Rare smiles for embattled GW
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
February 22, 2009
After matching his career-high with 13 points in Thursday’s rout over St. Bonaventure, George Washington sophomore Joseph Katuka made a rare appearance in the media room, taking a seat alongside Colonials head coach Karl Hobbs and senior Rob Diggs behind a trio of microphones.
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“Right now, I’m getting more comfortable with my role in the team,” said Katuka, in halting English not unexpected from a 20-year-old Nigerian.
“I’m trying to do what the coach wants me to do: score, play defense — rebounding,” concluded Katuka with a smile, with Hobbs loudly whispering the last word into his ear.
The 6-foot-11 Katuka isn’t quite yet to assume GW’s low-post mantle, but his improvement has meant relief for Diggs. The 6-8 senior has felt compelled to add a long-distance element to his game as the desperation has increased for the Colonials (8-15, 2-9 Atlantic 10), who face the Musketeers (21-5, 9-3) on the road and remain in danger of missing the A-10 tournament for the second straight season.
“I worked on it a lot this summer,” said Diggs, who was 2-for-3 from behind the arc against the Bonnies — he had come into the game with four made three-pointers this season and six in his career. “As long as you’re playing under Coach Hobbs, you can take the shots as long as you make them.”
Diggs couldn’t help but grin, too, eliciting the same from Hobbs, a sign that not all the sunshine is gone from Foggy Bottom.
