GW captain Rice dismissed from team for violating team rules

3/6/2008 9:51 PM

By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -George Washington star guard Maureece Rice declared for the NBA draft after last season, only to change his mind and return to school.

He won't get to finish his senior season. Rice was dismissed from the team on Thursday, hours before the Colonials suffered another loss in a disappointing season.

Referring only to a news release that explained Rice's ``failure to adhere to team rules,'' coach Karl Hobbs was testy and declined to answer most questions about Rice following Charlotte's 77-61 win over the Colonials.

Rice served a pair of one-game suspensions earlier this season for violating unspecified team rules. He missed the Nov. 24 game at Maryland-Baltimore County and the Dec. 23 game against Longwood.

Rice did not travel to Charlotte on Wednesday. The Colonials (9-16, 5-10) fell to 1-12 on the road after the 49ers closed the game on a 15-6 run. But Hobbs said he didn't feel Rice's absence affected the team.

``It didn't affect us whatsoever,'' Hobbs said. ``I don't know if you guys have been watching the last few games, but it didn't affect us at all.''

Featured on the cover of the team's media guide, Rice was expected to provide senior leadership for a young GW squad this season. He led the team in scoring as a junior and was voted the most outstanding player of the Atlantic 10 tournament.

After withdrawing from the draft, Rice's scoring average dropped from 15.8 to 9.2 this season, as he was forced to handle point guard duties following a season-ending injury to Travis King. Rice was leading the team with 2.7 assists per game.

Hobbs refused to say if Rice, who grew up in Philadelphia, had left school.

``Next question,'' Hobbs said.

After three straight trips to the NCAA tournament, George Washington is in danger not qualifying for next week's Atlantic 10 tournament. The Colonials finish the regular season Saturday at home against Massachusetts.

AP Sports Writer Joseph White in Washington contributed to this report.