don’t want to be exhausted coming out of the regional meet, but we also have to punch our ticket and qualify. So we’ll run pretty conservatively, but, at the end of the day, we’ll put ourselves in good position.”

The men’s team has been led all season by senior Scott Carpenter, who came in second place overall in the Big East championship meet, crossing the finish line at 24:28.7 and scoring two points for the Hoyas. Flashing his potential all season, Carpenter solidified his status as a national contender with his performance at the 2016 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational.

He finished at 13th place with a time of 24:07.0 in the 8-kilometer race.

Senior Amos Bartelsmeyer also looks to continue his impressive season for the Hoyas.

In the Big East championship meet, Bartelsmeyer captured fifth place overall by running a time of 24:45.1. Bartelsmeyer has been consistent from the very beginning of the season but has picked up his intensity in recent meets. In

the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, he finished with a time of 24:53.4, coming in 84th overall.

Graduate student Michael Lederhouse showed his poise and leadership on the course at the Big East championship meet, claiming ninth place with a time of 24:59.7. His performance helped solidify Georgetown’s Big East victory repeat.

Coach Bonsey expressed confidence in his team before the meet this weekend.

“The goal is qualify here, make sure everyone is healthy,” Coach Bonsey said. “I just want to see good effort in the race, follow the plan, and we have talented guys who are ready to go, so we’ll be fine.”

On the women’s side, junior Kennedy Weisner has enjoyed a breakout season. In the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, she finished in 101st place with a time of 21:26.5. Weisner carried this momentum into the Big East championship

meet, leading the Hoyas with a time of 21:33.9 in the 6-kilometer race.

Finishing 112th with a time of 21:33.6 at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, junior Autumn Eastman is another standout, especially for her leadership and consistency throughout the season. Eastman continued her strong showing at the Big East championship, as she was the second Hoya to cross the finish line with a time of 21:45.2 — a showing that put her at 11th place.

Some of the newer members of the team, including freshman Paige Hofstad, have taken the cross-country stage by storm. Hofstad showed her mettle in the Big East championship by capturing 14th place with a time of 21:52.4.

After Regionals, both the Georgetown No. 22 men’s and women’s cross-country teams will regroup for the 2016 NCAA championships in Terre-Haute, Ind., on Nov 19.

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Senior Scott Carpenter finished second in the Big East championship meet, which Georgetown won.

Tennis

Preseason Ends in Victory George Brennan Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown tennis program wrapped up its fall campaign with successful performances from both the men’s and women’s teams.

The men’s team rattled off several victories at the Navy Invitational, while the women’s team made its mark at the Jack Kramer Collegiate Invitational in Palos Verdes, Calif.

The women’s team’s performance was highlighted by a round of 32 win from sophomore Sydney Goodson. After a first round win, Goodson took down Northwestern junior Erin Larner, the tournament’s No. 3 seed.

“I didn’t know too much about her going into the match, but I just knew I had to stay focused and play well,” Goodson said. “I thought I was playing decent in the beginning, but she was hitting great balls and really playing well in the match. She got up against me in the first set. I was playing really aggressively, but I was also playing really consistent. I was making a lot of shots and very few unforced errors, but I think I was doing a good job of attacking.”

Goodson found herself in a quick 5-1 hole in the first set.

However, the momentum of the set switched during Larner’s set point.

“It was 5-1 deuce and I won that deuce point to make it 5-2, and I think that was a huge game,” Goodson said. “I think that made her mentally start breaking down a little bit. I just took advantage of that and won the set 7-5 and got ahead in the second set 4-0. It was a really big win. It was a really cool experience for me.”

Head Coach Gordie Ernst could not have been prouder of Goodson’s performance.

“It just keeps giving us more and more respect as a program when we go in and knock off the best players in the country. That’s why it’s fun for me to see our girls know they can play with anyone on the national level,” Ernst said.

After her win over Larner, Goodson played top-ranked and eventual champion Mia

Horvit, a freshman from University of South Carolina.

Ernst thought it was good for Goodson to see competition at such a high level.

“I’ve seen a lot of girls play now. I’ve been coaching women’s tennis for 11 years.

But that girl played at a level I don’t know if I’ve seen in my 11 years. It was almost like watching a first round match at the U.S. Open.”

Sophomore Risa Nakagawa, junior Sara Swift and senior Victoire Saperstein all walked away with a win from the tournament.

