College basketball's season isn't completely unlike college football's... although the pre-conference season is a little more defined on the hardwood: non-league games are few and far between before New Year's Day while many a gridiron opener involves league competition. November and December become a blend of "ceiling-floor" months... setting the range of possibilities for March...even though show me month (January) and moving month (February) define the team's position for closing month (March).
Georgetown had a comeback for the ages against Connecticut--thank goodness the Hoyas had some time off after their third game in seven days; the rough and tumble Big East that devoured them last year will be just as competitive this winter. But with Greg Monroe a year older and Austin Freeman a year wiser, a post-Huskies win fold doesn't appear in the cards.
Maryland began ACC play with a win over #18 Florida State and an overtime loss at Wake Forest; can the mixture of experience on the perimeter (Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes) and youth in the post (Jordan Williams and James Padgett) result in 10+ conference wins? An NCAA berth hinges on the answer.
George Mason lost a heartbreaker to Villanova in November and a head-scratcher at Radford in December before starting league play 4-1... the lone blemish a 25 point loss at Northeastern. Question is--how many more road thumpings will there be?
George Washington looks to bounce back from two straight sub-par seasons; reaching double-digit in non-conference wins is step one-- step two is holding its own during the Atlantic Ten regular season. Lasan Kromah is the impact player here; the freshman's providing a threat from the perimeter with 10 points a game and 40% three point shooting.
American tries to recover from losing the nucleus of back-to-back NCAA teams. Vlad Moldonveanu comes over from George Mason; the transfer's 18 points a game will be a major benefit as the Eagles make their way through Patriot League play.
Howard responded to a 1-13 non-conference slate to a 2-1 start in the MEAC--go figure. Gone is graduating senior Eugene Myatt (the best beltway player nobody knew about)... this year's bunch has a little more balance.
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