Busting Brackets
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Atlantic 10 Basketball: Who will capture the 2016-17 conference title?

By Carmine Carcieri

Feb 27, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; Rhode Island Rams head coach Dan Hurley (C) talks with his team during a stoppage in play against the Dayton Flyers in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. The Rams won 75-66. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; Rhode Island Rams head coach Dan Hurley (C) talks with his team during a stoppage in play against the Dayton Flyers in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. The Rams won 75-66. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 31, 2016; New York, NY, USA; George Washington Colonials forward Tyler Cavanaugh (34) holds up a trophy after the second half of the championship game of the 2016 NIT basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden. George Washington defeated Valparaiso 76-60. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2016; New York, NY, USA; George Washington Colonials forward Tyler Cavanaugh (34) holds up a trophy after the second half of the championship game of the 2016 NIT basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden. George Washington defeated Valparaiso 76-60. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

5. George Washington Colonials

2015-16 record: 23-10 overall, 11-7 in Atlantic 10, NIT champs

Head coach: Maurice Joseph (interim)

Key returning players: Tyler Cavanaugh, Yuta Watanabe, Matt Hart, Jordan Roland

Newcomers: Three-star C Kevin Marfo, three-star PF Arnaldo Toro, two-star SG Jair Bolden, non-ranked C Collin Smith, non-ranked SG Justin Williams, Harvard GS G/F Patrick Steeves, Seton Hall transfer G Jaren Sina

George Washington went from the ultimate high to the ultimate low in a matter of months.

The Colonials won the NIT postseason tournament at Madison Square Garden in April.

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Months later, the Washington Post published a story about former players accusing then-head coach Mike Lonergan of verbal and emotional abuse. George Washington opened an investigation during the summer and opted to fire Lonergan three weeks ago.

Assistant coach Maurice Joseph, who has never been a head coach, was elevated to the interim position and will try to guide what is a very solid roster in 2016-17.

The transition may not be all that difficult given that Joseph is likely to run the same system as Lonergan, but it is an adjustment in terms of in-game X’s and O’s. Obviously Joseph doesn’t have the experience that Lonergan had, so this could be bad news in critical situations for the Colonials.

When looking just at their roster, this is a potential sleeper team in the Atlantic 10. Forward Tyler Cavanaugh will be in the running for Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, forward Yuta Watanabe is a versatile player who is a year older and George Washington adds talented newcomers, Jair Bolden, Kevin Marfo, Jaren Sina, Patrick Steeves and Arnaldo Toro.

Joseph might be the X-factor, but the roster is good enough to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

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