Game 2: GMU (1-0) vs Belmont (1-0) on Friday, November 27, at 2PM.

[Patriot Lawdog]

The result was not unexpected without AJ, but the way we got there was really bad. One thing that hasn't changed is the blowing of big leads in an instant. Up 14 and it was gone within 5 minutes. Oh well, have to see how the rest of the year plays out, but if its more of this then a change needs to be made.

 

[Patriotsince81]

2 - 20 from 3. Wow.

 

[mason lawyer]

Johnson already having knee issues again. I seem to recall that was some of the reason why he regressed at the end of last season.

What a disgraceful end to the game.

 

[GMU_DCU]

2 - 20 from 3. Wow.

Moving that 3 point line back was definitely going to hurt an already bad 3 point shooting team.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I’d say pleased with about 10 minutes, the rest was hot garbage.

yea man first 5 and last 2 mins all that have been good

Well if you take the 16-0 run from the first half away and the 11-2 run away from the second half . . . but unfortunately you can't. Not a good enough effort today, but better than yesterday.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

LOL at us just missing threes and costing me my over

 

[mkaufman1]

2 - 20 from 3. Wow.

Ending the game with an airball too!

 

[mason lawyer]

Ending the game with an airball too!

Symbolic of our program from the past decade huh?

 

[Bricker]

Kept it closer than 20. Orange slices for all!

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Kept it closer than 20. Orange slices for all!

I'm sure we practiced well....

 

[gmutom]

As bad as most of this game was, I somehow feel better about this loss than yesterday’s win. I pray we don’t have another game when Greene, Hartwell, Johnson, Miller and Kolek go a combined 1-20 from 3.

 

[mason lawyer]

As bad as most of this game was, I somehow feel better about this loss than yesterday’s win. I pray we don’t have another game when Greene, Hartwell, Johnson, Miller and Kolek go a combined 1-20 from 3.

Hoping and praying is not a strategy for this program. Look at the last decade sir.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I'm sure we practiced well....

It'd be pretty hard to use that line considering we played 18 hours apart. But I wouldn't put it past him . . .

 

[GMUgemini]

What we learned:

1) we have an awful halfcourt offense. When we are forced to run in the halfcourt, we can't get open looks or easy baskets to save our life. Part of the problem is we can't shoot (again), which makes defending us really easy to defend, but part of it is a lack of complexity, which also makes us easy to defend.

2) We have a mediocre to bad half-court defense that falls asleep too often, especially at the end of halves/as the shot clock runs down. We don't seem to much better in zone than we do in man-to-man, so I don't know what the solution there is.

3) Javon Greene is one of those maddening players that does some amazing stuff and then makes some boneheaded decisions and/or kills fast breaks with a lack of concentration. Good to see Tate in his ear in the second half, hopefully he can mold something out of him.

4) The 5 is still a problem, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

5) Solution seems to be to go full press for 40 minutes and just be OK giving up the easy ones when they break our press. Run a ton of 4 guard sets and try to get as many runouts as possible, but Paulsen is way too risk averse to try that.

 

[gmujim92]

What we learned:

1) we have an awful halfcourt offense. When we are forced to run in the halfcourt, we can't get open looks or easy baskets to save our life. Part of the problem is we can't shoot (again), which makes defending us really easy to defend, but part of it is a lack of complexity, which also makes us easy to defend.

2) We have a mediocre to bad half-court defense that falls asleep too often, especially at the end of halves/as the shot clock runs down. We don't seem to much better in zone than we do in man-to-man, so I don't know what the solution there is.

3) Javon Greene is one of those maddening players that does some amazing stuff and then makes some boneheaded decisions and/or kills fast breaks with a lack of concentration. Good to see Tate in his ear in the second half, hopefully he can mold something out of him.

4) The 5 is still a problem, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

5) Solution seems to be to go full press for 40 minutes and just be OK giving up the easy ones when they break our press. Run a ton of 4 guard sets and try to get as many runouts as possible, but Paulsen is way too risk averse to try that.

Sorry man but the 5 is not at all a problem. Oduro had 8 points in 6 minutes and was killing the best big man in the Ohio Valley Conference until his second ticky-tack foul took him out for the rest of the first half.

He had a tough time after halftime, but if anything we need to be more focused on pounding the ball to him — we clearly can’t hit an outside shot so the only chance is to take a lot of layups.

Also need more Henry. He’s raw but at least he gives us bounce and fight when he’s in there — with Calixte on the floor we’re playing 4 on 5.

 

[mkaufman1]

Sorry man but the 5 is not at all a problem. Oduro had 8 points in 6 minutes and was killing the best big man in the Ohio Valley Conference until his second ticky-tack foul took him out for the rest of the first half.

He had a tough time after halftime, but if anything we need to be more focused on pounding the ball to him — we clearly can’t hit an outside shot so the only chance is to take a lot of layups.

Also need more Henry. He’s raw but at least he gives us bounce and fight when he’s in there — with Calixte on the floor we’re playing 4 on 5.

Oduro was abused all day at the 5 man. Don’t get me wrong, I love the kid and think he can improve, but he got worked. I think he’s going to improve and I hope he does. Calixte helped at the 5 but he limits the team offensively. I did like seeing Henry battle at the 5 but he didn’t have great luck either. It was a tough matchup for all of them, but I did expect a little more out of Oduro than for him to consistently get backed down in the paint.

 

[gmujim92]

Oduro was abused all day at the 5 man. Don’t get me wrong, I love the kid and think he can improve, but he got worked. I think he’s going to improve and I hope he does. Calixte helped at the 5 but he limits the team offensively. I did like seeing Henry battle at the 5 but he didn’t have great luck either. It was a tough matchup for all of them, but I did expect a little more out of Oduro than for him to consistently get backed down in the paint.

Their big guy is a helluva player. Did anyone seriously expect Oduro to be able to guard him one on one? Jesus.

 

[mkaufman1]

Their big guy is a helluva player. Did anyone seriously expect Oduro to be able to guard him one on one? Jesus.

No I didn’t expect that. I know their guy, whatever his name is, is REALLY good.
But he should have at least held his own as much as possible as he’s 6’9 245 or whatever and the guy isn’t that much bigger than him. I know there’d be some abuse, but I thought he’d do a little more. That’s all. Maybe I have unfair expectations haha.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

No I didn’t expect that. I know their guy, whatever his name is, is REALLY good.
But he should have at least held his own as much as possible as he’s 6’9 245 or whatever and the guy isn’t that much bigger than him. I know there’d be some abuse, but I thought he’d do a little more. That’s all. Maybe I have unfair expectations haha.

To defend Oduro, I thought he did until the refs showed they weren't allowing any contact by the defensive player in the post. Had to back off or he was going to foul out. We needed the game way more up tempo.

 

[mkaufman1]

To defend Oduro, I thought he did until the refs showed they weren't allowing any contact by the defensive player in the post. Had to back off or he was going to foul out. We needed the game way more up tempo.

fair point. It did seem like he got out of a groove after foul two.

I’ll have to watch him more carefully against other bigs and see what’s going on.