Game 2: American University, Friday, November 9th, 7 PM, ESPN+

[Falco]

If the number of travel calls is in the double digits again, we will have dificulty blowing out special olympics teams much less a division I scholarship team. We had 15 travel violations against Penn.

Travel calls for the most part unforced errors. Not caused by the opponenets great defense, but just boneheaded plays. I could see if it was just one player or even two but the entire team travels. Travel calls are momentum killers.

This is a systematic problem that Paulsen needs to look at and see what is at the core of this problem. Team seems to be thinking too much, hesitant. I honestly feel if we had 7 or less travel calls this game, we would have won ................... and even 7 is way to damn many.

DP and staff need to focus on stupid traveling calls! Hire game reffs for practice. I’m so tired of getting called for traveling. Marr is the main culprit but its everyone!

 

[PoorManProfit]

This will be a close one and could be a straight up win for Eagles (the -10 spread is an absolute joke), but...

AU 69
G Mas 72

 

[Mason2005]

And GoMar, and our 3 point shooting, and turnovers need to get OFF THE TRACK

Agreed. Gonar can be replaced during the game though with either Ian Boyd or AJ. We can't replace Grayer who is a 1000 pt senior and Calixte who is the only sub for Reuter who can't play more than 20 minutes.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[gmujim92]

If the number of travel calls is in the double digits again, we will have dificulty blowing out special olympics teams much less a division I scholarship team. We had 15 travel violations against Penn.

Travel calls for the most part unforced errors. Not caused by the opponenets great defense, but just boneheaded plays. I could see if it was just one player or even two but the entire team travels. Travel calls are momentum killers.

This is a systematic problem that Paulsen needs to look at and see what is at the core of this problem. Team seems to be thinking too much, hesitant. I honestly feel if we had 7 or less travel calls this game, we would have won ................... and even 7 is way to damn many.

We did not have 15 traveling calls in the Penn game. No offense but all you are doing is feeding DJ’s insanity at this point.

 

[EXpatriot13]

If we lose this game the boards will become insufferable. For that alone, I hope we run them out of EBA.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

We did not have 15 traveling calls in the Penn game. No offense but all you are doing is feeding DJ’s insanity at this point.

You're right, it was 12. 8 in the firsthalf and 4 in the second. Not muchbetter. I don't how you don't that traveling is a huge issues for us.

You know, cirticism is not a "throw the baby out with the bathwater" situation. The best basketball coach on the planet can be subject to fans pointing out what they feel were bad decisions.

 

[gmujim92]

You're right, it was 12. 8 in the firsthalf and 4 in the second. Not muchbetter. I don't how you don't that traveling is a huge issues for us.

You know, cirticism is not a "throw the baby out with the bathwater" situation. The best basketball coach on the planet can be subject to fans pointing out what they feel were bad decisions.

Players taking unauthorized steps with the ball is not a coaching decision — unless you think somehow that one of the most detail-oriented coaches on the planet has forgotten to remind his players about the requirement that they take a f*cking dribble every now and then.

We lost. It sucks. Believe me, I get it. I paid money and drove 4 hours roundtrip to watch Tuesday’s game in person. It stung big time.

But as long as the coach has proven he’s not an imbecile — and ours clearly has — I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. Doesn’t mean he’s infallible by any stretch, just means that players play and traveling or not traveling is ultimately their responsibility.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Players taking unauthorized steps with the ball is not a coaching decision — unless you think somehow that one of the most detail-oriented coaches on the planet has forgotten to remind his players about the requirement that they take a f*cking dribble every now and then.

We lost. It sucks. Believe me, I get it. I paid money and drove 4 hours roundtrip to watch Tuesday’s game in person. It stung big time.

But as long as the coach has proven he’s not an imbecile — and ours clearly has — I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. Doesn’t mean he’s infallible by any stretch, just means that players play and traveling or not traveling is ultimately their responsibility.

Fair enough.

And the acutal act of traveling, you are correct. Paulsen can't do anything about. But what leads to hesitation or uncertainty that leads to the mental lapse leading to a high rate of traveling calls, I believe he can addresss.

How? Not sure. That's why coaches make good money.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

I need a boat race. Just a beat down....Mason 80, AU 55

 

[gmujim92]

Fair enough.

And the acutal act of traveling, you are correct. Paulsen can't do anything about. But what leads to hesitation or uncertainty that leads to the mental lapse leading to a high rate of traveling calls, I believe he can addresss.

How? Not sure. That's why coaches make good money.

I’m not a psychologist and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I have spent most of my adult life covering high school and college athletes so evaluate my opinion as you choose...

I think most of the turnovers from the exhibition and the Penn game weren’t caused by indecision, rather by guys playing outside their strengths and caring too much about WINNING instead of trusting their preparation and letting the game come to them.

Our players and coaches know better than anyone that this is the season we’ve all been building toward since Paulsen and the staff were hired. They’ve been busting their asses with relatively little reward and they see the brass ring right there; it’s only human nature to try too hard to grab the MFer.

Our program has made steady, incremental progress from the bottom to the middle of the A-10 in three seasons, but it’s a huge adjustment mentally when you finally have something meaningful to play for — especially when you are rebuilding a winning culture that was destroyed by a prior regime.

Even our veteran players no longer have the luxury of taking the court with a swagger built through success, as their predecessors did during much of L’s tenure. They haven’t been the hunted since they were in high school.

It’s gonna take some time for them to find the proper balance of controlled aggression and playing within the team concept on both ends of the floor. But this team has a ton of talent, versatility and great coaches and when they put it all together, it’s going to be f*cking tremendous.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

I’m not a psychologist and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I have spent most of my adult life covering high school and college athletes so evaluate my opinion as you choose...

