Ben Krimmel, a senior majoring in international affairs, is a Hatchet columnist.
After back-to-back losing seasons, head coach Mike Lonergan is ready to trade rebuilding for relevancy. GW should celebrate the team’s first two wins so far – giving the team its biggest dose of optimism in years.
Internet buzz sent GW basketball fans into a minor tizzy Tuesday when the Colonials were mentioned as an under-the-radar team that could “sneak” into March Madness. The only problem is NCAA Tournament bids are not handed out on the first cold day in November. But after six years without a trip to the Big Dance, gave fans reasons to hold their heads up.
But the biggest battles are still ahead. But so are the biggest opportunities to surprise the campus and the country. Are the Colonials ready to take the step from being known as the Atlantic 10 pushover to conference contender?
A three-week stretch that starts this Saturday with a visit to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference-favorite Manhattan also includes games against the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Miami and Maryland. These will be GW’s first real tests, giving the team valuable experience that could pay dividends when A-10 play begins in January.
Now, it is far too early to tell whether GW is closer to basement or penthouse. Despite Lonergan’s two “elder statesman” — senior Isaiah Armwood and graduate student Maurice Creek—the team is a relatively young squad that is closer to Thurston than South Hall.
To grab a slice of relevancy in the conference, GW will have to rely on significant contributions from several youngsters.
So far, Kethan Savage is unfazed by year two, showing plenty of offensive savvy when he gashed Maine’s defense for 18 points, his second straight 18-point performance to begin the season.
Kevin Larsen has emerged for his sophomore season with more confidence. He called for the ball on almost every GW possession while bullying the Maine defenders in the paint. His best play came when he collected a long rebound and started a fast break give-and-go with Creek that led to the sophomore’s two-handed slam.
Relevancy and an above .500 record could be on the horizon for the Colonials, but it will not come as easily as GW’s first 2-0 since 2009. The team has an uphill battle from here: The rest of the non-conference schedule — the toughest in recent history — is not filled with pushover teams like Radford and Maine.
Knocking off one of the more reputable schools would create momentum and a buzz that could energize both the team and the Colonial Army. GW can only really get out of the cellar with more raucous student support than last season when GW had the second-lowest attendance in the A-10.
But let’s take a look on the bright side. Yes, the team has a ton left to prove. But while the rest of campus is still under construction, at least the painful years of rebuilding teams in the Smith Center look to be over.