VCU Newest Addition to A-10

The Atlantic 10 Conference will expand to 15 member schools for the 2012-2013 athletic season.  VCU was accepted to the conference by the Atlantic 10 Council of Presidents, chaired by Xavier President Father Michael Graham.   The announcement came this afternoon from Father Graham and A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade.  ”The addition of Virginia Commonwealth University to the Atlantic 10 further strengthens us as the nation’s premier basketball-driven conference,” Father Graham said.  VCU will begin competing in the A-10 as of the fall of 2012.  The Rams will be departing the Colonial Athletic Association.

VCU has had recent success on the hardwood, with the men’s basketball team making the Final Four in 2011, under the coaching of Shaka Smart.  That Cinderella story was ended by Butler, who will also join the A-10 for the 2013-2014 season.  This was followed up this past season by  a trip to the round of 32.  GW Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Lonergan praised the arrival of his new competition. ”VCU has a terrific program and is led by one of the top young coaches in the country in Shaka Smart.  It is very exciting to have them join the A-10 Conference,” said Lonergan.  GW took a loss to VCU, 75-60, at the Verizon Center this past season.  GW will also get to face VCU in the other 15 sports which it brings to the A-10.

Butler to Join A-10

Today, the Atlantic 10 Conference welcomed its newest member school.  Butler University was unanimously accepted to join the conference by the Presidents of the current A-10 member schools.  The announcement was made at a press conference by A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade and Xavier President and Chair of the Atlantic 10 Council of Presidents, Father Michael Graham.  “The Presidents of the A-10 member schools could not be more enthusiastic about adding Butler University to our conference,” Graham said.  Butler will be leaving behind the Horizon Conference.  They will join the A-10 for the 2013-2014 season, the same season which will see the departure of the Temple Owls for the Big East Conference.  Though the addition of Butler will keep the A-10 at 14 members, Father Graham said, “The question was never replacing Temple, the question was advancing the status of the Atlantic 10 Conference.”

Butler men’s basketball boasts an impressive record in recent history, visiting the NCAA Final Four in two of the last three seasons.  “Butler’s program has been among the elite programs in the country in recent years, having advanced to the NCAA Championship game in back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011. For us, to be able to compete in conference play against the level of competition that Coach Brad Stevens and his team brings, is very exciting to our players and staff,” said GW men’s basketball coach Mike Lonergan.  The Colonials will also compete against the Bulldogs in 17 of the 21 A-10 sports in which Butler participates.

Colonials Successfully Open Lonergan Era

Haley Milon

Sophomore Correspondent

Tony Taylor readies to drive on his defender. He scored 20 points on Friday. | Photo Credit: Alex Weihmann, WRGW District Radio Sports

The Mike Lonergan era began with a 64-48 win Friday night, as senior point guard Tony Taylor scored 20 points to lead George Washington to a victory over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks at the Smith Center.

The Atlantic 10 Conference Preseason First Team guard powered the Colonial offense, shooting 50% from the floor and adding six rebounds. Particularly explosive on the fast break, Taylor’s performance was highlighted by a no-look alley-oop to fifth year forward Jabari Edwards.

Senior guard Aaron Ware and Junior forward David Pellom each notched nine points to help Taylor carry the load offensively. Lonergan recognized Ware’s willingness to attack the basket as a key to the game.

“You’ve got to take the ball to the basket, and that’s what Aaron’s been able to do in both our games so far. We’re going to see a lot of zone and we’re going to have to penetrate against it,” Lonergan said.

Despite the victory, the Colonials showed that there is room for improvement. The Colonials were out-rebounded by the Hawks for the game and shot only 3-for-12 from the 3-point arc. Lonergan expressed that the rebounding problems cannot become a trend.

“We’re a very poor rebounding team. We’ve got to become a more physical team and stay in the paint until we get a rebound. Some guys are in there battling but some are out at half court,” said Lonergan.

Lasan Kromah looks to get around his defender | Photo Credit: Alex Weihmann, WRGW District Radio Sports

Even after spending time in practice this week working on the full court press, GW allowed several fast breaks during the first seven minutes of the game, giving up six points for the Hawks. The Hawks senior forward Tyler Hines was an offensive power both on the outside shot and in the paint, leading his team with 15 points.

“The press is new for us. We’re still working on it and it’s going to come with time. We switched up our defense and played a 1-3-1 which was effective in slowing it down,” said Taylor.

The Colonials head to the west coast on Sunday to take on the nationally ranked California Golden Bears at 9:30 pm EST on ESPNU, as part of the Progressive CBE Classic.  Our coverage starts with our pregame show at 9:15, and then Nkwa Asonye and Tim Riordan will have the call from the Haas Pavilion.

The attendance at Friday’s home opener at the Charles E. Smith Center was 3,369.

Kromah and Taylor Fuel Blowout Win In Exhibition

Ryan Melcher
Freshman Correspondent

Though the concise and straightforward new men’s basketball coach has said little before his team took the floor, Mike Lonergan emphatically started his George Washington coaching career with a 92-65 win over the Bowie State Bulldogs in the lone exhibition game this season. Junior guard Lasan Kromah led all scorers with 23 points and chipped in six assists, while his senior backcourt mate Tony Taylor finished with 12 points, nine assists and five steals.

The Colonials reaped the benefits of a turbulent offseason, as the preseason hype for basketball finally revealed itself in an electric Smith Center.  In turn, the team fed off of the energy and turned the game into a laugher in which they never trailed after sophomore Nemanja Mikic’s mid-range jumpshot 23 seconds into the game.

“I was happy overall with our performance,” Lonergan said, “but at half time I was worried that we let down, with the way we started the second half.”

Although there was a bit of an offensive drop-off, the coach indeed had plenty of reasons to be happy with the way his playbook cut through Bowie State. GW shot 55.9% from the floor and defensively forced an astounding 31 turnovers.

Senior Aaron Ware scored 12 points and junior forward David Pellom scored nine, both coming in off the bench. Freshman forward John Kopriva was in the starting lineup and also scored nine points in 23 minutes of play. Many predicted the new playbook to be a bit cumbersome at first, but Taylor and the Colonials were pretty comfortable and played at a brisk pace.

“The offense felt good,” he said. “We got to run, and that’s going to be our strength this year.”

The Colonials officially open the season on Friday as they take on the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks with tip-off at 7pm. Although the Hawks only won nine games last season, coach Lonergan is not overlooking the season opener.

“I’m looking forward to playing Friday,” he said. “I’m glad we’re at home, and we are going to be practicing to get better. We have to get a win somehow. Every time I look around, the teams we’re playing are either ranked or underrated, so we got some tough opponents coming up.”

WRGW District Radio Sports will have a special pregame show for the season opener. After Box Out! from 4-6pm, the station will be broadcasting live from the tailgate at 6pm. Then News at 6 will go on for their show at 6:20 before we resume the pregame show at 6:45.