The George Washington men’s basketball team sits atop the current Atlantic 10 standings, but is far from assured of its postseason future. Much of it could depend on a four-game stretch that begins tonight and includes three tough road games and visit to Foggy Bottom by preseason favorite Xavier.

Q You’ve said the team has overachieved a few times, but with the Colonials currently the best in the A-10, isn’t it time that perception started to change?

A It’s still too early because we have the toughest stretch of anyone else in the league. No one is playing the first-place team on the road, and then following it up at Dayton, which has 13 wins and is undefeated at home. Then you have a “break,” playing the team that was picked to be the best in the league (Xavier), and then go right back on the road.

This is easily a stretch that could put us right back, if we don’t handle it right, into fourth or fifth place.

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Q What has impressed you so far this season?

A Guys are playing hard, paying attention to details and going into every game understanding the game plan and what we need to do to win.

At Rhode Island, the first four minutes were the most important of the game — don’t give up a big lead and be down, 15-2. The other parts were to make sure we knew where Jimmy Baron was, rebound and keep our poise down the stretch. We accomplished all of those things.

Q Are you frustrated that GW isn’t the apple of the media’s eye as it has been the past two seasons?

A As good as we were last year, we were still the least televised team on our own network. I don’t expect that to change.

Is it frustrating at times that [senior guard] Carl Elliott isn’t getting the recognition that he deserves? Here’s a guy that’s lost everybody, and he’s winning games in so many different ways: steals, scoring and making plays at the right time. He doesn’t get the respect that he deserves.

Q Is there a point you can reach when you’ll feel that you’ve done enough to earn an NCAA tournament bid without winning the Atlantic 10 tournament?

A I don’t know if it will ever get quite to that. So much of it is perception now, that’s hurting our league more than anything else. Our league in terms of wins, in terms of quality coaches and teams, I think we’re just as good as the Missouri Valley [Conference].

The one thing you can’t ignore is wins and losses. If Selection Sunday was today, it would be hard for us not to be in the NCAA tournament. Hopefully, I’ll feel the same way two weeks from now.

George Washington (15-4, 6-1 Atlantic-10) at Dayton (13-7, 3-4)

» When: Tonight, 7

» Radio: 107.7 FM, 1500 AM

— As told to The Examiner’s Craig Stouffer