Game 2: GMU (1-0) at #18 Marquette (1-0) on Friday, November 8, at 9:00 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

Marquette is a member of the Big East Conference. They finished the 23-24 season with an overall record of 27-10 and14-6 in the Big East. In the 23-24 NCAA Tourney the Golden Eagles earned a #2 seed and eventually lost to NC State in the Sweet 16.

Marquette begins the 24-25 season ranked 18th in the nation.

Marquette has been picked to finish either 2nd, 3rd, or 4th depending on which preseason polls or “expert” you refer to. Kam Jones has been selected to the Big East Preseason 1st Team and is a legitimate candidate for Big East player of the year.

The game is on Peacock.

KenPom: Gives us just a 15% chance of winning and has us losing by 11.
GMU - 98
Marquette - 22
NET:
Mason - 93
Marquette - 14

This is the first meeting between the two teams.

Marquette is currently 1-0 on the season. Kam Jones went off for 32 points in the opener against Stony Brook.

MBB Combined Stats 11.4.24 - Marquette University Athletics

MBB Combined Stats 11.4.24

gomarquette.com

Schedule: https://gomarquette.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2024-25

Wins: Stony Brook (102-62)
Losses:

Returning Players:
Seniors:
6’5 Kam Jones - 17.2 ppg & 2.9 reb (29.0 min per game)
6’8” David Joplin - 10.8 ppg & 3.9 reb (27.6 min per game)
6’3’” Stevie Mitchell - 8.8 ppg & 4.1 reb (26.5 min per game)

Juniors:
6’5” Chase Ross - 6.1 ppg & 3.1 reb (21.8 min per game)
5’10” Sean Jones - 5.8 ppg & 1.5 reb (16.4 min per game)
6’11” Ben Gold - 5.0 ppg & 3.0 reb (16.7 min per game)

Sophomores:
6’5” Zaide Lowery - 1.6 ppg & 1.4 reb (9.5 min per game.
6’4” Tre Norman - 2.0 ppg 1.2 reb (9.1 min per game)
6’9” Al Amadou - 1.2 ppg & .4 reb (3.6 min per game over 14 games)

Freshmen:
6’9” Caedin Hamilton - Redshirt last year. 240 pound “banger.”
6’7” Damarius Owens - “Intriguing ball-handling skills.”
6’8” Royce Parham - “Versatile”
7’1” Josh Clark - Plan is for him to Redshirt this season.

Transfers:
Marquette brought in no new players and lost no one via the portal. Incredibly rare in this day and age.

Roster: https://gomarquette.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2024-25

Team Stats: 23-24 Season
Marquette averaged 78.1 points per game while giving up 69.8.
The Golden Eagles shot 47.8% from the floor and 35.2% from 3.
Opponents shot 42.6% from the field and 33.7% from 3.
The Golden Eagles shot 70.3% from the free throw line.
They were out rebounded by opponents by 3.1 boards per game and averaged 10.0 turnovers per contest.

Stats: https://gomarquette.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2023-24

Thoughts: Is this a team with talent? Yes. Inexperienced overall? Also true. However, this game is winnable in my opinion. We'll need to be better from 3. Limit Kam Jones and shock the early season pundits. Go Mason!

Discuss.

 

[DRK331]

Is this game on NBC also or only Peacock?

 

[Patriotsince81]

Is this game on NBC also or only Peacock?

2024-25 Men's Basketball Schedule - George Mason University Athletics

The official 2024-25 Men's Basketball schedule for the George Mason University Patriots

gomason.com

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Would be an all-time top 5 program victory.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

I’m probably way more optimistic than I should be but that’s just how I choose to operate these days.

Mason 81
Marquette 78

 

[mkaufman1]

Its nice that Mason was invited to an MTE that wasn't in a high school gym and will be on a real tv channel.

That said, this is going to be an extremely tough match up. Marquette is very talented and well coached. I can't imagine Mason pulling off the upset but I definitely can see them losing by 8 or 10 points and playing a solid game.

I will say the rotations most likely will be completely different for this game, or so I hope. Look for a lot more KD Johnson at the point and for us to try to get Maddox/Anderson and whomever else involved to score.

Marquette 78
Mason 70

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

Don’t underestimate the fact it’s an NBA arena with NBA rims etc. I remember we always struggled at the BB&T holiday classic and that was at the wizards arena. This is a dramatic step up in competition. I hope we keep it close but if it gets away from us? I’d like multiple guys to get experience time.

 

[mkaufman1]

Don’t underestimate the fact it’s an NBA arena with NBA rims etc. I remember we always struggled at the BB&T holiday classic and that was at the wizards arena. This is a dramatic step up in competition. I hope we keep it close but if it gets away from us? I’d like multiple guys to get experience time.

