December 27, 2008 | AP Press

HONOLULU, HI – Maurice Joseph led four players in double-figures with 18 points to lift Vermont to a 83-72 win over George Washington on Saturday night.

The Catamounts (7-3) led throughout the game in the first round of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

They also got 15 points from Mike Trimboli, 14 from Colin McIntosh, while Marqus Blakely had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Vermont led by as many as 14 points with 12:33 to play after Blakely hit a mid-range jumper off an assist from Joey Accaoui to make it 55-41.

Rob Diggs led the Colonials (6-3) with 25 points and 14 rebounds.

George Washington pulled within five points on Damian Hollis’ turnaround banker to make it 70-65 with 3:57 to play.

But Vermont’s Garvey Young answered with a 3-pointer and the Colonials could get no closer. Vermont outrebounded George Washington 37-30.

December 23, 2008 | AP Press

SACRAMENTO, CA — Senior center Joseph Katuka had 13 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots to help George Washington defeat Sacramento State 59-47 on Tuesday night.

Robb Diggs led the George Washington Colonials (6-2) with 14 points and six rebounds.

Antonio Flaggs and Loren Leath each had 11 points to lead the Sacramento State Hornets (1-10).

With the Hornets missing 14 of their first 16 shots from the field, the Colonials built up an 18-5 lead after Damien Hollis made a basket with 7:39 left to play in the first half.

The Hornets outscored George Washington the rest of the way, but the Colonials held on for a 32-21 halftime lead. The Colonials made 41.9 percent (13 of 31) of their shots from the floor in the first half while the Hornets shot 17.4 percent (4 of 23).

December 17, 2008 | AP Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rob Diggs scored 17 points and Noel Wilmore added 11 points to lead George Washington to a 63-50 win over American on Wednesday night.

The Colonials (5-2) held the Eagles (4-5) to a season-low 33.3 percent from the field (18-54) and only three field goals over the final 13:37 of the second half. Diggs scored nine points during that stretch for the Colonials, who have won 10 of their last 11 games against the crosstown rival Eagles — though the two schools have not played in five years.

Brian Gilmore scored 23 points and Nick Hendra had 14 for the Eagles, who played their first game in 11 days and dropped their fourth straight overall. American’s leading scorer Garrison Carr was held to six points on 1-of-14 shooting.

The Colonials, who won their second straight, opened the game with four 3-pointers, including two from Wilmore.

December 13, 2008 | AP Press

WASHINGTON, DC – Damian Hollis scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half and George Washington withstood a second-half rally to defeat Harvard 78-63 on Saturday.

Rob Diggs scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Tony Taylor added 11 points for the Colonials (4-2), who made more than half of their field goal attempts (26 of 47) for the first time this season. George Washington led by as many as 21 points in the first meeting between the schools.

Drew Housman led the Crimson (4-4) with 15 points and Jeremy Lin scored 13 points, including seven during a 14-2 run that trimmed the deficit to eight midway through the second half. Peter Boehm added 11 points for the Crimson.

Hollis made 8 of 11 attempts from the floor, tying his career high for points, and scored nine points during a 17-9 run to give George Washington a 36-28 halftime lead.

December 7, 2008 | AP Press

WASHINGTON, DC. – Landon Milbourne scored a career-high 20 points and Maryland cruised to a 76-53 win over George Washington on Sunday night.

Greivis Vasquez added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Maryland in the BB&T Classic.

Adrian Bowie had 17 points and Eric Hayes had 13 for Maryland (6-2).

Maryland took control about four minutes into the game when Eric Hayes hit a 3-pointer on three-straight possessions in a span of 36 seconds to give the Terrapins a 13-4 lead. George Washington (3-2) had no answer as Maryland pushed the lead to 45-26 at halftime.

Maryland was 7-for-12 on 3-pointers in the first half, and finished 9-for-19. George Washington struggled from long range, making 4 of 15 3-pointers.

George Washington shot 30.8 (20 of 65) percent, its lowest mark and the lowest of any Maryland opponent this season. Maryland shot 42.9 (27 of 63) percent.

