Men’s basketball is back in the gym this summer, experimenting with new lineups and working toward their postseason championship goals.

Last season, the team went 21-13 and 9-9 in the conference, ending their season with a loss to Boise State in the first round of the College Basketball Crown. The team is working to incorporate five off-season transfers into the program before a challenging regular season schedule that kicks off this fall, where the Revs will face crosstown rival Georgetown in an exhibition game and the University of Florida — who are the NCAA reigning champions. 

“I think these months are critical to build those habits and build those relationships on the court and off the court as well,” Head Coach Chris Caputo said. 

He said the team has been spending time playing together on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball in order to get players “on the same page.” With the onboarding of two new freshmen, the team will add a total of seven new players to the mix, returning five players who saw action last year, and one coming back from injury.

Caputo said redshirt junior forward Garrett Johnson is “real close” to being back to practicing at full contact after missing last season due to a torn ACL. There are currently no other reported injuries on the roster. 

In his first year in Foggy Bottom, Johnson was named Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week four times and averaged 13.4 points per game for the Revs. 

“A lot of people just don’t know how good Garrett Johnson is,” junior guard Trey Autry said.

Caputo said during summer practices, the team has explored the possibility of playing 6-foot-11 inch redshirt senior Rafael Castro and 6-foot-10-inch graduate student Luke Hunger at the same time, forcing opposing teams to defend two “centers.”

“Giving yourself the flexibility to have different lineups, I think, is going to be important, and looking at that stuff in the summer is critical,” he said.

Last year, Castro often shared the floor with 6-foot-9-inch forward Sean Hansen, who graduated this spring, but now, due to the addition of Hunger, it’s possible he might not always be the tallest one on the court next season. 

“Just being able to know that I could throw a lob or possibly receive a lob from one of my bigs is just amazing,” Castro said. 

Castro said he’s been working to improve his game in the offseason with his trainer, Justin Zormello, in Miami, and expanding his shooting range — including potentially to behind the 3-point line. 

“I don’t know how many I’m gonna get up in games, but this summer I’ve been showing a lot of things, definitely working on all parts of my game,” Castro said. 

Redshirt sophomore guard Christian Jones said after lifting last season and this off-sesaon he senses a “body transformation,” allowing his shot to feel easier. On last season’s official roster he was listed as 6 feet 2 inches, 190 pounds and now he’s listed as 6 feet 4 inches, 195 pounds. He said this summer, he’s been working on shooting off the dribble to execute the pick and roll better and using his left hand to add versatility. 

While the team is working towards their ultimate goals of winning the conference and hearing their name called on selection Sunday, their first test of the season will come in an exhibition game against Georgetown University Oct. 18. 

For a couple of Revs, the rivalry is even closer to home. Castro will be facing off against his old coach, Ed Cooley from his first two years at Providence and Autry is seeking a win for his father, Syracuse’s head men’s basketball coach, after they fell to the Hoyas last season.

“I got to get them back for my pops,” Autry said. 

In another marquee matchup, the Revs game against Florida on Dec. 13 will test the goal of making the NCAA tournament. Caputo said scheduling these big games shows progress towards being recognized as a more competitive program. 

“Some of these games we don’t get if our program hasn’t taken a step forward to some degree but we’re not where we want to be, and we’ve got to do a lot of things to get there,” Caputo said. 

Two Revs already have NCAA tournament experience — Castro at Providence College and Hunger at Northwestern University. In order to make the NCAA tournament, the Revolutionaries must either receive an automatic bid by winning the A-10 tournament at the end of the season, or receiving an at-large bid — 37 such bids were granted in 2025.

The last time GW made the NCAA tournament was 2014.