Who: GW (14-3, 2-1) vs St. Bonaventure (11-6, 1-2)
Where: Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center
When: Sat. Jan 18. @ 7 p.m.
Case for Saint Bonaventure:
It’s been a learning process for St. Bonaventure this season. After losing essentially all of their offensive production with the departures of Eric Mosley, Demetrius Conger and Chris Johnson, scoring for the Bonnies was up in the air. None of the players on this season’s roster had averaged double figures.
Two seniors have stepped up for seventh year head coach Mark Schmidt: Matthew Wright and Charlon Kloof. Wright ranks seventh in the conference in scoring at 16.0 points per game and Kloof ranks second in the conference in assists at 4.8 assists per game.
In the frontcourt, senior Isaiah Armwood and sophomore Kevin Larsen should have their hands full with junior Youssou Ndoye and redshirt-senior Marquise Simmons. Ndoye is a 7-foot, 245 pound junior who shoots 50.0 percent from the field and leads the team in rebounding at 5.8 per game, while Simmons ranks third in the conference in field goal percentage at 64.7 percent and averages 8.1 points per game. Saint Bonaventure ranks 93rd in the nation in total rebounds, pulling 37.5 rebounds per game, and are one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the conference, averaging 13.5 offensive boards per game.
The Bonnies have three players averaging double figures in scoring and average 75 points per game while shooting the ball at 46.3 percent. Their play has most certainly stepped up since Atlantic 10 play started, coming off two tough single digit losses to No.16 UMass and No. 24 St. Louis. On Saturday, though, they will be at home where they are a perfect 7-0 on the season.
Case for GW:
GW is coming off of a huge conference win against VCU Tuesday, and with that victory came career-high performances from Larsen and sophomore Patricio Garino – two names, not Creek or Savage, that fans haven’t been too accustomed to so far this season.
If their production continues, it will only give head coach Mike Lonergan more sure-fire options and the ability to spread the floor. GW now has five players scoring in double figures: Creek, Savage, Armwood, Larsen and Garino.
The Colonials will be in search of their first conference road win Saturday, after dropping their conference opener at La Salle Jan. 9.
Statistically, the Bonnies and Colonials are just about even. In order for GW to come out on top in Olean they will need to pressure St. Bonaventure ball-handlers as well as limit turnovers on the offensive side of the ball. The Bonnies turn the ball over 13.3 times per game, however, they make up for their own turnovers by forcing 15.5 turnovers on the defensive end, second only to VCU. It will be important for ball-handlers, Savage and sophomore Joe McDonald, to have another strong performance running the offense.
