Beltway Basketball Bonanza-- Where do we go from here?

College basketball's version of "Show Me Month" wraps up with with a few area schools on track for the tournament... others wondering where exactly their ceiling is... and a few hoping the floor isn't as low as it appears.

Georgetown (16-4, 6-3) continues to sail through the rough seas of Big East play-- slipping on the road at previously-on-the-mat Pitt 72-60. The Hoyas don't necessarily live by the three-- but in all three Big East losses Georgetown has struggled from outside the arc (14% against West Virginia, 31% against Cincinnati and 29% against Pitt). And things don't get any easier for coach John Thompson III's team: consecutive games against UConn, South Florida and Syracuse loom before the schedule lightens up.

Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse escapes a nail-biter with West Virginia... a non-goaltending call allowing the Orange to edge West Virginia 63-61. The team tries to find its way minus center Fab Melo... in his three game absence... SU's been outrebounded by double digits twice and barely outrebounded Cincinnati (36-35). And in the Big East there's always that tight turnaround/2 losses in 3 days possibility-- even if you're playing well. And then there's the Bernie Fine elephant in the room.

Maryland (13-7, 3-3) got a necessary win over Virginia Tech at home (73-69)... ending a three game losing streak and improving to 3-3 in the ACC. Terrell Stoglin proves to be the primary producer (21 of 28 points coming after halftime against the Hokies) while Sean Mosley comes up huge when it matters (5 free throws in the last 70 seconds of regulation). How healthy and more importantly how productive will Alex Len get during the upcoming stretch of four games out of six on the road? There are wins to be had against the ACC's underbelly... but you have to win on the road- and the Terps haven't done that yet this winter.

Cruising the Commonwealth-- a tale of two campuses: it's definitely the best of times in Charlottesville as Virginia is off to a 5-2 start in league play...Mike Scott a major force (23 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Clemson) for the Cavaliers. What remains to be seen is how they'll do against a very tough back end of the schedule—from here on UVa plays both North Carolina and Florida State twice. Virginia Tech plays Duke twice and has two more games against teams currently ranked—and the Hokies are 1-5 in league play with four losses coming by four points or less. This smacks of Virginia a few years ago during Sean Singletary’s senior season—when the close losses mounted early against a talented team before everything collapsed.

George Mason (18-5, 10-1) takes a six game winning streak to Delaware February 1st… and an at-large berth is not out of the conversation for the Patriots. Coach Paul Hewitt’s team still has to play VCU twice and Old Dominion once—and faces Lamar in the Bracket Buster.

George Washington (8-13, 3-4) remains offensively challenged (301st in scoring) and unable to win in the Atlantic 10 away from the Smith Center (0-4). And up next for coach Mike Lonergan: three straight games against A-10 contenders Xavier, UMass and Temple. February might get rather cold in Foggy Bottom.

Maryland Womens' Window-- a tough loss at Duke is one thing; slipping to Virginia Tech at home is another thing. Alyssa Thomas' thumb injury turned a tight rotation tighter-- and the question over the second month of conference play is how a bench long on quality but short on quantity (Lynetta Kizer and Brene Moseley provide punch off the pine—but that’s it).

American (14-8, 5-2) is halfway through Patriot League play and has only lost to the two schools ahead of it in the standings (Bucknell and Lehigh). Charles Hinkle has taken the mantle of primary point producer… as he and Troy Brewer are both shooting higher than 40% from three point range. Sadly, my sources in and around the program report the McDonald’s at Bender Arena is being shut down. Where can I get my Shamrock Shakes come March?

Howard (5-17, 2-7) snapped an eight game losing streak by beating South Carolina State 82 to 76… Brandon Ford led a balanced attack with 14 points. Can the Bison put a few W’s together with 4-16 Maryland-Eastern Shore and 5-14 Morgan State on deck?