Game 14: GMU (7-6 / 3-4) at St. Joe’s (1-11 / 0-6) on Saturday at 12:30PM. 2nd Game of Back to Back

[Patriotsince81]

We jut played them so no need to repost roster, stats, etc.

Box Score from Wednesday: https://gomason.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2020-21/saint-joseph-s/boxscore/10898

The game is on NBCSN.

My prediction: In a rematch of the Toilet Bowl from Wednesday St. Joe’s gets revenge and wins by 2 in double overtime. Hawks 80 - Patriots 78.

Discuss, or not, does it really matter anymore?

 

[Bricker]

Why has God forsaken me?

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Great chance to get to .500 in conference play which is way better than being 2-6 in your conference.

See the Miami thread for further details.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 77
Them 76
3 OT

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Why has God forsaken me?

Look at your God now, forsaking poor Bricker.

 

[tblack33]

St Joe’s by 8. They’ve seen everything we can throw at them through 50 minutes. Lange is bad, but I highly doubt we sweep them on a back to back. That’s the kinda things top 4 teams do, not teams clawing away from the pillow fight.

 

[sleeperpick]

We win this one. I really forgot how bad St Joe's is until last night. Throw the ball downlow for 10 straight possessions to start the game and 10 fouls will be called against Joe's... They foul and bite on pump fakes more than Body by Oduro does.

If Oduro guards Funk for extended possessions again I will lose my MIND. Or if he has Polite come in for AJ up 2 with a defensive possession under our own basket. Lange can't coach and Paulsen sure as hell can't.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

If they can get to .500 in the A-10 and stay there, I guess yay! for the season.

 

[Herndon]

If they can get to .500 in the A-10 and stay there, I guess yay! for the season.

It's good enough for me.

Honestly, I'm not sure I buy it.

Our bench has really, really, really struggled. There's not a guy (other than MAYBE XJ) I feel confident can give us a solid 5 minute stretch off the bench.

Combined with Javon and AJ's "you never know whether you're going to get a superstar or a scrub" volatility, and the fact that our defense places WAY too much emphasis on funneling players to our 1.5 shotblockers, I don't feel confident moving forward.

I REALLY thought we were going to get more out of Malik Henry.

I also REALLY thought Hartwell would be a solid backup point guard, maybe even an above average backup point guard.

 

[tblack33]

I'll pose the question here again -- can anyone tell me who our PG is?

XJ leads the team in assists (at a paltry 2.2, god help us), but is the 3-4th man off the bench, typically after Hartwell. So he's not our PG. Averaging 1.4 TO per game.

Speaking of Hartwell, he averages a pitiful 1.5 APG while playing 20+ minutes every night. So he's not our PG. Averaging exactly 1 TO per game which isn't terrible, his per 40 is at 2.

Kolek is absolutely a SG, not a PG, but we can look at the numbers and see if I'm wrong. 2.2 assists, tied for first, 1.5 TOs, tied with XJ, but keep in mind this is with him averaging 32 MPG, so I'll say it again, Kolek. Is. Not. A. Point. Guard.

So someone explain to me, who is our PG?

 

[Petey Buckets]

I'll pose the question here again -- can anyone tell me who our PG is?

XJ leads the team in assists (at a paltry 2.2, god help us), but is the 3-4th man off the bench, typically after Hartwell. So he's not our PG. Averaging 1.4 TO per game.

Speaking of Hartwell, he averages a pitiful 1.5 APG while playing 20+ minutes every night. So he's not our PG. Averaging exactly 1 TO per game which isn't terrible, his per 40 is at 2.

Kolek is absolutely a SG, not a PG, but we can look at the numbers and see if I'm wrong. 2.2 assists, tied for first, 1.5 TOs, tied with XJ, but keep in mind this is with him averaging 32 MPG, so I'll say it again, Kolek. Is. Not. A. Point. Guard.

So someone explain to me, who is our PG?

Bro, we're positionless. Get with it.

 

[tblack33]

Bro, we're positionless. Get with it.

A rudderless sailboat parked in the middle of a windless lake.

 

[gmutom]

We thought we had three PGs but the reality is we really have none right now that has a complete game. Hartwell and XJ rarely if ever look for Odurro or Wilson in the post or on pick-and-rolls, and all three of them dribble way too much. Each of them is adequate at beating a press, but by the time they get it across midcourt and dribble around for another 10 seconds pretending to run whatever our offense is, there is only 15 seconds left on the shot clock.

