Game 28: Dayton (14-0) on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 7:00 PM.

[tblack33]

The good:

Defense. First game we looked like we had a solid defensive plan. When they started to adjust, we threw in the 1-3-1 which did exactly what we wanted to keep them honest.

Offense: AJ- need I say more? This was his best game of the year, he was an absolute beast. Also WE RAN SET PLAYS!!! They didn’t always work, but there were multiple times I saw us run a set play and get good looks of them. We hit the second or third option a few times too. They worked, it was the most refreshing thing I’ve seen from our offense all year.

 

[tblack33]

The good:

Defense. First game we looked like we had a solid defensive plan. When they started to adjust, we threw in the 1-3-1 which did exactly what we wanted to keep them honest.

Offense: AJ- need I say more? This was his best game of the year, he was an absolute beast. Also WE RAN SET PLAYS!!! They didn’t always work, but there were multiple times I saw us run a set play and get good looks of them. We hit the second or third option a few times too. They worked, it was the most refreshing thing I’ve seen from our offense all year.

Oduro: dude held his own tonight on both ends of the floor. Wish we gave him more run in the second half. He looked like he has the potential to be more than a serviceable big in the A10 tonight, just wish we gave him more minutes.

 

[GMUgemini]

Is GW younger than us this year?

They have five seniors on the team (Potter, Mitola, Toro, Sasser, and Williams), and 4 JRs (Stallings, Jack, Langarica, and Mazzulla) -- not all of them are all that important -- of those, three of them are the top 5 scorers on the team, Potter is their leading assist, and Toro is leading in rebounds.

 

[tblack33]

Oduro: dude held his own tonight on both ends of the floor. Wish we gave him more run in the second half. He looked like he has the potential to be more than a serviceable big in the A10 tonight, just wish we gave him more minutes.

HARTWELL: Welcome back dude!! Tonight is the exact type of game we need out of him night in and night out. Replacement level defense, and hit some big shots. His floater was solid tonight. Need him to pass a bit better but it’s tough with his size.

 

[sleeperpick]

They have five seniors on the team (Potter, Mitola, Toro, Sasser, and Williams), and 4 JRs (Stallings, Jack, Langarica, and Mazzulla) -- not all of them are all that important -- of those, three of them are the top 5 scorers on the team, Potter is their leading assist, and Toro is leading in rebounds.

Dude you’re just reading an old roster. Mazzula transferred back when we had a good record lol. I don’t even want to get into the rest of your list either.

 

[jessej]

Was there some kind of dignitary introduced to the crowd? 50 something black guy wearing red. My brother was at the game and wasn't sure who it was. New president? Hope not if he was wearing red.

Charles Mann of the redskins

 

[gmujim92]

I think the bigger issue here is how have we been among the youngest teams in the country 5 years in a row?

No doubt it’s frustrating. Bottom line is we gotta get old at some point — having the ball in the hands of a freshman PG down 2 with 1:30 left against the No. 4 team in the country is less than ideal.

 

[sleeperpick]

Don’t remember who and can’t look right now but we are 4th youngest in conference and at least two of them much better than us. Wanna say Bona and Duquesne but could be off

 

[tblack33]

The crowd: this is the most engaged crowd I’ve seen since when we beat vcu at home in Paulsens first year. I just wish more mason fans were there because it honestly felt close to 50/50. I sit in a predominately season ticket section and outside of the 4 in my row I was completely surrounded by Dayton fans. Part of that is Dayton travels well especially as a top 5 team, part is there just aren’t a ton of mason fans left.

 

[gmujim92]

Or that 2-3 teams in a10 younger than us are all considerably better than us so what a weird excuse we always bring out.

The only team younger than us that is considerably better is Bona, and they’re a handful with those freshmen and sophomores. Gonna be real good for a while.

 

[sleeperpick]

There you go again making shit up.

Jim don’t talk like that to your Daddy. Gonna Bump all your AJ sucks posts from past two years when I get back to hotel

 

[tblack33]

XJ: dude plays harder than anyone I’ve seen under Paulsen. It isn’t translating into stats yet but he is in the middle of every big play, and his handless and speed are great. When he can consistently finish he’s going to average 15+ a game and that’s coming sooner rather than later

 

[gmujim92]

Jim don’t talk like that to your Daddy. Gonna Bump all your AJ sucks posts from past two years when I get back to hotel

You won’t find any. I’ve been a huge AJ fan from day 1.

 

[tblack33]

Finally: this is the first time we’ve played a team better than us in the A10 this year and we looked like we belonged. We looked like we had scouted the other team and had a clear plan. Our players were *gasp* dunking the ball when it made sense. We made big shots and some huge stops against legit NBA talent. We were in it from the tip to the buzzer.

 

[psyclone]

Was there some kind of dignitary introduced to the crowd? 50 something black guy wearing red. My brother was at the game and wasn't sure who it was. New president? Hope not if he was wearing red.

Charles Mann was introduced (next to Brad) during the 2d half as Super Bowl winner. Don't remember what he wore.

 

[tblack33]

The only complaints: rotations, especially late. Let AJ play as long as he physically can in that first half. He’s one of the only one making things happen in the first half but we kept pulling him, anyone watching knew the doubles were coming after halftime. Let him get as many as we can before the adjustments come. I also think Oduro should have gotten more of a second half run but I at least understand the rationale behind the rotation we went with second half.

 

[tblack33]

Gonar: I can no longer justify his minutes for his defense because it’s just not there either. It really sucks to play 4 on 5 for key minutes in the first half every game.

Javon: solid game but they need to teach him to move his feet better. He’s too quick to pick up the ticky tacky fouls he does. They are 90% because he plays defense with his hands vs his feet and gets BS meaningless hand checks 25 feet from the basket. He’s long enough and fast enough that this isn’t necessary and takes away our second best offensive weapon almost every game it feels like.

 

[sleeperpick]

You won’t find any. I’ve been a huge AJ fan from day 1.

sorry Jim still waiting on Troy Temara to be a real asset for the Mason team. got you confused with your equally inept basketball mind Herndon

 

[gmujim92]

sorry Jim still waiting on Troy Temara to be a real asset for the Mason team. got you confused with your equally inept basketball mind Herndon

Oduro’s mom says GFY

 

[tblack33]

Final thought of the night: AJ looked like a legit NBA prospect tonight. Second round talent with some upside as a stretch 4 if he can get some better ball handling.