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In NIT final, George Washington has one last chance to cut down the nets In NIT final, George Washington has one last chance to cut down the nets
(about 9 hours later)
NEW YORK—About a month and a half ago, George Washington men’s basketball coach Mike Lonergan received a package in the mail from a friend. Inside was a basketball net meant for him and his players to use as motivation in their pursuit of an Atlantic 10 tournament title. NEW YORK — About a month and a half ago, George Washington men’s basketball Coach Mike Lonergan received a package in the mail from a friend. Inside was a basketball net meant for him and his players to use as motivation in their pursuit of an Atlantic 10 tournament title.
Lonergan began hanging the gift in the locker room at Smith Center as a reminder of what the Colonials wanted to accomplish this season. The net even accompanied the team on road trips, including to the conference tournament in Brooklyn, where GW advanced to the semifinals at Barclays Center.Lonergan began hanging the gift in the locker room at Smith Center as a reminder of what the Colonials wanted to accomplish this season. The net even accompanied the team on road trips, including to the conference tournament in Brooklyn, where GW advanced to the semifinals at Barclays Center.
But when the Colonials lost to Saint Joseph’s, unable to preserve a 15-point lead in the second half, Lonergan wasn’t ready to put the good luck charm in storage just yet. He instead rallied his players from the blow of not making the NCAA’s field of 68 with the enticement of another championship in the National Invitation Tournament.But when the Colonials lost to Saint Joseph’s, unable to preserve a 15-point lead in the second half, Lonergan wasn’t ready to put the good luck charm in storage just yet. He instead rallied his players from the blow of not making the NCAA’s field of 68 with the enticement of another championship in the National Invitation Tournament.
Several weeks later, the fourth-seeded Colonials (27-10) stand one victory from cutting down nets for real at Madison Square Garden after advancing to the NIT final on Thursday night to face No. 2 seed Valparaiso (30-6). [Colonials reach NIT final with 65-46 win over San Diego State]
Several weeks later, the fourth-seeded Colonials (27-10) stand one victory from cutting down nets for real at Madison Square Garden after advancing to the NIT final Thursday night to face No. 2 seed Valparaiso (30-6).
“We just kind of touch it sometimes,” Lonergan said. “I touch it before every game. We travel with it. I’m not a big motivation guy, but just kind of to let our guys know, hey, we still have a chance to cut down some nets, and this is a prestigious tournament, and there’s a lot of teams that are not playing in the NIT, and we have to make the most of it.”“We just kind of touch it sometimes,” Lonergan said. “I touch it before every game. We travel with it. I’m not a big motivation guy, but just kind of to let our guys know, hey, we still have a chance to cut down some nets, and this is a prestigious tournament, and there’s a lot of teams that are not playing in the NIT, and we have to make the most of it.”
The Colonials have done so in their NIT run by dispatching notable NCAA tournament bubble teams such as Monmouth, 87-71, in the second round and San Diego State, 65-46, in the semifinals on Tuesday. GW limited the Aztecs to 3 for 22 (14 percent) on three-pointers and 29 percent shooting overall while committing six turnovers, a season low. The Colonials have done so in their NIT run by dispatching notable NCAA tournament bubble teams Monmouth, 87-71, in the second round and San Diego State, 65-46, in the semifinals Tuesday. GW limited the Aztecs to 3 for 22 (14 percent) on three-pointers and 29 percent shooting overall while committing six turnovers, a season low.
The victory was particularly gratifying in that Lonergan gets to coach his seniors for two more days. That group — point guard Joe McDonald, guard-forward Patricio Garino and forward-center Kevin Larsen — is largely responsible for helping Lonergan rebuild the program back into an NCAA tournament contender.The victory was particularly gratifying in that Lonergan gets to coach his seniors for two more days. That group — point guard Joe McDonald, guard-forward Patricio Garino and forward-center Kevin Larsen — is largely responsible for helping Lonergan rebuild the program back into an NCAA tournament contender.
“I think we are more confident than ever right now,” said Garino, who had 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting with five rebounds on Tuesday night. “If we do what we are supposed to do, what we go through during the scout, I think we’re good.” “I think we are more confident than ever right now,” said Garino, who had 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting with five rebounds Tuesday night. “If we do what we are supposed to do, what we go through during the scout, I think we’re good.”
[GW tops Florida, 82-77, to advance to NIT semifinals]
The seniors have combined for 380 starts in their careers, with Larsen’s 140 starts the most all-time at GW. The Denmark native who attended high school at Montrose Christian is one of seven players in school history with 1,000 points and 900 rebounds and had been averaging 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the first three NIT games.The seniors have combined for 380 starts in their careers, with Larsen’s 140 starts the most all-time at GW. The Denmark native who attended high school at Montrose Christian is one of seven players in school history with 1,000 points and 900 rebounds and had been averaging 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the first three NIT games.
Larsen finished with seven points and four rebounds in the semifinals, ending a string of nine games scoring in double figures.Larsen finished with seven points and four rebounds in the semifinals, ending a string of nine games scoring in double figures.
The other major contributor this season has been junior Tyler Cavanaugh, a transfer from Wake Forest. The 6-foot-9 forward led the Colonials with 20 points and 11 rebounds against San Diego State and has scored in double figures in every game this season. In four NIT games, the Colonials’ leading scorer (16.9) this season is averaging 21 points and nearly 10 rebounds.The other major contributor this season has been junior Tyler Cavanaugh, a transfer from Wake Forest. The 6-foot-9 forward led the Colonials with 20 points and 11 rebounds against San Diego State and has scored in double figures in every game this season. In four NIT games, the Colonials’ leading scorer (16.9) this season is averaging 21 points and nearly 10 rebounds.
“Very skilled for his size,” Valparaiso Coach Bryce Drew said of Cavanaugh. “Can shoot the ball, can score down low. He’s averaging 17 points a game, so you know he can score in a variety of ways. That will be a challenge for us to see what matchup hopefully we can slow him down with.”“Very skilled for his size,” Valparaiso Coach Bryce Drew said of Cavanaugh. “Can shoot the ball, can score down low. He’s averaging 17 points a game, so you know he can score in a variety of ways. That will be a challenge for us to see what matchup hopefully we can slow him down with.”
Lonergan, meanwhile, has been monitoring the status of McDonald, who twisted his left ankle with 49 seconds left in the first half against San Diego State and had to leave the game. He went to the locker room for additional examination and came back to start in the second half, although Lonergan admitted McDonald was in discomfort after finishing with nine points, six assists and four rebounds.Lonergan, meanwhile, has been monitoring the status of McDonald, who twisted his left ankle with 49 seconds left in the first half against San Diego State and had to leave the game. He went to the locker room for additional examination and came back to start in the second half, although Lonergan admitted McDonald was in discomfort after finishing with nine points, six assists and four rebounds.
GW went through a light practice on Wednesday afternoon, and McDonald did not participate. Lonergan indicated he expects McDonald to be ready to play on Thursday night in the final college game of his career. McDonald has played through multiple ailments during his career, including a sore hip that required surgery in April 2014. He started 32 games that season and missed only one. The Colonials went through a light practice Wednesday afternoon, and McDonald did not participate. Lonergan indicated he expects McDonald to be ready to play Thursday night in his final college game.
McDonald has played through multiple ailments during his career, including a sore hip that required surgery in April 2014. He started 32 games that season and missed only one.
“Luckily for us he’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached,” Lonergan said. “It would take a lot for him to miss this.”“Luckily for us he’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached,” Lonergan said. “It would take a lot for him to miss this.”