Saturday, February 10
Washington, DC
12 p.m.
George Washington University
vs
Loyola Chicago
Photo by: Mitchell Layton
Men's Basketball Hosts Loyola Chicago on Homecoming Weekend
2/9/2024 10:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON - For the first time in program history, GW men's basketball welcomes Loyola Chicago to the Smith Center on Homecoming weekend. Tip is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday with coverage on Monumental Sports Network and ESPN+. Saturday's game is presented by WAEPA and is a BLUE OUT with fans encouraged to wear blue. The first 1,000 fans will receive a pair of James Bishop IV #11 socks as part of the festivities.
HALL OF FAME AND HOMECOMING WEEKEND
HALL OF FAME AND HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Saturday's game culminates an exciting weekend around the Foggy Bottom campus that features the induction of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class on Friday night. Men's basketball letterwinner Carl Elliott (2003-07) is among the inductees. Elliott was a three-time A-10 Champion and four-time All-Conference selection during his time in Buff & Blue.
He ranks second in GW program history in career assists and steals, played the ninth-most games all-time (122) and started 120 of the 122 contests, the fourth-most starts ever at GW. The Buff & Blue won 90 games in his four years on campus, winning an A-10 Regular Season Championship and two A-10 Championship Tournament titles, while advancing to three-straight NCAA tournaments for the only time in program history.
This year's inductees also include: the 1979 Baseball NCAA Tournament team, All-American Andrea Bolognesi (men's swimming & diving), Most Outstanding Player Arnar Johannsson (men's soccer), WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones (women's basketball), record-breaker Autumn Taylor (softball) and all-around Champion Darden Wilee (gymnastics).
PERFORMING WELL BEYOND HIS YEARS
He ranks second in GW program history in career assists and steals, played the ninth-most games all-time (122) and started 120 of the 122 contests, the fourth-most starts ever at GW. The Buff & Blue won 90 games in his four years on campus, winning an A-10 Regular Season Championship and two A-10 Championship Tournament titles, while advancing to three-straight NCAA tournaments for the only time in program history.
This year's inductees also include: the 1979 Baseball NCAA Tournament team, All-American Andrea Bolognesi (men's swimming & diving), Most Outstanding Player Arnar Johannsson (men's soccer), WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones (women's basketball), record-breaker Autumn Taylor (softball) and all-around Champion Darden Wilee (gymnastics).
PERFORMING WELL BEYOND HIS YEARS
Darren Buchanan Jr. has made a tremendous impact for the Buff & Blue in his debut season, leading GW with 19.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg in A-10 play, ranking third overall in the league in both categories. He has been named A-10 Rookie of the Week three times, leads the team with 19 double-digit outings and paces all A-10 rookies in scoring (15.7 ppg) and minutes played (30.9 mpg) while ranking second in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and third in assists (2.4 apg).
Buchanan is the only rookie in the nation currently averaging 15.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg and one of just two to do so in the last two years, joining Alabama's Brandon Miller in 2022-23 (18.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg). He is the first A-10 rookie to average 15.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg since UMass' Tre Mitchell (17.7 ppg / 7.2 rpg) in 2019-20 and the first player of any age to do so at GW since Tyler Cavanaugh averaged 18.3 ppg and 8.4 rpg as a senior in 2016-17.
Buchanan also leads the A-10, and ranks 47th nationally, shooting 56.4% from the field. For the season, he ranks eighth in the league in scoring and rebounding.
A LOOK AT THE RAMBLERS
After a tough first season in the Atlantic 10, going 10-21 (4-14), Loyola Chicago has turned things around dramatically, entering play at 8-2 and in third place in the A-10 standings. The Ramblers have won three-straight games, topping Saint Louis and Davidson by double digits before coming from behind to win at George Mason on Wednesday.
Davidson transfer Des Watson leads the team in scoring at 13.3 ppg, shooting 43% overall and from beyond the arc. Philip Alston chips in 12.7 ppg and 3.8 ppg while Braden Norris dishes out 4.5 apg while having started every game at the point. Norris leads a team that averages a league-high 16.7 apg and has assisted on over 60 percent of its field goals in A-10 play.
Buchanan is the only rookie in the nation currently averaging 15.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg and one of just two to do so in the last two years, joining Alabama's Brandon Miller in 2022-23 (18.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg). He is the first A-10 rookie to average 15.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg since UMass' Tre Mitchell (17.7 ppg / 7.2 rpg) in 2019-20 and the first player of any age to do so at GW since Tyler Cavanaugh averaged 18.3 ppg and 8.4 rpg as a senior in 2016-17.
Buchanan also leads the A-10, and ranks 47th nationally, shooting 56.4% from the field. For the season, he ranks eighth in the league in scoring and rebounding.
A LOOK AT THE RAMBLERS
After a tough first season in the Atlantic 10, going 10-21 (4-14), Loyola Chicago has turned things around dramatically, entering play at 8-2 and in third place in the A-10 standings. The Ramblers have won three-straight games, topping Saint Louis and Davidson by double digits before coming from behind to win at George Mason on Wednesday.
Davidson transfer Des Watson leads the team in scoring at 13.3 ppg, shooting 43% overall and from beyond the arc. Philip Alston chips in 12.7 ppg and 3.8 ppg while Braden Norris dishes out 4.5 apg while having started every game at the point. Norris leads a team that averages a league-high 16.7 apg and has assisted on over 60 percent of its field goals in A-10 play.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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