Game 19: AT University of Richmond, Sunday, January 22nd, 1 PM, American Sports Network

[Washingtonian]

Check your local listings to see what channel ASN is on. It seems to be on The Comcast Network for those with Xfinity in the DC area.

Richmond is the only undefeated team left in conference games after beating St. Joe's in Philly yesterday (70-66), but they play at Dayton on Thursday night which can be watched on ESPN. Richmond has a 11-6 record, 5-0 in the A-10, and Mason swept Richmond last season (78-74 in Richmond, 83-73 in Fairfax). The box score from last season in Richmond is here: http://gomason.com/sports/2016/2/3/Stats_6799.aspx

Richmond's schedule is here: http://www.richmondspiders.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26800&SPID=91946&SPSID=629625

Richmond's stats is here: http://www.richmondspiders.com/fls/26800//Mens_Basketball/Stats/2016-17/teamcume.htm

TJ Cline is averaging 17.8 PPG/7.9 RPG (scored 29 against us last season in Richmond), ShawnDre Jones is averaging 16.8 PPG (scored 6 points against us, and fouled out), Khwan Fore is averaging 10.9 PPG (scored 7 points against us), and De'Monte Buckingham is averaging 5.4 RPG (he's a freshman).

This is their message boards: https://richmond.forums.rivals.com/forums/ur-basketball-board.16/

Discuss.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Richmond by 10.

 

[gmu05]

Mason - 49
Richmond - 69

 

[patriot2000]

I hate waiting a week for the next game. I'm going to say we surprise people, as usual. Richmond has to play vcu Thursday while we get a week off. Just like St. Louis always plays us close or beats us, even when they "shouldn't," we have had Richmond's number for whatever reason. I know that's pure superstition and not basketball smarts, but I see the trend continuing. Expect a bounce-back game from some very disappointed Patriots

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Or that home loss to Nelly and the Saint Lunatics smashes their confidence and they go into a deep losing streak.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Or that home loss to Nelly and the Saint Lunatics smashes their confidence and they go into a deep losing streak.

Unfortunately that is my feeling as well. I hope like hell I am wrong but I see the home loss to St. Louis as being a game changer. 10 - 8 just became 6 - 12, or worse.

 

[GMUgemini]

Unfortunately that is my feeling as well. I hope like hell I am wrong but I see the home loss to St. Louis as being a game changer. 10 - 8 just became 6 - 12, or worse.

I don't know, this team got humiliated by Houston and went out and won the next 9 in a row. The Houston game was probably the ugliest game I had seen the Patriots play since Ohio State in 2011 (and that includes 32-4, because at least we clawed our way back into that one).

I don't think that's going to happen. I mean, we might go 6-12 because we still don't have the horses, but not because this team has lost confidence in itself.

 

[gmujim92]

For their sake, I sure hope our players and coaches have more confidence in themselves than some of our "fans" do.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

My buddy Mumph Daddy did get me a tickets. I will come down Saturday night for the drinking and next day watch game and see little Spider Mascot in glass case and then I head to bar to watch mys Packers Playz these dirty bird boys from the Hot Lanta!!!

Then I drive to the Kings Dominion parking lot and nap and come on back up Fairfax way early on the Mondays!!

Should be fun!!##!

 

[Pablo]

https://richmond.forums.rivals.com/threads/next-5-games.9233/:

"At Dayton is always tough. An aside from the weird loss to UMASS, they are looking very good. Mason was a surprise OOC, but has come back to earth in A10 play. But they always play us tough, and hey have a full week to prepare for us."

 

[Pablo]

1. Dave Paulsen ‏@PaulsenDave 34m34 minutes ago
   Love way our guys responded last 2 days in practice. Excited to spend afternoon with them at National Museum of African-American History
   
   

 

[psyclone]

1. Dave Paulsen ‏@PaulsenDave 34m34 minutes ago
   Love way our guys responded last 2 days in practice. Excited to spend afternoon with them at National Museum of African-American History
   

With tickets still being hard-to-get, someone must have pulled some strings to get them on the afternoon of the MLK holiday. Way to go !!

 

[Pablo]

http://www.a10talk.com/atlantic-10-power-rankings-skys-limit-richmond-la-salle/:

"4. Richmond Spiders, Previously #9

Past Week: W 78-61 vs. St. Bonaventure, W 70-66 @ Saint Joseph’s

Upcoming: @ Dayton (Thu), vs. George Mason (Sun)"

"8. George Mason Patriots, Previously #5

Past Week: W 75-67 @ Saint Joseph’s, L 63-53 vs. Saint Louis

Upcoming: @ Richmond (Sun)"

 

[Pablo]

Dave Paulsen ‏@PaulsenDave 3h3 hours ago
Day at Museum even better than expected. Powerful and moving experience for all. #MLK

 

[Falco]

I don't know, this team got humiliated by Houston and went out and won the next 9 in a row. The Houston game was probably the ugliest game I had seen the Patriots play since Ohio State in 2011 (and that includes 32-4, because at least we clawed our way back into that one).

I don't think that's going to happen. I mean, we might go 6-12 because we still don't have the horses, but not because this team has lost confidence in itself.

We have plenty of horses, they just need up to their potential. Moore has a shot at POV, Jenkins is a solid offensive weapon. Livingston is as good as anyone when he can shoot.

