Season Record: 6-5 +1.5 UNITS
One play today.
George Washington (+3) at FlU - 4:00pm Pacific
Have had my eye on GW from the start of the season. Did not have the guts to play them in season opener on the road at #12 UConn, but welcome the idea of going against Florida International here. The Colonials lost by just 12 to the Huskies, trailing by only 4 at half-time. GW outrebounded UConn, held them to just 30 second half points, and .356 shooting for the game. This was a positive showing vs a UConn team that looked great Sunday night at Vanderbilt. GW notched back to back wins in their next two games against lesser opponents. They are using this trip to Miami in part to bond as a team. They will be spending a few extra days here than normal which could be to their advantage.
Second year head coach Karl Hobbs has his system fully in place. Hobbs is a former UConn assistant and has a no-nonsense approach. He returns four starters from last season, but thanks to a great recruiting class only two returning starters have kept their jobs. Three freshman are in the starting lineup. 6-6 forward Mike Hall (great all around game, 11.7ppg, 8.3rpg through first three games), 6-7 forward "Pops" Mensah-Bansu (12.7ppg, 6.0rpg), and 6-9 forward Omar Williams (6.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.3bpg) make up the starting frontcourt. Standout sophomore power forward Tamal Forchion broke an ankle in the offseason and is slowly rounding himself into shape. He missed the UConn game, played 2 minutes in next game, and 9 minutes in last game. He is expected to get more and more minutes but for now is still coming off the bench. This is a promising but young front court. Fortunately for GW, they have a superb backcourt to take pressure off the young guys. Senior guard Chris Monroe is one of the best scorers in the country (21.1ppg last year). He can do it all and is big enough to easily play small forward in a three guard lineup. Sophomore point guard T.J. Thompson (A-10 rookie team last year) is following up a solid freshman season with stellar play early on. Through three games he has averaged 9.7 points & 8.0 assists per game. Junior guard Greg Collucci (starter, 10.4ppg last year, will also play some small forward) is an experienced player and accomplished shooter. Junior Darnell Miller (played every position but center last year) is a great defender, leader, and playmaker. This gives GW a solid 8 man rotation that includes a good point guard, go-to scoring star, and experience off the bench.
Florida International ended last season on an 8 game losing streak. They finished 10-20 and just 4-10 in Sun Belt Conference games. Their RPI ranking was 254. Team chemistry was an issue last year and looks to be one again this year with three first year transfers playing prominent roles and 7 of the 13 players on the roster being international students. FIU is really shorthanded right now. They are playing without probably their two best players in sophomore power forward Taurance Johnson (led team in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots as a freshman) & junior Rodrigo Viegas (second leading scorer, great all-around player). Johnson was suspended for the first semester so he could focus on his academics. Viegas is recovering from an offseason knee injury and is not expected back until January.
Two first year JC transfers (Junior Matias & Elius Baez) are carrying the load right now for this team. They have averaged 19.2 & 18.0 per game respectively. Another transfer, forward Al Harris (formerly at Seton Hall) started the first three games but was sat out of last game due to a reported lack of intensity in practice. His status is unknown but if he returns to action or not this has to hurt the teams already delicate chemistry. FIU started the season 3-0 with three wins over cupcakes and the surprised everyone with an upset OT win at Princeton as a +11 dog. Is this team for real? With a 10-20 record last year and currently playing without their two best players I have to think the answer is no. In fact, FIU beat Princeton early on in last season as well but still were a bad team. The OT win at Princeton is making FIU a -3 favorite vs a team they have no business giving points to.
Despite some early injuries, GW started last season 10-5 which included a neutral court win over Marshall and road wins at Providence & at Old Dominion. With a very solid backcourt, winning on the road should not be a problem for this team. FIU only averaged 537 fans per game last season and final exams start December 7th.
The game may have a little extra meaning for 6th man Greg Collucci who is from nearby Palm Beach Gardens, FL. FIU's depleted frontcourt is at best even with GW's, but Colonials hold a big edge here in the backcourt. FIU will have no answer to Chris Monroe's scoring ability. Look for GW to notch a nice early season road win.
