Here is the GW Basketball Insiders episode with Matt Colpoys about the offseason and transfer additions. Colpoys is always a great conversation so I suggest you check it out.

Twitter: https://x.com/mattmodderno/status/1919791362976682436?s=46&t=7J2ylh2Hab-QsuU7T-yc9Q
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/LB4jEB1JQtU?si=kvk0bdN-5HEJd3wN
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ugn1GlycNDLmygDBzL34P?si=NfZmlWVwRkGkcszOEkk37A
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transfer-portal-recap-with-mbb-assistant-matt-colpoys/id1802674606?i=1000706548323

Last edited by gwstudent2024 (5/06/2025 1:31 pm)

Not trying to call him out, but I couldn't help but notice Colpoys mentioned something about an "event in the Caymans" on this. I hadn't heard anything about this before now, and I'd have to imagine he is talking about the Caymans Islands Classic being our MTE for this season.

For context on what we might be able to expect, here are last year's contestants and their end-of-season Kenpom ratings: 

Boise St. (49)
High Point (82)
South Dakota State (137)
Duquesne (140)
Boston College (181) [They should move down to the A10, but I digress] 
Hampton (215)
Missouri St. (239)
Old Dominion (282)

It also brings me no joy to relay that this tournament was broadcast on FloHoops last year...

Last edited by Nicky Santoro (5/06/2025 6:16 pm)

Nicky Santoro wrote:

Not trying to call him out, but I couldn't help but notice Colpoys mentioned something about an "event in the Caymans" on this. I hadn't heard anything about this before now, and I'd have to imagine he is talking about the Caymans Islands Classic being our MTE for this season.

For context on what we might be able to expect, here are last year's contestants and their end-of-season Kenpom ratings: 

Boise St. (49)
High Point (82)
South Dakota State (137)
Duquesne (140)
Boston College (181) [They should move down to the A10, but I digress] 
Hampton (215)
Missouri St. (239)
Old Dominion (282)

It also brings me no joy to relay that this tournament was broadcast on FloHoops last year...

 
LOL. Yeah - no chance I get sucked into the FloHoops vortex again.

On the whole, I would call this group promising.  Still, there are a few things that remain lacking.  With Jacoi gone, I'm not sure this team truly has a natural point guard.  Christian Jones will take the starting role but to me, he is equal parts explosive and mistake prone.  Tre Dinkins can certainly play the point but it will be interesting how he balances his role as a distributor and facilitator with his need to put up shots.  I do recall watching Dinkins play and thinking to myself why a player like this ends up at Duquesne and not GW.  How's that for irony?  Am also excited about watching Jean Aranguren play and will be interested in seeing whether he gets time at the 1.  The other true need was a big to play alongside Slim Castro.  We will be playing small if Garrett is heavily relied upon to guard stronger guys, not due to his height but because of his style of play.  Luke Hunger is the rare grad student with two years of eligibility remaining.  He is the team's biggest wild card since he will be getting an opportunity at more playing time at a lower level.  If he can give the team some genuine toughness in the frontcourt, he can be a real asset.  Bubu Benjamin and Tyrone Marshall almost appear as if they will be competing with one another for playing time.  Marshall has more big game experience while Benjamin has the higher ceiling.  Bubu will undoubtedly become a fan favorite for his name alone so maybe this gives him confidence to play effectively at a higher level.

The closing thought is that CC and staff are doing a great job of bringing in guys who have a genuine chance to become rotational players.  Assuming the players don't disappoint in this regard, the next step will be to utilize this depth to the team's advantage.

Well said above.
Playing in any tournament televised by FloSports is often (perhaps not always) an indicator that we have been unable to schedule better. Sometimes than a middle school cafeteria/all purpose room/
gymnasium.
(Inevitable aggressive defensive response coming).

New episode of GW Basketball Insiders is out and we talked with Riley Frain of The Portal Report about GW's offseason, how it stacks up to the rest of the A10, and how other A10 teams have done in the transfer portal. Let us know what you think and if there's any content you'd like to see during the offseason!

Twitter: https://x.com/mattmodderno/status/1922414567583285272?s=46&t=7J2ylh2Hab-QsuU7T-yc9Q
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/PStJC7JCicg?si=laLpDL6M-15XTClm
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7E8bZMyyIGesD9qW9h0Qui?si=Ydi8_kiHR3mH3CczgmxDQg
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gw-basketball-insiders-5-13-the-portal-reports-riley/id1802674606?i=1000708383387

Last edited by gwstudent2024 (5/13/2025 5:46 pm)