They are playing at their small arena, not the Fiserv Arena in downtown Milwaukee.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Don’t underestimate the fact it’s an NBA arena with NBA rims etc. I remember we always struggled at the BB&T holiday classic and that was at the wizards arena. This is a dramatic step up in competition. I hope we keep it close but if it gets away from us? I’d like multiple guys to get experience time.

Game is not in an NBA venue.

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

They are playing at their small arena, not the Fiserv Arena in downtown Milwaukee.

oh. So much for my post. My apologies.

 

[GMUgemini]

Only way we have a chance in this game is if players who don’t normally shoot that well shoot lights out. I’m thinking specifically of Newton and Billups. If those two have one of their uncharacteristic good shooting nights at the same time we might have an outside shot here.

I am really just looking for us to be up for the game, make it competitive, continue to play aggressive defense and make life hard for Marquette. If we win that’ll be massive.

 

[Jack Strop]

Is this game on NBC also or only Peacock?

To watch the game, a subscription to Peacock Premium is required, no free trial.

... however...

A two-week free trial of Instacart+ offers Peacock as a feature of their product...
(https://www.techhive.com/article/2287025/the-sneaky-way-to-get-a-peacock-premium-free-trial.html)

Sign up here...

Instacart+ | Get Unlimited $0 Delivery fees* with Instacart. *Service fees apply.

Save time and money with Instacart+. Enjoy unlimited $0 delivery fees (Service fees apply) from local stores near you. Start your free trial today*.

www.instacart.com

NOTE: Not tested... yet.

 

[PDGL Hoops]

Win or at least keep the loss to single digits so we look respectable. Never upset when we play well and hard resulting in a loss. Sometimes the other team is just better.

Mason 65
MU 72

 

[Verdad]

I don't think we need Newton or Billups hitting 3's, rather I think we need them not shooting 3's and instead Maddox/Anderson/Ball (if recovered)/O'Connor having solid shooting performances overall from deep (and maybe one or two from the other pg's).

I'm looking for cleaner/more organized play with less sloppy unforced turnovers. If we can compose ourselves, and have a good shooting night, no reason we can't have a shot at the upset.

I think our intensity and defense will be there.

Edit - just looked at their team and they return a very very experienced team with lots of starts and double-digit scorers. They don't seem to have a big size advantage on us, and we may have the advantage with Jalen and Gio inside - so I say pound it inside and make it a rock fight.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 77
Them 76
OT

 

[GMUgemini]

I don't think we need Newton or Billups hitting 3's, rather I think we need them not shooting 3's and instead Maddox/Anderson/Ball (if recovered)/O'Connor having solid shooting performances overall from deep (and maybe one or two from the other pg's).

I'm looking for cleaner/more organized play with less sloppy unforced turnovers. If we can compose ourselves, and have a good shooting night, no reason we can't have a shot at the upset.

I think our intensity and defense will be there.

Edit - just looked at their team and they return a very very experienced team with lots of starts and double-digit scorers. They don't seem to have a big size advantage on us, and we may have the advantage with Jalen and Gio inside - so I say pound it inside and make it a rock fight.

If there is anyone on the team to get open looks it’ll be those two. And every once in awhile they can knock them down. If they’re making shots early that might open up some opportunities for the aforementioned other players.

KD and Billups will also have to be at the top of their defensive games otherwise we might get cooked by their guards.

Also will be interesting to see if KD can be the calm head against their pressure like he was the last game. Was pretty impressed with his handling of the press and being able to find runners playing at speed. He’ll have to play at an even higher level (and score) for us to have a chance.

 

[Jack Strop]

To watch the game, a subscription to Peacock Premium is required, no free trial.

... however...

A two-week free trial of Instacart+ offers Peacock as a feature of their product...
(https://www.techhive.com/article/2287025/the-sneaky-way-to-get-a-peacock-premium-free-trial.html)

Sign up here...

Instacart+ | Get Unlimited $0 Delivery fees* with Instacart. *Service fees apply.

Save time and money with Instacart+. Enjoy unlimited $0 delivery fees (Service fees apply) from local stores near you. Start your free trial today*.

www.instacart.com

NOTE: Not tested... yet.

Tested. It works.

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

Do you think Tony will get the team ready for Marquette?

 

[GMU79]

When do we return to EagleeBaink Ane ?

 

[FreeGunston12]

If we play anything like we have so far, we will get dominated from start to finish. The X factor is that we don’t know how the team will respond to better competition. Here’s to hoping the fire is brought out of them.