The men also had a successful weekend. Junior Mac Rechan and freshman Ian Witmer won their singles flight, while Witmer and sophomore Michael Chen won their doubles flight.

“I’m finally finding that consistency,” Rechan said.

“My freshman and sophomore year I was very up and down. I had some good wins and some bad losses. The difference for this fall has been finding that consistent level and winning the big points.”

Witmer attributes his recent wins to rising to the occasion when playing big points.

“I think a lot of my problems were I’d never win big points,” Witmer said. “I’d get in these matches and get very mentally frustrated and ultimately just give the match away. I battled and won a three-set match this weekend, same thing for doubles. We won a close match. I think just learning that winning

mentality has been helping me a lot this fall.”

Ernst believes Witmer and the rest of his players just need to believe in themselves.

“He should go down to that tournament and win all those matches. He’s that good. With him, it’s so mental. He gets down on himself if he’s struggling in the beginning and it affects his confidence instead of just believing in himself. He can battle, but it’s just about getting your kids to play at the highest potential.”

The Navy Invitational and Jack Kramer Collegiate Invitational are the two final tournaments that the Georgetown tennis program will participate in during the fall season. According to Ernst, the past two months have been extremely successful for both the men’s and women’s teams.

“I think this has been our best fall, collectively, since I’ve been here. The girls aren’t short on confidence — they believe in themselves — but we need the guys to get there.”

As the Hoyas move into regular season play at the turn of the calendar year, Ernst believes their depth will be an asset.

“I think we’re going to be one of the deepest teams in the Big East. I really do,” Ernst said. “At the Big East level, if everyone plays their best we win. Other teams have better players, but as a team we can win if everyone plays at their 100 percent.”

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Junior Mac Rechan went 4-0 in the No. 4 slot against Navy and Air Force Academies last weekend.

Dean Hampers Hoya Staff Writer

Following a narrow defeat last week, the Georgetown football team looks to rebound in its final home game of the season against the Bucknell Bisons on Senior Day on Saturday.

Although the Hoyas (3-6, 0-4 Patriot League) have suffered from injuries and inexperience in key positions this season, which have contributed to a six-game losing skid, they have managed to keep games competitive, with each loss being a twopossession game at worst.

They seek to translate their efforts into a Patriot League victory against a program that has been on the rise in recent years.

Bucknell football (3-6, 2-2 Patriot League) boasts a complex history, having won the first ever Orange Bowl in 1935 by beating the Miami Hurricanes.

The Bisons remained a serious force in college football in subsequent decades, sending several players to the NFL draft in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s.

The team, however, was downgraded to NCAA Division I-AA in 1978, becoming part of the newly formed Patriot League eight years later.

Bucknell has won only one conference championship since then and zero in the last 19 years.

However, the team has finished second in the league in two of the past three seasons, largely thanks to seventh-year head coach Joe Susan.

“Joe Susan is as good as it gets in the business. They’re a well-coached team,” Georgetown Head Coach Rob Sgarlata said. “They try to limit your possessions. If you look at their time of possession historically, they’ve been excellent.”

Susan’s offensive scheme is powered by Bucknell’s large offensive line, which includes five senior linemen who average approximately 300 pounds. Among this group is senior offensive linemen Julie’n Davenport, a standout tackle who is serving as the team’s captain for the second straight year.

“They’re excellent up front.

They pride themselves on being tough. They run the ball nonstop. It’s going to be a

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Senior wide receiver Justin Hill has scored two touchdowns and is averaging 35.9 yards per game receiving this year. game won in the trenches,” senior defensive lineman Hunter Kiselick — who notched a team-high nine tackles last week — said.

Meanwhile, the Hoya defense will focus on containing senior quarterback R.J. Nitti and his weapons on the edge.

The receiving corps is led by senior wide reciever Will Carter, who holds five career 100-yard receiving games.

Georgetown’s secondary will need to improve upon its performance against Holy Cross, in which it surrendered three long passing plays of 46-, 80- and 52-yards, all of which later led to touchdowns. 5 feet 8 inches junior defensive back Jelani Williamson was targeted in coverage several times but managed to snag an interception and force a fumble.

“We trust our guys and have utmost confidence putting them in those positions,” Sgarlata said. “Consistently over the year, our defensive backs, our safeties especially, have done a good job in some of the one-on-one matchups.”

