link

The George Washington Colonials, members of the Atlantic 10 conference, finished their season with a disappointing 9-17 overall record and 5-11 in conference play. Last year Karl Hobbs dismissed three student athletes from the team. Maureece Rice was the first to go. Rice declared for the NBA draft after averaging 15.8 points per game in the 06-07 season and being named Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 tournament. He subsequently changed his mind and returned to play his senior year. In the 07-08 season, Rice’s offense struggled as he stepped into the point guard position for an injured Travis King. His average plummeted from nearly 16 points to less than 10 points per game. Rice served two one-game suspensions in the 07-08 season and was ultimately dismissed by Karl Hobbs in March for failing to adhere to team rules. In the post-season, two other players, junior forward Cheyenne Moore and freshman forward Miles Beatty were also dismissed from the team. Hobbs said the two were dismissed for failing to meet their on and off court epectations.

The loss of Rice, Beatty, and Moore will provide room for GW’s highly touted recruits: Tony Taylor, Matt Allbritton, Aaron Ware, and Dwayne Smith. A healthy Travis King will return to the court to reclaim the point guard position. As a freshman, King averaged 5.7 points and 2.4 assists. Senior Rob Diggs who averaged 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks last season will also return to lead the Colonials. In addition, GW will receive offensive support from junior forward Wynton Witherspoon (11.1 ppg), junior guard Damian Hollis (9.1 ppg) and senior guard Noel Wilmore (6.0 ppg).

Maryland will take on the George Washington Colonials on Sunday December 7th at 7:30 in the 14th annual BB&T Classic held at the Verizon Center. GW has beaten MD in the last two BB&T face-offs.

Probably the most accurate thing we can say about the incoming class is that they are high effort and high character guys.  Taylor seems to be the most acclaimed.  Ware could be a diamond in the rough, having been a bit of a late bloomer and needing work on his offensive skills - but still presenting lots of defensive and rebounding toughness and hustle.  Hopefully a lot like avier Aleander.  Allbritton would appear to be a bit of a question, having played against weaker opponents and not played AAU ball.  Very hard to believe that he'll be getting drunk and getting into fights and assaulting the team manager like a certain departed player did.  And he does have decent size and if his jump shot is as good as his proponents say it is, I would guess he'd see some action taking the dishoffs from King and Taylor.

Still very hard to project because this will be such an entirely different team than last year.  Jabari is essentially new as is Katuka and King wasn't healthy last year.  So 6 guys who weren't here last year sprinkled in with Diggs, Hollis, Noel, Wynton, avier, and Opoku.  At our level it will amount to can we get good coaching and develop good team chemistry.  Or another long year.

Gosh mentz- for your child's sake-  can't you just brush your teeth...before you kiss em  

hope you're well buddy

Link to Rivals.com GW preview. 

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=teamreports-2008-ncaab-gac&prov=sportschange&type=team_report

WH as his annual GW review on the A-10 board.  A must read, as always.  You will not find a better researched , objective GW review anywhere.

http://www.basketballforum.com/atlantic-10-conference/413811-10-preview-9th-place.html