November 26, 2008 | AP Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reserve Noel Wilmore scored 14 points and Damian Hollis scored 13 points including a late tip-in to help George Washington hold on for a 70-64 win over Maryland, Baltimore County on Wednesday night.

Tony Taylor added 10 points and Rob Diggs pulled down 14 rebounds for the Colonials (3-1), who exacted revenge after losing at UMBC last season.

Proctor led the Retrievers (3-2) with 17 points and nine rebounds. Justin Fry scored 12 points while Jay Greene and Rich Flemming each added 11 points for UMBC, who led by as many as nine points in the first half.

Darryl Proctor rallied the Retrievers with six-straight points to cut the lead to 66-64 with 40 seconds remaining. After Taylor hit a free throw with 19.1 seconds to put the Colonials up by three, his next shot missed and Hollis snuck in for the put-back to increase the lead to five.

November 22, 2008 | AP Press

Auburn, Ala. – Tay Waller had 19 points and Frankie Sullivan added 17 to Auburn overcome 15-point deficit to beat George Washington 83-71 on Saturday.

Trailing 44-29 at the half, the Tigers (2-1) outscored the Colonials 25-9 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, as Waller’s 3-pointer put Auburn ahead since a 20-17 lead in the first half.

The Tigers led 64-62 with just under 5 minutes to play and 14 of their last 19 points came from the foul line. The Tigers made 14 of 17 attempts down the stretch and were 27 of 36 for the game.

Damian Hollis scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half for George Washington (2-1).

Waller also had five steals, four rebounds and three assists for the Tigers. Lucas Hargrove scored 13 points and Korvotney Barber added 11.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reserve Noel Wilmore scored 16 points and Damian Hollis added 15 points and five blocks as George Washington defeated Binghamton 71-57 Wednesday night.

The Colonials held Binghamton to one field goal over a 15-minute stretch to pull away in the second half.

Rob Diggs added 13 points for George Washington (2-0), which won its 20th straight home opener.

Dwayne Jackson scored 20 points and D.J. Rivera added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Bearcats, who were held to 31.4 percent (16 of 51) shooting from the field.

After Binghamton (1-1) scored the opening basket, the Colonials responded with 11 straight points and never relinquished the lead. They held the Bearcats without a field goal for over 7 minutes during a 18-8 run, capped by a Tony Taylor 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half to give the Colonials a 38-26 halftime lead.

November 14, 2008 | AP Press

BOSTON, MA — Damian Hollis scored five straight points as George Washington overcame an overtime deficit to defeat Boston University 63-58 Friday night.

The Colonials blew an early 10-point lead and trailed by as many as six in the second half, but they led by two in the closing seconds. BU’s Corey Lowe, who suffered through a 2-for-15 shooting night, forced overtime on a layup with 2.1 seconds left.

Lowe then hit two free throws and John Holland nailed a 3-pointer to put BU ahead, 56-51, with 3:45 left in overtime.

But Wynton Witherspoon cut the lead to three and Herman Opoku tied it on a 3-pointer with 2:04 left. Hollis then hit a free throw and two baskets for the Colonials.

Witherspoon had 13 points and six rebounds.  Rob Diggs got 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Holland led BU with a game-high 23 points and had 8 rebounds.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Enrollment: 20,220

Founded: 1821

President: Steven Knapp

Athletic Director: Jack Kvancz

Athletic Web Sites: gwsports.cstv.com, gwhoops.com, colonialhoops.blogspot.com

Nickname: Colonials

Colors: Buff and Blue

Arena: Smith Center

Capacity: 5,000

Average Attendance: 3,019

Head Coach: Karl Hobbs

Overall Record: 123-82 (60% Winning Percentage)

