2015–16 George Washington Colonials men's basketball team

The 2015–16 George Washington Colonials men's basketball team represented George Washington University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Colonials, led by fifth year head coach Mike Lonergan, played their home games at the Charles E. Smith Center and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 28–10, 11–7 in A-10 play to finish in fifth place. They defeated Saint Louis in the second round of the A-10 tournament to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to Saint Joseph's. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament. As a #4 seed, they defeated Hofstra, Monmouth, and Florida to advance to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden. At MSG, they defeated San Diego State and Valparaiso to become the 2016 NIT champions.

2015–16 George Washington Colonials men's basketball
NIT Champions
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
Record28–10 (11–7 A-10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaCharles E. Smith Center
Seasons
2015–16 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Dayton 14 4   .778 25 8   .758
VCU 14 4   .778 25 11   .694
St. Bonaventure 14 4   .778 22 9   .710
Saint Joseph's 13 5   .722 28 8   .778
George Washington 11 7   .611 28 10   .737
Davidson 10 8   .556 20 13   .606
Rhode Island 9 9   .500 17 15   .531
Fordham 8 10   .444 17 14   .548
Richmond 7 11   .389 16 16   .500
UMass 6 12   .333 14 18   .438
Duquesne 6 12   .333 17 17   .500
George Mason 5 13   .278 11 21   .344
Saint Louis 5 13   .278 11 21   .344
La Salle 4 14   .222 9 22   .290
2016 A10 Tournament winner

On September 17, 2016, following an investigation into allegations of verbal abuse of his players, head coach Mike Lonergan was fired.[1] He finished at George Washington with a five-year record of 97–70.

Previous season

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The Colonials finished the 2014–15 season 22–13, 10–8 in A-10 play to finish in a three way tie for sixth place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament where they lost to Rhode Island. They were invited to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Pittsburgh in the first round before losing in the second round to Temple.

Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Nick Griffin 5 G 6'3" 173 Sophomore Rockville, MD Transferred to Saint Peter's
Kethan Savage 11 G 6'3" 200 Junior Fairfax, VA Transferred to Butler
Darian Bryant 15 G 6'4" 200 Freshman Washington, D.C. Transferred to Delaware State
Ryan McCoy 20 F 6'9" 207 RS Junior Skillman, NJ Walk-on; graduated
John Kopriva 34 F 6'8" 214 Senior Milwaukee, WI Graduated

Incoming transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Alex Mitola 1 G 5'11" 170 Senior Florham Park, NJ Transferred from Dartmouth. Will be eligible to play immediately since Mitola graduated from Dartmouth.
Jaren Sina 23 G 6'2" 185 Junior Lake Hopatcong, NJ Transferred from Seton Hall. Under NCAA transfer rules, Sina will have to sit out from the 2015–16 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.

Incoming recruits

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jordan Roland
SG
Syracuse, NY Westhill High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Jul 14, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 68
Collin Goss
PF
Manassas, VA St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) May 3, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 65
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 12, 2015.

Roster

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2015–16 George Washington Colonials men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
G 1 Alex Mitola 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sr Florham Park, NJ
G 3 Paul Jorgensen 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Ramsey, NJ
G/F 4 Anthony Swan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 196 lb (89 kg) So Los Angeles, CA
F 12 Yuta Watanabe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 197 lb (89 kg) So Kagawa, Japan
G/F 13 Patricio Garino 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Mar del Plata, Argentina
G 14 Jordan Roland 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 172 lb (78 kg) Fr Syracuse, NY
F 21 Kevin Larsen 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Sr Copenhagen, Denmark
G 22 Joe McDonald 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Lorton, VA
G 23 Jaren Sina (I)   6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Jr Lake Hopatcong, NJ
G 30 Matt Hart (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 182 lb (83 kg) RS Jr Orchard Park, NY
F 33 Collin Goss 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Manassas, VA
F 34 Tyler Cavanaugh 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 238 lb (108 kg) RS Jr Syracuse, NY
F 45 Matt Cimino 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 212 lb (96 kg) So Falmouth, ME
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314151617Final
AP[2]RVRVRV2120RVRVRV
Coaches'[2]RVRVRV2220RVRVRV

Accolades

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Honors and awards

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  • Tyler Cavanaugh
All-Atlantic 10 (2nd team) [3]
Academic Academic All-Conference [3]
  • Patricio Garino
All-Atlantic 10 (2nd team) [3]
All-Atlantic 10 Defensive team [3]
Academic Academic All-Conference [3]
Team Argentina 2016 Summer Olympics[4]
  • Alex Mitola
Academic Academic All-Conference [3]