On the other side of the ball, sophomore quarterback Clay Norris continues to play under center after solidifying himself as the starter by completing 25 of 37 passes for 185 yards last week.

“I think he’s feeling more comfortable in the spot and hopefully he continues to progress this weekend,” Sgarlata said.

The offense has demonstrated talent on the perimeter, particularly with senior wide receiver Justin Hill, who had a career-high 12 receptions last

week. In the ground game, junior running back Alex Valles continues to receive a majority of the team’s carries, while Norris also can be a threat with his legs when throwing lanes are unavailable.

“I’ll take our skill guys over anyone in the league,” Hill said. “I think we can match up with anyone.”

Bucknell’s defense, nevertheless, has proven to be stout.

Heading the effort is junior linebacker Mark Pyles, a second team All-Patriot League selection who led the team with 95 tackles last year. The defense has also forced 17 turnovers in its nine contests this season.

“They’re not really complicated, but they’re excellent at what they do. Historically, they’ve been at the top of the Patriot League in defense,” Sgarlata said. “They’re holding teams to 24 points a game, about 100 yards rushing and 260 throwing the ball.”

Saturday’s game also holds special significance for Georgetown seniors. Since the Hoyas will travel to New York to play Colgate next week for its season finale, this weekend’s game will be the last one played at Cooper Field until next September. “[It’s] definitely more meaningful, the last time I get to play on this field. Just reflecting over the last four years, it’s been a good time,” Hill said.

“These kids have been with us through the battles,” Sgarlata said. “Mostly people see what we do in the season, but this is a 365-day-a-year commitment, and I’m really proud of these guys.”

Crew

Fall Finale Begets Experience Carter Owen

Special to The Hoya

Two weekends ago, the Georgetown rowing team closed out its fall schedule with a pair of regattas — the Head of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 29 and the Princeton Chase in Princeton, N.J., on the following day.

After a disappointing start in Philadelphia, the team improved its results by the end of the weekend.

The squad’s performance gives it positive momentum and some much-needed rest as it begins winter training for its spring season, set to begin in mid-March.

Head Coach Luke Agnini admitted that the team’s results at Schuylkill did not meet his expectations. However, he was encouraged by the tight internal competition between the lightweight A and B boats, both of which finished within seconds of each other.

“We ended up making two boats out of our top 16 rather than just sending our top eight and have them battle it out,” Agnini said. “Our two even boats went about as fast as our one boat did last year, which is great.”

At Princeton, the team was faced with strong headwinds, and even stronger competition. Yet, despite racing the day before, Georgetown’s two lead boats each improved their times by over 10 seconds.

“Surprisingly, the faster boat was the one with all the younger guys, which is good,” Agnini said. “Depth was something we didn’t have last year, and it’s good for the upperclassmen to feel some internal pressure.”

Overall, Agnini praised the entire team’s effort in the final race of the fall campaign.

He specifically singled out the influence of older rowers and the team’s ability to overcome injuries.

“A lot of young guys stepped up, and a lot of the

COURTESY GUHOYAS

The Georgetown men’s lightweight crew team ended its fall season with a pair of regattas Oct. 29 and 30. older guys who were forced into leadership positions because of injuries did a great job too,” Agnini said.

When asked about his primary goal for the spring, Agnini prioritized the health of his rowers. To him, it has been their biggest deterrent so far this year, as illnesses have hampered his inability to field the entire team at races.

“Ever since the first week of October, we haven’t had a full squad, and when the squad was at full strength in September, I thought things were going really well,” Agnini said.

In preparation for spring races, Agnini plans on emphasizing rhythm and unity in practice.

“I want the guys to become more in tune with the rhythm and style of rowing so that they’re not only more interchangeable, but all on the same page when we hop back on the water in March,” Agnini said. “That takes time when you’re trying to manufacture that with a bunch of guys who all row a bit differently, but there’s a great work ethic here. Guys bust their butts every day.”

The team has roughly four months before its next race, but that doesn’t mean they

can take time off. Agnini already has plans to get his team back out on the water this week to build more consistency as his full roster rounds into form.

“Instead of getting indoors … we’re actually going to hit the water harder and do way more time on the water, so when we get through the winter I have a better idea of where to start in March,” Agnini said. “I want to make more time for film and video analysis. In rowing, you have to get so much volume training in to be fit enough to compete that you don’t have as much time for the X’s and O’s as you want. We’re trying to create time for that.”

