WHO: GW (8-1) vs. Boston University (6-3)
WHERE: Smith Center
WHEN: Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Case for BU: 
With the Colonials flying high after their dramatic win over Maryland in the BB&T Classic, the Terriers are hoping they can play spoiler and suck GW into a trap game.
To do so, BU needs continued strong play from its backcourt duo of Maurice Watson Jr. and D.J Irving. Through nine games thus far, Watson is ranked first in the Patriot League in assists, at 5.9 per game, and steals, at 2.4 per game, while also putting up a team-leading 14.8 points per game. Irving, one of the team’s three seniors, ranks third on the team at 11.6 points per game.
Although GW point guard Joe McDonald has been successful this season at taking care of the ball, if Watson can pressure him early and force some turnovers, it could cause problems for the Colonials offense.
The biggest offensive threat for BU, though, may be 6-foot-7 senior forward Dom Morris. Shooting an incredible 59.7 percent from the field, Morris averages 12.7 points per game, while also leading the Patriot league at 7.7 rebounds per game. A potential mismatch for the Colonials defense, look for Terriers head coach Joe Jones to get Morris the ball early and often.
The biggest problem for BU this season has likely been its defense, giving up a shooting percentage of 44.5 percent to opponents, while shooting just 44.1 percent themselves. Offensive efficiency will be a key for the Terriers to overcome their sloppy defense, as they are 4-0 on the season when shooting better than their opponents.
Having won four straight games before their weekend loss to Harvard, the Terriers will be giving their best effort to get back to their winning ways and spoil the Colonials’ hot start.
Case for GW:
Despite being a better and more complete team than last year’s Colonials squad, head coach Mike Lonergan may hope for some flashbacks from last year’s 72-59 defeat of the Terriers.
In that game, which gave GW its first win of the season, then-freshman guard McDonald came into his own, scoring a game-high 21 points to revive a team that had just lost its season opener. Also in just his second game as a Colonial, forward Isaiah Armwood dropped hints for his “Blockness Monster” nickname, protecting the paint with eight blocks and 12 rebounds.
A win for GW may come simply from similar performances by those two leaders. McDonald has greatly matured this season, turning the ball over 13 times, while recording 45 assists, good enough for an average of five assists per game. Armwood currently ranks second on the team with 14 points per game and first on the team in both rebounds (8.3 rpg) and blocks (24). Along with forward Kevin Larsen, the Colonials frontcourt will find themselves with a nice little size advantage in the paint and hope to tire out the BU big men early.
Additionally, the Colonials will look to add to the rebounding troubles that the Terriers have had all season. Through its nine games, BU has found itself out-rebounded 335-298, a margin GW hope increases after Wednesday’s matchup.
BU opponents are averaging 69.6 points per game, while shooting 36 percent from three – both very large numbers, but also numbers the Colonials offense already averages more than. Look for graduate student guard Maurice Creek, who leads the team at 16.3 points per game, to make use of his open looks from the outside and give BU another defensive problem.
The Colonials will be the Terriers third-straight opponent to enter their matchup with just one loss, a potential form of exhaustion for BU. Most recently, BU lost in an overtime heartbreaker to Harvard, 79-68, after overcoming a seven-point deficit in the last 44 seconds of regulation.
