Hobbs: No. 5 too high

The GW men’s basketball team was predicted to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 conference but Karl Hobbs, the squad’s sixth-year head coach, said he thinks the Colonials belonged either sixth or seventh.

“We understand who we are, we’re George Washington,” Hobbs said after practice Wednesday. “This is George Washington, this is not Xavier. This is not one of those programs where you can maintain that kind of level. This is George Washington.”

Hobbs said his squad was ranked fifth because of the success his team has enjoyed the last two years, and GW does not have the resources to maintain a top 25 program every year.

“We’re the least experienced team in the league,” Hobbs said.

Senior Carl Elliott, the team’s leader at point guard, said getting tagged at fifth is not a bad thing.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Elliott said. “It will make us more competitive. It’s cool, it’s a great challenge for us.”

Junior Maureece Rice said he was not surprised with the placement.

“It’s because we lost four key players,” Rice said. “We’ve got things to prove, and this season we’ve got something to show everybody.”

Elliott, Rice and Hollis on all-conference teams

Damian Hollis was named to the all-rookie team and Rice and Elliott, two guards, were named to the all-conference second team.

Hobbs said he thinks Elliott is the best all-around player in the conference.

“Clearly one of the best point guards in the country,” Hobbs said. “With that being said, he’s also one of the most underrated players in the country. He doesn’t even get enough attention in his own league.”

Elliott said he agreed with Hobbs’ assessment.

“I personally don’t think there are five players better than me, but there were a group of guys who decided that.”

– Jake Sherman