Despite the adversity it has faced so far this year, the team remains optimistic. Agnini has high expectations for his squad. He believes that the rowers have the ability to improve, given enough practice and instruction.

“We want to develop these guys, educate them and eventually empower them so that on race day, they’re completely aware of what they have to do,” Agnini said. “At the end of the day, these guys have to get really good at competing.

You’re not going to improve every day, but you have to try.”

SPORTS

friDAY, November 11, 2016

Women’s Soccer

THE HOYA

B9

Men’s Basketball

Poise Needed for Deep Run TOURNAMENT, from B10

to the semifinals than in years past. Georgetown’s strongest potential opponents in the two stages after St. Francis (10-12-0) would be Rutgers (11-4-6) and Virginia (13-4-2), both of which Georgetown has already defeated this season.

Head Coach Dave Nolan sees no complacency from the team after the Big East victory and believes it sees a similar opportunity.

“When you get into these tournaments and every team is really playing for their lives, every mistake is magnified, every goal is tougher to score,” Nolan said. “So the games are always going to be tighter. We have been to some extent the victim of bracketing in the past, where we’ve had some ridiculously tough games based on the current format for setting up the tournament.”

St. Francis will be no pushover, however, winning the Northeast Conference Championship with wins over Fairleigh Dickinson (7-12-1) and Central Connecticut State (9-11-1). The Red Flash only conceded one goal

in a loss to an impressive George Washington side (11-7-3), and lost 3-1 at tournament top-seeded West Virginia (19-1-1).

“Every mistake is magnified, every goal is tougher to score.”

DAVE NOLAN Head Coach

In a one-and-done tournament, a mistake or two could end Georgetown’s season, even at the hands of the team with the worst record in the field.

“Now, you can’t afford to slip up. So you have to take every team at their best, and you have to respect everyone you play.

And St. Francis have been on a pretty good run,” Nolan said. “They’ve won nine of their last 10. I know Brenda [van Stralen] pretty well, she’s a very good coach. She’ll have a game plan to stop us doing what

we do well. And we’ve just got to go out and focus on taking care of business on our home field.”

Looking ahead has not proven an issue for the Hoyas, who have taken games one at a time all season.

“Success for this group will always be, ‘Have they achieved everything they can achieve with no regrets?’ We’ve never talked about goals,” Nolan said.

“We’ve never really sat down and said, ‘This will define success and this will define failure.’ We’ve always taken the approach of, ‘Let’s try to get better every day in practice.’”

As for a Big East hangover, Wenger understands the balance to be struck between celebration and preparation.

“You take the time to celebrate,” Wenger said.

“You have fun, you revel in the fact that you’ve accomplished something we’ve been working toward for multiple years and eventually you settle down and realize there’s more to come. There’s tomorrow. Got to get back on the field.”

The first-round game will be played on Shaw Field at 12 p.m. Sunday.

FILE PHOTO: AIDAN CURRAN/THE HOYA

Junior defender Liz Wenger was named to the Big East All-Tournament team on Sunday. This season marks her third trip to the NCAA tournament in as many years.

FILE PHOTO: STANLEY DAI/THE HOYA

On Nov. 14, 2015, then-senior guard Rashun Davis, number 5, scored the game-winnning three-pointer for Radford in double overtime, handing Georgetown a loss in its season opener.

Defensive Focus Crucial SPARTANS, from B10

last season while pulling down six rebounds per game. His frontcourt partner, who Payne employs when Buchanan subs out, is sophomore center Phillip Whittington.

“I don’t want to say the exact opposite, but he’s a 6-foot-9 pogo stick,” Thompson said of Whittington’s presence and athletic ability alongside Buchanan. “Those two are offensively a presence inside you have to pay attention to.”

The Hoyas look to counter the Spartans’ post players with their renewed commitment to stopping opposing offenses, a much-needed improvement over last year’s 80th-ranked defense.

“There are a whole lot of nuances,” Thompson said with regard to the team’s bolstered defense.

“If you have the communication and you have the effort, that covers for everything else. And then you get into whatever tactics, whatever schemes you have. But our communication has been a little bit better.”

In addition to becoming more schematically and technically sound, the Hoyas have refocused their mentality on this one game. Exactly like last season, the opener directly precedes a matchup against crosstown rival

Maryland, ranked No. 25 in this year’s Preseason AP Poll and ranked No. 3 at this time last year.

