Game 25: George Washington University, Saturday, February 10th, 4 PM (Homecoming), Stadium

[patriot2000]

Hmm... also sorry about the double post I just noticed. I mean to quote the "lost puppy" comment, and it didn't quote, and then when I edited it, it double posted. Weird. Tapatalk bugs me sometimes.

Anyway, as I said, I didn't mean to start something negative in a winning game thread - in a many year posting history back to the CAAZone, you can see that's not my way. Just an observation that could have been placed somewhere else.

 

[Petey Buckets]

AJ is a strange case to me because he still makes a lot of freshman mistakes but the sum of his contributions is overwhelmingly positive. I think he drew four fouls in the paint yesterday because he's much quicker and more athletic than anyone GW could put on him. His ability to quick catch and dunk really opens up the lane for the guards since his man can't leave him because he flushes good passes too quickly.

Patriotchild compared him to Tigger - has trouble controlling his bounce - and I can't stop laughing. Think that's a perfect way to put it. He looks like he's playing on a trampoline out there.

Also, how good you think Javon will be is a reflection of how closely you're paying attention. Dude does everything at a high level except score the ball right now. Sky is the limit once his shot starts falling.

More to come in tomorrow's rundown, but pretty happy with what we saw yesterday. Very confused why MoJo didn't have Yuta shadow Otis again, but I'll take it.

 

[Cedric Dempsey]

I hope you're eventually wrong as well. Have you seen AJ lately? Or, should I phrase it as, "Have you NOT seen AJ lately?" He's wafer-thin. Maybe AJ can put on 10 pounds this off-season then hopefully 10 more the next. Right now AJ is playing the role of pinball in the paint!

To your point about Coach Dave giving him "extra encouragement," you have something there, I'll admit. I too have heard Coach blast him from the sidelines—"You haven't learned that play yet, AJ!!"

Go Coach! Go AJ!!

No matter how frustrated you get you should NEVER embarrass a player publicly. Can you imagine if a player did that to him. Hope that’s not true.

 

[patriot2000]

As a teacher of younger kiddos, I definitely agree with you. But I think that's par for the course in many college programs, no?

 

[psyclone]

AJ is a strange case to me because he still makes a lot of freshman mistakes but the sum of his contributions is overwhelmingly positive. I think he drew four fouls in the paint yesterday because he's much quicker and more athletic than anyone GW could put on him. His ability to quick catch and dunk really opens up the lane for the guards since his man can't leave him because he flushes good passes too quickly.

Patriotchild compared him to Tigger - has trouble controlling his bounce - and I can't stop laughing. Think that's a perfect way to put it. He looks like he's playing on a trampoline out there.

Also, how good you think Javon will be is a reflection of how closely you're paying attention. Dude does everything at a high level except score the ball right now. Sky is the limit once his shot starts falling.

More to come in tomorrow's rundown, but pretty happy with what we saw yesterday. Very confused why MoJo didn't have Yuta shadow Otis again, but I'll take it.

With AJ, as opposed to Calixte, when he gets the ball deep on offense, he often gets blocked going for a layup. Greg is enough of a "horse" that he can finish those shots. Perhaps a lack of bulk is the reason. But right now, I think feeding AJ on the blocks is not a good idea. Doesn't have the moves yet for a traditional post game like Greg has. Feeding him for dunks is another story!

Also, he sometimes falls too much in love with the spectacular block. There was one play where a GW player was going in for a uncontested layup (which I believe was about to roll off the rim) and AJ got to the play late and goal-tended the shot. That's not to say that he doesn't make some spectacular blocks.

As for defending Otis, when in man-to-man, Yuta started out guarding Otis most of the night, but Kier (usually) provided a high post for Otis early in the possession and GW switched defenders. The strategy seemed effective and Otis was freed to get into his game and find others for shots (personal high 9 assists).

 

[GMU_DCU]

I've been in the mountains so I had to miss this game and all the updates. So happy we won. Can someone link the post game? I'm driving but want to watch when I get back.

Also re the lack of comments. That's kind of normal for home games. Most of the posters are at the game.

They always have the post game extra of all home games with highlights and post game presser on gomason.com under the video section.

 

[MudKat]

Well at least you guys can pull out a 5-12 record if the winds blow in the right direction...

 

[FreeGunston12]

Well at least you guys can pull out a 5-12 record if the winds blow in the right direction...