Records

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  • Team
Winningest team in program history (28-10) [5]
First postseason championship in program history (2016 NIT Champions) [5]

Schedule

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/07/2015*
7:00 pm
Gannon W 92–47 
 15  Watanabe   6  Tied   4  Larsen  Charles E. Smith Center (2,108)
Washington, D.C.
Non-conference regular season
11/13/2015*
7:00 pm, CSN
Lafayette W 85–76  1–0
 24  Larsen   17  Cavanaugh   4  Jorgensen  Charles E. Smith Center (3,118)
Washington, D.C.
11/16/2015*
7:30 pm, ESPN2
No. 6 Virginia
College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon
W 73–68  2–0
 18  Tied   7  3 tied   5  Larsen  Charles E. Smith Center (5,025)
Washington, D.C.
11/19/2015*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
at South Florida W 73–67  3–0
 18  Garino   13  McDonald   4  Watanabe  USF Sun Dome (2,790)
Tampa, FL
11/22/2015*
7:30 pm
Army
Barclays Center Classic
W 92–81  4–0
 21  Larsen   9  Cavanaugh   4  McDonald  Charles E. Smith Center (2,775)
Washington, D.C.
11/24/2015*
11:00 am
Gardner–Webb
Barclays Center Classic
W 94–65  5–0
 20  Cavanaugh   10  McDonald   3  4 tied  Charles E. Smith Center (3,796)
Washington, D.C.
11/27/2015*
9:00 pm, ASN
vs. Tennessee
Barclays Center Classic semifinals
W 73–70  6–0
 18  Cavanaugh   10  Larsen   5  Garino  Barclays Center 
Brooklyn, NY
11/28/2015*
2:30 pm, ASN
vs. No. 24 Cincinnati
Barclays Center Classic Final
L 56–61  6–1
 15  Garino   7  Larsen   4  Larsen  Barclays Center 
Brooklyn, NY
12/02/2015*
7:00 pm, ASN
Seton Hall W 72–64  7–1
 16  Tied   7  Cavanaugh   4  Larsen  Charles E. Smith Center (2,280)
Washington, D.C.
12/08/2015*
7:00 pm, CSN
Penn State W 76–66  8–1
 18  Cavanaugh   10  Cavanaugh   5  Larsen  Charles E. Smith Center (3,262)
Washington, D.C.
12/12/2015*
4:30 pm, CBSSN
Rutgers W 83–49  9–1
 22  Cavanaugh   7  Larsen   5  Jorgensen  Charles E. Smith Center (3,172)
Washington, D.C.
12/19/2015*
1:00 pm
No. 21 Saint Peter's W 87–74  10–1
 18  Cavanaugh   11  Larsen   5  5 tied  Charles E. Smith Center (2,880)
Washington, D.C.
12/22/2015*
9:00 pm, FS1
No. 20 at DePaul L 61–82  10–2
 17  Larsen   11  Larsen   4  Jorgensen  Allstate Arena (5,289)
Rosemont, IL
12/29/2015*
7:00 pm, ASN
at UCF W 67–50  11–2
 17  Garino   8  Tied   5  McDonald  CFE Arena (3,889)
Orlando, FL
Atlantic 10 regular season
01/03/2016
7:00 pm, NBCSN
Fordham W 69–63  12–2
(1–0)
 21  Cavanaugh   11  Larsen   4  McDonald  Charles E. Smith Center (2,813)
Washington, D.C.
01/06/2016
7:00 pm, FSMW
at Saint Louis L 62–65  12–3
(1–1)
 14  Larsen   7  Tied   4  McDonald  Chaifetz Arena (5,104)
St. Louis, MO
01/09/2016
8:00 pm, ASN
Duquesne W 91–64  13–3
(2–1)
 30  Cavanaugh   11  Larsen   5  Jorgensen  Charles E. Smith Center (3,103)
Washington, D.C.
01/12/2016
7:00 pm, ASN/CSN
at Massachusetts W 81–70  14–3
(3–1)
 26  Cavanaugh   8  Larsen   7  Mitola  Mullins Center (2,571)
Amherst, MA
01/15/2016
7:00 pm, ESPN2
at Dayton L 70–77  14–4
(3–2)
 18  Cavanaugh   10  Larsen   7  Mitola  UD Arena (12,831)
Dayton, OH
01/22/2016
7:00 pm, ESPN2
Rhode Island W 62–58  15–4
(4–2)
 13  Cavanaugh   10  Cavanaugh   3  McDonald  Charles E. Smith Center (2,913)
Washington, D.C.
01/28/2016
9:00 pm, ESPNU
Richmond L 90–98 2OT 15–5
(4–3)
 17  Garino; Larsen   14  Cavanaugh   5  Larsen  Charles E. Smith Center (3,367)
Washington, D.C.
01/31/2016
12:00 pm, NBCSN
at George Mason W 76–70  16–5
(5–3)
 19  Garino   11  Larsen   3  Jorgensen  EagleBank Arena (5,168)
Fairfax, VA
02/03/2016
7:00 pm, ASN/MASN
