I'm glad this game wasn't at the Smith Center. GW dropped to 0-10 on the road, 6-14, and 2-8 in conference. Geez. The team shot a miserable 26.8% from the floor and had 6 assists, while SLU was 14/28 from three. Bryce Husak and Dwayne Polk combined for 27 while the Billikens' leading scorers Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell added 18 total. Rob Diggs scored 14 to lead GW, but on only 5/14 shooting and he only got 2 boards. Xavier Alexander had 6 boards and 3 points and Cheyenne Moore got 8 points and 5 boards, second best on the team in both categories. Johnny Lee started, played 31 minutes, and got 5 boards. Wha?
Something else that stuck out, Mo Rice broke his 2+ game scoreless streak, making one basket, but also only played 21 minutes. Over the last 6 games he's averaged 6.3 points, only once scoring in double figures, and his minutes are dropping. I wonder what's up? Is he hurt? In Hobbs' doghouse? Just not wanting to play?
GW plays Bonaventure in Olean, NY on Saturday. Maybe GW can break that road loss streak. Maybe.
Stats and charts after the jump
--GWsports recap
--Hatchet article
--Hatchet analysis
Mo Rice's minutes and points this year:
And Mo Rice's stats the past four years:
Comments
SMITH AND KOGOD FAMILIES COMMIT $10 MILLION FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL RENOVATION OF CHARLES E. SMITH CENTER
Gift Represents Largest Single Philanthropic Commitment in GW's History
WASHINGTON - George Washington University President Steven Knapp today announced the largest single donation in the institution's history -- a $10 million gift toward the renovation of the Charles E. Smith Center from the Robert H. Smith and Charles E. Smith Family Foundations and Robert and Arlene Kogod. This lead gift will be instrumental in the transformational renovation of the 32-year-old building, located in the heart of GW's Foggy Bottom Campus.
The university plans to raise an additional $15 million for the renovation. The first $10 million of this goal will meet the one-to-one challenge that is a condition of the Smith-Kogod families' commitment and is designed to encourage others to support this important project.
"The Smith Center has always been a source of pride to our family because it promotes healthy minds and bodies, as well as the spirit of community, which were hallmarks of my father's life and work," said Robert H. Smith, chairman of several Charles E. Smith real estate companies. "This transformational renovation of the Charles E. Smith Center will create a signature building, in both its architecture and function, in the heart of the GW campus. It furthers my father's original vision and speaks to our commitment to GW and its future success."
The proposed renovation will take place generally within the building's existing structure. The university will soon present architectural concepts to GW and community stakeholders and then coordinate reviews and approvals with the appropriate District of Columbia agencies.
"I am deeply appreciative of the Smith and Kogod families for this historic gift to the university," said GW President Steven Knapp. "Their leadership sets a new standard for us and further recognizes the need for world-class facilities at a world-class university. The convergence of academic, athletic, and recreational components in the transformed Smith Center will provide a premier venue for our student-athletes that also will support their academic pursuits. Combined with other uses, the renewed Charles E. Smith Center will enhance the overall GW experience for our entire community."
W. Russell Ramsey, chairman of GW's Board of Trustees, B.B.A. '81, added, "This shining example of our new culture of philanthropy will benefit our faculty, students, alumni, and the community. I salute the Smith and Kogod families for this latest substantial investment in our university's future. And I congratulate President Knapp who, within six months of his arrival, has now secured the largest single gift in the history of the institution. Combined with our commitment to affordability, our increased investment in research, and our overall campus plan, we are now out of the starting gate and gaining true momentum. It's a great beginning for the new administration and a tribute to one of GW's most important and beloved families."
The interior upgrades will feature an academic center for student-athletes, improved general admission and club seating in the basketball arena, new locker rooms, remodeled office space to centralize athletic operations including those currently located elsewhere on campus, enhanced athletic training and weight room facilities, and a renovated natatorium (pool area). The exterior concepts include a dynamic new main entrance along 22nd Street, which will present a revitalized box office and concession concourse, and a new VIP entrance along F Street. The project is consistent with the 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan and reinforces 22nd Street as the core of the campus. The renovation project is expected to take three years, during which time the building will remain open without interruption of planned events.
The Charles E. Smith Center was dedicated on December 6, 1975, replacing the "Tin Tabernacle" gymnasium and bringing a much-needed contemporary athletic facility to GW's Foggy Bottom Campus. The building is named for the late Charles E. Smith (1901-95), nationally renowned real estate developer and leader in the Washington, D.C., community. Smith received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from GW in 1979. He served as a GW trustee from 1967 to 1976 and was chairman of the Committee on University Development. His son, Robert H. Smith, is a trustee emeritus who served on the board in 1976 and again from 1978 to 1997. David Bruce Smith, B.A. '79, son of Robert H. and grandson of Charles E. Smith, has served as a member of GW's Board of Trustees since 2002.
GW's Charles E. Smith Center, located at 600 22nd Street, NW, houses the Department of Athletics and Recreation, which supports 22 NCAA sports teams, club sports, and recreational sports activities. Many academic programs also conduct classes and support activities in the facility, such as sports medicine, exercise science, and event management. The main arena seats 5,000 spectators and features the home games of GW men's and women's basketball. In addition student-athletes, alumni, and members of the president's club, including faculty, staff, and Foggy Bottom residents, are able to participate in recreational and fitness activities. Also, many special events are held in the Charles E. Smith Center, including most recently the inauguration of President Steven Knapp in 2007. Other activities include annual graduation celebrations for several of GW's schools, as well as musical and comedic performances. Recent appearances have been made by Billy Crystal, the Boston Pops, Ray Charles, Bill Cosby, and Whoopi Goldberg.
Located four blocks from the White House, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries.
For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.
-GW-