2018-19 Schedule Thread

[Falco]

Expectations seem to be high across the board. I love it. 10 - 3 OOC and 14 - 4 in conference. 24 - 7 entering A10 tourney play would be a very solid resume. More than anything I want to see us return to winning ways at HOME.

I just hope the fan base does not alter the expectations every week and make excuses if we don’t live up to the preseason expectations.

 

[Patriot8]

I just hope the fan base does not alter the expectations every week and make excuses if we don’t live up to the preseason expectations.

Assuming that we remain relatively healthy, there are no excuses.

 

[mkaufman1]

Assuming that we remain relatively healthy, there are no excuses.

There isn't an excuse, I agree.

You have 100% of your scoring from the previous year returning (the only team in D1 to have that)
You have (experienced) bigs in the middle (Reuter/Calixte should be a great combo for the next two years). Hopefully Reuter doesn't have too much rust.
You have experienced guard play (Grayer and Livingston, plus Kier and Boyd have all played a ton of minutes).
You add freshmen who will not be expected to play 35 minutes a game, but be added depth. Anything they can add is a bonus as they will have time to shine.
There's length at the 3/4 position with Mar and Wilson. Guys who can stretch the floor and really help out the bigs underneath. They also can play more of their natural position now.

The pieces are in place, there is no reason to not win quite a few games this year. No more lacking size or depth or experience. This team has all the pieces to compete.

 

[GMUgemini]

Judging by this schedule looks like Paulsen is punting on playing for an at-large bid

St. Bonaventure played a very similar schedule last year with games again Jackson St., MD Eastern Shore, and Siena (all around 300 RPI or worse), they played an Ivy League school in Yale at home, CAA opponent Northeastern (who has recently been similar in strength to W&M), they also played at home to Vermont, an unexpectedly great mid-major in Buffalo (25 RPI), a couple of middling mid-majors (Niagra, Canisius), a mediocre P5 team in UMD, and then Syracuse and TCU.

They finished their OOC at 11-2, even lost their first game at home to Niagra, and no one thought they were going to get an at-large (mostly because they lost to Niagra), but a really great run in conference play put them right into the conversation, and that was in a down year for the A-10.

I think people need to realize that it is not quite make or break in the OOC in the same way it was when we were in the CAA.

 

[Falco]

St. Bonaventure played a very similar schedule last year with games again Jackson St., MD Eastern Shore, and Siena (all around 300 RPI or worse), they played an Ivy League school in Yale at home, CAA opponent Northeastern (who has recently been similar in strength to W&M), they also played at home to Vermont, an unexpectedly great mid-major in Buffalo (25 RPI), a couple of middling mid-majors (Niagra, Canisius), a mediocre P5 team in UMD, and then Syracuse and TCU.

They finished their OOC at 11-2, even lost their first game at home to Niagra, and no one thought they were going to get an at-large (mostly because they lost to Niagra), but a really great run in conference play put them right into the conversation, and that was in a down year for the A-10.

I think people need to realize that it is not quite make or break in the OOC in the same way it was when we were in the CAA.

I also expect the RPI of the mid majors we play to be decent. For instance, Vermont was a 20-win team last year and lost to Kentucky by 4 points in their opener. Perhaps this year they can steak a couple key wins.

PENN plays Alabama, Virginia Tech, NC State, and UMBC.

I am too lazy to look for the other team schedules.

 

[mkaufman1]

St. Bonaventure played a very similar schedule last year with games again Jackson St., MD Eastern Shore, and Siena (all around 300 RPI or worse), they played an Ivy League school in Yale at home, CAA opponent Northeastern (who has recently been similar in strength to W&M), they also played at home to Vermont, an unexpectedly great mid-major in Buffalo (25 RPI), a couple of middling mid-majors (Niagra, Canisius), a mediocre P5 team in UMD, and then Syracuse and TCU.

They finished their OOC at 11-2, even lost their first game at home to Niagra, and no one thought they were going to get an at-large (mostly because they lost to Niagra), but a really great run in conference play put them right into the conversation, and that was in a down year for the A-10.

I think people need to realize that it is not quite make or break in the OOC in the same way it was when we were in the CAA.

Agreed. Mason needs to avoid any bad losses, sub 300 too, but as long as they pile up the wins, and they succeed in conference by being top 3 or so, no reason they won’t be in the conversation.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

10-3 with 13 overtimes!

Do referees get time and a half for OT games?

John Wall's contract with Kentucky gave him extra pay for OT games.

 

[Jack Strop]

I just hope the fan base does not alter the expectations every week and make excuses if we don’t live up to the preseason expectations.

