Men's basketball head coach Mike Lonergan goes over a drill with the team towards the end of an open practice Tuesday evening. Francis Rivera | Assistant Photo Editor
The Colonials opened the last part of their practice to the media today in anticipation of Thursday’s match against Kansas State. Here’s some notes from the day:
- The Colonials were practicing their free throw shooting in pairs, with the coaches rotating around the court and watching each player take shots.
- Then they switched to practicing based off scouting reports, working on fast breaks and beating presses.
- “As you practice is how you play,” head coach Mike Lonergan could be heard telling his team, as well as emphasizing the importance of catching the ball cleanly.
- On one break, junior guard Lasan Kromah outran his teammates to slam home a dunk.
- It was also the first open practice with junior Dwayne Smith participating, and the forward appeared to be returning to form, presenting a formidable (and trash-talking) presence in the paint against his teammates.
- Senior guard Tony Taylor grabbed a pass from junior forward David Pellom at the free throw line, and drove in for a layup. At the last minute, Pellom attempted to lift Taylor up for dunk, both players laughing.
- GW ran through getting around a zone, and worked to leave the perimeter open for three attempts, including a few baskets from beyond the arc by junior guard Bryan Bynes.
- There was an even greater sense of camaraderie between the players and Lonergan, joking together at the end of practice.
- Taylor echoed Lonergan’s statements at the end of play, stressing the need to constantly “get after it in practice” and compete.
- Lonergan alluded to Smith practicing after three months off where the forward was not allowed to even ride a treadmill or jog due to concussion syndromes. Now Smith is slightly out of shape, Lonergan said, but has continued to looked better in practice over time.
