GW Hoops / GW BEATS Illinois St Game Thread

**Posted by The Dude** 11/25/2024 5:08 pm

GW wins!! 72-64 great win
How about Trey Autry and all those Treys!!!

15 points 10 boards and 5 dimes for DBJr the best player in the A10

**Posted by creeksandzeeks** 11/25/2024 5:08 pm

GW played about 10-12 great minutes. They were the right 10-12 minutes to be great.

**Posted by moneybox** 11/25/2024 5:10 pm

Maybe Caputo should only coach the second half. A great, but unexpected, comeback. Amazing!

**Posted by GW Alum Abroad** 11/25/2024 5:14 pm

Hail to the Buff! Hail to the Blue!!!!!
Things I like:
This team moves the ball around on offense unlike any GW team I have seen in years. None of that one guy dribbles at the point for 20 seconds before trying some wild drive and circus shot crud we had become familiar with. No heroball. In fact, were there any sets in the halfcourt today where fewer than two passes were made before a shot was taken?
This is a GW team that gets to the line and hits its ft´s. In the past, as fans we have tried to downplay the importance of free throws (wink wink, FQ), no need to console ourselves with that now. This is no longer a hole GW´s play.

HOWEVER: This team cannot guard the paint. If Walker had played another 5 mins, would this have been a win? Footwork is soft and switching off screens is a challenge. Once conference play starts, this will become an issue.
I am a little worried about this team adopting a "live by the three, die by the three" attitude, The start to the 2nd half was very worrying, good ball movement only works if you take shots that fall. Sure, Autry bailed out GW tonight, but diversifying the shot selection (or dedicating more bodies to crashing the boards) might lower my blood pressure.
All in all, a positive trip to the USVI. We always knew this team would not be playing for an NCAA #1 seed, we now know this team is not one that is undeserving of a spot in the A10, either

**Posted by Free Quebec** 11/25/2024 5:16 pm

Great win. Drumgoole deserved a shout out. He made I thought 2 key defensive plays that turned the game. One was when he stepped up perfectly on the double team and drew a foul on Walker that got Walker out of the game. Then about a minute later, he had a spectacular block at the rim (and secured the rebound himself).

Tremendous work from Drumgoole. His best game of the year and I hope he can keep bringing that defense.

Will also add, this was a really good win to prepare us for the A10. Redbirds were packing it down and we were settling for drive and kicks that we mostly missed or were afraid to shoot. But then we just ground it out, getting inside (which then opened up different kinds of threes for Autry, Drumgoole, and Hutch). And at the same time we were outstanding on defense. We absolutely took three three ball away from them for almost the whole game, but especially the key last 15 minutes - and we did it without getting beat inside.

This should bump our KenPom a couple of spots (I’d guess 140), and it’s good to see that our play on the court matches that rating. We are clearly improved, especially on the defensive end. Need to keep focused and get better every game.

**Posted by jf** 11/25/2024 5:18 pm

Exhale.
At a few points in the second half, didn't see that coming.
Would say we stole a win, but we earned it.
No quit.
And ultimately good adjustments.
Autry, DBJ and Drumgoole came up extra clutch.
But good job by all to pick up the W.

**Posted by gwstudent2024** 11/25/2024 5:26 pm

Space is being made in the rafters of the Smith Center for the "4th Place in the 2024 Virgin Islands Paradise Jam" banner.

In all seriousness, great comeback. Loved what I saw from Autry and Drumgoole as others have mentioned. Holding a 36.1% three point shooting team to 22.2% from three is huge. Definitely an encouraging and productive trip to the Virgin Islands

**Posted by Tennessee Colonial** 11/25/2024 6:02 pm

Scary start to 2nd half. Typical. But a good comeback. It seems every game it takes a while for the guys start to hit their 3's. Then the floor opens up. Question? There has been questions that the coach will not make adjustments if a game plan goes awry. Did Caputo make a critical adjustment or did we just begin to hit our outside shots? I was out and didn't see the game, just the final score. Thanks

