2024-2025 Rosterbation Thread

[bravesfan]

Money isn’t everything. Fit and culture are also incredibly important.

As much as I agree with this (you couldn't pay me enough money to have to wear a suit every day at work), teenagers don't quite understand this; especially when they have family members barking in their ear for all the wrong reasons.

Look at the recent OL from Oklahoma who left... specifically saying, "You'll have to talk to my dad" when asked about it.

 

[mkaufman1]

Dayton, and St. Joes both kept their core together.

The exceptions. And yet St Joes still finished 9th.

Just saying barely any teams stick together anymore. That era is over, and unfortunately everyone has to figure it out during the summer and out of conf for the most part. Lucky if we keep half a team from turnover a year.

 

[GMUgemini]

The exceptions. And yet St Joes still finished 9th.

Just saying barely any teams stick together anymore. That era is over, and unfortunately everyone has to figure it out during the summer and out of conf for the most part. Lucky if we keep half a team from turnover a year.

Which sucks for mid-majors because our seasons are made or lost in November and December (contrast Dayton vs Richmond and Loyola, both of whom SHOULD be at-large worthy/bubble teams given the strength of the conference, but they both dropped early games). Having cohesion and experience always was an advantage early OOC for mid-major teams.

The rating system now incentivizes pulverizing low low major teams early rather than testing yourself against tough competition.

 

[gmubrian]

The exceptions. And yet St Joes still finished 9th.

Just saying barely any teams stick together anymore. That era is over, and unfortunately everyone has to figure it out during the summer and out of conf for the most part. Lucky if we keep half a team from turnover a year.

Which sucks for mid-majors because our seasons are made or lost in November and December (contrast Dayton vs Richmond and Loyola, both of whom SHOULD be at-large worthy/bubble teams given the strength of the conference, but they both dropped early games). Having cohesion and experience always was an advantage early OOC for mid-major teams.

The rating system now incentivizes pulverizing low low major teams early rather than testing yourself against tough competition.

There seems to be a lot of gloom and doom today based on things that haven't actually happened.

At present time, all the people that Tony expected/wanted to return are returning for next year. A typical roster loses 3-4 per players year due to graduation. We are losing 4 seniors(+) this year, so that is normal. Of the other 3 roster spots, one was recruited over, and the other two have nothing to do with NIL.

Let's not make this into something it isn't.

 

[gmujim92]

There seems to be a lot of gloom and doom today based on things that haven't actually happened.

At present time, all the people that Tony expected/wanted to return are returning for next year. A typical roster loses 3-4 per players year due to graduation. We are losing 4 seniors(+) this year, so that is normal. Of the other 3 roster spots, one was recruited over, and the other two have nothing to do with NIL.

Let's not make this into something it isn't.

This is gonna sound colder than I mean it to, but frankly we should be happy that the staff has several open scholarships to recruit with this offseason. We need to get better and deeper to be an NCAA team … running it back with this group was never the plan, I’m excited to see how they’re able to upgrade the roster.

 

[mkaufman1]

No gloom and me from me. Just was stating general pt. My thoughts are well documented at this pt.

 

[GMUgemini]

I was speaking in general terms for mid-majors not Mason specifically.

 

[bravesfan]

There seems to be a lot of gloom and doom today based on things that haven't actually happened.

I'm married with two kids. Doom and gloom is my life.

 

[MasonFanatic]

This tweet from Jared definitely makes it sound like he's coming back

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1768468546600792078

View: https://twitter.com/jaredbillups1_/status/1768468546600792078?t=v4gvvO32twIEkvmBO_AMsw&s=19

 

[jessej]

Money isn’t everything. Fit and culture are also incredibly important. Just read what Bamisile said about playing at Oklahoma.

Hall, as an example, could get paid but he really should consider the trust and freedom Skinn gave him here and whether a P5 coach is going to give him that. If his goal is to play in the NBA (and it seems like it is) he should be looking at which program can develop and showcase his skillset more than which collective is going to toss the most dollars at him. And maybe that’s not here, but he certainly had a damn fine season here and we seemed to have a good plan for him.

I hope these points are explicitly made to him , and to all other players, in their yearly "exit interviews / evaluations"

 

[jruby]

Th

Of course we need bigs, but shooters have killed us for years. How many times since L left have guys had career nights against us? You gotta put the ball in the basket to win.

So almost like defense matters…. What does other teams shooting have to do with masons? Odd…

 

[jruby]

Ball came in out of high school as a hell of a shooter. Dude couldn’t figure out the defense yet that’s why he didn’t play. Again play run and gun all you want, English tried to play the shoot 3’s game and yet his teams played garbage defense and didn’t have an pg and lost because of it. Do you need to score, no doubt but getting shooters who have zero interest in playing defense will fail. See Keats and Nc State, live and die by offense but have crap seasons, that’s not how you build a winning team.