Then don't get sucked into the vortex of hype. Worry about what you, as a fan, can control—that is your unwavering, fanatical support of our George Mason Patriots!

 

[jessej]

http://www.atlantic10.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=799991&SPID=136228&DB_OEM_ID=31600&ATCLID=211665765

Although the league matchups are set - the schedule/dates and times for those matchups are not.
Did some quick research.
Last year the league schedule was released on Sept. 6.
So we may have about 3 weeks left.

 

[Washingtonian]

K State discusses our game:
http://www.k-statefans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4982

 

[sleeperpick]

https://twitter.com/A10MBB/status/1037324474155245568. Jan 3rd St Joe's

 

[Steve33]

i absolutely love that vcu is NOT coming to Fairfax on a weekend. Tuesday night / Senior night, I like it!!!!!

 

[HoopsAdmin]

The good news: 18 games televised on either CBSSN, NBCSN, or Stadium.

The bad news: Zero appearances on ESPN or ESPN2. Davidson and St.Joes each with 5. St. Louis and Rhodie with 4 each. vcu 3.

In a season where we project to be one of the top teams in the league, am I wrong to be a little butthurt?

 

[JPgmuswim]

The good news: 18 games televised on either CBSSN, NBCSN, or Stadium.

The bad news: Zero appearances on ESPN or ESPN2. Davidson and St.Joes each with 5. St. Louis and Rhodie with 4 each. vcu 3.

In a season where we project to be one of the top teams in the league, am I wrong to be a little butthurt?

Does that mean the rest of the games can be viewed on ESPN+ for $4.99 a month?

 

[HoopsAdmin]

Does that mean the rest of the games can be viewed on ESPN+ for $4.99 a month?

Home games, yes. Maybe others depending on whether they have agreements with ESPN+.

 

[dr. gunnie]

The good news: 18 games televised on either CBSSN, NBCSN, or Stadium.

The bad news: Zero appearances on ESPN or ESPN2. Davidson and St.Joes each with 5. St. Louis and Rhodie with 4 each. vcu 3.

In a season where we project to be one of the top teams in the league, am I wrong to be a little butthurt?

I too was pretty surprised we didn't get one of the ESPN games, but from a fan standpoint, I'm not a huge Friday night guy. I like my Mason games Saturday or Sunday (when the NFL is over).

 

[Five Two]

Hoping MASN or CSN-MA will air the @ W&M game.
Got to believe the FSN in Kansas will show the @K State game.

If FSN Ohio doesn't aire the @ Dayton game, it will be on ESPN+, right?
Same for @Richmond? If MASN or CSN-MA doesn't air it, ESPN+ will have it, right?

That would leave @ GA Southern as the only road game without TV coverage.

 

[joeschmoe459]

I too was pretty surprised we didn't get one of the ESPN games, but from a fan standpoint, I'm not a huge Friday night guy. I like my Mason games Saturday or Sunday (when the NFL is over).

I'm currently working for a university who's conference also just signed an ESPN+ deal so I have a touch of insider knowledge as to how these things go. Basically, ESPN ranked the teams around a month ago or so based on "importance," which I'm sure has to do with things like projected finish/record but also, and probably more importantly, recent historical significance that can draw in an outside fan.

Based on the games on the ESPN family of networks, it's pretty clear to me that St Joe's, URI, Davidson and vcu were tops on that list in whatever order you please. Saint Louis was probably also in the top half but based on who they're playing in their ESPN appearances (St Joe's x2 and URI), I think they were a bit of a beneficiary of circumstance.

So to answer the question at large, yeah, you can be a little upset at the lack of ESPN games because it basically means that ESPN considered at least 5 other schools more relevant/important than Mason right now.

Of course, the flip side of that is, if my theory is correct, Mason only has 6 games against those "top 5 ranked" schools, four of which are on either NBCSN or CBSSN. Without knowing the wording of the new ESPN contract (believe me, the A10's is wildly different than the one I've dealt with for our conference), I can't definitively say that ESPN got first pick of the litter of games against NBCSN or CBSSN, so it's possible that there was just a low amount of "important" Mason games to choose from

 

[Cedric Dempsey]

The good news: 18 games televised on either CBSSN, NBCSN, or Stadium.

The bad news: Zero appearances on ESPN or ESPN2. Davidson and St.Joes each with 5. St. Louis and Rhodie with 4 each. vcu 3.

In a season where we project to be one of the top teams in the league, am I wrong to be a little butthurt?

Where are you seeing 18 televised games?

 

[Washingtonian]

Where are you seeing 18 televised games?

14 ESPN+ ($4.99/month)
3 CBSSN
4 NBCSN
4 Stadium (free/online)

That makes for a total of 25.