Well, it's about time, isn't it? The over extension of the college football and basketball seasons mean one really doesn't get into college hoops until it's halfway complete. And the early returns are promising as most of the beltway schools either are in conference contention or enter January off a strong non-conference run.
Maryland (10-5, 0-2) actually led #1 Duke by six in the second half before falling 71-64 to the Blue Devils. Instead of trying to manage overconfidence the Terps find themselves trying to avoid an 0-3 start in the league with a non-conference trip to Villanova on the horizon. Wake Forest is a bad team in its first year under a new system-- but the Terps free throw shooting (9-18 against Duke) is worse.
Georgetown (12-4,1-3) tries to avoid a January slide down the Big East standings with a visit to #5 Pitt. The Hoyas actually built quite a non-conference resume with victories over Missouri and Memphis in December. Austin Freeman is having one of those signiature senior seasons (18ppg) but this team has had issues early and often shooting from three point range (4-17, 5-17 and 4-22 in three conference losses).
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse is off to a 16-0 (3-0) start and a #4 ranking... despite losing 2009 meal ticket Wes Johnson. The ability the last two seasons by the Orange to reload despite losing talent (Jonny Flynn the year before) keeps this alum in good spirits. The inability to purchase game tickets to the Orange game at Verizon leaves me shrugging and my fellow alums irate. It's as though the GU athletic department is diverting all of its energy into keeping the SU faithful out of the arena come February 26th. Now it is their right to have a home court advantage in their own gym... and I'm sorry if their frontrunning fairweather ticket base can't be trusted to sell out an 18,000 seat arena. And I don't care if I'm stuck in section 426-- just let me see my school. Perhaps if they focused as much energy on three-point shooting...
George Mason (10-5, 2-2)-- if you've followed the Patriots recently, you know where the wins and where losses have come from in CAA play. Once again Jeckyll has charmed the faithful (with Doc Nix and the best band around the beltway) while Hyde has hidden away from Fairfax. Every year coach Jim Larranaga has one player make "the leap" from peripheral player to contributor-- and this winter it appears as though sophomore forward Luke Hancock (12pts, 5reb and 5 ast) fits the bill.
George Washington (9-6, 2-0)-- the hottest team around the beltway? Don't laugh-- the Colonials have won four straight and are 2-0 in the Atlantic Ten. Now before you start making St. Patrick's Day plans-- keep in mind their wins have come against St. Joseph's and LaSalle (12-19 combined and 0-4 in league play). Tony Taylor (14 points and 5 assists a game) leads the way for a team that needs to upgrade offensively (ranked 294th in FG pct) for GW to become a consistent threat in A-10 play.
BCS Wrapup-- I'm just thankful it's over. 35 bowls over three weeks with the championship game being played 37 days after both teams had last played? I wish it weren't as successful as it was. I have more than a few friends who feel a playoff is imminent-- like the one who shrugged off a Bills Super Bowl loss by saying "when we get a major league expansion franchise..."-- and I just have to think we're not close to having a 4-team tournament, let alone an 8 or 16 team field. Congratulations, Auburn. Bring on 2011.
American (11-5, 1-0) quietly put together a nice non-conference run and took its Patriot League opener against Lehigh. The hammer and anvil combination of Vlad Moldeveanu (22ppg) and Stephen Lumpkins (12ppg and 8rpg) look like the conference's dynamic duo
Howard (2-13, 0-3)-- it's been a rough winter for the Bison--all thirteen of their losses coming by double digits. Mike Phillips is well on his way to the Eugene Myatt Award (averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds a game). There are opportunities on the horizon for first year coach Kevin Nickelberry's team to make noise-- they play one team currently with a winning overall record (Bethune Cookman) between now and March 3rd.
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