George Washington 1 UNIT
Good luck,
Edward
One play today.
George Washington (+3) at FlU - 4:00pm Pacific
Have had my eye on GW from the start of the season. Did not have the guts to play them in season opener on the road at #12 UConn, but welcome the idea of going against Florida International here. The Colonials lost by just 12 to the Huskies, trailing by only 4 at half-time. GW outrebounded UConn, held them to just 30 second half points, and .356 shooting for the game. This was a positive showing vs a UConn team that looked great Sunday night at Vanderbilt. GW notched back to back wins in their next two games against lesser opponents. They are using this trip to Miami in part to bond as a team. They will be spending a few extra days here than normal which could be to their advantage.
Second year head coach Karl Hobbs has his system fully in place. Hobbs is a former UConn assistant and has a no-nonsense approach. He returns four starters from last season, but thanks to a great recruiting class only two returning starters have kept their jobs. Three freshman are in the starting lineup. 6-6 forward Mike Hall (great all around game, 11.7ppg, 8.3rpg through first three games), 6-7 forward "Pops" Mensah-Bansu (12.7ppg, 6.0rpg), and 6-9 forward Omar Williams (6.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.3bpg) make up the starting frontcourt. Standout sophomore power forward Tamal Forchion broke an ankle in the offseason and is slowly rounding himself into shape. He missed the UConn game, played 2 minutes in next game, and 9 minutes in last game. He is expected to get more and more minutes but for now is still coming off the bench. This is a promising but young front court. Fortunately for GW, they have a superb backcourt to take pressure off the young guys. Senior guard Chris Monroe is one of the best scorers in the country (21.1ppg last year). He can do it all and is big enough to easily play small forward in a three guard lineup. Sophomore point guard T.J. Thompson (A-10 rookie team last year) is following up a solid freshman season with stellar play early on. Through three games he has averaged 9.7 points & 8.0 assists per game. Junior guard Greg Collucci (starter, 10.4ppg last year, will also play some small forward) is an experienced player and accomplished shooter. Junior Darnell Miller (played every position but center last year) is a great defender, leader, and playmaker. This gives GW a solid 8 man rotation that includes a good point guard, go-to scoring star, and experience off the bench.
Florida International ended last season on an 8 game losing streak. They finished 10-20 and just 4-10 in Sun Belt Conference games. Their RPI ranking was 254. Team chemistry was an issue last year and looks to be one again this year with three first year transfers playing prominent roles and 7 of the 13 players on the roster being international students. FIU is really shorthanded right now. They are playing without probably their two best players in sophomore power forward Taurance Johnson (led team in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots as a freshman) & junior Rodrigo Viegas (second leading scorer, great all-around player). Johnson was suspended for the first semester so he could focus on his academics. Viegas is recovering from an offseason knee injury and is not expected back until January.
Two first year JC transfers (Junior Matias & Elius Baez) are carrying the load right now for this team. They have averaged 19.2 & 18.0 per game respectively. Another transfer, forward Al Harris (formerly at Seton Hall) started the first three games but was sat out of last game due to a reported lack of intensity in practice. His status is unknown but if he returns to action or not this has to hurt the teams already delicate chemistry. FIU started the season 3-0 with three wins over cupcakes and the surprised everyone with an upset OT win at Princeton as a +11 dog. Is this team for real? With a 10-20 record last year and currently playing without their two best players I have to think the answer is no. In fact, FIU beat Princeton early on in last season as well but still were a bad team. The OT win at Princeton is making FIU a -3 favorite vs a team they have no business giving points to.
Despite some early injuries, GW started last season 10-5 which included a neutral court win over Marshall and road wins at Providence & at Old Dominion. With a very solid backcourt, winning on the road should not be a problem for this team. FIU only averaged 537 fans per game last season and final exams start December 7th.
The game may have a little extra meaning for 6th man Greg Collucci who is from nearby Palm Beach Gardens, FL. FIU's depleted frontcourt is at best even with GW's, but Colonials hold a big edge here in the backcourt. FIU will have no answer to Chris Monroe's scoring ability. Look for GW to notch a nice early season road win.
George Washington 1 UNIT
Good luck,
Edward
