Game 2: AT #16 University of Louisville, Sunday, November 13th, 2 PM, NBC Sports Washington Plus

[Junkees9]

Very happy with how the team played today. They did MUCH better than I expected. Hopefully Wilson, Calixte, and Greene will "grow up" quickly so that the starters don't get burned out by the New Year. An average game from Otis and we may have won this one.

 

[MASONscott]

Good game. Great effort.

I am an eternal optimist and yet expected a best down. Leading most of the game at Louisville!

Progress....

Mar is more than impressive. Kier and Grayer became men today. Boyd became a man ten years ago. He hasn’t started as quickly as Mar, but AJ is going to be fine.


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[Falco]

Shut up DJ3

Excuse me

 

[couchcoach]

Excuse me

Shut your whore mouth

 

[Falco]

Shut your whore mouth

Who tells a whore to shut their mouth?

 

[dr. gunnie]

Must be because we all overvalued Calixte and AJ right, professor Gunnie?

I admit I was wrong. Those two really put on a clinic today. I know some had AJ starting day 1 after those quality Kenner games, others had Calixte as the starter once Relvao left... but I don’t see how Dave can keep both out of the starting lineup after these past two games.

 

[sleeperpick]

Must be because we all overvalued Calixte and AJ right, professor Gunnie?

Idk who pissed in his cereal this year

 

[dr. gunnie]

I don't eat cereal.

My Monday morning thoughts (nothing ground breaking):

Positives: Thought our starting 5 looked really good yesterday. I really think that any given night, 1 (or more) of 4 guys can go for 20+ points. Our rebounding/defense was much better than I thought it would be against a much bigger Louisville team. Mar has shown that he can play immediately. Lots of positives. I'm actually more positive after the loss yesterday than the win on Friday.

Negatives. Our bench is very much a work in progress... pretty much nonexistent at this point. That will come back to hurt us if someone doesn't step up. I don't know if our starters can play all the minutes they are slated to play at this pace, but we don't have very many options at this point.

I'll start this next thought with this - I love Paulsen. I think he's done a great job so far and he has surpassed my expectations for this program in year three of the rebuild... BUT... having only 8 scholarship players for this season is a mistake that ultimately falls with him. Not sure if the players that left were nudged out or if they left on their own (probably some of both), but we should have more options than our current situation. Unless they thought our pre-season roster was the worst case scenario and were totally blindsided by the Relvao departure - we should have had a couple more options on the bench. A grad senior for a year just to help out our bigs would have been huge. I'm sure there is a whole lot we (or I) don't know about our roster and how it ended up the way it did... would love to know, but where it is now kind of sucks. Even having someone like Dixon this year would be better than not having him... but like I said earlier, maybe they put all their eggs in the Relvao basket and then he f'ed us. I don't know. Just scared of what might happen if a guy goes down or a suspension comes up... it could get ugly.

Now everyone can bash me and tell me how wrong I am... fire away!!!!

 

[Five Two]

Posting at 9:20am the day after a game finishes at 4pm feels like an eternity.....but here are my $0.02:

-I was shocked at how we battled back after they made their run in the first half. I thought their run would push the lead to double digits, but credit the team for answering.

-This was one of the few games where a Mason team dictated who was out on the floor for the opponent. Maybe its because this was UL's first game under a new coach, but we forced them to play small instead of them forcing us to play big.

-If you told me we would match their offensive rebounds (at 7), I would have told you I have some beachfront property to sell you in Oklahoma. But damn, we did and only lost the rebounding battle by 5. I think that points back to forcing them to go small, but still, an encouraging sign.

-through 2 games we've given up 19 three pointers. ouch.

-free throw shooting.....good lord. UL helped us here because they were as bad as we were but even if we shoot 65% from the line the outcome could have been different

-Grayer needs to touch the ball every possession. He doesn't need to shoot it all the time, but he needs to get a touch. He had just made a clutch three and then the next 2 trips we don't give him the ball. Reminded me of when we'd go 3-4 possessions without running the offense through Jai Lewis or Will Thomas and then wonder why the offense got stale.

