What: Men’s basketball (5-2) vs. DePaul (6-1)
Where: Smith Center
When: Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
The Colonials will face their first test at home this season and look to extend their two-game winning streak when they take on the DePaul Blue Demons at the Smith Center on Thursday.
GW is 3-0 at Foggy Bottom this season and 18-1 in the last 19 games at the Smith Center, but may be challenged by a sharp-shooting DePaul team that is averaging 79.7 points per game and shooting .495 from the field, the 26th and 21st best in the country, respectively.
The Blue Demons defeated Stanford, which holds an RPI ranking of 54, by 10 in their most impressive win so far this season, but also took a tough 12-point loss to a weaker Lehigh team just a few days earlier.
After dominant wins over Grambling State, Longwood and UMBC, it will be interesting to see how the Colonials take on a more formidable opponent on their home court.
The case for DePaul:
Four DePaul starters are averaging 11 points per game or more, while just two GW starters are doing the same. The Blue Demons are led by junior forward Myke Herny, who commands the team with 17 points per game, followed by 6-foot-11 sophomore center Tommy Hamilton IV, who is averaging 15 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game.
Sophomore guard Billy Garrett Jr., the reigning Big East Rookie of the Year, shares a team-high .500 three-point shooting percentage to contribute to his team’s overall .410 percentage from beyond the arc. The team is also ranked 19th nationally with a .756 free throw percentage.
Defensively, DePaul is 43rd in the nation in steals, averaging 8.4 per game. If the Blue Demons can continue their strong shooting, force the Colonials to turn the ball over and get to the line, they may be able to hand GW its first loss at home this season.
The case for GW:
The Colonials will counter DePaul’s hot offense with a defense that is holding opponents to just 58 points per game and ranks 35th nationally in points allowed.
GW also holds a significant rebounding edge over DePaul, averaging 38 rebounds per game to the Blue Demons’ 31. While DePaul is well-rounded in scoring, only two of the team’s starters are averaging at least five rebounds per game. Each member of GW’S junior core four is averaging five or more.
Despite a high scoring percentage, DePaul ranks 224th in points allowed and may have a tough time shutting down a fast-paced GW offense that is averaging 72.9 points per game, led by junior Patricio Garino, who is coming off a 21-point game against Charlotte.
If GW can avoid fouls and turnovers, find the basket and continue its team rebounding efforts against a DePaul team that struggles on boards, the Colonials will cruise to their sixth victory of the season.