**Posted by Long Suffering Fan** 11/25/2024 6:08 pm

Illinois State had us very well scouted. On offense, pound it inside. On defense, pack in a zone and let us try to beat us from the three. For the first 25 plus minutes, it worked to a tee, as we fell down by 13. Then a couple of things happened. Their center got in foul trouble and we got hot from the 3. And after a woeful first half marred by turnovers and poor shot selection, Buchanan came alive. Although he still only shot 3-11 from the field, he had 10 rebounds and 4 assists, and was making much better decisions with the ball, specifically looking to kick the ball back out when he was doubled and even triple teamed. Going forward, players like their center, Chase Walker, are going to be an issue for us, as Castro is physically not strong enough to guard someone that size. As for starting Autry, I agree with PKGW. I like Autry coming off the bench, as he gives us some firepower. As an aside, one thing the tournament did which I like was have local school children in attendence. Better than looking at empty seats, and the kids seemed to enjoy it. Prior to the start of the GW game, Jun was tossing a basketball into the crowd and playing catch with the kids, who loved it. Class act. The win makes us 4th place finishers for the tournament.

Last edited by Long Suffering Fan (11/25/2024 6:16 pm)

**Posted by Long Suffering Fan** 11/25/2024 6:12 pm

Tennessee Colonial wrote:
Scary start to 2nd half. Typical. But a good comeback. It seems every game it takes a while for the guys start to hit their 3's. Then the floor opens up. Question? There has been questions that the coach will not make adjustments if a game plan goes awry. Did Caputo make a critical adjustment or did we just begin to hit our outside shots? I was out and didn't see the game, just the final score. Thanks

The biggest adjustment he made was in the substitution patterns. Autry played most of the second half while Moss sat. Likewise, both Jones and Hanson got very few second half minutes.

**Posted by GWRising** 11/25/2024 6:16 pm

A few observations ...

1. We don't win this game a year ago. This team is mentally tougher than recent past GW teams.
2. I think our defense is improved over a year ago and it's helping us get back into games.
3. We have improved our rebounding significantly.
4. Our offensive balance has improved which makes us harder to guard. Bishop was a tremendous talent but in some ways he hurt us by being so ball dominant. This team is unselfish for the most part and as a result points are up.

These are all positive trends that if they continue will serve us well. We are not far from turning corner as a program towards a winning season both OOC and A-10. However, we need to continue to improve because we are not there yet.

**Posted by Gwmayhem** 11/25/2024 6:20 pm

Really nice comeback win. It's often most difficult to come back on disciplined, hard-nosed teams and that's what this Ill. State team was. GW finished the game on a 42-21 run, highlighted by a 9-2 run during the late stages of the game. As Coach Lehman mentioned in the broadcast, Caputo made a brilliant coaching move by having the team get the ball to Jun on the wing rather than at the3 top of the circle where his repeated efforts to drive were denied.

I'll predict that Gerald's block at the rim will be one of the 5 best defensive plays we see all year. It occurred immediately after a Trey Autry three which cut the deficit 7 and really served to energize the team from there. Drumgoole himself scored 12 of his 16 points after that block. He gets every bit as much of a game ball as Trey Autry does, and that's not a slight on Trey who may not need to start games but is absolutely needed to finish them if scoring is needed.

We can keep on talking about taking too many 3's, more 3's attempted than 2's, not enough points in the paint, etc. but the fact is this will be our formula for better or worse. This Virgin Islands trip has at least demonstrated that the team has a number of capable shooters from distance. The offense works as evidenced by the very small number of bad shot attempts along with the high number of wide open looks. Shooting is often a confidence game when shots are being made (or a con game when they are not) and we should all hope this helps improve the team's collective confidence to sink some threes on a more consistent basis.

**Posted by Tennessee Colonial** 11/25/2024 6:50 pm

Thanks for the observation, guys. Approaching Thanksgiving on a good note. (Just came back from a Bluegrass /Jerry Garcia 2 day event in Owensborough, KY. ) Lot of pickin and grinning was good for the old soul.

**Posted by Free Quebec** 11/25/2024 6:51 pm

Tennessee Colonial wrote:
Scary start to 2nd half. Typical. But a good comeback. It seems every game it takes a while for the guys start to hit their 3's. Then the floor opens up. Question? There has been questions that the coach will not make adjustments if a game plan goes awry. Did Caputo make a critical adjustment or did we just begin to hit our outside shots? I was out and didn't see the game, just the final score. Thanks

He made an adjustments. Whoever said he doesn’t, doesn’t know what they are talking (probably just spouting message board/talk radio cliches when a team doesn’t win). He’s actually very good at making adjustments.