I think most of the turnovers from the exhibition and the Penn game weren’t caused by indecision, rather by guys playing outside their strengths and caring too much about WINNING instead of trusting their preparation and letting the game come to them.

Our players and coaches know better than anyone that this is the season we’ve all been building toward since Paulsen and the staff were hired. They’ve been busting their asses with relatively little reward and they see the brass ring right there; it’s only human nature to try too hard to grab the MFer.

Our program has made steady, incremental progress from the bottom to the middle of the A-10 in three seasons, but it’s a huge adjustment mentally when you finally have something meaningful to play for — especially when you are rebuilding a winning culture that was destroyed by a prior regime.

Even our veteran players no longer have the luxury of taking the court with a swagger built through success, as their predecessors did during much of L’s tenure. They haven’t been the hunted since they were in high school.

It’s gonna take some time for them to find the proper balance of controlled aggression and playing within the team concept on both ends of the floor. But this team has a ton of talent, versatility and great coaches and when they put it all together, it’s going to be f*cking tremendous.

Not that you need my validation but excellent reply. Even on the parts I don't complettely agree with.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Civility is not lost! Intelligent conversation either!

 

[gmujim92]

I mean, Otis of all people got a T the other night for jawing at one of Penn’s guys.

He is a ferocious competitor, but he’s clearly feeling the burden of being the senior point guard for a team with high expectations.

Our guys just need to relax and play their game, and all will be well.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

I need a boat race. Just a beat down....Mason 80, AU 55

Did someone say boats?

 

[smccart5]

I’m not a psychologist and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I have spent most of my adult life covering high school and college athletes so evaluate my opinion as you choose...

I think most of the turnovers from the exhibition and the Penn game weren’t caused by indecision, rather by guys playing outside their strengths and caring too much about WINNING instead of trusting their preparation and letting the game come to them.

Our players and coaches know better than anyone that this is the season we’ve all been building toward since Paulsen and the staff were hired. They’ve been busting their asses with relatively little reward and they see the brass ring right there; it’s only human nature to try too hard to grab the MFer.

Our program has made steady, incremental progress from the bottom to the middle of the A-10 in three seasons, but it’s a huge adjustment mentally when you finally have something meaningful to play for — especially when you are rebuilding a winning culture that was destroyed by a prior regime.

Even our veteran players no longer have the luxury of taking the court with a swagger built through success, as their predecessors did during much of L’s tenure. They haven’t been the hunted since they were in high school.

It’s gonna take some time for them to find the proper balance of controlled aggression and playing within the team concept on both ends of the floor. But this team has a ton of talent, versatility and great coaches and when they put it all together, it’s going to be f*cking tremendous.

Nice post! Agree

 

[JBiggs]

Mason -10.0.

I hope the fellas can maintain a comfortable lead so they can loosen up a little and play free and within themselves. I would LOVE to see some spread pick and roll with Otis/Justin/Jamal as the ballhandler and AJ as the roll man catching lobs. I think that could be very effective, particularly with Justin who is such a driving and midrange threat. Could also provide a lot of kick out opportunities for our guys who are struggling from 3 and whose defenders will likely be sagging off of them. Nothing can get a shooter going quite like catch and shoot threes from the wings and corners.

I still have a lot of faith in this team, and won't make any judgments about their ceiling until we get through the first 8-10 games. Still tons of basketball left.

 

[mason89]

I mean, Otis of all people got a T the other night for jawing at one of Penn’s guys.

He is a ferocious competitor, but he’s clearly feeling the burden of being the senior point guard for a team with high expectations.

Our guys just need to relax and play their game, and all will be well.

That's one thing I did notice in the Penn game...the players were not playing with the enjoyment they usually have, especially Otis. As you allude to, this will be the first time this team will be playing with a target on their backs due to the expectations. This is where Coach L's wiffleball games would come in handy!

 

[Quentin Daniels]

DP and staff need to focus on stupid traveling calls! Hire game reffs for practice. I’m so tired of getting called for traveling. Marr is the main culprit but its everyone!

DP and his staff need to focus on the stupid traveling fouls! Hire game reffs. for practice. I’m so tired of the team getting called for traveling. Marr is the main culprit but it's everyone!

 

[Washingtonian]

142.5 over/under (Vegas Insider)

 

[ephoops]

I’m not a psychologist and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I have spent most of my adult life covering high school and college athletes so evaluate my opinion as you choose...

I think most of the turnovers from the exhibition and the Penn game weren’t caused by indecision, rather by guys playing outside their strengths and caring too much about WINNING instead of trusting their preparation and letting the game come to them.

Our players and coaches know better than anyone that this is the season we’ve all been building toward since Paulsen and the staff were hired. They’ve been busting their asses with relatively little reward and they see the brass ring right there; it’s only human nature to try too hard to grab the MFer.

Our program has made steady, incremental progress from the bottom to the middle of the A-10 in three seasons, but it’s a huge adjustment mentally when you finally have something meaningful to play for — especially when you are rebuilding a winning culture that was destroyed by a prior regime.

Even our veteran players no longer have the luxury of taking the court with a swagger built through success, as their predecessors did during much of L’s tenure. They haven’t been the hunted since they were in high school.

It’s gonna take some time for them to find the proper balance of controlled aggression and playing within the team concept on both ends of the floor. But this team has a ton of talent, versatility and great coaches and when they put it all together, it’s going to be f*cking tremendous.

Great post. I wholeheartedly agree.