Game 21: GMU at Richmond on Monday, February 7 at 7PM. Game 22: GMU (11-10 / 4-4) vs Richmond (16-8 / 7-4) on Wednesday, February 9 at 7PM.

[GSII]

We’ve endlessly discussed our shortcomings at PG, but XJ has had 2 straight double-doubles and, despite the 6 turnovers, he was not the problem in either of the last 2 losses.

LaSalle was a case of terrible defense. Richmond was for the most part dreadful offense.

We missed at least 10 shots around the rim last night, including the completely uncontested bunny that Ticket bricked before Gilyard’s last 3. Convert even half of those and we win easily.

True ......but It's take your pick. We had 16 turnovers that lead to 23 pts for them. Cut that to 12 and we win. Our scoring is only thing keeping us in games I feel. 6 out of 16 turnovers attributed to PG alone is a problem.

Imo, had Coop attacked the rim more that would of led to a win.

 

[gmujim92]

True ......but It's take your pick. We had 16 turnovers that lead to 23 pts for them. Cut that to 12 and we win. Our scoring is only thing keeping us in games I feel. 6 out of 16 turnovers attributed to PG alone is a problem.

So is having to play the starting PG 40 minutes a game because we have nobody else. Seems we should all be able to agree this year is about making the best of it — these guys are doing pretty damn well for a roster situation that is about as far as possible from perfect.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I have such a like-hate relationship with XJ.

He is Jekyll and Hyde the last 4 times out so I know exactly what you mean.

Richmond - 2 assists. 6 turnovers.
St. Louis - 4 assists. 5 turnovers.

LaSalle - 10 assists. 1 turnover.
UMass - 9 assists. 1 turnover.

 

[GSII]

He is Jekyll and Hyde the last 4 times out so I know exactly what you mean.

Richmond - 2 assists. 6 turnovers.
St. Louis - 4 assists. 5 turnovers.

LaSalle - 10 assists. 1 turnover.
UMass - 9 assists. 1 turnover.

LaSalle and UMass suck.

Rich and slu are good.

What's that tell u.

 

[sleeperpick]

LaSalle and UMass suck.

Rich and slu are good.

What's that tell u.

Hate to agree with Grandpa Pappas here but he’s right. UMASS was without their point guard and their backup looked like GSII himself and Lasalles strengths are not the PG position as well.

Richmond has Gilyard and St Louis has POY Collins. XJ’s far too careless with the ball to play well against those guys.

 

[GSII]

Great. Mr.Jinx-alot is still sweatn me.

 

[HoopsAdmin]

Ok, guys. That’s enough. Or do I need to make you both sit in the corner for a while?

 

[Quentin Daniels]

Ok, guys. That’s enough. Or do I need to make you both sit in the corner for a while?

 

[Jack Strop]

Because Mason has had so many close losses versus both strong and lesser competition the mistakes and shortcomings magnify. XJ knows he FUMBLED. Ticket knows he missed a crucial lay-in down the stretch. The pressure is on them to perform. And the team keeps coming out and plays tough with all they got. Despite the mistakes they're not turning on each other, they're working just as hard and staying focused on improvement. I'd rather see grit and energy than slump and sulk.

I've heard that the definition of insanity is doing something over and over in the same way while expecting a different result—a stupid definition. We always hear, "Work hard to succeed." Recently, the outcomes from our team's hard work are just short of success. When the outcomes change to consistent success then it blows away that ridiculous definition of insanity. That's why our team needs our support.

Work through it Mason fans and ballers. Success is near.

 

[GMUgemini]

So is having to play the starting PG 40 minutes a game because we have nobody else. Seems we should all be able to agree this year is about making the best of it — these guys are doing pretty damn well for a roster situation that is about as far as possible from perfect.

I think this is part of it. XJ shouldn’t be playing 38 mpg.

We shouldn’t have a walk-on playing 14 minutes in any game. And I know he played that many minutes because Schwartz fouled out and Polite is out (but kind of a sad statement that Otis couldn’t take those minutes and do something more with them than Buchanan did).