**Posted by Free Quebec** 11/25/2024 6:54 pm

Long Suffering Fan wrote:
Tennessee Colonial wrote:
Scary start to 2nd half. Typical. But a good comeback. It seems every game it takes a while for the guys start to hit their 3's. Then the floor opens up. Question? There has been questions that the coach will not make adjustments if a game plan goes awry. Did Caputo make a critical adjustment or did we just begin to hit our outside shots? I was out and didn't see the game, just the final score. Thanks
The biggest adjustment he made was in the substitution patterns. Autry played most of the second half while Moss sat. Likewise, both Jones and Hanson got very few second half minutes.

Not true that the biggest adjustment was substitutions. Defensively we started double teaming Walker, where that was not the game plan. Offensively, we ran the offensive from the wing, instead of the top of the key and changed the spacing.

Also, there aren’t a lot of 270 pound centers to worry about bullying us in the A10. Walker is unique player.

**Posted by gwfan25** 11/25/2024 7:08 pm

Tennessee Colonial wrote:
Thanks for the observation, guys. Approaching Thanksgiving on a good note. (Just came back from a Bluegrass /Jerry Garcia 2 day event in Owensborough, KY. ) Lot of pickin and grinning was good for the old soul.

The team had a nice Sunshine Daydream today!

**Posted by The Dude** 11/25/2024 7:12 pm

KenPom up to 134

Highest in many years

**Posted by Long Suffering Fan** 11/25/2024 7:56 pm

Wisconsin Colonial and I had a ball attending the tournament. As a heads up...next year GW will be playing in a tournament in Caymen and is looking to charter a flight for the team, staff, family and friends. (They flew commercial this year). Not sure that I can get away two years in a row, but others should consider going. I don't know who else is in the tournament. And as much fun as it was this year, I believe Caymen is more fun than St. Thomas.

**Posted by Long Suffering Fan** 11/25/2024 8:01 pm

Free Quebec wrote:
Long Suffering Fan wrote:
Tennessee Colonial wrote:
Scary start to 2nd half. Typical. But a good comeback. It seems every game it takes a while for the guys start to hit their 3's. Then the floor opens up. Question? There has been questions that the coach will not make adjustments if a game plan goes awry. Did Caputo make a critical adjustment or did we just begin to hit our outside shots? I was out and didn't see the game, just the final score. Thanks
The biggest adjustment he made was in the substitution patterns. Autry played most of the second half while Moss sat. Likewise, both Jones and Hanson got very few second half minutes.

Not true that the biggest adjustment was substitutions. Defensively we started double teaming Walker, where that was not the game plan. Offensively, we ran the offensive from the wing, instead of the top of the key and changed the spacing.

Also, there aren’t a lot of 270 pound centers to worry about bullying us in the A10. Walker is unique player.

Probably correct about the biggest adjustment was in the use of Jun to attack the zone from the wing rather than the point, but we don't win the game without Autry and Drumgooole.

**Posted by The Dude** 11/25/2024 8:19 pm

FWIW, how about this list of NBA players from Southern Illinois??

Not that long ago they were also a multiple Sweet 16 team, 2007 and 2009Nine Salukis have gone on to play in the NBA:Chico Vaughn - St. Louis Hawks (1963–66), Detroit Pistons (1966-67)
Walt Frazier - New York Knicks (1968–77), Cleveland Cavaliers (1978–80)
Dick Garrett - Los Angeles Lakers (1970), Buffalo Braves (1971-73), New York Knicks (1974), Milwaukee Bucks (1974)
Nate Hawthorne - Los Angeles Lakers (1974), Phoenix Suns (1975–76)
Joe C. Meriweather - Houston Rockets (1976), Atlanta Hawks (1977), New Orleans Jazz (1978–79), Kansas City Kings (1981–85)
Mike Glenn - Buffalo Braves (1978), New York Knicks (1979-81), Atlanta Hawks (1982–85), Milwaukee Bucks (1986-87)
Ashraf Amaya - Vancouver Grizzlies (1996), Washington Bullets (1997)
Chris Carr - Phoenix Suns (1996), Minnesota Timberwolves (1997–98), New Jersey Nets (1999), Golden State Warriors (2000), Chicago Bulls (2000), Boston Celtics (2001)
Troy Hudson - Utah Jazz (1998), Los Angeles Clippers (1999-2000), Orlando Magic (2001-02), Minnesota Timberwolves (2003–07), Golden State Warriors (2007–08)