George Washington University Athletics
Saturday, January 6
Richmond, VA
4 p.m.
George Washington University
at
VCU
Men's Basketball Heads to VCU Saturday
1/5/2024 10:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON - GW men's basketball hits the road for the first time in A-10 play as it visits VCU for a 4 p.m. tip on Saturday on USA Network.
DC'S OWN THRIVING BACK HOME
Darren Buchanan Jr. had a coming out party in his A-10 debut, scoring a career-high 38 points (15-30 FG) with six rebounds and four steals on Wednesday vs. Fordham. Buchanan's 38 points are the most by a freshman in the country this season, second-most by an A-10 player, and the most by a GW first-year since SirValiant Brown scored 42 in 1999.
A Virginia Tech transfer, Buchanan boasts a team-high 12 double-digit outings and leads all A-10 rookies in scoring (15.1 ppg) and minutes played (30.1 mpg) while ranking third in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and blocks (0.6 mpg) and fourth in assists (2.1 apg). Buchanan is second overall in the A-10, and 48th nationally, shooting 57.6% from the field and has attempted 98 free throws in 14 games, second-most in the A-10 and 20th in the NCAA.
BISHOP BACK IN FORM: James Bishop IV matched his season-high on Wednesday night with 32 points on an efficient 11-of-21 shooting, adding six assists and a career-high three blocks. Bishop has now crested 30 points seven times in his GW career in addition to 46 20-point games and 82 double-digit efforts in 93 career appearances.
Wednesday was Bishop's sixth game of 20+ points and 4+ assists this season, third-most in the NCAA. He has 31 such games in the last four years, fourth-best in the country in that span. The reigning A-10 scoring champion ranks second in the A-10 in scoring (17.8 ppg) and fourth in assists (4.8 apg) this year.
IMPACTFUL FIRST-YEARS
One of the hallmarks under Coach Caputo has been freshmen and redshirt freshmen getting opportunities to immediately play. Last season, Maximus Edwards was the A-10 Rookie of the Year and led league rookies in minutes played and rebounding while finishing second in scoring.
This season, there are only 11 first-years nationally that have scored 199 or more points and two - GW's Garrett Johnson and Buchanan - have combined for four A-10 Rookie of the Week awards and lead A-10 freshmen in 12 different categories. 50.7% of GW's offense has come from first-years, and rookies have played more than half of the team's minutes.
GW has received 28 double-digit performances from four different freshmen this season - Buchanan (12), Johnson (11), Trey Autry (3) and Jacoi Hutchinson (2) - with at least two rookies in the starting lineup of each of the first 14 games.
A LOOK AT THE RAMS
DC'S OWN THRIVING BACK HOME
Darren Buchanan Jr. had a coming out party in his A-10 debut, scoring a career-high 38 points (15-30 FG) with six rebounds and four steals on Wednesday vs. Fordham. Buchanan's 38 points are the most by a freshman in the country this season, second-most by an A-10 player, and the most by a GW first-year since SirValiant Brown scored 42 in 1999.
A Virginia Tech transfer, Buchanan boasts a team-high 12 double-digit outings and leads all A-10 rookies in scoring (15.1 ppg) and minutes played (30.1 mpg) while ranking third in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and blocks (0.6 mpg) and fourth in assists (2.1 apg). Buchanan is second overall in the A-10, and 48th nationally, shooting 57.6% from the field and has attempted 98 free throws in 14 games, second-most in the A-10 and 20th in the NCAA.
BISHOP BACK IN FORM: James Bishop IV matched his season-high on Wednesday night with 32 points on an efficient 11-of-21 shooting, adding six assists and a career-high three blocks. Bishop has now crested 30 points seven times in his GW career in addition to 46 20-point games and 82 double-digit efforts in 93 career appearances.
Wednesday was Bishop's sixth game of 20+ points and 4+ assists this season, third-most in the NCAA. He has 31 such games in the last four years, fourth-best in the country in that span. The reigning A-10 scoring champion ranks second in the A-10 in scoring (17.8 ppg) and fourth in assists (4.8 apg) this year.
IMPACTFUL FIRST-YEARS
One of the hallmarks under Coach Caputo has been freshmen and redshirt freshmen getting opportunities to immediately play. Last season, Maximus Edwards was the A-10 Rookie of the Year and led league rookies in minutes played and rebounding while finishing second in scoring.
This season, there are only 11 first-years nationally that have scored 199 or more points and two - GW's Garrett Johnson and Buchanan - have combined for four A-10 Rookie of the Week awards and lead A-10 freshmen in 12 different categories. 50.7% of GW's offense has come from first-years, and rookies have played more than half of the team's minutes.
GW has received 28 double-digit performances from four different freshmen this season - Buchanan (12), Johnson (11), Trey Autry (3) and Jacoi Hutchinson (2) - with at least two rookies in the starting lineup of each of the first 14 games.
A LOOK AT THE RAMS
VCU is 8-6 in Ryan Odom's first season as head coach and dropped its A-10 opener on Wednesday, 89-78, to St. Bonaventure. The loss to the Bonnies marked VCU's first loss in an A-10 opener since joining the league 12 years ago.
The reigning A-10 regular season and tournament champions have eight newcomers, including seven transfers, and have been led by Utah State transfer Max Shulga, who averages 15.1 ppg. Zeb Jackson (13.4 ppg) and Christian Fermin (6.4 ppg / 5.0 rpg) are the lone other Rams to have started every game. Utah State transfer Sean Bairstow has averaged 14.7 ppg in three games since returning from a season-opening injury.
Saturday will be a reunion with former GW guard Joe Bamisile, who averaged 16.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg for the Buff & Blue in 2021-22 and was named All-Atlantic 10 Third Team. Bamisile, who began his career at Virginia Tech and played at Oklahoma last season, has put up 12.5 ppg since being ruled eligible as a multi-time transfer four games ago.
The reigning A-10 regular season and tournament champions have eight newcomers, including seven transfers, and have been led by Utah State transfer Max Shulga, who averages 15.1 ppg. Zeb Jackson (13.4 ppg) and Christian Fermin (6.4 ppg / 5.0 rpg) are the lone other Rams to have started every game. Utah State transfer Sean Bairstow has averaged 14.7 ppg in three games since returning from a season-opening injury.
Saturday will be a reunion with former GW guard Joe Bamisile, who averaged 16.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg for the Buff & Blue in 2021-22 and was named All-Atlantic 10 Third Team. Bamisile, who began his career at Virginia Tech and played at Oklahoma last season, has put up 12.5 ppg since being ruled eligible as a multi-time transfer four games ago.
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