 

[GMUgemini]

We have plenty of horses, they just need up to their potential. Moore has a shot at POV, Jenkins is a solid offensive weapon. Livingston is as good as anyone when he can shoot.

That's three players out of what should be a solid 8-man rotation...

As Jim has been saying, we are punching above our weight right now, and it's largely to do with Moore's play.

I'd say we have a fairly solid 4 out of 5 starters. No matter who you start at the four, though, we are deficient there in both size and experience. We have a competent 6th man (right now it's Kier), but have no back-up at all for Jenkins.

We'll be fine in the future. There's a lot to like about Kier, Boyd, and Newman already. I'm excited about what Mar and Wilson can bring next year. Temara should develop into a solid replacement for Jenkins one day (if he settles down). I'm hopeful Relvao can develop into a solid change-of-pace big. Javon Greene should add depth (and from what I understand some range) to next year's lineup. But this year? We're going to be riding a rollercoaster of inexperience, guts, raw talent, and learning curves.

Next year is going to be pretty rocky too.

 

[Pablo]

Next year is going to be pretty rocky too.

As we've discussed previously, Coach Paulsen has yet to sign a D-I or JUCO transfer during his tenure here. If I'm not mistaken, Saint Joseph's & Mason are the only A10 programs with no D-I or JUCO transfers on their roster.

I hope that Coach Paulsen has not ruled out signing D-I or JUCO transfers in the future (assuming that they are academically qualified for admission and have no disciplinary issues).

 

[gmujim92]

That's three players out of what should be a solid 8-man rotation...

As Jim has been saying, we are punching above our weight right now, and it's largely to do with Moore's play.

I'd say we have a fairly solid 4 out of 5 starters. No matter who you start at the four, though, we are deficient there in both size and experience. We have a competent 6th man (right now it's Kier), but have no back-up at all for Jenkins.

We'll be fine in the future. There's a lot to like about Kier, Boyd, and Newman already. I'm excited about what Mar and Wilson can bring next year. Temara should develop into a solid replacement for Jenkins one day (if he settles down). I'm hopeful Relvao can develop into a solid change-of-pace big. Javon Greene should add depth (and from what I understand some range) to next year's lineup. But this year? We're going to be riding a rollercoaster of inexperience, guts, raw talent, and learning curves.

Next year is going to be pretty rocky too.

I think the natural tendency for all fans is to overvalue their own players' talent and underestimate their shortcomings.

The truth is, as much as I love his moxie and leadership, Otis would not be playing 35 mpg on an NCAA-caliber team.

He has to do it because DP's trying to win, but Otis is 165 pounds and the heavy minutes are taking a toll on his body. Look at his shooting percentages in A-10 play -- shooting is all about the legs. He's worn out.

The problem is our offense simply doesn't operate unless Marquise and/or Otis are on the court. That's because we have five freshmen in a 9-man rotation, and as much as I like them, a deep team wouldn't have to rely on those kids for anything more than spot minutes off the bench.

I love that our guys are trying their asses off. Dave has done a great job of changing the culture and teaching them how to fight and scratch and claw, but there are limits to how far guts and toughness can take you.

We are still 2 recruiting classes away from having a complete, well-organized and balanced roster full of guys capable of competing at the A-10 level.

That's the extent of the damage Hewitt did to our program. He gutted us and walked away with almost $4 million for his time.

When you have to literally start rebuilding at square one, you either cheat and try to cut corners or you methodically stack recruiting classes on top of each other until your talent level is restored and you can afford to cut your starting PG back to something manageable like 28 mpg.

Dave is doing all the right things. It's just gonna take time.

 

[Falco]

That's three players out of what should be a solid 8-man rotation...

As Jim has been saying, we are punching above our weight right now, and it's largely to do with Moore's play.

I'd say we have a fairly solid 4 out of 5 starters. No matter who you start at the four, though, we are deficient there in both size and experience. We have a competent 6th man (right now it's Kier), but have no back-up at all for Jenkins.

We'll be fine in the future. There's a lot to like about Kier, Boyd, and Newman already. I'm excited about what Mar and Wilson can bring next year. Temara should develop into a solid replacement for Jenkins one day (if he settles down). I'm hopeful Relvao can develop into a solid change-of-pace big. Javon Greene should add depth (and from what I understand some range) to next year's lineup. But this year? We're going to be riding a rollercoaster of inexperience, guts, raw talent, and learning curves.

Next year is going to be pretty rocky too.

Matbe my expectations arnt realistic given the depth, but I actually think we have the talent to finish top 5. Two senior leaders, and and talented under class.

When do we stop saying our players are young. Next year the seniors will be gone, and are we going to say we are still young in Paulsens 3rd year?

 

[gmujim92]

Matbe my expectations arnt realistic given the depth, but I actually think we have the talent to finish top 5. Two senior leaders, and and talented under class.

When do we stop saying our players are young. Next year the seniors will be gone, and are we going to say we are still young in Paulsens 3rd year?

Next year will be Paulsen's third year. We will have zero seniors and probably two juniors who play anything more than garbage minutes, so yes, I would say that is young.

By his fourth year, assuming all of our good young talent stays healthy and eligible and doesn't transfer, we will finally have a core of upperclassmen to carry the load augmented by sophomores and freshmen.

That's what you need to be consistently successful in a league as good as the A-10.

I get that you have zero patience and want to go from point A to Z, but that isn't how it works unless you cheat your a** off or get very lucky.