Game 11: GMU (5-5 / 1-3) vs LaSalle (5-6 / 2-2) on Wednesday, January 13, at 7PM.

[Patriotsince81]

LaSalle is currently 5 - 6 on the season and 2 - 2 in A10 play.

History: Including tournament play DP is 3-2 against the Explorers.

Wins: Lincoln PA, Drexel, Deleware, Dayton, Fordham
Losses: St. John’s, St. Peter’s, Army, UMass, Maryland, UMass

Schedule: https://goexplorers.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster: https://goexplorers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats: https://goexplorers.com/documents/2021/1/2/Report_Book_3_.pdf

LaSalle has nine players who average between 4.9 and 9.6 points per game. So, I think it’s safe to say they don’t have any go to studs. Only 2 guys have started every game for the Explorers. 6’8” Jack Clark (9.6 ppg & 5.5 reb) and 6’2” David Beatty (9.3 ppg) are those starters. Seven other guys have started at least one game. Ten guys average between 14 and 24 minutes per game. So in that regard they are hardly your typical basketball team.

LaSalle averages 67.6 points per game while giving up 67.9. The Explorers shoot 44.5% from the floor and 38.8% from 3. Opponents are shooting 41.7% from the field and 28.5% from 3. The Explorers shoot 64.4% from the free throw line. They have been out rebounded by 2.6 boards per game.

The game is on ESPN+.

My prediction: LaSalle was picked 13th in the A10 polls, ahead of only Fordham. I honestly don’t know what to think about this one. They beat Dayton on the road, something we could not do. At the beginning of the year I had this penciled in as a win but I’m not so sure now. I’ll say we pull out an ugly win against an ugly team in an ugly game. Mason 69 - LaSalle 68.

Discuss.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 75
Them 70
OT

 

[PoorManProfit]

LaSalle 70
G Mas 69

 

[Bricker]

Not confident about this one.

 

[sleeperpick]

Lasalle is a very unskilled, gritty team. They have a couple Daddy's who are completely out of control but will cause havoc in a press or on defense. They are very weak down low so I hope Josh, AJ and Jordan can find some time at the charity stripe. I really think we win 4 more games this season and this is one of them. Mason by 7 (Swimom throws her bra on the court in celebration and it takes out an entire section of fan cutouts, bending and breaking most.

 

[The Great PATSby]

Not confident about this one.

opposed to any other game we play? lol

 

[GMUgemini]

Not confident about this one.

Cut and Paste this into every game thread ad infinitum.

 

[Bricker]

Lasalle is a very unskilled, gritty team. They have a couple Daddy's who are completely out of control but will cause havoc in a press or on defense. They are very weak down low so I hope Josh, AJ and Jordan can find some time at the charity stripe. I really think we win 4 more games this season and this is one of them. Mason by 7 (Swimom throws her bra on the court in celebration and it takes out an entire section of fan cutouts, bending and breaking most.

Yeah, they looked scrappy as hell when I was watching them earlier this season. Not going to be an easy W, that's for sure (not that there's any such thing for this team).

 

[JimP]

Mason rarely wins comfortably against lower level OOC opponents these days. Think I recall a 100 something to 60 something drubbing of Howard back in the Larranaga days.

Haven't been "locks" in a long time.

 

[Pablo]

3-Pt. FG%:

La Salle - 38.8% (tied for 28th in D-I)
Mason - 31.8% (230th)

FT%:

La Salle - 64.4% (tied for 297th)
Mason - 62.0% (317th)

 

[JimP]

3-Pt. FG%:

La Salle - 38.8% (tied for 28th in D-I)
Mason - 31.8% (230th)

FT%:

La Salle - 64.4% (tied for 297th)
Mason - 62.0% (317th)

Fans from the stands could shoot a better FT %. May be something for the rules committee to look at for any team 300 or worse in D-1.

 

[tblack33]

Fans from the stands could shoot a better FT %. May be something for the rules committee to look at for any team 300 or worse in D-1.

