WRGW’s Greg Shapiro and Julian Gompertz recognized in national column in College Magazine

After three hard years of work at WRGW, Greg Shapiro and Julian Gompertz had their story published in the popular College Magazine. Read here.

Former Colonial Pops Mensah Bonsu signed 10-day contract with San Antonio Spurs

Former GW star, Pops Mensah Bonsu, was signed by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, February 25 to a 10-day contract.  Pops has been on a tear in the NBA D League, averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds per game for the Austin Toros.  In one minute of action in his first game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Pops pulled down a rebound in a minute of action.  The Spurs may sign Pops to one more 10-day contract before they have to either sign him to a full contract or release him.

Listen here to his interview on WRGW’s Fast Break or read the story here.

SERVER BACK UP

Good news.  The server is back up and we are back to normal sports programming. Keep it here for all things GW Sports and make sure to tune in for every basketball broadcast as well as from 4-6 PM to hear sports talk five days a week.

IMPORTANT NEWS: SERVER DOWN

As of January 21, the server hosting WRGW’s Internet stream is down and therfore programming cannot be heard on iTunes or any of the other audio options.  For live GW radio, watch campus cable channel 22.  This includes tonight’s women’s game against Villanova from the Smith Center set to tip at 8, beginning with a 7:40 pre-game.  Adam Rosenbloom and Alex Tainsh will have the call.  Please check back for updates as the stream is repaired.  Thank you for your patience.

Women’s Basketball GW vs. Troy Game Notes

After a long layover, GW (4-3) hits the hardwood against Troy smack in the middle of finals week. In their last outing GW played 7th ranked Tennessee tough, the colonials came within a bucket of tying the game, but the Lady Vols went on a 15-5 run to ultimately seal the deal. GW is in the midst of a seven game homestand, the longest in program history, which couldn’t come any sooner after GW dropped a pair of games on the road in Kentucky. In spite of the Tennessee loss, freshman Tara Booker is leading the nation in three point shooting knocking down over 65% of her treys, she is 16-26 on the year. Booker has consistently connects from three point range even though many of her shots are contested. 

Seven games into the season, GW has 11 players averaging ten minutes or more. Also, GW is shooting 38% from three point range as a team collectively and holding their opponents to 35% from the field. Antelia Parish continues to be a one woman wrecking crew as she leads the Colonials in points (12.4/game), rebounds (6.7/game), and assists (20 total). Preseason Wooden Award candidate Jessica Adair is second on GW averaging 11.9 points per game.

Troy:

This Sun Belt Conference program snapped a three game losing streak with a win over Spring Hill College, an NAIA school in Alabama. GW is certainly a step up in difficulty. Preseason 3rd team Sun Belt selection Kylie Morrissy leads Troy in scoring at 15.1 points per contest, she dropped 25 against Spring Hill. Troy is coached  by seventh year Man Michael Murphy. The trojans, not the most surprising nickname, average just a hair over 60 points per game, but allow only 58.9.

GW Harvard Game Notes

The Colonials (3-2) are looking to rebound after a stinging 76-53 blowout loss to Maryland in the BB&T. Harvard is looking to for their fifth win after a double overtime loss at home to Northeastern. They were down by seven with a minute to go and managed to tie the ballgame. This is the first ever meeting between GW and Harvard, but both teams happen to have a common opponent this early in the year. Harvard lost at home to Boston university 75-59 while GW beat the Terriers in extra time at Boston. This is an important game to help get GW back on track.

The emergence of Herman Opoku:

Opoku, after riding the pine for most of his first his first two years in Foggy Bottom has emerged as a steady presence on the interior for GW. The 6-10 junior from Austria is averaging a modest 14 minutes and six points per game, but is helping the undersized Rob Diggs establish GW down low. He had seven points against Maryland and had some good tough offensive rebounds especially in the early going. 

GW’s has three scorers averaging in double figures thus far in their ‘08 ‘09 campaign, with the high man Damian Hollis averaging just a shade over 11 points to lead the team. Noel Wilmore and Rob Diggs are the other two. Freshman guard Tony Taylor is fourth in scoring with just over 9 points per game, but leads GW in minutes with 32.2 per game. An interesting note from the BB&T is the distribution of minutes. Herman Opoku logged 23 while Hollis played for only 16. GW in fact used a 10 man rotation against the Terps, as 10 players played for 10 minutes or more. GW has a lot of bodies they can throw out there, the key is finding effective combinations.

GW’s achilles heels of late have been defense and free throw shooting. Harvard is shooting 75% collectively, GW is a shade under 60%. Defensively GW has had issues guarding the three pointer. Maryland’s Eric Hayes hit a trio of triples in the early going of the first half at the Verizon Center and Maryland never looked back. Maryland shot 9-19 from beyond the arc for the game. GW also allowed 45 points in the first half, as well as 54 points in the second half against Auburn.

A closer at Harvard:

Harvard has and experienced starting lineup led by junior guard Jeremy Lin, averaging 20.1 points per game. He is joined in the back court by senior guard Drew Housmann. Harvard was picked to finish fourth in the Ivy League this season. After Lin, the only other double figure scorer is freshman Keith Wright, a forward who is the only other underclassmen in the starting lineup for the Crimson.