Ticket has played 50, 38, and 38 minutes in the last three. He’s probably going to play at least 38 again in 2 days. Why’d he miss a layup late? Could be all those minutes on his legs.

I’chemistry could play a role in some of this. Most of these guys are playing together for the first time. New coach. A lot of new faces. We could use some continuity. Maybe next year some of these losses turn into wins.

 

[gmujim92]

I think this is part of it. XJ shouldn’t be playing 38 mpg.

We shouldn’t have a walk-on playing 14 minutes in any game. And I know he played that many minutes because Schwartz fouled out and Polite is out (but kind of a sad statement that Otis couldn’t take those minutes and do something more with them than Buchanan did).

Ticket has played 50, 38, and 38 minutes in the last three. He’s probably going to play at least 38 again in 2 days. Why’d he miss a layup late? Could be all those minutes on his legs.

I’chemistry could play a role in some of this. Most of these guys are playing together for the first time. New coach. A lot of new faces. We could use some continuity. Maybe next year some of these losses turn into wins.

I think many of these losses are gonna turn into wins, that’s what is so exciting about the future. With this coach we finally have legit reason for hope again.

 

[Petey Buckets]

Feels like no one is acknowledging that there was some level of difficulty to Ticket's last shot last night. He hit a spin move and tried to finish with his off hand. Not exactly a coin flip but not exactly a 99.9% shot either.

I thought he showed flashes of superstardom last night. Locked up Richmond's best player and looked MUCH better forcing the issue and getting into the paint than Schwartz and Cooper have. I think Ticket needs to be the non-Oduro guy that's driving regularly. He's got moves, touch, and outrageous length. Excited to see if KE challenges him to develop this part of his game, because we need it badly.

 

[BBride]

Interrupting the discussion to let folks know I have a pair of tickets in section 115 for tomorrow nights game. Just PM me your name and email address and I'll make the transfer. It's the last pair unless they announce a make up date for the Rhode Island game and I missed that. Those are available too.

Back to your discussion...

 

[GMUgemini]

Feels like no one is acknowledging that there was some level of difficulty to Ticket's last shot last night. He hit a spin move and tried to finish with his off hand. Not exactly a coin flip but not exactly a 99.9% shot either.

I thought he showed flashes of superstardom last night. Locked up Richmond's best player and looked MUCH better forcing the issue and getting into the paint than Schwartz and Cooper have. I think Ticket needs to be the non-Oduro guy that's driving regularly. He's got moves, touch, and outrageous length. Excited to see if KE challenges him to develop this part of his game, because we need it badly.

Sounds like he is from all the post-games I’ve heard. In my mind, Ticket is our one NBA prospect on the team, but he has to take the leap you are describing to get there. If he does it next season, with Oduro as a senior, the team could be pretty special.

 

[ephoops]

I can't knock XJ anymore. He is what he is.

In a perfect world, he's the back up PG playing 8 - 12 minutes per game. Unfortunately, the roster is far from perfect.

He works hard, but his many shortcomings get exposed against better PGs in the A-10.

Ideally, Dinkins and the transfer portal will solve the PG issue next year.

 

[hoops10]

At the game last night and while disappointing loss English has the kids playing really hard. Was good to see Fernandez at the game always in the huddle with the team. God knows we need him and Dinkins. Also, we appear to be in the running for Buchannan from Wilson. Just a stud player. Man if KE can get this kid then the sky is the limit with Mason for next year. Although Georgetown and VT are part of the five teams he has narrowed his choice to. Keep your fingers crossed. I believe we take a big step up next year.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

Feels like no one is acknowledging that there was some level of difficulty to Ticket's last shot last night. He hit a spin move and tried to finish with his off hand. Not exactly a coin flip but not exactly a 99.9% shot either.

I thought he showed flashes of superstardom last night. Locked up Richmond's best player and looked MUCH better forcing the issue and getting into the paint than Schwartz and Cooper have. I think Ticket needs to be the non-Oduro guy that's driving regularly. He's got moves, touch, and outrageous length. Excited to see if KE challenges him to develop this part of his game, because we need it badly.

