Five observations from George Washington’s 67-66 loss to Bradley on Thursday.
No shot. GW had a chance to win. In a timeout, first-year coach Mike Lonergan set up the final play with 21 seconds left. By design, Tony Taylor got the ball, but took a contested, forced attempt in the lane. “I feel bad for Tony. You want to put the ball in your best player’s hands. I’m not throwing anybody under the bus. I’ll take the blame for that, but that wasn’t his fault,” Lonergan said. “We didn’t execute the play. We’re supposed to get a heck of a down screen and it didn’t happen. He catches the ball. He’s not open. The clock’s running down. You try to make something happen, which is all he could do. I will make sure the right players are in there to execute. We’ll keep going recruiting and trying to get some guys that can.”
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Disciplinary actions. Junior forward David Pellom, the Colonials’ top scorer Saturday in a loss at Syracuse, was suspended for the Bradley game. In a loss Saturday to Syracuse, seniors Taylor and Aaron Ware were disciplined for an undisclosed violation. Taylor did not start for the first time since his sophomore year and Ware played a season-low 13 minutes. “There’s too many distractions in and around the program. We gotta get these guys focused on academics and basketball,” Lonergan said. “What they do on and off the court matters. That’s what winning programs are about. We have to get rid of the distractions. We have enough talent.”
Nothing for free. GW hit only six of 13 free throws against Bradley. Three different players went to the line with a chance to complete a three-point play, but all missed. Free throws have been vexing for GW, which is hitting 60.9 percent to rank 317th among 344 teams in Division I. “Free throws have been an Achilles heel for us this season,” said Ware. “It’s something we can improve on. It’s not too late.” Ware (88.9 percent) is the Colonials’ top free-throw shooter. Forwards John Kopriva (4 of 13), Dwayne Smith (3 of 10), and Pellom (9 of 18) are among those struggling. After hitting 70 percent in 2006-07, GW has shot free throws progressively worse each year – 68.6 percent (07-08), 68 percent (08-09), 65.2 (09-10), and 62.7 (10-11).
Pounding the boards. GW out-rebounded Bradley 40-32, collecting 21 off the offensive board, producing 23 second-chance points. It was the most offensive rebounds for GW since grabbing 23 in a loss to Hampton on Nov. 23 of last season. Lonergan said it was a point of emphasis coming into the Bradley game and praised the Colonials effort, but said some of it came as a result of bad shooting. Part of that is we we’re missing little chippies,” Lonergan said. “Missing those we get some offensive rebounds there.” Senior Jabari Edwards (four points, seven rebounds, six blocks) was a force inside for GW, matching his career-high in blocks.
Losing Streak. GW has dropped five straight, it’s longest losing streak since 2008-09, when it lost 11 in a row. Strangely enough, that streak began with a loss to Vermont, coached at the time by Lonergan. The current streak has something to do with the schedule. The losses have come to Kansas State (6-1), VCU (6-3), Loyola (8-1), Syracuse (10-0), and Bradley (5-4). The Colonials play their next three at home – against James Madison, UAB, and Delaware State – before opening their Atlantic 10 schedule at St. Bonaventure.
