Fellas. I really enjoyed reading the last few pages of this string. Great analysis rather than just a cloud of negativity. This team is perplexing.
I think we have hit a bit of a perfect storm with a tougher schedule and conference, a talent deficit, and a coach that might be a better general manager than head coach. As always when you only lose your team may not be as bad as it appears, but with incomplete games it becomes a mute point.
Playing in the A-10 and our out of conference schedule is a step up. To my surprise we haven't played many seasons where our average opponent had an above .500 winning %. The years we have Mason's winning % has dipped. This year obviously it has tanked. But the trend looks consistent over the span put together in statsheet.
(Winning % Mason vs Opponent chart at the bottom of the page -
http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/george-mason/team_stats?type=all)
Talent deficit - I'm a little more favorable on our roster than most. Beyond Jenkins -Allen, Wright, Holloway, and Moore could contribute on most A10 rosters. Our back court is the heart of our problem. I agree with 84 on his comments about when Jenkins is in or out of the game. And, as everyone but one poster concurs Arledge's clairvoyant abandoning of the ship hurts a talent depleted team.
Coaching - Hewitt has enough knowledge to be a top coach. But, he seems to be missing something. I half joked about Fordham's committee of coaches, but it is time to at a minimum bring in some fresh eyes. I do think he is doing some things right and this situation could still be salvageable for the long-term (not this season unless we surprise everyone in Brooklyn).
We seem to be able to run with any team for at least half a game, but then we all know the final outcome, so there is at least a nucleus to build on. However small that nucleus looks today.
There are however decisions Hewitt makes that make no sense to me.
First, if I was facing a superior talented teams my team would pass the ball and have more assists than the other team. e.g. Tony Shaver always amazed me with how he ran his offenses.
Second is in game adjustments. At the start of the second half GW switched to a 1-3-1. That is when they took over and won the game in my mind. He had BA at the short corner and our guys did a nice job passing the ball and looking for a shot. Not Hewitt's fault that BA didn't have his A game in that situation. But, the offense could have been a lot more robust utilizing both short corners with BA and any other player on the court. We had one guy that can hit the outside shot in Holloway on the wing. Lonergan let whatever wing defender leave their zone to play match-up against Holloway keeping him in check. We had to have another shooter in the game at the same time Holloway was out there. I realize Edwards is not too respected, but if Sherrod is on the bench - put in Edwards or Gray (I guess) or anyone else that would also stretch their D. We needed another ball handler that can hit the outside shot. Stretch the D with a high post, two guys in the short corner, and two longer range shooters in their. Instead we had one shooter and one short corner. Not to difficult for a zone to only have to worry about just two to three guys knowing the others are just there to pass.
Defense is mental. If our kids can't play man than go to zone. If the 2-3 isn't working go to a 1-2-2 or a 1-3-1 or something. I think GW was running a dribble drive offense by putting two guys high waiting to drive and two guys wide with the option to shoot or drive.
Hewitt's timeouts as mentioned by many drive me crazy as do the substitutions. Although his recent rotations seem a lot tighter which given how we rotated last year and the beginning of this year is an improvement.
Lastly, I do think another coach could get more out of these kids. Composure and confidence comes from the top. Anytime a team so much as barks at us we collapse. Coach L used a lot of psychology on his kids - even spoke often about Bob Rotella (sp?). It amazes me what I can get out of a team when they are up against a more talented group when they have confidence and work as a team.
If Hewitt can't get these guys to trust in themselves and their teammates,
I think it is time to call in a doctor.