Game 26: Saint Louis University, Wednesday, February 17th, 7 PM, NO TV

[Patriotsince81]

This was one game I expected to win. Last night was a very disappointing performance on all accounts. The first half futility was epic. The only thing this team has is heart. They don't quit I'll give them that. Unfortunately if you can't shoot or defend it just adds up to another loss. How many times did we allow SLU to come off a screen to nail an elbow jumper? They basically did one thing all night and we never stepped up to stop it. I grow tired of losing at home, last night was our 8th of the year and 24th over the past 3 years. That's a whole lot of losing which equals no fun in Fairfax right now. Does anyone else find it disturbing that we are giving up more points per game under Paulsen (71.8) as opposed to Hewitt (69.2)?

 

[Washingtonian]

Like I originally stated..... 3-4 weeks

It was Feb 3rd game in Richmond that he was hurt....I thought he may be back for the vcu game next Wednesday, but by your timeline, you may be right.

 

[GMU_Polevaulter]

Like DP said in Post Game - no excuse for the first half and hopefully a good lesson for the team.

With Moore out - leading scorer, great rebounder, shot blocker and best defender - this team
is a much different team with less room for error. Hopefully he gets back in time to get the dust off before the A10 tourn.

On the positive side his injury has resulted in more play time for the freshman during the A-10 schedule and I think that helps with the player development for next year's team.

I give DP and this team a lot of credit - You have few seniors on the team and then PH splits, Shevon has a foot injury, Marco gets suspended. Moore gets hurt - so quite a few line up changes but they go out and play hard.

Bench is thin - Otis played 44 of 45 minutes last night - walk on's getting in while game is still to be won or lost.

From what I have seen GMU BBall is headed in the right direction and the ups and downs we see in the games is what I expected this year.

 

[Steve33]

My thoughts for what they're worth. Great heart by the guys for coming back after being down as much as 19 and 12 at the half. To get the game to OT was very pleasing. Yes, we had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but the whole set up, play, shot was just not very well executed. The last chance at the end of OT was just a mess. I liked the idea of trying to get the 2 points and hope for a foul or just the tie to go to another OT, but from my seat, Otis had no chance to get through and get a good look. once he got to the area he should have pulled up and taken his shot from outside. just my opinion.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Like I originally stated..... 3-4 weeks

I was wrong to doubt you

 

[gmujim92]

Does anyone else find it disturbing that we are giving up more points per game under Paulsen (71.8) as opposed to Hewitt (69.2)?

No. If Hewitt was coaching this team, we'd be giving up 105 points per game and have 3 wins tops.

If Hewitt had been coaching us last night, we'd have been the team that blew the 19-point lead -- only we never would've made it to overtime. I think we saw enough of those epic chokes to know what would've happened.

The guy was a horrible coach. If you can't see we've upgraded in every conceivable way, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[sleeperpick]

First, let me just state that last year Shevon was a much better player. He was a beast last year for us. This year hes playing with no confidence, and no desire. This guy ran the court like a deer last year, and dunked on anyone in his way. DP had nothing to do with thompsons development, if anything he held this kid back from being the player he could have been.

You are correct that Shevon dunked on everyone last year. You are wrong that DP did nothing for his development. Shevon is much better this year (his 5th year of organized basketball). When did you ever see Shevon fake middle and take someone base line and make a finger roll? When did you see Shevon attempt a hook shot that didn't look like it could break through the backboard? DP has taught Shevon how to play basketball not just be the most athletic on the court. Jalen Jenkins is turning into a stud. He looked like a role player last year under Blewitt.

 

[sleeperpick]

Maybe, but true!!!! Early in the year every time Thompson made a mistake he yanked him out of the game. That is definitely not a confidence builder. If he would have let Thompson play through his mistakes earlier, I think we would have seen a different player this year!!!

Then he would have been taught nothing. If you don't see Shevon and Jalen getting exponentially better at basketball then we are watching a totally different GMU team. Shevon did not have any basketball related skills before this year he was just a freak athlete that played hard.

 

[GSII]

I thought we should of fouled them when Bishop hit that jumper with 4 secs left. If we doubled Bishop or denied him, had the ball go to a player with a lower FT %, and fouled, we'd have more time to execute a play for a tie or win. Plus more pressure on them to make both at the line.

 

[psyclone]

It was Feb 3rd game in Richmond that he was hurt....I thought he may be back for the vcu game next Wednesday, but by your timeline, you may be right.

Last week I read that some Louisville starter got a "high ankle sprain" and given that they said it's a 3-6 week recovery, they were shutting him down for the year. Granted Louisville won't be playing in their conference tournament given their penalty, but still the timeline is informative. I guess we can hope it's only 3 weeks. That would be the vcu game, but we may not want to rush him.

 

[99 Patriot]

I thought we should of fouled them when Bishop hit that jumper with 4 secs left. If we doubled Bishop or denied him, had the ball go to a player with a lower FT %, and fouled, we'd have more time to execute a play for a tie or win. Plus more pressure on them to make both at the line.

You thought we should have fouled with less than 10 seconds left in a tie game?

 

[liem.le.3388]

Last week I read that some Louisville starter got a "high ankle sprain" and given that they said it's a 3-6 week recovery, they were shutting him down for the year. Granted Louisville won't be playing in their conference tournament given their penalty, but still the timeline is informative. I guess we can hope it's only 3 weeks. That would be the vcu game, but we may not want to rush him.

