Hard to take too much away from playing a middling D2 team (UDC was picked middle of their own conference this year and Howard beat them by 32). Shooting was a concern for me coming into the year, but it looks pretty likely that this team is going to be significantly better in that department this year. Obviously not 15 threes a game good, but definitely better. Seeing a positive assist to turnover ratio is refreshing, regardless of competition. Team lost a bit of focus in the second quarter on both ends but regrouped well after halftime.

Was most impressed with the freshmen Colleen Phiri and Mia James. I can see why Coach G wanted Phiri to follow her to GW after she committed to Colgate. True stretch forward but can also finish inside. WBB has struggled to find a true PG for the last several years but James may just be the answer. She'll have ups and downs as a freshman but has a good shot and makes good decisions. Not hard to see why her HS team in Georgia was so successful.

Gabby, Sara, and Kamari are going to look a lot better playing for a coach that doesn't eschew the offensive end. The talent was always there for all of them. Hopefully Sara can cut down on the travels, although at least one of them was a BS call.

Theodorsson provides good experience and had a nice third quarter. Becker a bit raw offensively but is going to be a terror on defense. Wilson has good size and toughness in the backcourt as well.

Turnovers may still be an issue at times, but there were fewer that were of the terrible variety, and it does seem like Coach G actually might push the pace some (at least for this game).

Ultimately, it will be a successful year if the team can match the 10th place preseason pick, maybe exceed expectations by a spot or two and finish middle of the pack. Temple is going to almost definitely be a loss (they beat GMU tonight), but maybe GW can be competitive.
 

BC wrote:

Thanks DMV.  Where is xAC, Hope he's ok.  I'm at the time of life where I worry about things like that.

BC - Thanks for your thoughts-- I'm doing fine. Unfortunately, my personal time commitments have made it difficult to do the work necessary to do the pre-game posts, so I'll forgo those for now. On the other hand, I'll still put in my 2 cents when I can. And you can rely on DMV as always for great commentary. 

I did get a chance to watch the game, and DMV's observations are spot on. James has a good handle and a nice short range jump shot. She looks a lot like past A10 PGs that have given GW fits. Hopefully she's the answer for many years to come. Wilson, who also handles the ball well, looks to be a capable backup at PG. Phiri seems like a mirror image of Sims, so now we have a pair of potentially productive stretches that can play inside and out.

With James at the point, Reynolds has to learn to play without the ball, but she did hit her open threes without forcing them. Seems like Lewis has been getting the short end of some calls, but she’s going to have to adjust if she wants to be more productive. She still rebounds and defends well.

What struck me most was how good the shot selection was throughout the game, coming within the flow of the offense. A minor concern was how many inside shots were missed badly, leading the team to shoot a better percentage on 3’s than 2-pointers. It remains to be seen whether the team can sustain this offensive performance against more talented and physical teams. Same goes for the defense, especially on the rebounding end. The bench looks solid (Phiri, Wilson, Gonzales, and Becker), particularly if you factor in Calisto's absence. 

​Temple should be a really good test.