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As Wizards return home, they want more

By Ben Raby

Are you excited about Friday night’s Wizards-Bulls playoff game? Are the Wizards now Washington’s best team? Post a comment in this story, comment on WTOP’s Facebook Page or use #WTOP on Twitter.

WASHINGTON — Drew Gooden has been a Washington Wizard for fewer than two months, but the NBA veteran doesn’t need much of a history lesson.

Gooden has heard all about the Wizards having won just one playoff series since 1982, and he knows that this year’s playoff appearance ended a six-year postseason drought.

But since returning home Wednesday after the Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls in Game 2 of their first-round, best-of-seven series, Gooden also has picked up on something that cannot be researched.

“There’s just a feeling right now,” Gooden said after practice Thursday.

“Just going to Whole Foods, driving in traffic, going to the [Nationals] game last night, you can definitely feel the energy and love in this city. You can sense the excitement of Wizards fans in the DMV area. You can feel just how excited they are for us to be in this position.”

The Wizards are in an enviable position, leading their first-round series two games to none, with Games 3 and 4 at Verizon Center. Only 14 teams in NBA history have ever come back from a 2-0 series deficit, and only three of those teams rallied after dropping the first two games at home.

Still, the Wizards know that there is work to be done.

“I promise you, we’re not satisfied,” Trevor Booker told the Wizards Radio Network after Game 2. “We want more. We’re going back home now and we’ve got to take care of home.”

The series resumes with Game 3 on Friday (WFED 1500AM; 8 p.m.) as Washington plays host to an NBA playoff game for the first time since 2008. With a sellout crowd expected at Verizon Center, the Wizards look forward to channeling the home energy.

“Boy, I hope it’s jumping,” head coach Randy Wittman said of the Wizards’ home arena.

“It’s been a long time. I’m happy for the city, but more importantly, I’m happy for our guys. They saw what [playoff basketball] was like [in Chicago] and now they’ll get to experience it at home. I’m excited for the fans. The fans have been there for us for the last six years too.”

Wittman also made it clear that the Wizards can’t afford to get caught up in the moment and must play the same brand of winning basketball that helped secure two wins on the road.

The Wizards overcame double-digit second-half deficits in both games, rallying from 13 points down in the third quarter of Game 1 and 10 points down in the fourth quarter of Game 2.

Washington was able to come back in both games thanks largely to an ability to clamp down defensively. While Bradley Beal and Nene combined for a 12-0 run to close out regulation and open overtime in Game 2, the Wizards held Chicago without a field goal for more than eight minutes, also at the end of the 4th quarter and into OT. It was an effort that the Wizards know must continue in Game 3.

“We’ll probably be a little nervous playing in front of our home crowd, in our first playoff game here at home,” said Beal. “It will be a different type of atmosphere

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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