One of the things that has rubbed me pretty badly this year. During covid, when we are extremely limited in what we could do, no one thought to tell the players to put up 1000 FT a week? Inexcusable for us to be shooting this poorly from the line in a year like this.

 

[GMUgemini]

One of the things that has rubbed me pretty badly this year. During covid, when we are extremely limited in what we could do, no one thought to tell the players to put up 1000 FT a week? Inexcusable for us to be shooting this poorly from the line in a year like this.

It's XJ, AJ, and Oduro that is dragging the team percentage down.

Miller: 80%
Greene: 77.5% (low for him, but stiill solid)
Kolek: 75%
Hartwell: 80% (but he doesn't get to the line very often).

And then:

XJ: 52% (shot 71.9% last year, so maybe his knee is bothering him at the line, too).
AJ: 52.8% (shot 61% last year)
Oduro: 52.6% (shot 61% last year)

 

[Pablo]

It's XJ, AJ, and Oduro that is dragging the team percentage down.

Miller: 80%
Greene: 77.5% (low for him, but stiill solid)
Kolek: 75%
Hartwell: 80% (but he doesn't get to the line very often).

And then:

XJ: 52% (shot 71.9% last year, so maybe his knee is bothering him at the line, too).
AJ: 52.8% (shot 61% last year)
Oduro: 52.6% (shot 61% last year)

Well, how about Dady who is shooting 0-10 from the FT line this season?

 

[GMUgemini]

Well, how about Dady who is shooting 0-10 from the FT line this season?

Definitely not great....looking at total free throws taken, we just do not get to the line enough, especially our bigs. AJ especially should be taking at least twice what he has so far. But I guess that's what happens when you decide mid-range fadeaway jumpers are going to be the go-to.

 

[patriot2000]

Definitely not great....looking at total free throws taken, we just do not get to the line enough, especially our bigs. AJ especially should be taking at least twice what he has so far. But I guess that's what happens when you decide mid-range fadeaway jumpers are going to be the go-to.

I am really curious whether AJ's problem is decision-making/shot selection or how he's being used. He would be so much better if he used his inherent tougness, strength, and raw athleticism more, and his "shooting touch" and "finesse" less. I like him taking some 3's. It's important for the defense to know he has it and have to guard him differently because of it. I like him taking some mid-range fadeaways for some of the same reasons. But overall, his natural gifts and talents are not being used. If I was coach, I would be all over him to be tougher and more physical, but I'm afraid the opposite is happening.

 

[Pablo]

https://www.a10talk.com/weekly-rundown-and-power-rankings-1-11-21/:

"A10 Talk Power Rankings

1. Saint Louis
2. Richmond
3. vcu
4. St. Bonaventure
5. Rhode Island
6. Dayton
7. Davidson
8. UMass
9. Duquesne
10. La Salle
11. George Washington
12. George Mason
13. Fordham
14. St. Joseph’s"

 

[Pablo]

Ryan Kish

@gmuhoops
·
6m

Almost had to expand chart to include Mason

Quote Tweet

Atlantic10Stats

@A10Stats
· 42m

Here's how @A10MBB teams have been doing scoring at the rim so far this season. We see each team's % of total shots taken at the rim and their points per possession on those shots.

@DaytonMBB slightly higher PPP for shots here vs. last season but taking 12.2% less of them.

Show this thread

 

[mkaufman1]

That chart is so damning. Not only can Mason not shoot, they can’t get to the rim. And not only can they not get to the rim, they can’t score.

wtf.

 

[tblack33]

Ryan Kish

@gmuhoops
·
6m

Almost had to expand chart to include Mason

Quote Tweet

Atlantic10Stats

@A10Stats
· 42m

Here's how @A10MBB teams have been doing scoring at the rim so far this season. We see each team's % of total shots taken at the rim and their points per possession on those shots.

@DaytonMBB slightly higher PPP for shots here vs. last season but taking 12.2% less of them.

Show this thread

Symptom of Dave’s offense, nothing else. He’s shown he’ll yank dudes who aren’t doing what he wants them to do.