It didn't take long to discover who the special guest was at last night's ESPN-televised Big East game between Villanova and Georgetown. USAir Arena was abuzz with Secret Service agents. President Clinton, Georgetown Class of '68, sat at midcourt, just 10 rows from the floor to watch his alma mater defeat the ninth-ranked Wildcats, 77-52, on Presidents' Day. Clinton, who had attended George Washington's stunning upset over thentop-ranked UMass two weeks ago, is rapidly become the lucky charm for Washington, D.
C., college teams. And the Georgetown faithful loved it. There was a sign in the Georgetown student section urging a Clinton-Dick Vitale Democratic ticket in '96 and a banner draped over the drums in the Hoyas pep band that said, "Wanted: Presidential Sax Player.
" But even the presence of Clinton couldn't match the brilliance of Georgetown's sensational freshman guard Allen Iverson. Iverson scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds, contributed seven assists and had five steals as the relentless Hoyas (16-7, 9-6) overwhelmed the Cats, who looked emotionally drained after their 96-73 victory over UConn Saturday in Storrs. This was the wondrous talent we had heard about last year. This was the player Villanova fans missed watching back on Jan. 22 when Iverson played just 10 minutes with a bad ankle and scored only two points during a 66-60 loss at the Spectrum. Some Villanova fans taunted Iverson before that game with signs that ripped him for spending five months in jail after his conviction in a Virginia court for his part in a bowling alley fracas. That may not have been a good idea. Iverson, who ripped UConn for 29 points just last week, may have a long memory. He certainly gave the Cats (19-6, 12-3) something to think about as the Hoyas broke their 11-game winning streak. The President visited both locker rooms afterward and Iverson, for one, was impressed. "When he came in, I was just so shocked," he said. "I couldn't believe it. Then, when I shook his hand, that just made his day. Coach tried to get him to come back next game.
" Vitale got a chance to ask Clinton about Iverson during a rare ESPN halftime interview. "Did you ever have that kind of speed?
" Vitale asked. "I was slow," Clinton said. "Even when I was fast, I was slow.
" The Hoyas suddenly look like they are on a fast track that could lead them deep into the NCAA Tournament. They made a big statement, scoring on 18 of 27 possessions in the first half when they surged to a 41-22 lead. Jerome Williams, Georgetown's active forward, scored 14 points and 11 rebounds while Othella Harrington added 12. Kerry Kittles led Villanova with 16 points, but the Cats shot just 32% and committed 23 turnovers.
