Game 15, AT vcu, Jan 9th, 7 PM, CBS Sports Network

[JBiggs]

We either keep it close for a half and then fall apart or we get blown off the court from the jump. Coaching aside they have more talent at every position, its that simple. Theres not one player on our roster they would trade for. Sadly this goes for most of the teams we'll see from this point on. Oh well

I realize it's expected for each post to carry a certain level of demoralization and pessimism these days, but if you don't think they would trade a single player on their roster for Bryon Allen, Patrick Holloway, Jalen Jenkins, Marko Gujanicic or Sherrod Wright, you're nuts.

 

[GMUgemini]

We either keep it close for a half and then fall apart or we get blown off the court from the jump. Coaching aside they have more talent at every position, its that simple. Theres not one player on our roster they would trade for. Sadly this goes for most of the teams we'll see from this point on. Oh well

My guess is the game will go very similar to the last time we played each other -- in a confused mess, Mason gets behind 34-2 and then makes it interesting in the second half until the last five minutes when vcu puts us completely away.

 

[Dawgs99]

I realize it's expected for each post to carry a certain level of demoralization and pessimism these days, but if you don't think they would trade a single player on their roster for Bryon Allen, Patrick Holloway, Jalen Jenkins, Marko Gujanicic or Sherrod Wright, you're nuts.

I'm talking about guys on their squad that actually get burn. Theres no chance they trade anyone in their top 8 for any of ours, if you believe this you my friend are nuts. BA is the only kid on our roster that might be able to play havoc. Sometimes the truth hurts....

 

[gmujim92]

I realize it's expected for each post to carry a certain level of demoralization and pessimism these days, but if you don't think they would trade a single player on their roster for Bryon Allen, Patrick Holloway, Jalen Jenkins, Marko Gujanicic or Sherrod Wright, you're nuts.

All 5 of those guys would be rotation players for vcu, but I think the only one who'd start would be Allen.

That said, the talent differential isn't as great as I thought it would be. vcu's bench is much deeper and that -- coupled with the fact that their coach is a gazillion times better than ours -- will probably produce a 15-20 point win.

STARTERS
C -- Reddic vs. J2 -- adv. vcu
PF -- Shannon vs. Marko -- push
SF -- Graham vs. Wright -- vcu (if "good" Sherrod shows up, it's close)
SG -- Brandenburg vs. Allen -- Mason
PG -- Weber vs. Edwards -- vcu by a country mile

RESERVES
Johnson vs. Holloway -- vcu, but they're comparable
Alie-Cox vs. Jenkins -- push
Lewis vs. Moore -- vcu
Burgess vs. Okoloji -- vcu
Guest vs. Copes -- push (both pretty much suck)

Honestly, I think if we switched coaches, we'd kick their a**. Their talent isn't incredible and they're working in a lot of young guys.

But Shaka>>>>>>>>>>Hewitt

 

[gmubrian]

So, it seems on here that most think we are going to get our doors blown off, and a few think we keep it close or even eke out a win. I remember a game recently, possibly last year where one of the opposing team fans came on here to have a nice discussion and both sides had worries the other was going to win. So, that has me thinking, what do the vcu fans seem to saying on their boards. Are they worried about any aspect of our team, are they calling for a close game or do they think they are going to demolish us?

 

[Dawgs99]

All 5 of those guys would be rotation players for vcu, but I think the only one who'd start would be Allen.

That said, the talent differential isn't as great as I thought it would be. vcu's bench is much deeper and that -- coupled with the fact that their coach is a gazillion times better than ours -- will probably produce a 15-20 point win.

STARTERS
C -- Reddic vs. J2 -- adv. vcu
PF -- Shannon vs. Marko -- push
SF -- Graham vs. Wright -- vcu (if "good" Sherrod shows up, it's close)
SG -- Brandenburg vs. Allen -- Mason
PG -- Weber vs. Edwards -- vcu by a country mile

RESERVES
Johnson vs. Holloway -- vcu, but they're comparable
Alie-Cox vs. Jenkins -- push
Lewis vs. Moore -- vcu
Burgess vs. Okoloji -- vcu
Guest vs. Copes -- push (both pretty much suck)

Honestly, I think if we switched coaches, we'd kick their a**. Their talent isn't incredible and they're working in a lot of young guys.

But Shaka>>>>>>>>>>Hewitt

Thanks for making my point Jim. Going by your analysis which for the most part I agree with, only 1 of our top 10 is "better" than theirs. I also agree that with a better coach/scheme we would keep it closer.

