New episode of the GW Basketball Insiders podcast. We previewed the A10 tournament with Tyler from the 3 Bid League podcast. A bit longer than usual but I think it was a good episode and Tyler had some great insights into GW and the league as a whole.

Twitter: https://x.com/MattModderno/status/2031361206058103107?s=20
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/bslY7pM08AI?si=fYIDGBdM-3Jkhnbc
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Tek5wNARG9LHKvo8QnT4T?si=FvGcl0qKRsGr8vovjXezag
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-10-a-10-tournament-preview-with-tyler-cronin-of/id1802674606?i=1000754472686

I can see GW winning any one of those games. But all four in the same week? Not a chance, imho.

Bonnie’s and Schmidt looked energized vs LaSalle to advance and play Mason. 
The “blers” made a nice late 15 point comeback vs the Spiders who collapsed yet again - ugh! LUC advances to play Davidson.  Should be very competitive rd 2.

Fordham Rams
Date: Thursday March 12th, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM ET
Venue: PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, PA)
TV: USA
Ranks: 167th (KenPom), 173rd (Bart Torvik), 186th (Haslametrics), 160th (EvanMiya)

Game 1 Result: FOR 79, GW 65 (Jones 13 points, Johnson 11 points, Marshall Jr. 11 points)
Team Preview: Link
Fordham Record Since Last Matchup: 5-4 (Wins @ St. Joe's, @ Rhode Island, vs. Loyola Chicago, vs. Davidson, vs. Rhode Island; Losses vs. VCU, vs. St. Bonaventure, @ VCU, @ La Salle)

During this time, seven of Fordham's last nine games have been decided by four points or fewer. That's not something a GW fan wants to hear.

Offensive Efficiency: 256th (KenPom), 271st (Bart Torvik), 261st (Haslametrics), 236th (EvanMiya)
Defensive Efficiency: 84th (KenPom), 86th (Bart Torvik), 92nd (Haslametrics), 97th (EvanMiya)
Pace: 326th (KenPom), 329th (Bart Torvik), 304th (Haslametrics), 323rd (EvanMiya)

Projected Starting Lineup:
#30 G Christian Henry (Senior; Chicago, IL) - 10.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.3 spg; 37% FG, 26% 3-PT, 57% FT per 28.5 mpg/29 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block; 6-13 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 2-2 FT in 29 minutes.

#2 G Dejour Reaves (Graduate Student; Syracuse, NY) - 17.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.8 spg; 47% FG, 30% 3-PT, 86% FT per 33.7 mpg/30 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals; 8-18 FG, 0-5 3-PT, 3-4 FT in 35 minutes.

#12 F Rikus Schulte (Junior; Münster, Germany)​ - 10.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.5 spg; 57% FG, 23% 3-PT, 63% FT per 29.9 mpg/31 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 7 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block; 2-4 FG, 3-4 FT in 33 minutes.

#0 F Abass Bodija (RS Freshman; Brisbane, Australia) - 7.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg; 50% FG, 33% 3-PT, 78% FT per 19.3 mpg/26 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals; 2-3 FG, 1-1 FT in 10 minutes.

#13 F Akira Jacobs (Junior; Yokohama, Japan) - 7.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg; 41% FG, 34% 3-PT, 76% FT per 28.2 mpg/31 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block; 5-9 FG, 3-6 3-PT, 1-2 FT in 30 minutes.

Projected Bench:
#14 F Roor Akhuar (Freshman; Melbourne, Australia) - 6.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg; 43% FG, 37% 3-PT, 46% FT per 19.2 mpg/24 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 block; 2-4 FG, 1-3 3-PT in 15 minutes.

#4 G Marcus Greene (Graduate Student; Gilroy, CA) - 4.4 ppg; 40% FG, 33% 3-PT, 60% FT per 15.9 mpg/0 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 0-1 FG, 0-1 3-PT in 5 minutes.

#77 G Louis Lesmond (Graduate Student; Paris, France) - 3.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1 apg; 29% FG, 20% 3-PT, 43% FT per 19.9 mpg/27 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists; 1-3 FG, 1-3 3-PT, 1-2 FT in 20 minutes.