Record at George Washington: 123-82

2007-2008 Record: 9-17 (5-11) No Post Season

Assistant Coaches: Darrell Brooks, Roland Houston, Greg Collucci

ROSTER

1 Travis King R-SO PG 6-2 215 New Haven, CT/South Kent (CT) Prep
*2 Xavier Alexander SO G/F 6-6 215 Forest Park, OK
3 Tony Taylor FR PG 5-11 165 Sleepy Hollow, NY
*5 Robert Diggs SR WF 6-8 202 Brandywine, MD
*11 Wynton Witherspoon R-SR WF 6-7 197 Duluth, GA/Virginia Tech
12 Johnny Lee JR PG 5-8 166 Nashville, TN
13 Jabari Edwards R-FR F 6-9 200 Brooklyn, NY/St. Benedict’s (NJ)
15 Aaron Ware FR WF 6-4 190 Los Angeles
21 Hermann Opoku JR C/F 6-9 225 Vienna, Austria/South Kent (CT) Prep
*22 Damian Hollis JR G/F 6-8 205 Fort Lauderdale, FL
31 Noel Wilmore SR WG 6-3 190 Chester, PA
33 Matt Allbritton FR WG 6-4 180 Dallas
42 Joseph Katuka SO C 6-10 205 Nigeria/Montverde Academy (FL)

*Returning starters

OVERVIEW

For the Colonials, the upcoming season can be billed as the Return of the King.

Travis King, one of the best young guards in the league, injured his knee and missed his sophomore season. Minus its point guard, the GW backcourt fell into disarray – as did the team. The Colonials staggered to a 9-17 record and were one of two schools not invited to the league tournament.

It was a shocking reversal for program that earned three straight NCAA invitations and averaged more than 22 wins annually over the preceding four years.

Even with the return of King, the Colonials are unlikely to reach those lofty heights soon. Recruiting has been uneven lately and GW still has plenty of holes – mediocre outside shooting, a “weak” interior, a short bench.

What a healthy King will do is make the school far more competitive. The Colonials struggled most of last season, but the team began to jell by mid-February. GW went 4-4 and gave league heavyweights Xavier and Massachusetts all they could handle. And GW did it with a 5-8 walk-on, Johnny Lee, running the show.

Lee won’t be forgotten. He’ll get the chance to back up King. The Colonials also return Robb Diggs, one of the best frontcourt players in the A-10, and a pair of talented bookend forwards in Wynton Witherspoon and Damian Hollis.

The task for the Master Hobbit, err, Hobbs is to build a worthy supporting cast. If he can extract solid production from the bench, GW’s sequel to a disastrous 2007-08 season will be much easier to watch. A league championship ring is not in the offing, but certainly a trip to Atlantic City.

DEPARTED PLAYERS

Maureece Rice (9.2 ppg, 2.7 apg, 32.4% 3PG). The former league tournament MVP and Third Team All-Conference performer pulled a Houdini as a senior. Rice feuded with the coach, resisted his conversion to point and disappeared for long stretches. Suspended twice, he was kicked off the team with one week left. Although Rice still scored 9 points a game – down from 16 as a junior – most of his baskets came after the outcome was decided. It was a puzzling end to what had been a terrific career.

Cheyenne Moore (5.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 34% FG, 35% 3PG). Clemson transfer, a tantalizing 6-5 athlete with skills, was dismissed after two disappointing seasons. Moore’s problems appeared mostly mental. He took questionable shots, was careless with the ball and never really seemed to fit in.

Miles Beauty (4.8 ppg, 38% FG, 15 assists, 16 turnovers). Prized recruit from the famed St. Anthony’s in New Jersey failed to meet expectations. Beauty was given a chance to run the offense after King went down, but he did a poor job and was removed from the rotation. He was suspended in mid-February and later told he could not return.

RETURNING PLAYERS

Rob Diggs (14 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 49.6% FG, 31 blocks). Slender 6-8 senior is one of the best post players in the A-10 but didn’t get much recognition because of GW’s poor record. Although he’s usually defended by stronger players, Diggs uses his long arms to shoot over them or his quick feet to get around them. He sports the basic low-post moves, attacks the offensive glass and will knock down an occasional faceup jumper. Diggs topped the 20-point mark six times, including a career high 29 in a win over Dayton. Unlike many bigmen, he doesn’t hold the ball too long or commit many turnovers.

