It's not exactly a secret that GW's season took a serious turn for the worse with Slim's injury, starting with the home debacle against Fordham.  If you like the idea of playing teams who you believe you have a score to settle with, then GW's draw is for you.  A loss on Thursday to Fordham simply means what many here have already concluded...that this GW team was vastly overrated.  You couldn't help but get the feeling after the Fordham loss that any hope that may have ever existed for an at large was out the window.  From that moment on, this season has only been about seeing what they could do in the A10 tournament.  Period.

While this isn't a bottom-basement Fordham team, this is a game that GW must win and frankly, should win.  Fordham's guards drove to the basket at will in the first meeting, taking advantage of GW's lack of rim protection.  That should most definitely change courtesy of Mr. Castro.  A win would result in a rematch with St. Louis who GW nearly beat on the road this season.  You know the team feels it can play with them, and given their 29 point loss to Mason on Saturday and several recent losses, might be catching them at just the right time.

The next likely opponent would either be Dayton or Mason. Dayton might resemble Mason of a year ago in that GW played two very tight games with them in the regular season.  Interestingly though, Anthony Grant has yet to win an A10 Championship at Dayton, and the program hasn't won one in 22 years.  And should Mason be the opponent, GW should have a lot of confidence based on their last meeting.  Even not having to face what could be VCU until the final could be a major advantage as VCU should have an at large locked up based on merely reaching the final.

None of this meant to provide any excess hype which lord knows this team has received more than its share.  (Even Tim McCormack on Saturday's telecast went on and on about how nobody wants to face this GW team in the conference tournament.  Sure, Slim is back, but what team has he been watching all season?) It is time to put up or shut up?  Has GW been "Top 4 quality" or will this mirage play out until the end?  Good luck trying to figure out this team. 

Thanks once again Insiders for an entertaining episode.

Imo, in order for this to be a successful tournament for GW, they would need to come out with the same aggressive intensity on the defensive end as they did in the Florida and SLU games. By setting the tone on the boards with gang rebounding, and imposing a physical edge on D,  it puts the opposition on their heels.  There is every reason to avenge that home massacre that Fordham put on us.  That would gather some momentum for a possible Friday win as well, which if highly competitive, would make it a success for me.  Anything more would be beyond wildest expectations.  

Hey, tournament time brings surprises, so why not 1,2, or 3+ of our guys playing out of their minds.  
Lets go Revs!!  Good luck at PPG Paints!