2021-2022 Mason roster

[Patriotsince81]

Sometimes that's enough though. If you've got someone who can knock them down consistently, you have to respect that and keep someone in his face all the time on that drive-and-dish.

But the other thing Hartwell does (or doesn't do) is not turn the ball over. Hartwell only averages a turnover every 26.9 minutes on the floor. For Polite, that's close to double at a turnover every 14.3 minutes. To be fair, Hartwell was a Junior w/three years in the system and Polite a true freshman in a Covid year where practice times were cut short, so you'd expect that ceiling to be a lot higher.

Polite also has a higher assist rate, averaging one 11.6 minutes on the floor compared to 16.1 minutes for Hartwell. Part of that though is Hartwell's ability to actually make a shot. Polite went w/out a made basket in 11 of the 19 games he saw minutes and did have at least one attempt in 9 of those 11.

I went with Polite because I saw a lost kid at the beginning of the year, the game just looked too fast for him. Over the last 4 games of the year looked like he belonged, something clicked for him. He was 11-22 from the field (3-8 from 3) with 6 assists (not great, but we don't have a point guard) and only 2 turnovers. I just see his upside being greater than Hartwell or XJ. I also like his size over Jamal and XJ. Time will tell. I have faith that KE will make the right choice.

 

[sleeperpick]

Sometimes that's enough though. If you've got someone who can knock them down consistently, you have to respect that and keep someone in his face all the time on that drive-and-dish.

But the other thing Hartwell does (or doesn't do) is not turn the ball over. Hartwell only averages a turnover every 26.9 minutes on the floor. For Polite, that's close to double at a turnover every 14.3 minutes. To be fair, Hartwell was a Junior w/three years in the system and Polite a true freshman in a Covid year where practice times were cut short, so you'd expect that ceiling to be a lot higher.

Polite also has a higher assist rate, averaging one 11.6 minutes on the floor compared to 16.1 minutes for Hartwell. Part of that though is Hartwell's ability to actually make a shot. Polite went w/out a made basket in 11 of the 19 games he saw minutes and did have at least one attempt in 9 of those 11.

More good points. I will say Hartwell doesn't turn the ball over because the balls stays out of his hands because he often hides in a corner and doesn't play point guard on offense. If we have shooters and scorers this year, one would think CKE would want an actual PG on the court. Polite was an absolute mess up until the end of the season. Dude was 0-4 from the field one game without hitting the rim.. I just think he plays some defense defense (Hartwell is a complete liability), can handle the basketball (Hartwell= Yikes), Polite is a very good passer (Hartwell doesn't really pass the ball because he hardly has it to begin with). At some point CKE will have to identify what's most important to him, but I would almost guarantee Hartwell plays a backup SG role this year because he is very unnatural and not very good as the primary ball handler. Maybe Cooper runs the 1 with Hartwell playing off ball in some score first lineups? but I think after CKE's instagram and rumblings I am hearing it is Polite's job to lose.

Hartwell was hardly consistent in shooting either as he had 3 games over 10 pts and had 1 game over 2 assists (he had 9 vs Howard)... that is pretty telling that even DP lost faith in him as the season went on

 

[gmujim92]

Predicting a huge freshman to sophomore leap for Polite. He got behind last year because he was hurt to start the season and took a long time to make up the ground due to COVID. A faster tempo and more open-floor situations will help him, as will having a year to adjust to the speed of the college game.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

Predicting a huge freshman to sophomore leap for Polite. He got behind last year because he was hurt to start the season and took a long time to make up the ground due to COVID. A faster tempo and more open-floor situations will help him, as will having a year to adjust to the speed of the college game.

Definitely not the typical season and some added challenges, especially for a freshman.

To put it delicately in Coach-speak, "It's a wide open race for the starting point guard spot."

 

[Petey Buckets]

Definitely not the typical season and some added challenges, especially for a freshman.

To put it delicately in Coach-speak, "It's a wide open race for the starting point guard spot."

More coach-speak: if you got four point guards, you got zero point guards.

We are all just guessing more than usual because that spot was so bad last year. I love the talent level of this team but we absolutely need someone to step into that role if we're gonna seriously compete for top 4.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Was Gray the one in the workout pictures recently looking like Marquise Moore? If so, it looks like he put on a lot of muscle since his HS tape.

 

[sleeperpick]

Was Gray the one in the workout pictures recently looking like Marquise Moore? If so, it looks like he put on a lot of muscle since his HS tape.

