George Washington Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Colonials

Non-conference schedule for 2018-19

Nov. 6 (H) – Stony Brook

Nov. 8 (H) – Siena

Nov. 11 (A) – Virginia

Nov. 17 (N) – Michigan

Nov. 18 (N) – South Carolina/Providence

Nov. 24 (H) – Manhattan

Nov. 28 (H) – Vermont

Dec. 1 (A) – Princeton

Dec. 5 (H) – Towson

Dec. 8 (H) – Valparaiso

Dec. 14 (H) – Howard

Dec. 22 (A) – Harvard

The George Washington Colonials have a very intriguing non-conference schedule. Last year, their strength of schedule ranked 108th in 2017-18, this season it should rank above the Top 100. They have their fair share of easy games but there are quite a few challenges awaiting on their 2018-19 schedule.

The Colonials will face the Virginia Cavaliers in their first road game of the season. It will be the team’s first meeting since George Washington defeated the Cavaliers back during the 2015-16 season, 73-68. That season Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill were running the show, now they’ll have to contain Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, and De’Andre Hunter.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier after that when the Colonials will face the Michigan Wolverines, a Final Four participant in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines won’t be an easy opponent for George Washington but if anything, it prepares them for what’s to come if they make this year’s NCAA Tournament.

The month of December will be more of a filling out stage for George Washington. They should defeat Towson, Valparaiso, and Howard but their away games against Ivy League foes Harvard and Princeton will test their discipline.

With 12 non-conference games on the slate, the Colonials have an opportunity to start Atlantic 10 play on the winning side of things. Given all the talent across the conference, it would benefit their confidence a ton heading into conference play.