With a nationally televised, local rivalry game following a home matchup against a small conference school, the team looked past Radford last season and was blindsided by the buzzer-beating, double-overtime loss.

“Being a bigger team, we want to go out and outdo their energy.”

RODNEY PRYOR Graduate Student Guard

This year, however, junior Isaac Copeland stresses that the entire team has bought into a game-by-game mentality.

“Obviously, you can’t take any team for granted seeing last year’s game,” Copeland said with regard to the Radford game.

“We just learn to attack every game like it’s the Dukes and North Carolinas of the country.”

In focusing on treating every team as if it were a marquee matchup, the Hoyas are anticipating the energy that mid-major schools often bring in games against power conference programs.

“I know for myself, being the leader at Robert Morris, when we were going into those games, we wanted to go out and compete,” graduate student and transfer guard Rodney Pryor said of the big-game mentality he had for his four years as a Colonial. “Now being at Georgetown and being a bigger team, we want to go out and outdo their energy. Sometimes when you play mid-majors, your energy isn’t as high as it needs to be, so you’re making errors that you normally wouldn’t make.”

The Hoyas look to start this season with a statement win in front of a home crowd that saw an unexpected decline in average attendance from 2014-15’s NCAA tournament season. Moreover, Thompson plans to unveil a more spread-out scoring distribution in light of the departure of D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (COL ’16).

“In many ways, we were predictable,” Thompson said in reference to the team with Smith-Rivera position as its primary scorer. “I don’t think we are going to be predictable this year.”

The road to an NCAA tournament bid and Big East title begins this Saturday at the Verizon Center. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m., and the game will be televised on Fox Sports 2.

Women’s Basketball

GU Prepared to Stave Off Experienced GW Team COLONIALS, from B10

Scaible and Washington helped lead George Washington to a 26-7 overall record last season. The Colonials finished second in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings with a record of 13-3 before going on to win the league’s postseason tournament, defeating Duquesne University by a narrow threepoint margin in the title game. That victory guaranteed George Washington a place in the NCAA Tournament, where the Colonials’ season came to an end, losing to Kansas State 56-51 in the first round.

“I know that they will be ready, but I’m excited because we will be, too.”

NATASHA ADAIR Head Coach

“[George Washington] is a program that went to the NCAA tournament three straight years and they have some returning pieces that are there,” Adair said. “It is about being competitive against George Washington, but it is also about focusing

on the things we’ve been working on and just seeing those things come to fruition on game night.”

George Washington will be under the leadership of a new head coach this season. Jennifer Rizzotti will make her first appearance on the sidelines for the Colonials in McDonough Arena.

Rizzotti previously served 17 seasons as head coach at the University of Hartford. She led the Hawks to six NCAA tournament appearances and leaves the America East Conference as the winningest coach in the league’s history. As a player, Rizzotti won a National Championship with the University of Connecticut in 1995. She also played professional basketball for eight seasons.

“Jen Rizzotti is for sure a coach to be respected. … Just having that championship mindset and experience, having played for [Head Coach] Geno Auriemma at Connecticut,” Adair said. “I know [George Washington] will be prepared. I know that they will be ready, but I’m excited because we will be, too.”

Rizzotti and the Colonials will make the short trip to McDonough Arena on Friday.

“It’s opening night. It’s in McDonough,” Adair said. “Our court, our rules, our way.”

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

FILE PHOTO: KARLA LEYJA/THE HOYA

Then-sophomore guard Dorothy Adomako scored a game-high 23 points in last year’s season opener against University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Adomako averaged 14.5 points per game last season in a tie for the team lead.

Sports

Men’s Basketball Georgetown vs. USC Upstate Saturday, 12 p.m.

Verizon Center

friday, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

women’s soccer

No. 2 Seed GU to Host St. Francis in NCAA First Round Chris Balthazard Hoya Staff Writer

As the selection show progressed and the No. 5 Georgetown women’s soccer team learned it would play St. Francis in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the team exuded a quiet, confident sense of anticipation.

“I’m more comfortable stepping into the tournament than I was when I first started here.”

Liz Wenger Senior Defender

Fresh off the team’s firstever Big East championship trophy, the Hoyas (16-2-3) were drawn as a No. 2 seed in this year’s 64-team bracket Monday night. Assuming Georgetown advances, its first three games will be held at Shaw Field, the first of which will be on Sunday at noon.

