Game 17: St. Joseph's University, Wednesday, January 13th, 7 PM, NO TV

[gmujim92]

It's Paulsen's second T this season, and from what I heard, it's a wonder he didn't get another one as Sean Hull called his typically lousy game.

I listened to Bill's radio call and at one point you could hear DP say, "Nice home whistle there" after yet another call went against us.

It's not why we lost, obviously, but SJU was in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the second half. Hard to get stops and mount a comeback when you get called for fouls every time you actually try to play defense.

 

[gmujim92]

They are extremely vulnerable in the paint defensively. Mo Alie-Cox tore them a new butthole down the stretch as vcu overcame a 13-point deficit to win at SJU last week.

You'd think Shevon and Jalen should be able to have a field day, but we don't have Melvin Johnson so Martelli will probably double the post every time and dare us to beat them with 3s.

The problem is figuring out how to guard them. They had Isaiah Miles playing the 5 for most of the second half against vcu and he poured in 31 points, including a bunch of 3s. He has been playing great as a senior.

Then, of course, consider that we will probably have to put Grayer or Abram on Bembry, who is the best overall player in the A-10. As much as I like our kids, I dislike either of those matchups very much.

Another game where we should be able to score a lot, but will have to do so to keep pace with a very good offensive opponent. Should be entertaining -- wish I didn't have to work Wednesday night.

I know it's a d!ck move to quote your own post, but I don't care. I pretty much nailed this one.

 

[psyclone]

Poor officiating and poor free throw shooting. Can't do much about the first one.

Actually until late in the second half, we were shooting FT rather well. Marquis missed most of his late and I think it was fatigue. He played was playing at an all conference level in the first half, especially offensively and was guarding Bembry (preseason A10 player of the year) all game.

Shevon was 5-6 from the line for the game, probably his best % all year. Unfortunately he was 3-9 from the floor and committed 4 turnovers.

 

[gmutom]

It's Paulsen's second T this season, and from what I heard, it's a wonder he didn't get another one as Sean Hull called his typically lousy game.

Hull was horrible as usually if not worse (if that's possible), but he and his accomplices were terrible across the board. I saw at least four bogus traveling calls on both teams that were a joke. Many refs like Hull are wannabe players who assume something is a violation if they weren't talented enough to do it when they played in a rec league.

That said, this was almost a mirror image of the St. Bonny game. Our guards struggle against quality scorers, and the tandem of Miles and Bembry is one of the best in the league.

 

[liem.le.3388]

We had a couple of opportunities tonight to make the game interesting but we couldn't hit the big shot or committed a turn over. We'll get there eventuality.

 

[TweederGMU]

We just don't have a pure shooter or consistent 3 point threat. This will hurt us in the A-10. Need to bring in some. Hopefully Boyd or Kier can stroke them.

 

[Petey Buckets]

I loved Paulsen's tech. It didn't seem calculated like it is with some coaches. I think he genuinely lost his mind over a shitty call and that makes me love him even more.

 

[gmujim92]

We just don't have a pure shooter or consistent 3 point threat. This will hurt us in the A-10. Need to bring in some. Hopefully Boyd or Kier can stroke them.

DP is bringing in shooters -- just gonna take some time.

Regardless, we have to get much better defensively if we hope to eventually start climbing the standings.

Right now, it seems as if there are 2 guys on every other A10 team that we have no prayer of guarding. Can't win like that.

 

[Petey Buckets]

We just don't have a pure shooter or consistent 3 point threat. This will hurt us in the A-10. Need to bring in some. Hopefully Boyd or Kier can stroke them.

Agreed, three-point shooting is killing us. In fact, I think this team is closer than some think. We were 5-23 tonight from 3. It's a totally different ballgame if we hit a few more. I know the counterargument is aunt/balls/uncle, but we're generating a lot of open looks that aren't going down.

I look forward to seeing what Bembry can do in the NBA. Incredibly polished and diverse skillset for a guy his size.

 

[Walter]

Hewitt got a T when he took off his jacket and threw it down.

I remember that. He yelled, "What the hell do I have to do to get fired so I can start my extended vacation to be paid for by you suckers!"

