Beltway Basketball Bonanza-- continuing education...

You never stop learning in college... or in college basketball. Teams that go 1-13 in pre-conference play become league contenders while December flavors of the month taste sour when league play begins... players step up or slip into a shell... and crazy league developments have you shaking your head bigtime. Up until the final buzzer in March or April, you never stop learning.





Georgetown lost tough games at Syracuse and Villanova but was able to end Pitt's 31 game home winning streak. Despite Greg Monroe playing like a sophomore (which he is) and not like a combination of what we think we remember about Patrick Ewing/Alonzo Mourning (which doesn't exist)...this team has a shot to make things happen in Big East play-- they look like the classic #4 seed that's an afterthought in their own league but dangerous during the tournament.



Alma mater update-- Syracuse is 20-1 for just the third time under coach Jim Boeheim... and this team has the feel of the late 80's units that I cut my teeth on... I can't believe how athletic this team looks, especially Wesley Johnson (serious hops).



Maryland somehow leads the ACC (a half game ahead of surprising Virginia) and has posted three straight double digit league victories (while scheduling the Longwood punching bags/tomato cans). The fire and ice (Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes) combo plus better than expect big men in the lineup is a recipe for success-- it's just a question of how much. And how long can this team play as well as they are as a unit against their ACC rivals?

George Mason continues to cruise through CAA play; but while an 8-1 league mark isn't out of the ordinary, three straight road conference wins is notable. Even in the years when GMU's contended for an NCAA berth, they've been less than ideal away from the Patriot Center. Ryan Pearson and Mike Morrison have made the leap from learning freshmen to producing sophomores...a nice presence inside to counter AU's backcourt firepower.


George Washington has hit an early Atlantic Ten Conference snag; four straight losses has washed away much of the non-league confidence the Colonials built in themselves... and it doesn't get much better in the near future: the next three opponents are a combined 42-14. Damian Hollis looks to reassert himself after a 1-for-7, 6 turnover performance against Richmond.



American is fighting for Patriot League respectability; with a virtually new cast the Eagles have yet to post a road conference win. 6-foot-9 Romanian Vlad Moldovoneau (who transferred from George Mason last winter) provides punch in the pivot... while Nick Hendra is a sidebar waiting to happen (his father Tony was in the movie "This is Spinal Tap"--and portrayed the band's manager). Three of their next four games are at Bender Arena-- but in that span they will play league co-leaders Lafayette and Lehigh.





Howard continues to shock the MEAC and conventional wisdom: after going 1-13 in pre-league action, the Bison have posted a 5-2 conference mark. Monday they held Bethune-Cookman to 16 first half points en route to a 67-64 victory. While Calvin Thompson is no Eugene Myatt, the supporting cast is much improved. One major caveat with this team-- the MEAC plays a Saturday-Monday schedule and the Bison's next four are on the road... where momentum can turn from good to bad to worse just like that.