Monday, March 14, 2005

Looking at George Washington

GW DRAWS GT


GW DRAWS GT PART II


GW'S HEAD COACH COULD REPLACE PETE GILLEN
Play close attention to GW head coach Karl Hobb's. He could be a candidate to take over at UVA.


USATODAY GAME MATCH-UP: GT VS GW
Nice view of the offense, defense and team comparisons. A lot of similarities. Both teams score about 75-80 a game. Both only give up about 66-67 pts/game.


GW TEAM CAPSULE

No. 12 George Washington


Nickname: Colonials.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 20, 445.
Record: 22-7, 11-5.
Bid: Atlantic 10 champion.
NCAA history: 3-7 in 7 appearances.
Last: 1999, lost to Indiana in first round.
Coach: Karl Hobbs, 64-52, four seasons.


Overview: Colonials, a charter member of the league in 1976, finally won the automatic bid, beating Saint Joseph's 76-67 in the tournament title game. T.J. Thompson (15 points in league final) is a hard-worker. Pops Mensah-Bonsu is an explosive player and usually finishes with an emphatic dunk. J.R. Pinnock was the A-10 Sixth Man of the Year. Balanced scoring features four double-digit scorers.


Best wins: Michigan State, Maryland, Temple, Saint Joseph's.


Starters: G T.J. Thompson, 5-10, Sr., (13.7 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 rpg, 82.6 FT%); F Omar Williams, 6-9, Jr., (9.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 48.1 FG%, 79.5 FT%); G Carl Elliott, 6-4, So., (8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 47.2 FT%); F Pops Mensah-Bonsu, 6-9, Jr., (12.4 rpg, 6.6 rpg, 56.5 FG%); F Mike Hall, 6-8, Jr., (10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 77.9 FT%).


Reserves: G J.R. Pinnock, 6-5, So., (13.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 50 FG%, 78.6 FT%); G Ricky Lucas, 6-4, So., (4.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg); F Alexander Kireev, 6-11, Jr., (2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 47.6 FG%).


LOOK AT THE COLONIALS


GREAT INSIDER LOOK AT GW FROM ESPN
More on their "rising star" head coach:

George Washington coach Karl Hobbs, 43, is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks. Prior to coming to GW in May, 2001, Hobbs was an assistant for eight years at UConn, where he's credited with recruiting the likes of Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton and Emeka Okafor to Storrs.


And the scouting report:

Offensive Preference
George Washington likes to play an up-tempo game to take full advantage of its outstanding speed and athleticism.


Defensive Philosophy
The Colonials play primarily man-to-man, but will throw some full-court pressure and half-court traps to entice you into playing faster than you'd like.


Secret Strength
Scoring balance. GW has four players who average in double figures and two others that average 9.8 ppg and 8.1 ppg, respectively.
Achilles Heel Besides T.J. Thompson (.398 3PT), the Colonials don't have that many money-in-the-bank 3-point shooters. That's why some foes have had success zoning up the Colonials.


Will Lose When ...
An opponent takes care of the ball and limits GW's easy baskets.
Famous Last Words With only one senior in its nine-man rotation, George Washington has the look of a team that will be back in the Big Dance again next year. But no one is thinking about next year. If the Colonials play dogged defense (that's been a big "if" at times), then they could win a game or two in this year's Big Dance.


GW TOURNEY HISTORY