Game 27: GMU (18-8 / 7-6) at Loyola Chicago (19-7 / 11-2) on Saturday, February 24, at 4:30 PM.

[GMUgemini]

If I recall their big guy (Alston?) kept going at Kelly and Kelly really didn't defend aggressively due to foul trouble. I think we also were without Malik being available.

Having Malik available for a solid 8-12 minutes of defending the 5 could really help us especially if they plan to pound the post like they did last time.

5 games left and 2 of them are against top 5 programs. Really hoping to finish strong and no let down after that awesome performance the other day against Dayton.

I think it was their other big, Rubin. I remember several times Billups winding up on Alston and Alston won that matchup most of the time.

 

[GMU79]

If I recall their big guy (Alston?) kept going at Kelly and Kelly really didn't defend aggressively due to foul trouble. I think we also were without Malik being available.

Having Malik available for a solid 8-12 minutes of defending the 5 could really help us especially if they plan to pound the post like they did last time.

5 games left and 2 of them are against top 5 programs. Really hoping to finish strong and no let down after that awesome performance the other day against Dayton.

10 fouls>5 fouls.
Knock his rump into the 3rd row a few times.

 

[GMUgemini]

10 fouls>5 fouls.
Knock his rump into the 3rd row a few times.

Would prefer we just played good defense. Channel them to the baseline, cut them off with the double from Kelly and make it hard for them to go crosscourt to the open man.

When the ball comes back out run their shooters off the line, get into their short and just hound them everywhere they go (see: Okojie on Bennett, Polite on Brea).

They were getting right into the middle of the paint in the second half in the first game. Can’t let them do that.

 

[GMU79]

Would prefer we just played good defense. Channel them to the baseline, cut them off with the double from Kelly and make it hard for them to go crosscourt to the open man.

When the ball comes back out run their shooters off the line, get into their short and just hound them everywhere they go (see: Okojie on Bennett, Polite on Brea).

They were getting right into the middle of the paint in the second half in the first game. Can’t let them do that.

Oh, c'mon. That's so old school.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

This game should be a rebuttal of the demoralized team we were at the end of the our last meeting. After the showing against Dayton it's obvious these guys have their confidence back. If we can keep the turnovers under 10 like we did against Dayton and continue to get solid minutes from the bench it's a wrap.

Wonder if we'll keep the starting lineup and bring Maddox in off the bench? I hope Maddox continues to heal up and finds his shot again this game.

 

[Where's the party?]

We aren't the same team that played them at EBA. Malik being back and strong and Okojie at the point makes us very different. Need Kelly to play hard and deliver hard fouls instead of getting in trouble with ticky-tack stuff. Woody and Ball need to crash the boards hard and take open shots.

Different Mason Team - 78
Hack Factory - 72

 

[GMUgemini]

This game should be a rebuttal of the demoralized team we were at the end of the our last meeting. After the showing against Dayton it's obvious these guys have their confidence back. If we can keep the turnovers under 10 like we did against Dayton and continue to get solid minutes from the bench it's a wrap.

Wonder if we'll keep the starting lineup and bring Maddox in off the bench? I hope Maddox continues to heal up and finds his shot again this game.

I have a feeling they will. All of Maddox’s shots were short against Dayton, which probably means he wasn’t quite match fit (term stolen from soccer) yet. I bet he comes off the bench one more game and probably plays 5-6 more minutes than against Dayton.

Will be interesting to see who makes way for him once he gets back into the starting lineup.

 

[psyclone]

Looked up Sheldon Edwards (#13) who really lit it up against us (27 pts, 6-10 from 3) in the first game. He hadn't played much at all previous to our game (12/13 minutes in the 2 conference games immediately preceding our game) and even more sparingly in earlier games. I'm guessing he might not have even been on our scouting report.

Now playing about 30 minutes a game. Shooting 40% from 3. I would think we'd be ready for him this time around, but as they have 3 guys that are threats from 3 (Watson, Norris are the other 2), it may be hard to give too much help underneath.

Their bigs shoot only 60-68% from the FT line, so we can hope to play them tough underneath and hope that Amari and Keyshawn don't have to sit out too much time with foul trouble. Did we play much zone against them in the first game?

 

[jruby]

I think it was their other big, Rubin. I remember several times Billups winding up on Alston and Alston won that matchup most of the time.

It was, it was the kid who looked like he was having trouble controlling his body. He should not have been able to do that but Kelly was play scared.

 

[GMUSSTN]

Did some quick napkin math and the 3 losses leading into the Davidson game we were only using the bench an average 23 min.

Three games since we're up to an average 68 min. according to ESPN box scores. I am not good at math but we had 63 bench min. in the Dayton game alone. Obviously the Davidson and GW games are going to tilt the numbers but it seems like Tony is onto something utilizing this depth. A lot of that comes down to contributions but the shift over the last 3 games has been a good indicator of what we can do when we're all clicking.

And heck, you dont' even need to come off the bench and pour in buckets. Just lock down on D like we did against Dayton.

 

[gmutom]

I am not good at math ...

Don't be so hard on yourself. I read that 83% of vcu grads failed napkin math on the first try.

 

[GMUSSTN]

Don't be so hard on yourself. I read that 83% of vcu grads failed napkin math on the first try.

They're really good at GETTING the napkins for you, though, if the napkin holder by the drink machine is out

 

[jruby]

Did some quick napkin math and the 3 losses leading into the Davidson game we were only using the bench an average 23 min.

Three games since we're up to an average 68 min. according to ESPN box scores. I am not good at math but we had 63 bench min. in the Dayton game alone. Obviously the Davidson and GW games are going to tilt the numbers but it seems like Tony is onto something utilizing this depth. A lot of that comes down to contributions but the shift over the last 3 games has been a good indicator of what we can do when we're all clicking.

And heck, you dont' even need to come off the bench and pour in buckets. Just lock down on D like we did against Dayton.

vcu game changed everything. I know some injuries happened but think he overthought it. He preached depth all year up until that point and something changed then. Clearly some of the games on the road, Maddox got hurt etc but getting Henry back and and some other stepping up has been huge!

 

[Patriotsince81]

5 out of 4 vcu students struggle with simple fractions.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

5 out of 4 vcu students struggle with simple fractions.

There my man!

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Need to be prepared for an all out wrestling match today. Gonna have to fight through contact as Loyola definitely employs the "it's not a foul unless the ref blows the whistle 3 times" strategy. These are the games where I hope the coaching staff has a word with the refs beforehand just to plant the seed...We somehow win this one and we are cookin.

 

[jruby]

I think Mason gets it done. Henry is a game changer today.

 

[illayin]

BO with 3 steals in 4 minutes... god I love this kid

 

[GMUYoda]

BO with 3 steals in 4 minutes... god I love this kid

Same, but now with 2 fouls he will be sitting awhile

 

[MasonJason]

Can’t believe how physical loyola can be, but refs are calling ticky tack fouls on us…