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Game 20 - George Washington (13-6) vs. Saint Louis (12-7)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: January 25, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Charles E. Smith Center - Washington, DC
How to Watch: ESPN+
Matchup History: Saint Louis leads all-time series 14-9
Last Meeting: Saint Louis def. George Washington 96-91 on 2/24/24
Prediction: George Washington 72, Saint Louis 81
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Head Coach: Chris Caputo (3rd season, 44-39 record at George Washington)
Record: 13-6 (2-4, 11th in Atlantic 10)
Last Time Out: Lost @ UMass 74-61 on 1/22/25
Player to Watch: Rafael Castro
Here we go again.
The George Washington Revolutionaries, under the direction of third-year Head Coach Chris Caputo, have been one of the more up-and-down programs in the Atlantic 10.
Much of the conference lives this way, but GW has been one of the more impossible teams to predict game-to-game.
Three weeks ago, as big underdogs, GW whalloped Dayton in D.C. 82-62. Four days later, the Revs won again, this time over Rhode Island on the road 75-67.
They haven’t won since.
GW enters Saturday afternoon’s game against Saint Louis riding a three game winning streak, returning home after back-to-back losses away from home following its first home loss of the season last Wednesday against Duquesne.
Last Saturday, Caputo’s team blew a lead late against George Mason and fell in double overtime 80-77, then the offense sputtered in Wednesday night’s loss at UMass 74-61 as GW was held to just 35% from the field, 24% from three, and 67% from the free throw line while committing the same number of turnovers as assists (12).
Last year, GW started 3-1 in conference play before a 12 game losing streak derailed the season. There are shades of that happening with this team right now.
However, a win over a 5-1 in-conference SLU team that has the same makeup as last year’s Indiana State team that went 32-7 could be exactly what Caputo’s team needs to get the season back on track.
Head Coach: Josh Schertz (1st season, 12-7 record at St. Louis)
Record: 12-7 (5-1, 3rd in Atlantic 10)
Last Time Out: Won vs. La Salle 64-52 on 1/22/25
Player to Watch: Robbie Avila
Josh Schertz led Indiana State to a 28-6 regular season last year and missed the NCAA Tournament after losing the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship Game to Drake, 84-80 (in St. Louis).
It’s the most wins for any team to miss the tournament in NCAA history. Still, the Sycamores rallied to the NIT Championship Game, only to fall to Seton Hall in Indianapolis 79-77.
After the season, Schertz accepted the head coaching job at Saint Louis University, a program that hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and is working out of perhaps the best recruiting and geographical situation in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Schertz’ predecessor won just 13 games last year after winning 21+ the prior two, prompting the change. Schertz was one of the hotter coaching candidates in the 2024 cycle and SLU got its man, who has very much delivered thus far.
Following a slow 6-6 start, including three straight losses by four points or less, the Billikens have won six of seven games and are off to a flying 5-1 start in A10 play.
Big man Indiana State transfer Robbie Avila is one of three Billikens to average 17 points or more per game, leading the team with 18.4 PPG while shooting over 52% from the field and hauling in 6.7 rebounds per game and dishing out 4.3 assists per game (there’s some Jokic to his game).
Schertz has SLU clicking just in time to head into the gauntlet of conference play. The Billikens’ only league loss is to VCU, who many consider to be the best team in the conference. Of the five A10 wins, three have been by 12 or more; they’re not just winning, they are often dominating.
It’s going to be a tall task for GW in going up against one of the hottest up-and-coming teams in the A10.
The three-headed monster of Avila, Gibson Jimerson, and Isaiah Swope account for over 70% of SLU’s points per game - if GW can defend those three, they’ll have a shot on Saturday.
Easier said than done.
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