Need defense and offense. Over simplify it by saying ‘need shooters’ Mason is a hell of a lot closer to being a double bye and winning games than at any point in last 13 years. So sure there’s tweaks to be made but Tony will figure out what it takes.

While it’s unlikely they ever over take or beat the Hipsters and their deal with the devil, Mason is at least headed in the right direction.

 

[GMU79]

Th

So almost like defense matters…. What does other teams shooting have to do with masons? Odd…

Sorry, it was a clumsily worded post on my part. I even thought so as I hit send.

 

[Falco]

My wishlist for the offseason
1: Two true 5s. One to start one to be the backup. IMO, with Tony's words and the fact he continues to practice the three ball AND the fact it seems Haynes has notably slimmed down since he got here, the staff seem to be preparing him to be a 4. I have no insight on that, but that's what my eyes are telling me.
2: Shooting. This can come in the form of a true scoring two, more consistency from Ball, Baraka getting a three point shot. Either way, consistent second and third shooters not named Maddox are crucial this offseason.
3: Another Slashing foward. Hall is gone, don't fully trust Woody, would like one of these.
4: Third PG. Seems like a good thing to have in case of injury and if Begg is too raw for crucial minutes next season.

I want a Marquess Moore-type player who can get to the rim at will. I’m tired of seeing our “shooters” missing shots which turns into fast break points for the other team.

 

[EXpatriot13]

I want a Marquess Moore-type player who can get to the rim at will. I’m tired of seeing our “shooters” missing shots which turns into fast break points for the other team.

Baraka Okojie.

 

[Falco]

Baraka Okojie.

Yeah, pretty much. The sky is the limit for Okojie, if he can learn how to finish through contact. The challenge is adding some muscle without losing your step.

 

[mkaufman1]

Yeah, pretty much. The sky is the limit for Okojie, if he can learn how to finish through contact. The challenge is adding some muscle without losing your step.

He would finish through contact for layups and had a lot of And 1s. Somehow he would be like thrown to the floor and still make his layup. It happened a lot. He was super polished for a true freshmen point guard. I certainly havent' seen many play like that in watching Mason basketball for 20 years especially point guard. The best comparison is probably Marquise Moore, but he didnt play anywhere as close to what Baraka did. about 200 minutes less.

I will say I hope he learns to shoot better from deep, because right now teams are looking to defend and cut off his penetration to the hoop.

 

[Falco]

He would finish through contact for layups and had a lot of And 1s. Somehow he would be like thrown to the floor and still make his layup. It happened a lot. He was super polished for a true freshmen point guard. I certainly havent' seen many play like that in watching Mason basketball for 20 years especially point guard. The best comparison is probably Marquise Moore, but he didnt play anywhere as close to what Baraka did. about 200 minutes less.

I will say I hope he learns to shoot better from deep, because right now teams are looking to defend and cut off his penetration to the hoop.

Yeah he’s the real deal. We need more like Okojie. The way to win in the a10 is guard play. More the better in my opinion.

Looking back I like the roster construction of Paulsen’s first roster. Otis, Kier, Moore, and Jenkins. Just missing a big man

 

[mkaufman1]

Yeah he’s the real deal. We need more like Okojie. The way to win in the a10 is guard play. More the better in my opinion.

Looking back I like the roster construction of Paulsen’s first roster. Otis, Kier, Moore, and Jenkins. Just missing a big man

Paulsen had Shevon Thompson for his first year. Generally speaking Mason doesn't get 6'11 guys like him (and they aren't really that plentiful either). But to your greater point, yes we had some solid talent.

I definitely agree we need more like Okojie. The teams that were playing yesterday and even today have what @MasonFanatic and I call "fu I'm going to take over guards" who just refuse to do anything but score. I'd really appreciate if we could find the next Erik Reynolds or Dae Dae Grant. Hopefully Tony and company can find those guys and develop them. Baraka definitely is awesome but he needs some help.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

No doubt he’s going to be solid and put in work to improve. But if we can get another 1-2 year guy who already has proven to be consistent, let’s get him.

I agree that Ball, Okojie, and Billups can, and should, improve, but I'd be much more comfortable if we added two (2) transfers who've proven they can hit at a ~37-40% clip. Easier said than done, I know, but this has to be our priority. We're losing Hall and Kelly. Other than Maddox, there's nobody on this roster that is a legit outside threat. NOBODY.

And we can forget about poaching anyone off of Maryland's roster. They're @ 29% as a team and not one player above 32%. Yikes!