Despite some runs of hot shooting by the Crimson, the Colonials remained in control throughout most of the game and came away with a 79-63 victory at home.  This was just what the doctor ordered for a GW team that is coming off a blow-out loss to Maryland at the Verizon Center and has just one more home game before 4 games on the road (Sacramento State, 3-game Rainbow Classic in Hawaii).  The Colonials will face local rival, American University, at the Smith Center on Wednesday night.  Check back for game notes.

Game 12: Men’s vs. Maryland (BB&T Classic at Verizon Center)

After a 10 day layoff (their longest of the season), the Colonials (3-1) will take the court against the Maryland Terrapins (5-2) in the second game of the BB&T Classic at the Verizon Center on Sunday night at 7:30.  This is the 67th meeting between the teams and the ninth meeting at the BB&T Classic.  Here are some game notes.

Maryland leads the all-time series against GW 35-31…The all-time series at the BB&T is split 4-4 between the teams but GW has a 4-2 edge in games played at the Verizon/MCI Center…While GW has been idle for 10 days following their 70-64 win against UMBC on Nov 26, Maryland has played four games in a difficult stretch that has included an 80-62 win against #5 Michigan State in the first round of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando…The Terrapins then dropped their next two games in the tournament losing to #9 Gonzaga and #16 Georgetown…Maryland is a perfect 4-0 at home…The Terrapins are 13-9 all-time at the BB&T Classic…The Terrapins have made the post-season for the past 15 seasons and 7 sweet sixteens in the past 15 years…6-6 Junior Guard Greivis Vasquez leads the team in 11 categories including minutes (33), field goals (43), field goal attempts (101), 3-point field goals (10), 3-point field goal attempts (36), free throws (29), free throw attempts (33), rebounds (6.1 per game), assists (4.9 per game), steals (2 per game), and points (17.9 per game)…Maryland has the third best record in the ACC over the last 10 years behind North Carolina and Duke…The Terrapins lead the ACC in team free throw percentage at 79.6% while the Colonials are last in the Atlantic 10 at 60%.

The game is set to tip at 7:30 from the Verizon Center.  Listen here to Jordan Teller and Dave Earl’s call on WRGW starting with the pre-game show at 7:10.  Listen here to the broadcast on Federal News Radio with George Wallace and myself, Greg Shapiro.  Check back for news and results later.

Among other factors, the long 10-day layoff seemed to leave the Colonials offense completely stagnant while Maryland’s accurate shooting all night led them to a 76-53 victory at the Verizon Center.  The team now has another 6-day layoff before playing Harvard at the Smith Center on December 13.

Game 11: Women’s vs. Tennessee

The Thanksiving Classic was just what the doctor ordered for a Colonials (4-2) team that lost two straight on their Kentucky trip.  They will need to use that momentum to their advantage tonight as they face their toughest test at home this season against the two-time defending National Champion, #7/12 Tennessee Lady Volunteers (5-1).  The Smith Center is expecting a rambunctious crowd hosting a Tennessee team that is notorious for bringing with them thousands of fans from Knoxville.  The following are some game notes for tonight’s matchup.

The Colonials are 0-8 in the all-time series against the Lady Vols…In their last meeting, #6/5 Tennessee defeated #21/19 George Washington 85-62 in Knoxville on December 7, 2006…Tennessee’s roster features just one senior (Alex Fuller F-C, 5.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), no juniors, four sophomores, and seven freshmen…GW has won 32 of their last 33 home games (the loss coming a little over a year ago to Rutgers) and 132 of their last 137…The Lady Vols outround their opponents by over 10 per game this season and force over 20 turnovers per game…GW committed a season-high 26 turnovers against South Alabama in the first game of the Thanksgiving Classic on Friday night…Tennessee’s only road game so far this season was a 66-63 win against Chattanooga.

The game is set to tip from the Smith Center at 7:30 p.m.  All the action can be heard live on WRGW starting at 7:10 with Adam Rosenbloom and Stu Grimes’s pre-game show.  Julian Gompertz and myself, Greg Shapiro, will have the call for you.  Check back for final scores and analysis.

Despite a valiant effort by the Colonials, they could not hold off the Lady Vols as Tennessee wins 71-59.  Following a missed lay-up by Jazmine Adair to tie the game with just under 5 minutes to play, the Lady Vols closed on a 15-5 run to win the game.  It was good to see this young Colonials team step up in their biggest home test of the season.  They now have a 14 day layoff for finals before playing Troy at home on December 16.

Games 9/10: Thanksgiving Classic- Women’s vs. South Alabama and Hartford

The George Washington Colonials (2-2) look to get their season back on track after a disappointing Kentucky road trip that included 72-64 loss to Western Kentucky and a 67-48 loss to Kentucky.  GW led by a substantial margin in both games but a lack of depth in the backcourt has proven to be their achilles heal in the early part of this season.  This marks the first time since December 2002 that the Colonials have lost back-to-back road games.  They look to right the track with two games at home in this Thanksgiving Classic at the Smith Center.  The first game will be against South Alabama (4-0).  The following are some game notes.