I agree completely and suggested as much early in the season. Get him on the elbow and let him take his defender to the hoop. In addition to the great qualities you mentioned he's also our best free throw shooter so we need to put him in a position where he can draw fouls.

 

[tblack33]

I trust the coach, and the basketball minds here, but when we're saying the problem is "They made plays. We gotta make plays"... I dunno, man. That's not the problem I've seen, at all. Maybe that's polite code for "our point guard needs to do better." That would make more sense. I don't want to pile on the kid who's giving us everything he's got. But all I see is one position (not just one player... other people spell him) killing us. Period. We can shoot. We can defend. We're active. We're tough. We rebound. Oduro is a top 3 pick for POY. Although we need a better bench, our starters have competed in every A10 game, against most of the best teams in the conference. We're experienced, we're disciplined. We are very, very good at 4 positions. We are not even CAA level at the most important position. That's it.

I used to be at every game live and now that I've moved away I watch every game on TV. Sometimes I scratch my head at the comments from coach and fans. I was pissed off at the team the entire LaSalle game, including the comeback. I never believed we would close it out. I believe it's because you're there, and I'm not. I am not benefitting from the energy and excitement surrounding the team, and that electricity of witnessing a close game live. I just see error after error. I look at the box score and am actually surprised there weren't MORE turnovers.

I sometimes feel like what I'm seeing on TV is different than what you see live and I don't know which perspective is right. Probably something in the middle. But I'm definitely jealous of those of you that get the in-person perspective.

So I don't think this is unfair. I'll only speak to my personal experience -- I came into this season with 0 expectations, which has taken the sting off these close losses, and made all the wins be gravy. I think it's great that in a few months Kim English put together a squad that has us feeling like night in, night out we should be competing with, and beating everyone in the conference. That is how it should feel. But for me, I'm still taking this season for what it is and just enjoying the ride.

So I guess that it's not that I'm ignoring the errors, I'm just accepting that they were inevitable given the situation for this year, and I will expect that as we hit years 2-3, we will not have these glaring gaps. It also helps that this team is just fun as hell to watch live. Petey and the ByGeorge guys hit it on the head, for the last few years normally when a team would go on a mini run on us and get up 8 we'd just fold and end up losing by 20+. This team fights like hell and can withstand those runs, and shoot our way out of it, and that's really exciting to watch, feeling like we are never really fully out of any game.

 

[gmujim92]

Feels like no one is acknowledging that there was some level of difficulty to Ticket's last shot last night. He hit a spin move and tried to finish with his off hand. Not exactly a coin flip but not exactly a 99.9% shot either.

I thought he showed flashes of superstardom last night. Locked up Richmond's best player and looked MUCH better forcing the issue and getting into the paint than Schwartz and Cooper have. I think Ticket needs to be the non-Oduro guy that's driving regularly. He's got moves, touch, and outrageous length. Excited to see if KE challenges him to develop this part of his game, because we need it badly.

Kim has said on multiple occasions that Ticket needs to shoot more and I think we all would agree. He was the best player on the floor for a good stretch last night and when he’s assertive he’s one of the best in the A-10. Hopefully he finds a way to stay aggressive with Oduro on the floor instead of always deferring and being Option 4.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

I have such a like-hate relationship with XJ.

Me too! As another poster pointed out nobody is better at finishing on drives, and he's great at whipping passes around the perimeter, while looking his defender away. That said, the TOs are maddening, particularly because we are nearly always in a position to win games at the end.

With all our limitations, this team could be sitting on 15-16 wins and a 7-1 conference record if we could just do a better job of protecting the ball. So while it's unrealistic to expect a 1st year coach to deliver a Top 4 finish in the A10 and a possible appearance in the A10 championship game, it really was right there for the taking.

After being bad to mediocre for SO long a lot of us don't want to have to wait for next year. And early on it looked like we would not have to, but TOs, Oduro missing at least 3 games, and a non-existent bench have dashed that fevered dream.