Updated Forecast: In Excess of 8" of Snow, Plus Wind
And Now, 10-20 Inches
Federal Govt. Closed Tuesday
Snowmaggedon 1.0 in Time Lapse
Morning Roundup: After the Snowfall Edition
Leaves have fallen and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. You know what that means -- turkey! Also, it's time to get back to the hardwood. Welcome to the first edition of The Hi-Lo, DCist's new roundup of the week that was in DMV college hoops.
College basketball -- unlike any other widely beloved American sport -- opens with such little fanfare that you could be forgiven for completely forgetting about it. Most big schools open with patsies, teams are still finding a rhythm, and scores are routinely in the 60s. But that's not to say that there isn't plenty happening that you should be aware of.
For instance, the increasing quality of the Colonial Athletic Association has proven itself again. Sure, current Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel probably scheduled Virginia Commonwealth this year as a favor. After all, he had helped to build the program, one which now boasts three straight years with 24 or more wins and a first-round upset of Duke in the tournament. But the fact that the Rams put a licking on the Sooners, coming up with an inspired performance in a 82-69 victory, shouldn't come as a shock. It's yet another reminder that the CAA's reputation as simply "that conference which sent George Mason to the Final Four" is outdated.
The Hi:
- Say what you will about VMI's tactics, but they are one damn entertaining team to pay attention to. Here was their week: a seven-point win over Army, getting smoked at Richmond by 44, then beating D-II West Virginia Wesleyan 111-92. Watching the Keydets is like watching an NBA Jam game come to life. (This writer understands you, basketball purists: The "who needs defense?" ethos makes you want to cry.)
- George Washington, on the back of Lasan Kromah's 21 points, dominated Maryland-Baltimore County 94-51 yesterday. GW is now 3-0; though, let's not get ahead of ourselves here. The Colonials started last season 6-2 before dropping 11 straight games in mid-season en route to a 10-18 record.
The Lo:
- Anyone want to lay money on Georgetown -- currently #20 in the AP poll -- still being there at the end of the season? No? The Hoyas sandwiched two road gimmes (
Greg Monroe's vacationTulane and Savannah State) with a thoroughly unimpressive one-point win over Temple on Tuesday. A ridiculous, ESPN–mandated 4 p.m. tip on Tuesday obviously drew a paltry crowd at the seemingly-cavernous Verizon Center, though it was probably for the best. Not even a game-winning shot from Monroe could salvage this train wreck of a game. Don't believe me? Georgetown had more turnovers (16) and fouls (18) than baskets from the field (15). Fun fact: the win did break Temple's streak of 68 straight wins when holding opponents to under 50 points. - Boy, does the early season scheduling of the big local ACC trio stink. Maryland -- probably the DMV's best chance at a Final Four team, beat minnows Charleston Southern, Fairfield, and New Hampshire by an average of 31 points. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, could only muster 14- and 13-point wins over Brown and UNC Greensboro, respectively. Virginia has cruised against Longwood, Rider, and Oral Roberts, but lost to South Florida. Between the three, they only play one ranked team in the pre-conference slate (Maryland at the BB&T Classic against Villanova on 12/6). And while Tech and UVA have eight major conference opponents combined in the non-con, they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel (Iowa, Penn State twice, Stanford, Auburn, Georgia, South Florida and Seton Hall). Way to boost that RPI, fellas.
- Howard only scored 33 points against Georgia State last night. Oof.
- American, fresh off last year's Patriot League championship and berth in the Big Dance, has started this season 0-4, dropping three straight in Tenleytown.
Setting the Pick:
- It may have been a terrible way to lose a basketball game -- by one to the sixth-ranked team in the country on a three with 13.3 seconds left after leading by as much as 13 -- but George Mason proved that, once again, it will be a massive pain for everyone, especially in the CAA. Jim Larranenga again showed that Mason will be rely heavily on intensity, even when there is a gulf in class. Despite being out-rebounded 37-23 (15-5 on the offensive glass), Mason held Villanova to 35.8% shooting from the field and forced 16 turnovers from a team with a load of experienced guards. Mason dropped another one to #19 Georgia Tech on Friday, but came back nicely to dramatically beat Indiana today. Playing teams like that, 1-2 isn't a terrible return, and the competitive experience could prove invaluable.
- Yet another CAA concern: Is Old Dominion for real? The Monarchs have started the season 4-0, but will be tested in the week ahead with games against Missouri and Richmond -- and later with games against Georgetown and Dayton in mid-December. Time will tell.
Riding the Pine: Morgan State keeping things close with Louisville, as I type...Mount St. Mary's obviously looking to garner votes in Dan Steinberg's Atlantic 11 poll, beating American and Loyola early...Coppin State played the Washington Adventist Shock, which could be a Christian electrician company for all we know...Early candidates for worst team in the area award: Navy, Liberty, Hampton, Norfolk State open a combined 3-10.
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DMV college hoops?
ugh, please, retire that phrase post-haste.
Are we really going to let DMV start catching on? Blech.