Davidson W 79–69  17–5
(6–3)
 17  Garino   10  McDonald   3  Larsen  Charles E. Smith Center (2,918)
Washington, D.C.
02/06/2016
12:00 pm, CBSSN
at VCU W 72–69  18–5
(7–3)
 27  Garino   8  Cavanaugh   3  Tied  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
02/10/2016
7:00 pm, CSN/SNY
Saint Joseph's L 66–84  18–6
(7–4)
 17  Cavanaugh   9  Larsen   7  McDonald  Charles E. Smith Center (3,091)
Washington, D.C.
02/13/2016
4:00 pm
at St. Bonaventure L 57–64  18–7
(7–5)
 21  Garino   11  Larsen   4  McDonald  Reilly Center (5,480)
Olean, NY
02/17/2016
7:00 pm
at Duquesne W 81–74  19–7
(8–5)
 16  Larsen   12  Larsen   3  Tied  Palumbo Center (1,520)
Pittsburgh, PA
02/21/2016
12:00 pm, NBCSN
La Salle W 90–50  20–7
(9–5)
 22  Cavanaugh   8  Garino   7  Jorgensen  Charles E. Smith Center (3,002)
Washington, D.C.
02/24/2016
7:00 pm, ASN/MASN2
at Richmond W 73–61  21–7
(10–5)
 16  Garino   12  Cavanaugh   2  Tied  Robins Center (7,201)
Richmond, VA
02/27/2016
12:30 pm, NBCSN
VCU L 65–69  21–8
(10–6)
 19  Cavanaugh   7  Larsen   4  McDonald  Charles E. Smith Center (4,385)
Washington, D.C.
03/01/2016
8:00 pm, ASN/CSN
George Mason W 74–52  22–8
(11–6)
 17  Tied   10  Cavanaugh   5  McDonald  Charles E. Smith Center (3,031)
Washington, D.C.
03/05/2016
3:30 pm, NBCSN
at Davidson L 80–87  22–9
(11–7)
 22  Tied   12  Larsen   6  Watanabe  John M. Belk Arena (5,157)
Davidson, NC
Atlantic 10 tournament
03/10/2016
2:30 pm, NBCSN
(5) vs. (13) Saint Louis
Second Round
W 73–65  23–9
 19  Watanabe   8  Cavanaugh   10  McDonald  Barclays Center (6,519)
Brooklyn, NY
03/11/2016
2:30 pm, NBCSN
(5) vs. (4) Saint Joseph's
Quarterfinals
L 80–86  23–10
 15  McDonald   11  Cavanaugh   9  Larsen  Barclays Center (8,223)
Brooklyn, NY
NIT
03/16/2016*
8:00 pm, ESPN3
(4) (5) Hofstra
First Round – Monmouth Bracket
W 82–80  24–10
 20  Cavanaugh   11  Cavanaugh   7  Larsen  Charles E. Smith Center (1,083)
Washington, D.C.
03/21/2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN
(4) at (1) Monmouth
Second Round – Monmouth Bracket
W 87–71  25–10
 22  Cavanaugh   12  Cavanaugh   5  Larsen  Multipurpose Activity Center (3,442)
West Long Branch, NJ
03/23/2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN2
(4) (2) Florida
Quarterfinals – Monmouth Bracket
W 82–77  26–10
 23  Cavanaugh   13  Larsen   3  3 tied  Charles E. Smith Center (3,399)
Washington, D.C.
03/29/2016*
9:00 pm, ESPN
(4) vs. (2) San Diego State
Semifinals
W 65–46  27–10
 20  Cavanaugh   11  Cavanaugh   6  McDonald  Madison Square Garden (8,298)
New York, NY
03/31/2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN
(4) vs. (1) Valparaiso
Championship
W 76–60  28–10
 18  Larsen   8  McDonald   4  McDonald  Madison Square Garden (7,016)
New York, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mike Lonergan is out as GW basketball coach after investigation into verbal abuse". The Washington Post. September 17, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "2015-2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings - Week 6)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Hawks' Bembry Named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Schmidt Voted as Coach of the Year". Atlantic 10 Conference. March 8, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  4. ^ "Garino becomes a factor for Argentina". FIBA. November 27, 2015. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Princiotti, Nora (March 31, 2016). "Colonials win NIT Championship, send seniors out on top". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved April 4, 2016.