Game 19: GMU (13-5 / 2-3) vs St. Bonaventure (11-5 / 2-2) on Saturday, January 20, at 2:00 PM.

[gmuballer14]

Good "problem" to have especially since Billups and Polite can return next year if I'm not mistaken. Also have Begg coming in.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Just watch the first minute of this video - he shows incredible bounce and even hits his head on the backboard at the 1:10 mark

WOW - truly can't believe that's the same person.

 

[Falco]

Im cool with passing the reins to Okojie, especially now. Hes proven he can. And with half the season over, he should be fresh for the conference tournament.

I don’t want to run this kid to ground like DP did to Otis come conference tournament play.

 

[GMU79]

Just watch the first minute of this video - he shows incredible bounce and even hits his head on the backboard at the 1:10 mark

I don't see a link!

 

[EXpatriot13]

I don't see a link!

Click the word "video" in the post.

 

[GMU79]

Click the word "video" in the post.

Ah, thanks! Yeah, I see it now. I'm somewhat color blind and didn't see it at first.

Just watch the first minute of this video - he shows incredible bounce and even hits his head on the backboard at the 1:10 mark

Good grief!! Man, I really feel sorry for Ronnie. His injuries have devastated what he was and could have been.
Major respect for what he has been able to accomplish! Young man is tough!
Thanks for posting!

 

[gmujim92]

WOW - truly can't believe that's the same person.

He was crazy explosive.

 

[mkaufman1]

Im cool with passing the reins to Okojie, especially now. Hes proven he can. And with half the season over, he should be fresh for the conference tournament.

I don’t want to run this kid to ground like DP did to Otis come conference tournament play.

Agree with you - and one thing is for certain. We don't need to run anyone 35 mins a game at point guard considering the depth we have there. Thank god.

Even Tre Wood came in on Saturday and played a solid 5 minutes when we needed him and hit a key jump shot.

 

[FlPatriot]

Think we need Billups on the floor, he’s an excellent defender and can score points if given the opportunity.

 

[mkaufman1]

Think we need Billups on the floor, he’s an excellent defender and can score points if given the opportunity.

Don’t think anyone is saying he shouldn’t play and he definitely should play roughly 30 minutes a game.

It’s just whether he starts is the question or is the 6th starter / 6th man a better fit because of other players. It’s a good problem to have.

I just can’t see sitting Ronny to start games, and we also love Baraka at point.

 

[FlPatriot]

I don’t like Okojie starting…think he’s good off the bench, but I don’t see him ready to start. Defense wins games.

 

[Pablo]

I don’t like Okojie starting…think he’s good off the bench, but I don’t see him ready to start. Defense wins games.

2023-24 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics - George Mason University Athletics

The official 2023-24 Men's Basketball cumulative statistics for the George Mason University Patriots

gomason.com

Category Leaders
Steals

Name	GP	STL	STL/G
#03 Okojie, Baraka	19	22	1.2
#00 Billups, Jared	19	18	0.9
#01 Polite III, Ronald	19	15	0.8
#23 Kelly, Amari	18	12	0.7
#02 Newton, Woody	19	11	0.6
#04 Hall, Keyshawn	19	10	0.5
#13 Maddox, Darius	18	9	0.5
#24 Ball, Austin	12	3	0.3
#35 Henry, Malik	16	3	0.2
#08 Wood, Tre'	15	1	0.1

 

[FlPatriot]

D ain’t all about steals.

 

[Pablo]

D ain’t all about steals.

This is true. And, neither is defensive rebounds which he also leads Polite while playing less minutes.

 

[gmuballer14]

This is true. And, neither is defensive rebounds which he also leads Polite while playing less minutes.

Well I'm sold

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Well I'm sold

Me too

 

[undertherock]

It doesn't matter if Okojie starts games because he's guaranteed to close them out as the last couple of games has shown. Ronny can start and hit a couple of threes to start the game then sit after and Okojie will come in for defense.

 

[jruby]

Starting vs overall minutes are entirely different. To not lose polite for the year, maybe you do continue to start him. Even if it's 2-3 minutes and a quick change. Tony has showed a willingness to change when needed. He's also still learning, learning his team and adjusting to other teams. One thing that remains true with this team is the Defense is consistent. I think as he said in his presser, they are experimenting with Hall at the 5 and 4 guards. So we could see more Polite off ball. I think the key to all of this is willingness to go to the guys needed on that given day/night.

When all is said and done, they offer different things. Once Okojie can develop more of shot the sky is the limit for him. He brings things to the table that Polite simply can't. That's ok, can't discredit what polite has done and been through. He's been the constant throughout some rough times and coaching changes. In the end hell be the bridge between the old and new.

Tony also brings something to the table that others haven't been willing to do and that is make a change when needed. I think one mistake that he adjusted from was going to short vs vcu. When no one could hit a shot, why not bring Ball on get him a look and see if one won't fall? I think in order for this team to be at it's best it requires 8-10 guys not 6-7. That doesn't mean equl playing time but I think it does mean 2-3 minutes for guys like Ball.

One question that wasn't addressed or maybe it was just missed. Is Henry hurt? He didn't play on Saturday? Will we ever see Kelly and Henry on the court together? Or is that never happening? At times vs vcu I wondered if that would have been a better plan given the way the game was going when shots weren't falling.

Either way, the guys gutted out a nice home win vs a solid Bonnies team. Keep taking care of business and Improving. Outside Dayton, no one is unbeatable. They aren't invincible either.

 

[GMUSSTN]

Yeah I don't see the harm in giving either one the ball to start, but my gut tells me go with RP. If he's firing on all cylinders we are a tough team to beat, as you force teams to guard both him and Key at the same time. But keep a short leash on RP and have Okojie ready to go. Or just play them both and sit Billups if our offense is firing.

I guess what I mean to say is we got options, and I don't care who starts. If someone wants to start paying me a coach's salary I will start to care a lot.

 

[GMUgemini]

starting RP and keeping an eye on how he’s doing and adjusting the lineup as needed is exactly what Coach Skinn is already doing and I think is the best strategy for this year. We can have a conversation in the offseason about what happens next year…

And let’s keep in mind that 3 of our 4 slow starts in conference were on the road to hot shooting teams and yes we went 1-2 in those road games but that’s not exactly the end of the world scenario.