I think Dr Gunnie said it best that this was close enough to make it hurt.

 

[99 Patriot]

I'll chime in as well with my thoughts:

- We are awfully hard to guard man-to-man with this small lineup. Lafayette went to a zone early and never left. Louisville, as 52 said, went small to match us after Kier repeatedly burned their big.

- Maybe I'm one of the few that isn't that concerned about rebounding. Paulsen coaches that 5 guys box out and attack the defensive glass, even with Marquise gone, the system remains in place. We'll give up some board due to size, but I'd bet on the season we finish in the plus category on the glass.

- Literally every year we hype freshman, they don't drop 20 their first game or 2 and we give up on them. Green and AJ will be just fine. AJ looked more comfortable yesterday already and Green will as well. If we get into December and they're putting up zeros I'll be much more concerned.

- Giving up open 3's will be a problem all year I fear. We are maybe too quick to double anything in the post which creates a lot of open looks.

- Grayer and Kier could wind up being the best wing tandem we've had in a long time. Both can really do it all on both ends of the floor.

- I hope we have a nice crowd on Thursday for these guys.

 

[mkaufman1]

I don't eat cereal.

My Monday morning thoughts (nothing ground breaking):

Positives: Thought our starting 5 looked really good yesterday. I really think that any given night, 1 (or more) of 4 guys can go for 20+ points. Our rebounding/defense was much better than I thought it would be against a much bigger Louisville team. Mar has shown that he can play immediately. Lots of positives. I'm actually more positive after the loss yesterday than the win on Friday.

Negatives. Our bench is very much a work in progress... pretty much nonexistent at this point. That will come back to hurt us if someone doesn't step up. I don't know if our starters can play all the minutes they are slated to play at this pace, but we don't have very many options at this point.

I'll start this next thought with this - I love Paulsen. I think he's done a great job so far and he has surpassed my expectations for this program in year three of the rebuild... BUT... having only 8 scholarship players for this season is a mistake that ultimately falls with him. Not sure if the players that left were nudged out or if they left on their own (probably some of both), but we should have more options than our current situation. Unless they thought our pre-season roster was the worst case scenario and were totally blindsided by the Relvao departure - we should have had a couple more options on the bench. A grad senior for a year just to help out our bigs would have been huge. I'm sure there is a whole lot we (or I) don't know about our roster and how it ended up the way it did... would love to know, but where it is now kind of sucks. Even having someone like Dixon this year would be better than not having him... but like I said earlier, maybe they put all their eggs in the Relvao basket and then he f'ed us. I don't know. Just scared of what might happen if a guy goes down or a suspension comes up... it could get ugly.

Now everyone can bash me and tell me how wrong I am... fire away!!!!

I agree with you on what you’re saying here. The one thing regarding bigs or not having enough guys, I think is in regards to the fact that nothing was going to be perfect with regards to the roster in year 3. What I mean is, they obviously felt that they would have a big pan out by now Temara, Relvao, whomever and felt it was important to focus on other things since they had Jenkins. It’s absolutely on them but If it wasn’t this in year 3, there’s be another weakness considering how much other work they had to do. Reuter is going to really help the team out but they need Calixste and someone else as filler to help out. Maybe relvao was going to be that and that bit them.

Hope that makes sense.

More thoughts later after I can watch half 2, since I only saw half 1 yesterday.

 

[Petey Buckets]

Weekly rundown is up here, check it out:

http://giantkiller.co/2017/11/13/peteys-bucket-of-knowledge-week-1-rundown/

I'm on the same page as Gunnie, Five Two, and 99 with a lot of this stuff.