Yup. Bout the same odds as you guys beating Richmond this year.

 

[MudKat]

Yup. Bout the same odds as you guys beating Richmond this year.

Well, top 4 vs a Thursday game I'll take. See you on Friday in DC if you can stay completely out of the cellar. I'm rooting for you.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Well, top 4 vs a Thursday game I'll take. See you on Friday in DC if you can stay completely out of the cellar. I'm rooting for you.

Top 4? Aren't you in 5th right now. You know . . . because you lose the tiebreaker . . . because you can't beat Richmond. Who knows, maybe we can help you out there again.

Anyways, don't have to wait till the tournament. See you on the 28th.

 

[MudKat]

Top 4? Aren't you in 5th right now. You know . . . because you lose the tiebreaker . . . because you can't beat Richmond. Who knows, maybe we can help you out there again.

Anyways, don't have to wait till the tournament. See you on the 28th.

Cool. At least 2 more wins if you guys can win a couple more! No, we're tied 4th, but fur has the easiest remaining schedule of anyone. Going to take a W over Davidson this week to get top 4. Doable. We shall see which vcu squad shows up. And Davidson has two very likely losses left on their schedule.

 

[GSII]

Need Calixte to fix that hitch in his shot. He can really carry us somewhat in the post, but we need every point.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Cool. At least 2 more wins if you guys can win a couple more! No, we're tied 4th, but fur has the easiest remaining schedule of anyone. Going to take a W over Davidson this week to get top 4. Doable. We shall see which vcu squad shows up. And Davidson has two very likely losses left on their schedule.

Why do you all have ridiculously unfunny nicknames for teams? Seriously, I've laughed harder at deaths in my family than "fur" and "goo moo."

 

[MudKat]

Why do you all have ridiculously unfunny nicknames for teams? Seriously, I've laughed harder at deaths in my family than "fur" and "goo moo."

Because we care...

 

[By George.]

And look, after having seen enough of Mar this year, it seems like at least right now his best position for us will be the stretch 4 next year, which means AJ will be backing him up, and will be the 3rd choice 5 next year. IF Mar can work on his first step and his handle on the perimeter, maybe he can transition to the 3 after Grayer graduates, and that would open up more minutes for AJ at the 4.

Everything 2000 said about AJ is fixable, some of it through coaching and repetition, a lot of it simply through game experience.[/QUOTE]

Completely agree. From what I hear about Jarred, he can shoot from the top of the key which may allow him and Calixte to get some minutes at the same time. God, I’d love the ball to rotate from a big in the high post to a big on the block vs all this zone D we’ve seen. I think Mar is clearly a 3 which would allow us to rotate Big Haiti, Jarred, AJ, and a a new recruit. A lot to be optimistic about. There’s also plenty to bitch about, freshman not being one of them.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Because we care...

Sweet. I’m gonna start calling Richmond “the itsy bitsy spiders” and Dayton “the flying losers” because, you know, I “care.”

 

[MASONscott]

Little late to the parade here, but overwhelming happy about this game. The atmosphere, players efforts and the coaching.

After the Richmond win, a few comments here had questioned if we played better without Grayer. Against GW he put up another quiet double-double.

Nice seeing Kier playing at the level we all have expected.

Understand the reservations about AJ, but that was a hell of a game for him. Happy for the kid to have worked himself into meaningful minutes.

 

[MASONscott]

Completely agree. From what I hear about Jarred, he can shoot from the top of the key which may allow him and Calixte to get some minutes at the same time. God, I’d love the ball to rotate from a big in the high post to a big on the block vs all this zone D we’ve seen. I think Mar is clearly a 3 which would allow us to rotate Big Haiti, Jarred, AJ, and a a new recruit. A lot to be optimistic about. There’s also plenty to bitch about, freshman not being one of them.[/QUOTE]

Big Haiti?

 

[MasonSAE4]

It's pretty funny that the freshmen have so far panned out the exact opposite of what people expected before the season:

-AJ isn't the savior some thought he may be
-Greene's contributions have been much more pronounced on the defensive side of the ball
-Mar is a guaranteed starter
-Calixte is contributing way more than 10 mins a game

 

[Jack Strop]

Big Haiti?

Greg Calixte was dubbed "Big Haiti" his freshman year in HS. It has stuck with him since. Can't remember where I read or heard that. Was it a Dick Patrick article or Petey Buckets interview?