That’s not all. Diggs is the second returning rebounder in the A-10, and even if he isn’t a great one-on-one defender, opponents watch out for him because of his shot-blocking ability. He can affect a game in a number of ways.

Since he’s gotten better every year, there’s no reason to believe Diggs won’t improve as a senior. Yes, he could use a little meat on his bones, and he sometimes gets overpowered on defense, but Diggs more than holds his own. He’s a sure-fire All-Conference pick and perhaps even a darkhorse for player of the year.

Damian Hollis (9.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 42.4% FG, 31.4% 3PG, 81% FT). Versatile 6-8 forward was in a long funk until snapping out of it in mid-February. Hollis scored in double figures in four of the last six games, including a 22-point outburst vs. Rhode Island. One of the top rebounders in the A-10, he also grabbed 10 or more boards in seven games.

Blessed with excellent athleticism and an impressive set of skills, Hollis should be one of the best forwards in the league. Whether he lives up to his potential remains to be seen, though his late-season performance offers hope. He handles the ball well for his size, has 3-point range and is not unfamiliar with the finer points of post play. Smaller defenders have trouble guarding him down low and bigger ones can’t keep up with him outside.

What Hollis has to do is make quicker decisions and assert himself. He seemed to get discouraged easily and take a passive role at times. As a junior on a young team, it’s his job now to help lead the way. GW is unlikely to escape from the bottom third of the league unless Hollis plays to his considerable potential.

Travis King (5.7 ppg, 78 assists, 47 steals in 2007). The halt to GW’s winning ways can be directly traced to the absence of King, viewed as one of the best young point guards in the A-10. The redshirt sophomore was expected to start, but his absence forced Mo Rice to handle the ball and disaster ensued. Shaky point play hurt GW the entire year and the Colonials scored under 70 points a game (63.4 ppg) for the first time in the Hobbs era.

The return of King to full health is crucial to the restoration of GW among the league’s elites. As a freshman, he showed good floor vision and smart decision making on the fast break, both essential to Hobbs’ preferred uptempo offense that he was forced to jettison for much of last season. If given room, King can make open shots (41.7% 3PG) or take the ball to the rack. Though big and strong for point guard, he’s quick for his size and not easy to defend. Those physical attributes also make him a good defender (47 steals).

Recovering from a major injury and a one-year layoff, however, is no small thing, and it’s unclear if King has lost any mobility. Hobbs has a lot riding on his health.

Wynton Witherspoon (11 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 43% FG, 27% 3PG). The Virginia Tech transfer was terrific in the first half of the season to keep the struggling Colonials afloat. He reached double figures in 11 of the first 16 games and played with the poise expected of upperclassmen. Witherspoon faded down the stretch, scoring in double figures just twice in February and March, but that’s partly because teammates stepped up. Even as his scoring waned, Witherspoon contributed with his passing, ball-handling and boardwork.

A fifth-year senior, Witherspoon can be expected to play with more consistency, especially if King takes care of ball-handling duties. The 6-7 swingman often bore the responsibility to direct the offense when GW’s point guards failed to produce. Left to his own devices, Witherspoon is a triple threat on offense. Quick and wiry strong, he can shoot, drive or pass and pressure opposing defenses. He’s not a great defender himself, but Witherspoon does a reasonably good job when matched up with players his own size.

Noel Wilmore (6 ppg, 42% 3PG, 80% FT). Although his production yo-yoed all season, Wilmore finally began to justify his scholarship during league play. On a team desperate for outside shooting, Wilmore scored 24 points vs. URI (7 treys), 18 vs. Temple (6 treys) and 16 vs. St. Bonaventure (5 treys). Mixed in during the same stretch of games, however, were three goose eggs.

Wilmore will be in line for more minutes if he ceases with the disappearing acts. He knows his role now and is playing with confidence, a required state of mind for any good shooter. Wilmore better keep it that way. He’s just an average defender and doesn’t help the team much in other areas.

