Game 11: GMU (7-3) at #4 Duke (8-2) on Tuesday, December 17, at 7:00 PM.

GMUgemini

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We have it at times but it evaporates against tougher competitors.

This happens to a lot of teams when they play against superior players, especially when you don’t have an elite level point guard, it isn’t just us.

The bright side is this team has a high level defense and that’ll keep us in most games. Turnovers and inconsistent shooting will be the difference between top 4 and another meh season.
 

psyclone

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Gomason article:

"But on the offensive end, GM hit a season-low 29.4 percent of its attempts and went 2-of-17 from 3-point range against the nation's second-ranked defense."

"They did a phenomenal job of just taking us out of our actions," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "I think at one point they were shooting 30 percent from the field. You can't ask for more than that in this atmosphere. We just couldn't make shots, and we have to learn from it."
 

GSII

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I am surprised Anderson has not been better. I was expecting he and Maddox to be our three point aces…along with Ball.
It's not all on Anderson. Look at how Duke gets shots for their freshmen Shooter Wilkins...., and look how we get shots for our good shooters. We can learn something here by not allowing so much freedom on offense that leads to poor movement and shitty passing. I've never like the total freedom on offense. Duke was in a set 95% of the time in the half court. If anything, they should be playing with total freedom with the level of talent they have, but they dont.
 

GMU79

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Gomason article:

"But on the offensive end, GM hit a season-low 29.4 percent of its attempts and went 2-of-17 from 3-point range against the nation's second-ranked defense."

"They did a phenomenal job of just taking us out of our actions," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "I think at one point they were shooting 30 percent from the field. You can't ask for more than that in this atmosphere. We just couldn't make shots, and we have to learn from it."
We have actions!?
 

Sport31

Walk-On
First of all being at Cameron is an experience all by itself. Great atmosphere on a night when most students have left or are leaving (wishing EBA could be half as electric). On to the game, fair amount of Mason fans present, saw the GK guys and there must have been at least 200+ mason fans .The game itself was rough, a lot of contact and most calls went Duke s way --surprise. Defense was high caliber on both sides most of game. Our offense was a no show , Maddox and Haynes showed up at times but rest of team was non existent . Tony needs to find some offense somewhere or we are in trouble against the top A10 teams.
 

JC_FoodcourtBandit

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I left the game a lot more optimistic than I thought I would feel. Being able to hold a team like Duke under 70 is quite an accomplishment.

Have to think our bigs will play better against the A10. Also would have to believe we get the the FT line more. A team like duke doesn’t foul as much because they are longer and more athletic.

Would like to see an improvement in our guard play and shooting but still optimistic it can turn around. Team is bought in and the defense is there
 

emjayar08

Sixth Man
2/17 from 3 tells the story on offense...but I'll accept the moral victory of holding them to under 70.
When playing against elite defenses, we need to be ok with shooting 3’s from a foot or two away from the three point line. Better to have an open three than constantly contested ones.

We didn’t do this, and rarely make it a point.
 

Old Man

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I left the game a lot more optimistic than I thought I would feel. Being able to hold a team like Duke under 70 is quite an accomplishment.

Have to think our bigs will play better against the A10. Also would have to believe we get the the FT line more. A team like duke doesn’t foul as much because they are longer and more athletic.

Would like to see an improvement in our guard play and shooting but still optimistic it can turn around. Team is bought in and the defense is there
Oh, Duke fouled, they most certainly did. It just wasn't called on many, meant occasions. And Flagg walks all the time.
 

Falco

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They run sets. We don't. That simple. That 3 by Wilkins is prime example. There are many more.
This has been my concern with Skinn. I want him to draw up plays and try to get some easy points once in a while. I know players find that kind of offense boring, but you need real plays when you’re playing a superior team.
 
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GSII

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Come on man, we run sets all the time....please.
If you call running our big up to the top and attempting to set a screen, which hardley and barely gets set, then good luck. If you call nobody else setting screens to free up shooters like Anderson, then good luck. If you like our offense, good on ya. You are a better fan.
 

Dawgs99

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If you call running our big up to the top and attempting to set a screen, which hardley and barely gets set, then good luck. If you call nobody else setting screens to free up shooters like Anderson, then good luck. If you like our offense, good on ya. You are a better fan.
Where did I say I like the offense? I'm just setting the record straight for the people that seem to think that Tony just has his dudes running around aimlessly looking for a shot all game. It turns out when you play on the home floor of one of the best defensive teams in the country, you might struggle to get great shots.....imagine that?! We're really just an above average A-10 level PG from being a really good team. Put BO back on the team and I think we look significantly better on that end of the floor.
 

GMUgemini

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If you call running our big up to the top and attempting to set a screen, which hardley and barely gets set, then good luck. If you call nobody else setting screens to free up shooters like Anderson, then good luck. If you like our offense, good on ya. You are a better fan.

We seem to run a weave with a series of down screens more often than we run the high ball screen action.

I also agree with Dawgs99, Duke is a top 5 defense and we have pretty limited guards with no point guard. It was always going to be tough. But I will say there was definitely some home cooking going on. There’s no way we should have only taken 6 FTs the entire game, but if the refs aren’t going to call it close no reason for Duke to back off and you get 2-17 from 3.
 

mkaufman1

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We seem to run a weave with a series of down screens more often than we run the high ball screen action.

I also agree with Dawgs99, Duke is a top 5 defense and we have pretty limited guards with no point guard. It was always going to be tough. But I will say there was definitely some home cooking going on. There’s no way we should have only taken 6 FTs the entire game, but if the refs aren’t going to call it close no reason for Duke to back off and you get 2-17 from 3.
I'd argue that we have enough at PG to be average or above average within the A10, but beyond that its probably not going to happen. I don't mind O'connor running point, but hes going to have trouble against higher talent. Whether he can hold his own against the top of the league is TBD but I do think he can get there.

I have to imagine this is pretty common for a mid major though. I'd love for Baraka Okojie to walk back into the doors of EBA tomorrow too, but kids like that are just not going to come to Mason. And if they do come to Mason, good luck on keeping them around. Hopefully we can develop Begg and Quigley into a very good PG tandem and O'connor can also help in the event one of them doesn't pan out or is just a depth piece.

KD also holds his own at point, but hes best off the ball. I will also say I think the best is yet to come from him and O'connor in the back court together.

I'm still bullish on this team as a whole with the best basketball still ahead of them.
 
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