Game 16: GMU (13-2 / 2-0) vs vcu (8-7 / 0-2) on Tuesday, January 9, at 7:00 PM.

[Patriot Lawdog]

Cannot let this turn into a momentum/season killer, that is the biggest fear. Saturday becomes the ‘ol “must win”. We’ll find out this weekend if this team is built different than years past.

Obviously if even a few threes go down we probably come out with a win, but it’s gut wrenching to lose to vcu at home (again) when that’s probably their worst team in over a decade.

Kelly and Hall have to make an adjustment because the doubles aren’t going to stop. Need to pass out of it quicker instead of putting the ball on the floor, just making it too easy on the defense.

I forget who went under the screen, but that wide open Zeb Jackson 3 to tie the game at 50 was so brutal. That felt like a dagger despite it only tying the game, without that lapse we probably get the win amid our horrendous shooting performance.

Agreed on the Jackson 3…Felt way bigger than it should have been because of how bad the shooting was.

 

[JimP]

Cannot let this turn into a momentum/season killer, that is the biggest fear. Saturday becomes the ‘ol “must win”. We’ll find out this weekend if this team is built different than years past.

Obviously if even a few threes go down we probably come out with a win, but it’s gut wrenching to lose to vcu at home (again) when that’s probably their worst team in over a decade.

Kelly and Hall have to make an adjustment because the doubles aren’t going to stop. Need to pass out of it quicker instead of putting the ball on the floor, just making it too easy on the defense.

I forget who went under the screen, but that wide open Zeb Jackson 3 to tie the game at 50 was so brutal. That felt like a dagger despite it only tying the game, without that lapse we probably get the win amid our horrendous shooting performance.

I may be incorrect, but I thought Jackson was well behind the three point line. Not postive though. Things really did look good after Polite's shot. Unfortunately, GMU missed the next 15,000 shots.

 

[GMUgemini]

Skinn in the postgame talking about how the missed threes didn’t matter, the missed details did: talked about celebrating instead of getting back on defense to end the half, the missed scouted action from vcu when they were up 3.

 

[masonhoops1984]

Skinn in the postgame talking about how the missed threes didn’t matter, the missed details did: talked about celebrating instead of getting back on defense to end the half, the missed scouted action from vcu when they were up 3.

 

[masonhoops1984]

Unfortunately mistakes killed them. Lacking that big game PG and having to turn to a freshmen at the end it is what it is. Pretty sloppy all way around. Hey at least we know what they are now. Middle of the pack, fight for whatever they can get out of the year. Hope they keep recruiting and someone decides to NUT up in big games because they all choked hard tonight. Worst vcu team in last 20 years, no sugar coating it, bad loss.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Our guys gave it their all on defense and just looked gassed when it came to offense. Maddox was all over his man and barely got a break, same with Hall. I think vcu just wanted this one more. It's a good wake up call. A f**kin frustraing one to be sure, but I think this is a great coaching opportunity for what's to be expected in this league. Let's take it out on Richmond this Saturday and grow from this.

 

[JimP]

Unfortunately mistakes killed them. Lacking that big game PG and having to turn to a freshmen at the end it is what it is. Pretty sloppy all way around. Hey at least we know what they are now. Middle of the pack, fight for whatever they can get out of the year. Hope they keep recruiting and someone decides to NUT up in big games because they all choked hard tonight. Worst vcu team in last 20 years, no sugar coating it, bad loss.

I think they're still a top 4 team - which would be nice to see.

 

[DRK331]

https://x.com/GMUGiantKiller/status/1744911701869260958?s=20

Post game presser

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Pretty good template on how to defend us, plus our own offensive incompetence in a lot of ways.

I’m not sure - vcu's defense was not that great. If we hit our normal percentage of 3s (35%) we would have 15-18 more points and that gives us the game. We lost this game we were not beaten.

There were four offensive outings where we rushed out shot in the paint when we could have gone into the post .

As someone said this is an outlier - but it sucks to have that outlier against vcu.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Brutal. Ronnie has to have that shot. Senior PG has to be able to make wide open 3 go down.

We give up a LOT of wide open 3’s by going under screens, and it isn’t a problem that’s new under Tony. I know everyone’s doing the whole “play the percentages” thing but at the college level there’s a big difference between an open and contested 3. You’re gonna get burned by sagging off.

 

[masonhoops1984]

I think they're still a top 4 team - which would be nice to see.

Maybe, maybe not. Either way they were picked 10th. Just sucks losing to a bad vcu team. It sucks even more when you have to be almost perfect every game to even sniff march. Just hope Tony sticks around long enough to see it through and hope vcu gets back to being a powerhouse so it’s not a quad 3 game when we continue to lose every year.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Unfortunately mistakes killed them. Lacking that big game PG and having to turn to a freshmen at the end it is what it is. Pretty sloppy all way around. Hey at least we know what they are now. Middle of the pack, fight for whatever they can get out of the year. Hope they keep recruiting and someone decides to NUT up in big games because they all choked hard tonight. Worst vcu team in last 20 years, no sugar coating it, bad loss.

We are not middle of the pack . I don’t buy that.

 

[masonhoops1984]

We are not middle of the pack . I don’t buy that.

having to go to freshmen PG at end of games on road is going to be tough. vcu is bad, there’s no way around it. Going to face a lot better teams. Dayton is probably only loss at home. But Richmond, GW, ST joes, umass all loses. Will be close, 13-5 may be double bye but almost have to be perfect in rest.

 

[GreenLantern]

After this game I need a font size smaller than this. vcu doesn't deserve it that large after this

 

[hoops10]

So on to Richmond, who just beat a very good Loyola team. This is going to be another A10 brawl. Hopefully we can get back on track and hit some 3s. Appears like all these games are going to be coin flips. All we can do is play hard and hope for the best. Realistically we will finish in the middle, maybe top 5-7.

 

[GMU1983]

Okojie is the one guy that can get to the hole that is why he drove for the last shot of the game

 

[masonhoops1984]

So on to Richmond, who just beat a very good Loyola team. This is going to be another A10 brawl. Hopefully we can get back on track and hit some 3s. Appears like all these games are going to be coin flips. All we can do is play hard and hope for the best. Realistically we will finish in the middle, maybe top 5-7.

Loyola is not good! One of least athletic teams in D1 last year. If Mason can’t knock off teams like that they definitely won’t be playing past Thursday.

 

[nchocola]

It sucks to lose to vcu at home but I wouldn’t be discouraged about the outlook for this team.

0-15 from 3 you would figure you aren’t even in the game most nights. We were in it for all 40 minutes.

I’m very impressed with our coaching staff this year as well. Mason had great focus and energy on the defensive end most of the night. They dialed up the perfect scenario at the end with the perfect matchup for Baraka. Just an unfortunate slip.

Couple of bounces our way and we would have had the W. It might sound crazy, but I hope we get to see them again in the A10 tournament. I think the story will have a much happier ending if we see them again.

 

[masonhoops1984]

Okojie is the one guy that can get to the hole that is why he drove for the last shot of the game

No kidding that’s a problem though. It’s been a problem for years. Speaks volumes to why record was what it was in A10 play. They go as far as that kid will take them. His future is bright but make no mistake vcu is a loss every year. This program has given up when it comes to playing vcu. Mason has academics over that dump but they simply are and will continue to be a lesser basketball program like it or not.

 

[gmuballer14]

Naw man I am tired of losing to vcu at this point. Don't need a rematch in the tournament so the team can fold