He had a very noticeable limp last night just walking from the huddle to the bench.

 

[Vurbel]

It was Feb 3rd game in Richmond that he was hurt....I thought he may be back for the vcu game next Wednesday, but by your timeline, you may be right.

According to ESPN vcu is "on the bubble." I think I speak for everybody here when I say it would bring so much joy to burst their bubble next week.

 

[GSII]

You thought we should have fouled with less than 10 seconds left in a tie game?

Might of been more than ten seconds left, but yes. Deny Bishop, get ball to a lower % FT shooter. Why not. It worked several possessions before for DP. Plus they weren't in a ft rhythm all night.

 

[ephoops]

Does anyone else find it disturbing that we are giving up more points per game under Paulsen (71.8) as opposed to Hewitt (69.2)?

Rather than looking at total points per game, the better way to compare the defensive performance of the two teams is to analyze tempo and points per possession.

With the decrease in the shot clock this year from 35 to 30 seconds, the tempo has increased and thus there are more possessions in a game. More possessions equates to more points scored in a game.

Tempo: According to Kenpom, last year's team averaged 64.4 possessions per game. This year's team is averaging 68.4 possessions per game. Thus, this year's team is averaging 4 more possessions per game compared to last year's team. (Note: The D-1 average tempo was 64.8 possession per game last year versus 69.2 possessions per game so far this year.)

Points per Possession: According to Kenpom, last year's team allowed 1.05 points per possession on defense. Last year's team ranked 220 of all teams in D-1 in defensive points per possession. This year's team is allowing 1.04 points per possession (D-1 rank = 180). The defense is slightly better this year versus last year. Given that this year's team is utilizing several freshmen, the defensive performance of this year's team versus last year's team looks even better.

 

[Herndon]

Rather than looking at total points per game, the better way to compare the defensive performance of the two teams is to analyze tempo and points per possession.

With the decrease in the shot clock this year from 35 to 30 seconds, the tempo has increased and thus there are more possessions in a game. More possessions equates to more points scored in a game.

Tempo: According to Kenpom, last year's team averaged 64.4 possessions per game. This year's team is averaging 68.4 possessions per game. Thus, this year's team is averaging 4 more possessions per game compared to last year's team. (Note: The D-1 average tempo was 64.8 possession per game last year versus 69.2 possessions per game so far this year.)

Points per Possession: According to Kenpom, last year's team allowed 1.05 points per possession on defense. Last year's team ranked 220 of all teams in D-1 in defensive points per possession. This year's team is allowing 1.04 points per possession (D-1 rank = 180). The defense is slightly better this year versus last year. Given that this year's team is utilizing several freshmen, the defensive performance of this year's team versus last year's team looks even better.

You watch it, buddy. You keep this up, you're going to f around and become my favorite poster, here.
Really glad you joined our board, and I assure you, it will get better. The GMU board was REALLY a vibrant forum in the Larranaga days. I think some success will bring folks back.

As for Jenkins, I'm not sold just yet. I want to see a more sustained period of time playing at a high level before I'll believe it's not just a statistical anomaly.

He's still a RIDICULOUS foul magnet (he's fouled out of 4 of the last 5 games, and that does hurt the team).

That said, if THIS is the new normal for him (or even just a half step down, and even with the fouls), then he will be a heck of a player next year.

 

[liem.le.3388]

You watch it, buddy. You keep this up, you're going to f around and become my favorite poster, here.
Really glad you joined our board, and I assure you, it will get better. The GMU board was REALLY a vibrant forum in the Larranaga days. I think some success will bring folks back.

As for Jenkins, I'm not sold just yet. I want to see a more sustained period of time playing at a high level before I'll believe it's not just a statistical anomaly.

He's still a RIDICULOUS foul magnet (he's fouled out of 4 of the last 5 games, and that does hurt the team).

That said, if THIS is the new normal for him (or even just a half step down, and even with the fouls), then he will be a heck of a player next year.

Love is in the air!

 

[TweederGMU]

My thoughts for what they're worth. Great heart by the guys for coming back after being down as much as 19 and 12 at the half. To get the game to OT was very pleasing. Yes, we had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but the whole set up, play, shot was just not very well executed. The last chance at the end of OT was just a mess. I liked the idea of trying to get the 2 points and hope for a foul or just the tie to go to another OT, but from my seat, Otis had no chance to get through and get a good look. once he got to the area he should have pulled up and taken his shot from outside. just my opinion.

Yea, I saw the play and he had the top of the key wide open to stop and pop. It was like slow motion when he started driving and remembering thinking to myself WTF is he doing

 

[psyclone]

You watch it, buddy. You keep this up, you're going to f around and become my favorite poster, here.
Really glad you joined our board, and I assure you, it will get better. The GMU board was REALLY a vibrant forum in the Larranaga days. I think some success will bring folks back.
.

When you hire a Phi Beta Kappa Williams graduate who has taken his alma mater to a national championship , it appears we might attract some additional high quality (i.e.Williams is certainly an elite academic institution) basketball fans who want to see DP succeed.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

According to ESPN vcu is "on the bubble." I think I speak for everybody here when I say it would bring so much joy to burst their bubble next week.

This sounds wierd, but nothing I'd like to see more than when their resume comes up and it shows:

Bad losses: George Mason