I was one of the people who thought Kolek had enough of a handle to run the point, but I'm seriously starting to doubt the level of competition he faced in high school based on some of the he passes he tries to make at the DI level. Although he's an elite talent when it comes to shooting, his passing —despite his 2 assists per game — reminds me of a QB who doesn't know how to read a defense. I'm sure he'll figure it out in time to benefit whatever school he transfers to in the future.

The only correct answer to this question is probably Javon, who did a decent job last night when he brought up the ball. And by playing him at the point, it allows Kolek and Miller to play their natural positions. I would use XJ or Polite to backup the 1, and Hartwell to backup the 2. At no point should Polite and XJ be on the court at the same time, because neither of them is a threat to shoot consistently outside 5 feet.

 

[tblack33]

We thought we had three PGs but the reality is we really have none right now that has a complete game. Hartwell and XJ rarely if ever look for Odurro or Wilson in the post or on pick-and-rolls, and all three of them dribble way too much. Each of them is adequate at beating a press, but by the time they get it across midcourt and dribble around for another 10 seconds pretending to run whatever our offense is, there is only 15 seconds left on the shot clock.

I was one of the people who thought Kolek had enough of a handle to run the point, but I'm seriously starting to doubt the level of competition he faced in high school based on some of the he passes he tries to make at the DI level. Although he's an elite talent when it comes to shooting, his passing —despite his 2 assists per game — reminds me of a QB who doesn't know how to read a defense. I'm sure he'll figure it out in time to benefit whatever school he transfers to in the future.

The only correct answer to this question is probably Javon, who did a decent job last night when he brought up the ball. And by playing him at the point, it allows Kolek and Miller to play their natural positions. I would use XJ or Polite to backup the 1, and Hartwell to backup the 2. At no point should Polite and XJ be on the court at the same time, because neither of them is a threat to shoot consistently outside 5 feet.

I’m all on board Javon running the point. Especially in our weird high ball screen offense, he’s the best one who has a chance to round the corner and go downhill and force the D to collapse on him. He’s also not a bad passer.

 

[GMUgemini]

I’m all on board Javon running the point. Especially in our weird high ball screen offense, he’s the best one who has a chance to round the corner and go downhill and force the D to collapse on him. He’s also not a bad passer.

I think at this point it is what we have. It’ll also free up Kolek to just get open so he can hit shots.

My concern is no matter what lineup you throw out there, the defense still isn’t going to be good.

 

[tblack33]

I think at this point it is what we have. It’ll also free up Kolek to just get open so he can hit shots.

My concern is no matter what lineup you throw out there, the defense still isn’t going to be good.

Agreed. We have no combo of guards that’s not going to end up just being turnstiles and will get exploited. If we know it’s going to happen then we need to focus on putting out lineups that give us the best chance to score the most points, if I were king for a day.

 

[KONG]

The next off ball back cut we run on the perimeter will be the first of the entire season.

 

[mkaufman1]

The next off ball back cut we run on the perimeter will be the first of the entire season.

Yeah- thats not in the Dave Paulsen offense. Spacing, curls, back cuts. All things to try to get shooters open or manipulate the defense? Forget it.

Screens and picking up the dribble, looking confused, handoffs at the top of the key that don't do much. Those we do!

I feel like Dave's offense had more imagination early on when he had less talent. Maybe it was because Otis was half decent and it disguised the deficiencies.

 

[sleeperpick]

Yeah- thats not in the Dave Paulsen offense. Spacing, curls, back cuts. All things to try to get shooters open or manipulate the offense? Forget it.

Screens and picking up the dribble, looking confused, handoffs at the top of the key that don't do much. Those we do!

I feel like Dave's offense had more imagination early on when he had less talent. Maybe it was because Otis was half decent and it disguised the deficiencies.

Having a point guard that can both dribble and shoot came and left with Otis. Jamal can barely dribble the ball past any pressure and XJ can’t shoot and much more out of control this year. Kolek not the strongest decision maker or dribbler either. Javon kind of out of control as well but certainly our best option IMO

 

[mkaufman1]

Having a point guard that can both dribble and shoot came and left with Otis. Jamal can barely dribble the ball past any pressure and XJ can’t shoot and much more out of control this year. Kolek not the strongest decision maker or dribbler either. Javon kind of out of control as well but certainly our best option IMO

Yeah- definitely agree. Crazy that the point guard play has become such an issue this year with so many point guards on the roster. I thought Hartwell was going to be Otis 2.0 with a little bit more talent and ability. I also thought XJ and Polite would be transitioned to and be really talented guards. However ,none of that has come to pass quite yet. We saw flashes with XJ last year, but this year Polite hasn't looked ready for D1 ball.

Hopefully the last two pieces can improve.