 

[gmujim92]

So, it seems on here that most think we are going to get our doors blown off, and a few think we keep it close or even eke out a win. I remember a game recently, possibly last year where one of the opposing team fans came on here to have a nice discussion and both sides had worries the other was going to win. So, that has me thinking, what do the vcu fans seem to saying on their boards. Are they worried about any aspect of our team, are they calling for a close game or do they think they are going to demolish us?

They expect to absolutely humiliate us.

I'd like to be pissed about that, but I can't blame them.

 

[gmujim92]

Thanks for making my point Jim. Going by your analysis which for the most part I agree with, only 1 of our top 10 is "better" than theirs. I also agree that with a better coach/scheme we would keep it closer.

I think if Marko, Sherrod, Allen, Jenkins and Holloway can play their men to a stalemate, there are only two positions where we're totally outclassed: C and PG.

Unfortunately, they're the 2 most important positions on the court.

Reddic is going to devour J2 or Copes. It's a mismatch however we play it.

And if we try to dribble against Weber, I might run out onto the court and tackle our PG. We have to pass the ball crisply to have any chance to break their press.

 

[KAOriginal]

One sensible fan of theirs did worry that we would bore their team to death once they got up by 28......

 

[GMUgemini]

I don't know about trading, but I'm sure Shaka Smart would love to have Jalen Jenkins on his roster. The same for Marko, who is a great trailing forward who can hit that quick three on the break (I know it hasn't been falling of late, but it's still in his arsenal). I suspect quite a few of our players would look a lot more "talented" after a few months in Shaka's system.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I wonder what profanities their "flamboyant" band leader will lead the alternakids in screaming at the visiting fans, families, and children this time.

Such a classy bunch.

 

[psyclone]

I just noticed that CBSsports channel on FIOS (ch.94--no HD) requires a "sports package" that includes ESPN-Classic and a few channels I never heard of. $9.99/month seems a little steep--do we have any other away games scheduled for that channel this season?

 

[GMUgemini]

I just noticed that CBSsports channel on FIOS (ch.94--no HD) requires a "sports package" that includes ESPN-Classic and a few channels I never heard of. $9.99/month seems a little steep--do we have any other away games scheduled for that channel this season?

Not that I can see, unless you count the theoretical A10 semifinals (yeah right). All the other games are either on MASN or NBCSN.

St. Joes is on CBSSN, but that's a home game.

 

[psyclone]

Not that I can see, unless you count the theoretical A10 semifinals (yeah right). All the other games are either on MASN or NBCSN.

St. Joes is on CBSSN, but that's a home game.

Thanks! I didn't realize this was an easy look-up on gomason.com until after I posted the question.

 

[azgmu]

Ok, so remember all those childhood cartoons telling you all about the power of believing in yourself? I say that Mason way outclasses vcu in every way, at every position. Just as a matter of principle, just for this one game. It's like rooting for the Skins to beat Dallas, no matter how dismal the season.

 

[PoorManProfit]

I wonder what profanities their "flamboyant" band leader will lead the alternakids in screaming at the visiting fans,families,and children this time.
Such a classy bunch.

I don't think he'll be there as he works only "premium" games.

 

[Harry]

BTW I would play Edwards 30 minutes and see if he can break the record for most turnovers committed in a single NCAA game. If he does break the record, I would want a banner raised in the Patriot Center celebrating the feat. Then I would want Edwards deadeded.

Gallows humor...unfortunately, that's what it has come down to. But I probably will make the watch party at the Green Turtle, at least to get the commemorative A-10 first year T shirt.

 

[Harry]

Hewitt always surprises me when I'm ready to step off the ledge. I think Hewitt's system matches up with vcu better than OCM's did. And I think BA will have a career game. If Sherrod and Holloway and one of our bigs show up, and we make vcu play a half court game, I like our chances.

No, no, a thousand times no. Thinking like this will only result in despair...

 

[GMUSSTN]

I wonder what profanities their "flamboyant" band leader will lead the alternakids in screaming at the visiting fans, families, and children this time.

Such a classy bunch.

You mean their band leader who staged a social media campaign faking his "retirement" so he could get more money?

 

[EXpatriot13]

This team gets rattled when faced with adversity time and time again, doesn't matter if it's at home (USF), or on the road (Princeton, Iona), to name a few. There's not the slightest chance that we win this game going into the Siegel Center. vcu will be fired up, the crowd will be insane, and vcu will be flying all over the court. Our players don't like to play, and our coach doesn't like to coach, with energy or enthusiasm, minus a select few players, so I don't see how we muster up the will to win this game.

vcu: A lot
GMU: A lot less