Yep. Kid was real damn good before some serious injuries in high school. Was definitely worth a flyer but who knows how he will do in the A10

 

[GMU1983]

I hope its Gray

 

[Quentin Daniels]

Yep. Kid was real damn good before some serious injuries in high school. Was definitely worth a flyer but who knows how he will do in the A10

ACL/MCL type?

 

[tblack33]

ACL/MCL type?

I believe so, something knee related. Happened early enough in the season though it should be healed enough to play on, will just have to see how explosive he is coming off that injury and what his conditioning is like.

 

[MasonFanatic]

 

[gmujim92]

The more I think about it, I really like the idea of Gaines starting at the 3. We have guys who can score, but when is the last time we had a lockdown wing defender with his size and length? I’m gonna say never.

Considering how many times we’ve been shredded by A-10 wings, Ticket could be a huge weapon even if he never scores double figures.

 

[gmujim92]

Oduro, Schwartz, Gaines, Cooper, Polite = pretty damn good

 

[MasonFanatic]

Even if Gaines doesn't start, having a defensive stopper at the wing as one of the first guys off the bench is a huge asset.

 

[gmujim92]

Even if Gaines doesn't start, having a defensive stopper at the wing as one of the first guys off the bench is a huge asset.

That’s true but typically defense sets the tone and offense comes in off the bench. Regardless some rotation of Schwartz, Gaines and Frazier at the 3 is a nice problem to have.

 

[Patriotsince81]

We averaged 71 ppg last year. If we are to match it or better it we will need to see people step up. We're losing a shade over 46 ppg with Miller, Kolek, Greene, and Wilson leaving.

My early prediction:

Oduro 9.9 last year. 14 this year.
Cooper 12.5 last year. 15 this year.
Schwartz 9.3 last year. 14 this year. I think he'll be asked to score more and will be a primary option.
Gaines has not played enough to judge offensively. I'll say 6 from him.
Polite 2.4 last year. 8 this year.

Thats 57 ppg from starters if we go with @gmujim92 starting lineup. We need 14 from the bench to match last year. Not unreasonable in my opinion.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Oduro, Schwartz, Gaines, Cooper, Polite = pretty damn good

I'm just not sure you can play both Polite and Gaines at the same time for many minutes unless there has been significant improvement in their shots. Seems to me the defense would just sag and ruin the whole point of trying to space the floor with 4-out.

Coincidentally, both are 3 for 22 (13.6%) from long range in their careers so far.

 

[sleeperpick]

I'm just not sure you can play both Polite and Gaines at the same time for many minutes unless there has been significant improvement in their shots. Seems to me the defense would just sag and ruin the while point of trying to space the floor with 4-out.

Coincidentally, both are 3 for 22 (13.6%) from long range in their careers so far.

Ya I’m also in the count me out on that lineup for long minutes crew. Can’t have two guys who can’t shoot playing the 1 and 3 at the same for extended mins. Maybe Polite has gotten a lot better at shooting and won’t airball or clang threes off the backboard this year. Maybe Gaines just needs mins to get in shooting rhythm and he’s much better than he was down in Tenn. but until one of those things is true I don’t think you can afford to play both at the same time too much.

 

[gmujim92]

I'm just not sure you can play both Polite and Gaines at the same time for many minutes unless there has been significant improvement in their shots. Seems to me the defense would just sag and ruin the whole point of trying to space the floor with 4-out.

Coincidentally, both are 3 for 22 (13.6%) from long range in their careers so far.

If Oduro becomes a legit 3-point threat, you don’t need Gaines to shoot it much because you can invert the offense and spread the floor for driving lanes. But your point about Polite is spot on — you simply can’t play PG in the modern game and be a non-threat from 3. I’m assuming he’s gonna improve because there’s nothing fundamentally broken with his stroke.

 

[FreeGunston12]

If Oduro becomes a legit 3-point threat, you don’t need Gaines to shoot it much because you can invert the offense and spread the floor for driving lanes. But your point about Polite is spot on — you simply can’t play PG in the modern game and be a non-threat from 3. I’m assuming he’s gonna improve because there’s nothing fundamentally broken with his stroke.

Josh is 4 for 23 (17.4%) in his career (A little funny that those three's stats from three are almost identical). I'm all for optimism, but it'd be pretty against the stats to expect those three to be on the floor at the same time and space the floor. And you can't expect driving lanes to be there if the defense can just sag off 2 or 3 players on the perimeter.

In your defense, those very well may be the best 5 players on the roster. I just don't think it works as a lineup. I'm more hopeful that Jones will be ready and can space the floor than for any of those three to drastically improve their shots. Hartwell and Gaines could be an intriguing combination to bring off the bench.