Carl Elliott needs to ratchet himself back a notch.
The George Washington senior guard smiles freely when asked about the BB&T Classic at Verizon Center, and he can’t help but be excited about this weekend’s showcase. With signature wins over Maryland and Michigan State, the tournament has served as a springboard to great success the past two years for the Colonials.
Elliott needs to be on the floor to make it three, but he’s had two straight foul-plagued games.
“I just need to slow down a touch. You come out, and you’re excited about playing in those type of games, and you go in a step too fast,” said Elliott, who leads the team with 15.6 points and 4.2 assists per game. “If I slow it down a step, I’ll be fine.”
After fouling out just twice last season, Elliott fouled out with nearly eight minutes remaining in George Washington’s loss to Providence on Sunday, and he had four fouls the game before against Kennesaw State.
“He’s got to do a better job of reading how games are being officiated to keep himself out of foul trouble because we really lose our effectiveness when he’s not in there. That’s just a fact,” said Colonials coach Karl Hobbs.
Hobbs’s inexperienced team is still searching for an identity, but Elliott remains the focal point. His backcourt partner, junior guard Maureece Rice, is second in scoring (14.5), but the former sixth-man is still finding his way as a starter, and he relies on Elliott’s leadership and presence.
“Seeing him foul out early is difficult because we need him out there as much as he can,” said Rice.
Along with maturity, the Colonials (4-1) need to work on their toughness on the boards. After rebounding advantages in three of the first four games, George Washington was seriously out-muscled by the Friars, who outscored them in the paint, 44-22, and out-rebounded them, 51-27.
“That’s my main concern for this game against Virginia Tech. When it gets do the grind, are we going to be able to handle the physicalness of the game,” said Hobbs.
“We’re going in there with high hopes, with good attitudes, enthused,” said Elliott, “and hopefully we’re going to come in and box out.”
BB&T Classic
Sunday at Verizon Center
» George Mason (3-2) vs. Bucknell (2-4), 1:30 p.m.
» George Washington (4-1) vs. Virginia Tech (4-2), 4
» No. 23 Maryland (8-0) vs. Notre Dame (5-1), 6:30