The draw marks the fifth consecutive season the Hoyas have qualified for the

tournament, though they have failed to advance past the quarterfinal stage. A string of three straight second-round appearances was broken last season when Hofstra eliminated Georgetown on penalties in the first round.

With a bevy of experienced players and a 4-1 record against teams in the top 25 — the second-best record in the country — the Hoyas have reason to be confident entering their season’s tallest task.

Junior defender Liz Wenger, named to the Big East All-Tournament team on Sunday, felt the additional pressure of the tournament her freshman year, but has been able to tune it out since.

“We’ve been to the NCAA two times since I’ve been here. I’m not going to say it’s old hat, but I’m more comfortable stepping into the tournament than I was when I first started here. And I’m sure that’s the same for all the upperclassmen,” Wenger said. “Our nonconference schedule was very difficult.”

While nearly old hat, this year’s tournament presents the Hoyas with an opportunity: a slightly easier path See TOURNAMENT, B9

FILE PHOTO: AIDAN CURRAN/THE HOYA

Senior forward Grace Damaska scored one of Georgetown’s two goals in Sunday’s Big East championship win over Marquette. Damaska leads the team with 13 goals this season and has tallied five assists.

Men’s basketball

women’s basketball

Hoyas Look to Avoid Upset in Opener Season to Start With DC Rivalry Paolo Santamaria Hoya Staff Writer

After a nearly eightmonth offseason that bookended the program’s worst record in 43 years, the Georgetown men’s basketball team opens its season Saturday at home, where it will debut its new talent against the South Carolina Upstate Spartans.

molly o’connell

“It’s not a question on, ‘Oh, remember last year how we started off? Let’s not do it again.’ We have a different group.”

John Thompson III Head Coach

FILE PHOTO: STANLEY DAI/The HOYA

Entering his 13th season coaching the Blue and Gray, Head Coach John Thompson III has a different mindset considering last season’s opening loss to the Radford Highlanders at the Big South conference.

“It’s not a question of, ‘Oh, remember last year how we started off? Let’s not do it again.’ We have a different group,” Thomp-

Dorothy Adomako and sophomore guard Dionna White led the team with The Georgetown wom- 14.5 points per game while en’s basketball team opens senior forward and co-capits 2016-17 season with a tain Faith Woodward avermatchup against cross- aged nine points. town rival The George “You’re going to hear Washington University. about Dorothy, you’re goThe two teams last met ing to hear about Dionna in 2013, with the game and you’re going to hear ending in a 78-57 victory about Faith,” Adair said. for the Hoyas. The two “But we have so many difteams were ferent pieces unable to and pieces schedule a “We have so that people meeting last haven’t even many different season. seen yet. ...

“It’s always pieces and Whatever we great to have do is going to your local ri- pieces that be a concerted valry game,” people haven’t team effort.”

Head Coach The CoN a t a s h a even seen yet.” lonials also Adair said. begin this Georgeseason with town enters NATASHA ADAIR continuity in Head Coach the new seascoring. Two son coming of the team’s off an imthree top proved 2015-16 campaign. scorers from last year reThe Hoyas finished with turn to the roster. Senior a 16-14 record and earned forward Ciara Washington an at-large bid for the averaged 13.2 points per Women’s National Invita- game during her junior tional Tournament. campaign, while senior This year’s roster in- guard Hannah Scaible avcludes all three of the eraged 10.4 points.

Hoyas’ top scorers from last season. Junior guard See COLONIALS, B9

Hoya Staff Writer

Appearing in 33 games last season, junior forward Isaac Copeland averaged 5.4 rebounds and 11.1 points per game on 42.9 percent shooting. son said, referring to the team’s unexpected loss in the season opener last year. “We’re in Upstate mode right now. That’s not just coach speak. The team, they know. And Upstate, they’re a veteran team. They have a local kid coming home. What they have is a presence inside.”

The Spartan force in the

paint that Thompson and the Hoyas face Saturday is a one-two punch that Upstate Head Coach Eddie Payne uses to wear down opponents’ interior defenses.

“Seven-foot kid, big strong kid, can score over both hands. He draws so much attention,” Thompson said

in reference to senior center Michael Buchanan, the team’s leader and primary offensive threat. “You can’t move him. You watch him, he can really score.”

Buchanan averaged 11.6 points per game on an efficient 57.1 percent shooting See SPARTANS, B9

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