By Hannah Foley
GoMason.com Staff Writer
In his welcome press conference, Coach Tony Skinn introduced "Patriot Pressure," and nine months later it's been thoroughly put into action.
Through 19 games so far this season, the "Patriot Pressure" has held opponents to under 50% shooting. That's the most dominate defensive start to a season since 2011-12, and only the second time a team has had more than 12 consecutive games where they've held their opponents to under 50% FG since 2002.
"We always fall back on our defense, that usually always gets us going," said graduate transfer
Amari Kelly after last Saturday's win over St. Bonaventure. "That's something that we preach in practice, is that we're a defensive minded team and that helps us get momentum offensively."
The Patriots dealt with a three-game skid before last Saturday's win, but even when shooting a season-low 32.8 percent from the floor at GW or a 0-for-15 performance from three against VCU, it's been the defense that has kept the Patriots in contention.
In Saturday's contest, St. Bonaventure hit just three field goals in the final 11 minutes of the game after going on an 18-3 run to start the second half. Runs in the previous three games is what sunk the Patriots into a hole, but on Saturday, Coach Skinn said the team executed the plays correctly and "I just thought we trusted each other a little more tonight."
The Patriots scored the next 11 points, keeping the Bonnies at their season-low 35.6 percent from the floor.
"I think our identity is our toughness in guarding the basketball," said Coach Skinn. "Because I think offensively, even on a bad night, you can score 70 points in conference play [when playing like that] and I'm ok with that. Our identity is going to come down to how hard we guard, both insides the arc and from the three-point line. We did both [Saturday night.]".
Coach Skinn's Green & Gold squad will look to continue applying its signature "Patriot Pressure" at this Saturday's Homecoming Game. Tip-off at EagleBank Arena is set for 4 p.m.