Xavier Alexander (4.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 37.7% FG, 43% FT, 30 assists). Sophomore forward is a fine athlete, but his offense has more holes than a teenager’s old jeans. He only hit double figures twice, in his second and third games, topping out at 11 points. Alexander is not much of an outside shooter (5-17 3PG) and had trouble scoring in close against bigger defenders. In time he can be expected to improve his jumper and learn to finish, but Alexander won’t be counted on for offense. He’s a key cog in GW’s press (26 steals) and excels on the fast break when opponents are forced into turnovers. Physically stronger than GW’s trio of slender forwards – Diggs, Hollis and Witherspoon – the 6-6 Alexander can also be counted to do the dirty work. In a late-season loss to Charlotte, he grabbed 14 rebounds.

Johnny Lee (1.8 ppg, 29% 3PG, 55 assists, 34 turnovers, 16 steals). Unheralded walk-on played a big role in GW’s late surge, starting nine games at point and giving the offense direction. In a loss at Xavier, he scored a career high 14 points (3-4 treys). He also notched 8 assists in a loss to Massachusetts. Just don’t expect numbers like that regularly. Lee is not a great shooter and his 5-8 frame is a handicap. What he does is take care of the ball and makes solid decisions. His sudden emergence gives Hobbs a capable backup to spell King and allow GW to maintain an uptempo pace.

Hermann Opoku (1.0 ppg, 10-20 FG, 6.3 mpg, 8 blocks). Junior forward is a tremendous athlete, but his basketball skills are anything but. Opoku is extremely undeveloped offensively. He doesn’t have great hands or react well to defensive pressure when he has the ball. GW clearly needs help at the center position, but Opoku does not appear to be the answer

Joseph Katuka (2 ppg, 48% FG, 67% FT, 7.7 mpg). Oft-injured 6-10 center displayed flashes of talent as a frosh, scoring 8 points vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore and 9 points vs. Duquesne. He’s long, agile and mobile. He’s also plenty raw and needs lots of work in the weight room and on the blocks. Katuka has a funny-looking shot and was easily pushed around in the paint. He didn’t offer much resistance defensively (just 5 blocks), either. Like most young bigmen, he’d do well to focus on defense and rebounding and lets his more skilled teammates carry the offensive load.

NEWCOMERS

Jabari Edwards –The 6-10 center (No. 240 PrepStars, 2006) played in two games before arthroscopic knee surgery sent his to the bench. The redshirt freshman spent the rest of the year trying to fatten up, with modest success. Edwards is a typical Hobbs frontcourt recruit. He’s long and athletic, but physically unimposing and challenged offensively. Yet with a big hole in GW’s middle, Edwards will compete for regular minutes. He’s a bigtime leaper with good shot-blocking potential and a better understanding of the game than teammates Opoku and Katuka. Sitting out last season also gave him a chance to develop without all the pressure.

Tony Taylor – Fast 5-11 point guard, who attracted attention from Big East schools, is said to have a high basketball IQ but his most notable asset is his ability to score. He’s a streaky 3-point marksman who averaged 30 points a game as a senior, a number helped by 90% free-throw shooting. GW needs outside shooting. Taylor will play as a freshman if he can provide some.

Matt Albritton – Well-traveled son of missionaries played his senior year at a small private school in Texas, and before that, in Palm Beach, Florida, where he’s been a prolific scorer at least since his sophomore year. Albritton is supposed to be an excellent 3-point shooter, though he’s big enough at 6-4 to score in other ways.

Aaron Ware – Little known 6-5 small forward is a quick leaper with long arms who’s supposed to be a good defender and a “glue” player. One scout said he plays with a “warrior’s mentality.” Since Ware is used to playing close to the basket, he’ll need to expand his range to become a major contributor in the A-10. Ware likes to attack the rim and is active on the glass, though his shot is suspect.

