Dave Paulsen and his assistants on the George Mason coaching staff have been giving Longwood, Saturday's 8 p.m. opponent at EagleBank Arena, the usual attention. The scouting report will include all the relevant stats and tendencies.
“They've got a good guard (Kanayo Obi-Rapu) and some talented inside players,” Paulsen said. “They're an explosive offensive team which has put up some good numbers.”
The Patriots have another focus for their first game after first-semester exams. “Us,” Paulsen said. “It's about us getting better.”
The focus in an abbreviated week has been what Paulsen calls “the clutter free mind.” It's Zen. Be in the moment. Don't worry about the past or future. Play each possession to the fullest.
“If you have four good possessions in a row, you don't coast,” Paulsen said. “If you have four bad possessions in a row, you don't mope.
“It's emotional maturity. That's what we're working on, trying to establish a greater level of emotional maturity.”
The Patriots (4-7) are coming off a 69-46 loss at James Madison last Saturday. Down 16-12 with 8:04 left in the first half, the team scored just 15 points in the next 21 minutes, going 6-for-24 from the field and committing 12 turnovers. JMU took control during the draught, leading 53-27.
“We had some wide-open shots,” Paulsen said. “It was kind of like a football team that keeps going three and out, three and out, three and out. Then the defense kind of falls apart the second half.”
JMU coach Matt Brady said the Dukes' defensive priorities were stopping dribble penetration and feeds to center Shevon Thompson.
“They clogged the paint,” Paulsen said. “We've got to punish that. Just like you punish teams that double team the post by kicking it out and scoring, we've got to be able to punish teams that clog the paint. We've got to be able to move the ball one or two more rotations, get better ball movement and execution.”
One of this week's practice themes: don't pass up open shots. Should you miss, don't hang your head. Just get in the gym and work on your shot.
“We've just got to keep working hard,” Paulsen said.
Manpower shortage: After three days off from practice to prepare for end-of-semester exams, the team resumed workouts Wednesday to learn that senior guard Patrick Holloway had decided to leave the team.
With senior forward Marko Gujanicic serving an academic suspension, the Patriots are down to eight scholarship players.
Julian Royal, who sustained his concussion in practice, has not played in a game this season. He has been available for parts of practices this week and may be back in the line-up soon.
With Holloway gone and Gujanicic out indefinitely, there could be increased playing time for freshmen Kameron Murrell at guard and Danny Dixon in the post plus junior walk-on guard Myles Tate.