 

[BandWagon18]

It's times like these that I find myself reminding myself that DP went 7-23 in his first year in DI play at Bucknell and that a similar result this season is not an unlikely proposition. Besides, we only have to win one more game to match that record and judging from what the team can do when it catches fire, we'll be all right.

 

[Cedric Dempsey]

John Wooden couldn't get us there any faster. Absolutely entertaining basketball growth under the circumstances.

 

[psyclone]

Post-game extra is up: http://gomason.com/

 

[Washingtonian]

I loved Paulsen's tech. It didn't seem calculated like it is with some coaches. I think he genuinely lost his mind over a shitty call and that makes me love him even more.

One of my friends not only predicted at least 10 minutes before it happened that Paulsen would get T'ed up but which official would call it.

He was right.

 

[Steve33]

tough and frustrating game to be at. I thought the effort was there for the most part but hats off to St. Joes they have some good players and Mason just didnt guard them well enough. I think Abram keeps trying to duplicate his games against Wagner and Longwood. yes he got hot those two games but its not gonna happen ever night there buddy.

On a different note, how annoying was the retarded looking Hawk mascot? so disrespectful during the anthem to keep flapping his wings the entire time while the kids were singing the anthem. Then behind their bench and even during halftime. OMG STOP!!!!

 

[99 Patriot]

Agreed that was the worst officiated game we've had this year. Lots of bad calls against us but also several terribly for us. One out of bounds under the basket by the band, we touched the ball, Otis tried to save it only to be left standing out of bounds holding the ball, yet somehow we were given possession. Hull was embarrassingly bad though.

One of the tougher night for our freshman that we've seen. Real tough night for Murrell. In one second half stretch he had two awful turnovers and lost his man for an open 3 in about a minutes worth of time. Still not finding a shooting rhythm makes him being on the court tough at times. I also think it's probably time Marko reclaims the starting spot. I like Abrams, but we have such better ball movement and execution when Marko is on the floor. I know we are building for the future, but winning an occasional game will help that too. Lastly, Otis had a bad first half, in particular defensively, but did bounce back nicely in the second.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Defensively we are struggling. We have given up 71, 77, 81, an 87 over the past 4. Please tell me the pattern doesn't continue. 91 and 97 next?

 

[Washingtonian]

Defensively we are struggling. We have given up 71, 77, 81, an 87 over the past 4. Please tell me the pattern doesn't continue. 91 and 97 next?

GW might hit 100 on us (at their place).

 

[Washingtonian]

tough and frustrating game to be at. I thought the effort was there for the most part but hats off to St. Joes they have some good players and Mason just didnt guard them well enough. I think Abram keeps trying to duplicate his games against Wagner and Longwood. yes he got hot those two games but its not gonna happen ever night there buddy.

On a different note, how annoying was the retarded looking Hawk mascot? so disrespectful during the anthem to keep flapping his wings the entire time while the kids were singing the anthem. Then behind their bench and even during halftime. OMG STOP!!!!

That I agree with, the rest is not valid in my opinion. I get that St. Joe's has this tradition (and I think Jay Marsh put a stop to the mascot "flying" around the court in year 1 of the A-10), but the National Anthem is intended to be quiet.

 

[mkaufman1]

tough and frustrating game to be at. I thought the effort was there for the most part but hats off to St. Joes they have some good players and Mason just didnt guard them well enough. I think Abram keeps trying to duplicate his games against Wagner and Longwood. yes he got hot those two games but its not gonna happen ever night there buddy.

On a different note, how annoying was the retarded looking Hawk mascot? so disrespectful during the anthem to keep flapping his wings the entire time while the kids were singing the anthem. Then behind their bench and even during halftime. OMG STOP!!!!

Pretty much our entire freshman class this year and next year are going to have up and down games and moments. They have to build their maturity and experience in order to compete at the Atlantic 10 level. It'll come, but they have to be able to handle "the storm" of the other team going on a run without completely losing composure. Abram is certainly apart of that, and I think we all look forward to him Grayer Murrell and Livingston growing the next few years together.

The Hawk is annoying, but its not going to stop since its their long standing tradition. He flapped one wing during the National Anthem.