 

[dr. gunnie]

I agree with you on what you’re saying here. The one thing regarding bigs or not having enough guys, I think is in regards to the fact that nothing was going to be perfect with regards to the roster in year 3. What I mean is, they obviously felt that they would have a big pan out by now Temara, Relvao, whomever and felt it was important to focus on other things since they had Jenkins. It’s absolutely on them but If it wasn’t this in year 3, there’s be another weakness considering how much other work they had to do. Reuter is going to really help the team out but they need Calixste and someone else as filler to help out. Maybe relvao was going to be that and that bit them.

Hope that makes sense.

More thoughts later after I can watch half 2, since I only saw half 1 yesterday.

I have heard that the staff is very high on Reuter, so I think next year we will be in much, much better shape. I'm just not a fan of the "this is a two year process" talk though...

I'm probably just spoiled because of the job the staff has done getting us back on track!

 

[Patriot8]

The bench just needs to find some success so they can get some extended playing time to work out the nerves. I loved how aggressive Greene was when he was out there. I think he puts up 5-7 points in each of the next two games. Calixte was in good position a couple of times yesterday, and just couldn't get the roll. AJ will be fine because he's athletic freak who is not completely insane.

 

[GreenLantern]

I think as our bench gets more experience, they will give us the depth we need. There will be moments early this season where the inexperience will bite us but I still think this season will not be much of a step back from last year.

 

[mkaufman1]

I have heard that the staff is very high on Reuter, so I think next year we will be in much, much better shape. I'm just not a fan of the "this is a two year process" talk though...

I'm probably just spoiled because of the job the staff has done getting us back on track!

Heard the same about Reuter- I just feel like they need at least one other besides Calixste behind him.

Disagree on the two year bit but get where you’re coming from. When you have no graduating seniors and you’re first class has two players who remain and are only juniors (and considering the amount of turnover the first two classes had, some his fault some not), there has to be some leeway. But at the same rate I think we all expect to see some really good basketball out of these guys mid season like last year. They just won’t be fully complete.

Also the last two teams started slower and then picked it up. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the same here, even with their limitations.

 

[dr. gunnie]

Disagree on the two year bit but get where you’re coming from. When you have no graduating seniors and you’re first class has two players who remain and are only juniors (and considering the amount of turnover the first two classes had, some his fault some not), there has to be some leeway. But at the same rate I think we all expect to see some really good basketball out of these guys mid season like last year. They just won’t be fully complete.

I should clarify, I don't mind looking at it from that standpoint from fans, I just don't like hearing the coach saying it. I don't like the message is sends the players about what this season means... even though many of the players are probably thinking the same thing in the back of their minds.

 

[GMU_DCU]

Thank you Marquise! It's obvious that Grayer learned a few things about rebounding from Quise and Kier learned a few things about being fearless getting in the paint as well. Some boys became men yesterday and I'm not talking Motownphilly. Now can we practice free throws? Maybe some late nights in that new practice gym playing knockout from the free throw line until they collapse. Overall I'm pleased with a lot of things from yesterday except the end result. I'm not too worried about Calixte. He's shown some post moves and has gotten some good looks, those will fall in time. Goanar already looking like a leader out on the floor, very impressed with his ability to not panic with the ball when being pressured. Now let's go kick some Binghamton a**.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

Wasn't able to watch, saw Stapleton and Strait last night instead.

From the box score, it looks like the team just ran out of gas and Louisville pulled away at the end. Thoughts?

I'm not a mathematician like DJ3 but 29-0 bench scoring seemed to be the difference.

 

[psyclone]

Weekly rundown is up here, check it out:

http://giantkiller.co/2017/11/13/peteys-bucket-of-knowledge-week-1-rundown/

I'm on the same page as Gunnie, Five Two, and 99 with a lot of this stuff.

Petey,

I am very grateful that you do this. Your analysis is sound and well-written and fills a void in the scant media coverage that our program receives. Given that Steve Goff of the Post indicates that he's likely to make fewer trips to Fairfax this season, your timely online columns are needed now more than ever and greatly treasured by at least this member of our fan base. Keep up the EXCELLENT work!!!