Colonials aim for auspicious leap

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - George Washington women’s basketball coach Jim McKeown has missed the last three days of practice due to illness. His absence from Smith Center is as rare is it is for the Colonials to miss the NCAA tournament.

“It’s his ship, and we like him running it,” said assistant coach Tajama Ngongba.

The George Mason men, Maryland women and Colonials men all enjoyed banner seasons, stealing attention away from McKeown, who did what he does nearly every season: guide the Colonials to the NCAAs.

“I’ll be honest. I think we were lost before that, which is kind of sad,” said Ngongba, who played for the Colonials when they reached the Elite Eight in 1997. “A lot of people in the area don’t really realize what coach McKeown has done here over the last 17 years. When people walk into the gym and they see all the banners, they’re like ‘Really?’ Yeah, really.”

Last season George Washington finished 23-9, made its 13th NCAA appearance in 17 seasons under McKeown and advanced to the second round before losing to perennial power Tennessee.

After graduating just one player, the Colonials want to make the jump from a first- or second-round team to one that can go deep and contend for a national title.

“We don’t really want to start over. We want to pick up where we left off. That’s the whole focus this year,” said All-Atlantic-10 Conference first-team junior guard Kimberly Beck, who averaged 11.4 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds last season.

The Colonials should cruise in the Atlantic-10, meaning early tests - a visit to defending national champion Maryland (Nov. 19) and rematch with the Volunteers (Dec. 7) — are especially important.

“It does force us to get better faster, but if this is the only time we play them, then we’re going to take that,” said senior guard/forward Kenan Cole, who had a career-high 23 points in the Colonials’ lone exhibition game.

Early results could help GW storm back into the Top 25, where it finished last season, and prepare them to ascend even further.

“People that tiptoe into the Top 25, that’s something where you can be in one week and out the other,” Ngongba. “But when you’re in those teens, that makes a difference.”

UMBC at George Washington

» Where: Smith Center

» When: Today, 3 p.m.

» Beck and junior guard Sarah-Jo Lawrence (11.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg) make up the A-10’s best backcourt. Lawrence was named A-10 sixth player of the year last season.

» Sophomores and District natives Jessica and Jazmine Adair, at 6-foot-4 and 6-3, respectively, are nicknamed the “Twin Towers.” Jazmine was an All A-10 freshman selection last year. Jessica averaged 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds.

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