Game 20: GMU (11-8 / 7-6) vs LaSalle (9-14 / 6-10) on Saturday, February 27, at 4:30PM.

[emjayar08]

I entirely credit the presence of TJ Gadsden for the winning streak. 1st team All A-10 nomination.

Is he on the bench or can just practice?

 

[gmutom]

Since it’s senior night give me your way to early starting 5 next season.

1. Frazier?
2. Kolek
3. Miller
4. Henry
5. Oduro

I’d be surprised if Polite doesn’t start at PG over Hartwell and Johnson, and I don’t see Henry jumping in as a starter after riding the pine all year — especially since he strikes me as more of 5 who will back up Oduro. I’m not sure if we have a true 4 on next year’s team, so maybe Miller and Frazier both start as wings with Kolek.

 

[mkaufman1]

I entirely credit the presence of TJ Gadsden for the winning streak. 1st team All A-10 nomination.

jake Nichols is chopped liver I see?

 

[GMUgemini]

I’d be surprised if Polite doesn’t start at PG over Hartwell and Johnson, and I don’t see Henry jumping in as a starter after riding the pine all year — especially since he strikes me as more of 5 who will back up Oduro. I’m not sure if we have a true 4 on next year’s team, so maybe Miller and Frazier both start as wings with Kolek.

Was going to say the same thing. We only have two forwards next year, but have 4 wings who are all fairly similar in how they play.

Polite
Kolek
Frazier
Miller
Oduro

until someone else shows us something. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Hartwell started even if he plays fewer minutes than Polite (it is what he’s been doing lately). Frazier or Dady or some new player (Patrick?) might be the fourth guard.

And who knows, maybe Greene surprised all of us and comes back for another season?

 

[Mason32]

so what seed is Mason in the A-10 tournament?

 

[GMUgemini]

so what seed is Mason in the A-10 tournament?

Still a few games left. SLU vs UMass will determine our seeding. I don’t think the other games will matter.

 

[gmujim92]

Still a few games left. SLU vs UMass will determine our seeding. I don’t think the other games will matter.

If Richmond loses to St Joe’s they would fall behind us.

The ideal scenario is we get the 6 seed, which would give us the winner of LaSalle-Fordham in the first round and either Davidson or UMass in the quarters. Getting on that side of the bracket provides the clearest possible path to our first semifinal.

The most likely scenario is we’re the 7 seed and play No. 10 Rhode Island in the first round, then No. 2 vcu if we advance to the quarters. Rhody is struggling but not a good matchup for us at all.

 

[patriot2000]

Since seeding is done by win percentage this year, we need SLU to lose their final game (or for the game not to be played). If they win, we drop to 7. There is no possible result in which we move up to 5.

Edit: I was wrong. Richmond could drop under us. So, if that happens, and SLU loses, we could be #5.

 

[By George.]

AJ had 4 blocked shots today, and is now 2 shy of George Evans' career record of 211.

The only time Pablo has ever been wrong? He was counted for 2 blocks yesterday.

 

[By George.]

And who knows, maybe Greene surprised all of us and comes back for another season?

It’s not definite but I would bet on him returning. Shhhhhh, don’t tell anyone

 

[GMUgemini]

The only time Pablo has ever been wrong? He was counted for 2 blocks yesterday.

The box score on GoMason has him with 4.

https://gomason.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2020-21/la-salle/boxscore/11179

I don’t know if that’s the official scorer’s sheet or not.

 

[gmujim92]

It’s not definite but I would bet on him returning. Shhhhhh, don’t tell anyone

Strongly getting that vibe too now

 

[Pablo]

The only time Pablo has ever been wrong? He was counted for 2 blocks yesterday.

Years ago when Mason was in the CAA and playing at UNCW, I contacted the UNCW AD and provided evidence that a Luke Hancock assist was erroneously credited to another Mason player. The AD official agreed but refused to change the official box score. So, right or wrong, I just accept the box score - https://gomason.com/news/2021/2/27/...-seniors-with-35-point-win-over-la-salle.aspx:

"Wilson led the Green & Gold with 16 points (7-12 FG), six rebounds and a game-high four blocks"

 

[psyclone]

....

Speaking of which, have we ever won 3 conference games by over 30 pts in one season?

.

Trying to answer my own question here. I did a quick kenpom check of our 2 best seasons--our Final Four year and '11-'12 (Larranaga's last year) and I think there was only one 30 pt win against a conference team when we pounded Drexel. Perhaps Pablo knows a better site to check, but I'm guessing that we've never before done the 30 pt win "hat trick" in conference in a given year.

I doubt that we did it under Westhead even though those teams were high-scoring, as we didn't win that many games during his regime.

Maybe LaSalle and Fordham are truly that bad, but LaSalle had some quality wins in the conference and weren't beaten by 30 by anyone else than us.

 

[By George.]

Years ago when Mason was in the CAA and playing at UNCW, I contacted the UNCW AD and provided evidence that a Luke Hancock assist was erroneously credited to another Mason player. The AD official agreed but refused to change the official box score. So, right or wrong, I just accept the box score - https://gomason.com/news/2021/2/27/...-seniors-with-35-point-win-over-la-salle.aspx:

"Wilson led the Green & Gold with 16 points (7-12 FG), six rebounds and a game-high four blocks"

Just confirmed that our normal live stat guy wasn’t there last night so it took some time to certify final stats. AJ finished with 4, 2 away from the record. Pablo is never wrong!

 

[Pablo]

Trying to answer my own question here. I did a quick kenpom check of our 2 best seasons--our Final Four year and '11-'12 (Larranaga's last year) and I think there was only one 30 pt win against a conference team when we pounded Drexel. Perhaps Pablo knows a better site to check, but I'm guessing that we've never before done the 30 pt win "hat trick" in conference in a given year.

I doubt that we did it under Westhead even though those teams were high-scoring, as we didn't win that many games during his regime.

Maybe LaSalle and Fordham are truly that bad, but LaSalle had some quality wins in the conference and weren't beaten by 30 by anyone else than us.

When Mason was in the CAA, I recall Coach L having 40+ point victories against 2 conference opponents:

Mason avenged the "Cheesesteak Massacre" loss at Drexel (100-69) with the "Chicken Wings Massacre" (Mason 85 - Drexel 38).

Also, the Patriots beat hated rival UNCW 101-60.

 

[smccart5]

Great win yesterday, good to actually see shots fall. The play where we stole the ball, passed to a couple outlet guys, and ended in an alley oop was one of the nicest plays we've have in years.

 

[psyclone]

Great win yesterday, good to actually see shots fall. The play where we stole the ball, passed to a couple outlet guys, and ended in an alley oop was one of the nicest plays we've have in years.

Yeah...I was cheering outloud at home, even though I was all alone in the room. More dunks by different guys (even Calixte!) than I can remember in a single game! It was glorious!

 

[Herndon]

If Greene returns he's an auto-start.

I would not at all be shocked to see

Polite
Kolek
Greene
Miller
Oduro

Truthfully, though, I could see ANY of Polite/Johnson/Hartwell/Kolek/Miller being the nominal starting PG.

I'd be a ton more comfortable hearing "Polite has really worked on his shooting in the offseason and looks like he may shoot in the 30 to 35% range from 3"

 

[psyclone]

Strongly getting that vibe too now

Is the idea of Greene returning based on any info or just a gut feel? I'm having trouble seeing what's in it for him. And especially given that dust up that occurred earlier in the season when he was spending more time on the bench. Is there something on twitter that I'm missing?