GW won both games of the Thanksgiving Classic last year against South Dakota State and Western Kentucky…The Colonials is 2-0 all-time against South Alabama, their last meeting taking place in 1990…GW has won 30 of its last 31 home games and 130 of their last 145 home games over the past decade…Three players on GW lead the team in rebounds averaging 6.3 per game in Jess Adair, Ivy Abiona, and Antelia Parrish…Tiana Myers leads all freshmen in minutes averaging just under 20 a game…South Alabama looks to start 5-0 for the second straight season…The Jaguars are outscoring their opponents by over 20 points per game…South Alabama is led by their backcourt of Shakira Nettles and Jessica Starling who are averaging over a combined 34 points per game…South Alabama posted a 20-11 record, the progam’s first 20-win season since 2003-04.

The game will be broadcast live on WRGW on Friday night starting with Max Smith and Jordan Teller’s pre-game show at 5:10 for a 5:30 tip.  Dave Earl and Chase Carpenter will be bringing you the call from the Smith Center.  Be sure to check back for the results and who GW’s opponent will be on Saturday between Hartford and Liberty.

Despite 26 turnovers for the Colonials, consistent shooting for the Colonials contributed to a 64-59 win and vaults GW into the title game on Saturday evening against Hartford.  GW shot 49 % from the game, including 54.2 % in the second half.  They shot 8 for 16 from beyond the 3-point arc in the game.  Their woes from the free throw line continued as the team shot just 6 of 14 from the the charity stripe.  However, the Colonials were able to lock down the Jaguars on defense containing the team to just 27.7% shooting from the field.  GW was paced in scoring by Jess Adair’s 18 points.  Antelia Parrish led the team in rebounds with 7 and had 15 points as well.

GW will play Hartford in the championship game on Saturday evening at 5:30 from the Smith Center.  Game notes to come.

Thanks to two clutch free throws by Jazmine Adair clinching a 7-0 run in the final 2:30, GW won the title game against Hartford 67-65.

They will face their toughest home test of the season Tuesday night against Tennesse at 7:30 at the Smith Center.

Game 8: Men’s vs. UMBC

After a disappointing 83-71 loss to Auburn in which the Colonials (2-1) led 44-29 at the half, GW looks to avenge their loss in the Smith Center against a UMBC (3-1) team that won in an 89-79 shootout in Baltimore one year ago.  The key source of offense for the Colonials in their first 3 games has also been one of their biggest mysteries in Damian Hollis, leading the team in both points and turnovers per game with 12 and 4, respectively.  Another key source of offense around the perimeter has been the spark of Noel Wilmore off the bench.  Wilmore is scoring 11.3 points per game, shooting 10 of 18 (47.8%) from 3-point territory and just 1 of 5 (20 %) from inside the newly lengthened 3-point arc.  Frontman Rob Diggs is also adding 11.3 points along with his team-leading 8 rebounds per game.  Here are some game notes for tonight’s match-up against UMBC.

GW leads the all-time series against UMBC 3-2…The Retrievers are just 1-2 in the Smith Center…The Colonials were 2-11 when coming off a loss last season…Wynton Witherspoon’s career high in points was in last season’s meeting against UMBC when he scored 21…The Retrievers are the first of three opponents to visit the Smith Center who appeared in last year’s NCAA tournament…UMBC was picked to finish fourth in the 9-team America East this season, they were picked fifth when they won the conference last season… The Retrievers lost 3 of their top 4 scorers last season in Ray Barbosa, Cavell Johnson, and Johnny Hodges…UMBC returns their top rebounder in Darryl Proctor who had 17 points and 13 rebounds in their last meeting with GW last season…Proctor is UMBC’s leader in both points and rebounds this season, averaging 20 and 9 per game respectively…Career watch: GW F Rob Diggs is just four blocks shy of Omar Williams for fifth place on GW’s all-time blocks list.

The game is set to tip at 7:30 pm at the Smith Center.  Listen here for Dave Earl’s call of the action on WRGW, starting with Chase Carpenter’s pre-game show at 7:10.  Listen here for Byron Kerr’s call on WFED with our own Jordan Teller beginning at 7:20.  Check back for news and results.

The Colonials were able to withstand the hot shooting start of UMBC who started the game hitting 8 of their first 10 shots from the field.  GW stayed in the game through some accurate 3 point shooting from Noel Wilmore and Damian Hollis.  The Colonials locked the Retrievers down in the second half and managed to get their season back on the right track with a 70-64 win.  The team now has their longest layoff of the season as they will wait 11 days until they play Maryland at the BB&T Classic at the Verizon Center on December 7 at 7:30.  As always, both WRGW and WFED will have the call.  Stay tuned for news and notes.

Also, be sure to listen to the women’s team play at the Thanksgiving Classic at the Smith Center on Friday and Saturday.  They will first play South Alabama at 5:30 on Friday night and then will play either Hartford or Liberty on Saturday at 3 or 5:30 depending on the outcomes.