There are two big reasons for men’s basketball’s 8-2 start: Darren Buchanan Jr. and Rafael Castro. 

Through the Revs’ first 10 games, the team has connected on just 31.0 percent of their 3-point shots, good for 282nd out of 364 Division I teams. While these struggles from deep could be a warning sign for offensive struggles for the team, they’ve been balanced by the team’s successes inside the paint. The team has outscored its opponent in the paint in all but four games, including by 34 in the team’s loss to American University on Wednesday.

Redshirt sophomore forward Buchanan and redshirt junior forward Castro help to lead the team’s paint prowess. The two, who are first and fourth on the team in scoring — averaging 16.4 and 10.1 points per game, respectively — have anchored the frontcourt on offense and defense.

“I know if I get stopped, I can easily throw it up to him, he’s gonna make a play,” Buchanan said of playing with Castro. “It also helped my vision on the court as a player, just knowing where he is all the time, knowing how he can affect the game, playing in a dunker and the low post.”

As of Sunday, Castro and Buchanan are one of just two pairs of teammates in Division I who average at least 10 points and eight rebounds per game, along with the University of Maryland’s Julian Reese and Derik Queen.

Castro, who transferred to GW this season from Providence, said his connection with Buchanan dates back to this spring when he served as his host for Castro’s visit to GW. 

“He was very genuine and honest with me,” Castro said of the visit. “He told me I’m going to have a lot of opportunities to win a lot of games in front of a great crowd and just work on my game and get better.” 

Buchanan said that when he watched Castro’s film before his visit, he knew immediately that he was “a crazy athlete” and that it was a “no-brainer” for him to come to GW.

“I told him what the situation was and what he’d be coming into,” Buchanan said.

After averaging fewer than 10 minutes per game and under 3 points per game in his first two years at Providence, Castro has started every game for the Revs this season, contributing an efficient 64.7 shooting percentage and bringing down 8.0 rebounds per game, behind only Buchanan, who averages 8.2.

Buchanan, playing in his second season, has increased his points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks per game, despite a 7.2 decrease in shooting percentage. He ranks 11th in Division I in free throw attempts per game with 8.0, helping to lead the team to fifth overall with 28 attempts per game overall. Entering the season, Buchanan said he was an “energy guy” who looks to lead teammates on and off the court. 

Buchanan said his physicality helps him get to the line so often. Buchanan has a 65.0 free throw shooting percentage this season but has struggled in the past two games, including going 10-21 in an overtime loss against American.

“I think for how I play so physically, I got to get to the free throw line,” Buchanan said. “I got to make them, so I think that just comes with the work that I put in, just trusting my game, knowing that I’m gonna get fouled by trying to just go up and finish through contact every time.”

Castro said that playing with Buchanan has given the team mismatches as he attracts more defenders driving to the paint. If Buchanan draws double teams or bigger defenders, it oftentimes leads Castro open in the paint.

“Playing with [Buchanan], basically, I tell everybody it’s pick your poison,” Castro said. “You’re going to have to stop [Buchanan] coming down the lane.”

Buchanan said Castro on the court lets him play with more confidence because he knows that if he gets stopped, he can pass it to him. Buchanan already has three games with at least five assists, more than he had all of last year.

Both Buchanan and Castro said that the time they’ve spent together off the court has gone a long way to help develop their on-court partnership. Buchanan said they hang out together “pretty much all the time,” playing 2K, making music or eating their meals together.

A D.C. native, Buchanan said he recently hosted the team at his house for Thanksgiving, where they “ate a lot of good food” and spent time talking basketball with his family.

“We’re always going to get food somewhere,” Buchanan said. “Dining hall, restaurant, doesn’t matter, we’re going to get food somewhere.”

As conference play nears, the duo said they’re excited to match up against top “bigs” in the A-10, like Saint Louis’ junior center Robbie Avila. Buchanan said he’s confident that his versatility and Castro’s defensive skills will make any matchup advantageous. 

“I don’t think there’s a big man that can guard me on the perimeter, and that’s why I’ve been playing that a lot this year, playing the perimeter and getting to the basket,” Buchanan said. “So if a coach’s game plan is to put his big man on the perimeter, good luck. That’s all I’ll say to that. And I feel [Castro] is a great defender in the post, so we’ll be fine matching up against other forwards and bigs in the conference.”