#10 G Kingston Price (Sophomore; Bowie, MD) - 1.7 ppg; 47% FG, 32% 3-PT per 7 mpg/22 GP
      Game 1 vs. GW: 0-2 FG, 0-1 3-PT in 3 minutes.

When Fordham has the ball:
- Don't concede second chance opportunities. Fordham pretty much sucks in most offensive categories, however they put points on the scoreboard by rebounding their own misses. The Rams ranked 2nd in conference play in OR%, trailing only GW. Rebounding is such a big key in this one. The Rams have not lost since GW last played them when they won the rebounding battle. While GW was out rebounded by 18 last time around, it was of course without Slim. The Rams will also be without Jack Whitbourn, who pulled down 12 boards in the last meeting. He also had the best offensive rating among Fordham players for the game (187). That means boxing out Rikus Schulte, the reigning A10 co-player of the week, will be priorities 1, 2, and 3. Schulte is coming off a week where he averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds. Abass Bodija was awarded the A10 freshman of the week (with averages of 14.5 ppg and 5 rpg) so he will be a factor as well.

- Stay in front of Dejour Reaves and Christian Henry. Fordham was actually second-to-last in free throw rate during A10 play, so that is not really a major goal for them. Dare the Ram guards to shoot jumpers. GW was a bit unlucky in the last game with Fordham somehow always making a tough shot just before the shot clock expired, but this is not a potent shooting unit. The Rams are awful from three. They shot 28.5% from deep, which was dead last in league play. Henry is also entering Thursday's game on a bit of a cold streak. He's shot below 40% from the field in five straight games (although he's had 4+ assists in nine straight - funnily enough the last time he didn't was against GW).

- Can GW turn Fordham over? The Rams are not particularly good with ball security (10th in A10), yet GW only registered four steals in the last matchup. The Revs rank fourth in the league in defensive turnover percentage and fifth in steal percentage - perhaps the best attribute of what has been a mediocre defensive unit. Fast break opportunities can only help the offense.

When GW has the ball:
- Push the pace. Fordham wants to play a slow, low-scoring game. Since the two teams last played, Magpayo's bunch is 0-3 when the other team scores 70 or more points and 5-1 when they don't. It will also help reduce the number of halfcourt possessions that GW will have trying to break Fordham's zone with their size. Whichever team is able to force their style of play on the other team will likely have the upper hand.

- Players need to move even when they don't have the ball and look to cut to the rim more. GW's guards have been inconsistent when it comes to getting to the rim for much of the season. Last time against Fordham, CJ was the only guard that attempted more than one shot from two point range. If GW's shooters (Garrett, Trey, Tre) all shoot poorly from 3 again and the team has the same shot diet as last time, it's advantage Fordham. The Rams are better on the defensive side of the ball, but despite their size they are dead last (14th) in the league in block percentage. What that tells me is that GW shouldn't have issues finishing inside if they break the zone effectively. Now whether they can make an open layup or not is a separate conversation...

- Rebounding is also crucial on this side of the ball. It's a battle of strengths, with GW #1 in OR% in the A10 and Fordham #1 in DR% in the A10, Again, no Whitbourn and GW having Castro back should help things, but it can't just be one guy rebounding in general. It needs to be a team effort.

- Take care of the freaking ball. Fordham is pretty good at forcing turnovers (4th in steal percentage, 6th in defensive turnover percentage in the A10) but they don't need any extra help from GW making dumb passes or losing focus and getting the ball knocked from their hands.

I shortened the preview, because no analysis will make a difference if the team is not playing loose and together. Maybe being the lower seed will help psychologically and get the team play like the underdog. Early tip times are always tough, but hopefully the team uses the conference tournament as a new season and opportunity.

Projected Score: GW 75, Fordham 69. 71% chance to win (KenPom). Bart Torvik forecasts a 75% chance at a W. ESPN predicts a 79.4% chance for GW to move to 18-14.