It's no suprise that the Colonials have been a top-20 team for most of the year. What is surprising is that they've basically flown under the radar for most of this year despite returning four starters from last year's team that won 22 games, the Atlantic 10 tournament title and secured it's first NCAA tournament bid since 1999. This is a deep experienced team poised to do some damage in March. This year's edition of the Colonials is the culmination of a two year master plan by HC Karl Hobbs. In 2004, while Xavier and St Joe's were rampaging thru the Atlantic 10 enroute to the Elite Eight, Hobbs played his kids and managed to win 18 games as well as garnering an NIT invite. Last year's club returned the top-seven scorers from 2004 and won the conference before bowing to Georgia Tech in the first round of the Big Dance. The 2006 edition returns intact except for off guard TJ Thompson (13.2 ppg) whose long range shooting and leadership will be missed. Thompson had started 117 straight games for the Colonials before graduating. While Thompson is a significant loss, Hobbs prefers to see the glass 4/5's full rather than 1/5 empty. And for good reason. George Washington is 10-1 and the only team in the Atlantic 10 with five players averaging in double figures. The Colonials are led by shooting guard JR Pinnock who is averaging 15.4 points per game. Pinnock was the A-10's Sixth Man of the Year last year and will get serious consideration for Player of the Year this year. Pinnock is joined in the back court by floor general Carl Elliot who averages 11.1 ppg while dropping 4.4 dimes per outing. Both guards are 6'5" and solid rebounders. PF Mike Hall is second in scoring at 13.1 ppg and also grabs 7.6 boards. A tireless worker, Hall has a non-stop motor and has become the heart and soul of the team. SF Omar Williams 7.3 ppg has selflessly put his game on hold to become the team's top defensive stopper. His extra-long wingspan makes him particularly annoying to opposing scorers. At center we have second-team A-10 and first team All-Name, Pops Mensah-Bonsu. Pops comes via London and is the most athletic of the Colonials. Bonsu averages 11.6 ppg and 7.6 rpg. Pops biggest problems have been foul trouble (he challenges everything, 130 career blocks) and foul shooting (makes Shaq look like Steve Kerr). Maureece Reece is a talented sopomore guard who is first off the pine. Reece broke many of Wilt Chamberlain's long standing HS records in Philadelphia and is avgg 11.3 ppg in his debut season. Freshman Montrell McDonald (5.8 ppg) and LSU transfer Regis Koundija (4.3 ppg / 2.7 ppg) are the other key reserves getting double-digit minutes. Entering tonight's game against St Louis, the Colonials only loss was a 79-58 blowout to a very tough North Carolina State team. The Wolf Pack are top-10 in the country in almost every statistical category and number one in FG% allowed. NC State held GW to just 31% shooting which might have been aided somewhat by a scheduling quirk that saw the Colonials without a game the prior fourteen days. George Washington does have quality wins against Maryland and Temple. George Washington is off to a relatively slow start against the points this year at 3-2 but should be profitable in certain situations throughout A-10 play. The Colonials are 25-15 over the past three years as a favorite and a wallet fattening 24-13 in A-10 play. Talented, experienced, and deep. Keep your eye on George Washington as you'll probably be seeing a lot more of them in March! |