SCOUTING REPORT

The Colonials have a solid foundation on which to build and some carryover momentum from last season’s strong finish. The team ended with a positive rebounding margin and the defense buckled down after A-10 play began. GW finished second behind Xavier in both field-goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense. Hobbs has lots of long, quick players who cover plenty of space.

The offense, meanwhile, is certain to improve if King resumes where he left off. His return helps in a number of ways. The Colonials can play at a faster tempo and they won’t finish last again in the A-10 in assists. GW is likely to press more to create turnovers, another steady source of offense in the Hobbs era. King will also help stretch defenses or create baskets for his teammates with his shooting and penetration.

Finding a suitable partner in the backcourt is critical. Hobbs needs a player who can shoot the trey and won’t turn the ball over much. GW finished last in assist-to-turnover margin and 14th in the number of 3-pointers made – just 169 compared to 331 for A-10 leader Massachusetts.

Wilmore came on strong in his third year and is GW’s best shooter, but he’s not a prototype Hobbs defender. Witherspoon might fit the bill, but he’s not a great 3-point shooter and has a hard time defending smaller guards. Alexander can handle the defensive part, but he’s one of the worst shooters on the squad. The frosh Taylor can shoot, but he’s probably not strong enough to play major minutes.

The frontcourt is in good shape, with one caveat.

Diggs is tough to defend inside because of his quickness and length while Hollis and Witherspoon are both versatile outside-in scorers. Yet none of the three is physically imposing and bigger frontcourts can push them around. Young centers Katuka and Edwards have potential, but they aren’t beefeaters either and lack the offensive skills of their older teammates. It’s an old story, but GW might take a pounding at times.

Hobbs can count on five or six players. Getting bigger contributions from several others will dictate whether the Colonials achieve a middle-of-the-pack finish or higher.

Assuming, of course, King is truly ready to return to his rightful place in the pantheon of A-10 guards. He’s as important to his team as any other player in the league. If he’s hobbled, GW will be, too.

PREDICTION

The Colonials field a much-improved team, evidence of which emerged late last season. While it may be too soon to suggest GW is ready to return to its winning ways, it’s not out of the question. GW has the starting five and overall talent to compete with any team in the league and is sure to beat a few of the perceived favorites. Cracking the top half of the conference is within reach.

Yet climbing the ladder in an increasingly tough A-10 is not as easy as it might have been a few years ago. Another weak nonconference schedule won’t help matters. The Colonials appear to have too many question marks to vault into a discussion of the league’s top teams.

WH’s

NONCON PREDICTION: 8-4

L – At Boston University
W – BINGHAMTON
L – At Auburn
W – UMBC
L – vs. Maryland (MCI Center, Washington DC)
W – HARVARD
W – AMERICAN
W – At Sacramento State
W – vs. Vermont (Rainbow Classic, Hawaii)
W – TBA, but likely Hawaii (Rainbow Classic, Hawaii)
L – TBA
W – At Longwood

GW has loaded up on beatable opponents. Every single one is beatable, with the exception of perhaps Auburn. I first had GW at 10-2 but that just seems too good, so I changed the BU game to a loss as well as a game in the Rainbow Classic.

The Colonials have beaten BU regularly in the Hobbs era because their length bothers the Terriers. Yet this BU team has a fine backcourt and enough muscle up front to deal with GW’s thin-sters. Should be a win but …

I think GW gets payback at home vs. Binghamton and UMBC, both of which beat the Colonials last year. Harvard should be much improved with all five starters back and a good freshman class. American has a dynamite backcourt and is the favorite to win the Patriot League. I could see a loss in one of these two games, but I call it a sweep at home.

GW flies to California and Hawaii in late December. Sacramento State won just 4 games last year and turned over its roster, adding a bunch of jucos. The field in the Rainbow is so weak GW might be the most talented team among the eight invitees.

The Colonials could get a tough test in the first game vs. Vermont, which has three of the best players in the America East conference, including a Michigan State transfer (Maurice Joseph). If GW wins, Hawaii would likely be next. The Rainbows lost almost all their best players from last year. Not sure who the third opponent would be.