He streaked down the right side, caught a pass from point guard Kenny Mitchell '97 and exploded with a two-handed, in-your-face, reverse dunk that brought looks of awe from the crowd and raised his teammates off the bench. It was just another night on the job for Sea Lonergan '97 last Friday night against Yale.
Lonergan's fluid jump shots, strong post-up moves, determined defense and court savvy, punctuated with occasional rim rattling dunks, has forced Dartmouth's opponents to pay attention. Men's basketball Coach Dave Faucher said Lonergan "brings excitement to the fans and his teammates."
Lonergan currently leads the Ivy League with 17.3 points per game, 19.3 per game against Ivy League opponents. He was named Ivy League Player of the Week three times this season, including the last two weeks, while leading Dartmouth's impassioned charge to second place in the Ivy League standings.
During Dartmouth's current four-game winning streak, Lonergan has tallied 22.3 points per game, highlighted by a 35 point blast in Ithaca two weekends ago.
A self-proclaimed gym rat, Lonergan's emergence from a strong rookie year, which earned him Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors, to an Ivy League force, has not come without dedication and sacrifice. In ninth grade he "decided to concentrate on one sport and see how far I could go with it." Lonergan loves to shoot around in the gym. He said he would "stay there all day if I didn't have to study."
Faucher said the "biggest difference" in his play this year, "is an improvement in his ball handling and shooting," skills that Lonergan dedicated himself to improving in the off season at home in Dallas.
The results are striking. While, as he candidly admits, the "15 to 18-foot shot is my trademark," Lonergan has extended his range, turning the three-point shot into a valuable weapon.
Lonergan has hit 44 percent of his three-point shots this season, dropping in 33 of the long range bombs. In his freshman year, Lonergan knocked home 12 threes in 36 attempts.
Added to occasional post-ups, which take advantage of his six-foot six-inch frame, the increased shooting range and confidence has made Lonergan's half-court offense blossom. Faucher said he is most pleased about Lonergan's offense because "he scores as part of team play".
Lonergan is happiest when he can open up the court and run. "Kenny [Mitchell] and I in the open court is my favorite play," he said, and on the break he often raises the crowd to its feet with whirling spin moves and seemingly impossible dunks.
Bringing the crowd to its feet is important both for Lonergan and the rest of the team, as are big crowds. "Knowing the school supports you makes a big difference." He said the team loved the crowd at the Pennsylvania game on Jan. 7 when fans were forced to sit in the aisles.
But when the team went into a mini-slump after the hard fought loss to Penn, Lonergan and the rest of the team watched the crowds dwindle.
Lonergan said the team became a "little frustrated", but with the winning streak he hopes the crowds will return. He mentioned the crowd standing to support the Dartmouth defensive stand which sealed the victory over Brown Saturday night as big moment for the team.
Big games, and big plays, bring out Lonergan's trade mark shoulder shrug. Lonergan, however, down-plays its significance. With a smile he says "don't call it a strut", but when reminded of his display after the massive dunk against Yale, he acquiesced with a smirk.
Most of the time the shoulder shrug is a utterly unconscious nervous twitch. "It loosens me up to get ready to play defense. I am usually so hyped. It just happens."
Defense is an unsung part of Lonergan's game. As a member of an improving defensive squad, Lonergan guards the opposing team's best scorer. "It is rare when our leading scorer is also our best defender," Faucher said.
Sea's attitude about the game has become pragmatic and his pregame rituals are basic, if superstitious. "I go out and just play as hard as I can."
His pregame routine consists of "sleep, pasta, and no work on game day." Still, he said, "I have my routine. I am definitely superstitious."
Lonergan learned his style of play in what he calls the "quick Dallas leagues" where he played for Lake Highlands High School. There he cultivated the skills he now displays. Deployed by his coach as "a utility player," Lonergan did a little of everything to help his team win. And win it did. Lake Highland won the home district and area titles his senior year.
But high school success did not lead to aggressive recruitment. Lonergan said he chose Dartmouth over Division III Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. for the challenge. He did not know that 'super sophs' Brian Gilpin, Kenny Mitchell and Keith Stanton would also be coming to Hanover.
"I didn't know them. We met as freshmen," he said. Together they realized the opportunities they have at Dartmouth. "Obviously he is part of a great class," Faucher said.
When asked about next year and the team's home victories over Brown and Yale this season, two young teams who promise to be Dartmouth main competition next year, Lonergan refused to rest upon his laurels. "The true test is going to be at Yale and Brown," he said.
The Big Green, face Pennsylvania and Princeton this weekend.
