Following an underwhelming performance this past weekend, GW welcomes the Davidson Wildcats to the Smith Center for a midweek tilt. This starts a stretch of games where GW could potentially get its first A10 win of the season, and the first of Coach McCombs’ GW tenure.

Although the Wildcats are 11-6 overall and had an impressive OOC start at 9-3, their RPI strength of schedule (SOS) during the OOC was ranked at 171 (GW finished the OOC with the 81st ranked SOS). At 2-3 in the A10, Davidson is 9th in the current A10 standings. Davidson beat St. Bonaventure and Duquesne to open the A10 season but come into the GW game on a three game losing streak (VCU, Fordham, and Rhode Island). GW (7-10 overall and 0-4 in the A10) sits at 13th in the A10, ahead of only George Mason, who has started the A10 season at 0-5.

The Wildcats feature a balanced attack, led by 6’3” Sophomore Elle Sutphin, who averages 13.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg, while coming off the bench. She shoots a robust 53.4% from the field (34.8% from 3-point range). 5’10” Junior guard Suzi-Rose Deegan comes in at 12.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg on 47.6% shooting (35.3% from distance). Four other Wildcats average 7.5 ppg or more, so keying our defense on their main scorers could prove misguided. As a team, Davidson scores 63.7 ppg while allowing 61.1. They shoot 41.7% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc.

After Saturday’s dismal 5-29 3-point shooting performance, our percentages have dropped to 33.8% overall and 28.3% on 3-pointers. Shooting has to improve if we want to be competitive, so shot selection is critical. We were able to shoot a lot of good looks against UMASS that didn’t drop, but our bad shots usually led to easy baskets in transition for the Minutewomen, so we have to minimize those mistakes. On the defensive side (in the Moore-less era), we are going to be challenged by Sutphin on the inside, so a team effort is necessary to make it difficult for her to get her points. At the same time, with their balance, we can’t leave their perimeter players open for easy shots.

With Ty Moore no longer an option, the team is moving to a new phase. Knowing that, we need to mentally adjust and begin to entrust more minutes to our younger players, especially Ojo (who has been absent of late), Haydon, and Engel. Although winning games is important, it will be equally important for individuals to continue to improve and develop consistency in their games. Our lack of height will continue to challenge us for the remainder of the season, making it difficult to win a lot of games. Despite that, we shouldn’t lose sight of the long-term plan, which is to improve in all aspects of our game until the reinforcements arrive (hopefully next season), to help fill the gaps in our current rotation.

Last edited by xAC (1/27/2022 9:23 am)