Game 28: Virginia Commonwealth University, Wednesday, February 24th, 7 PM, MASN

[GMUgemini]

vcu alumnus here with a question. Mason came out strong with 2 wins over Ole Miss and Okahoma State. Thompson had 20 pts and 17 rebounds against OK St. Gujanicic provided the patriots a stretch forward who hit 3's and created proper spacing to operate inside. but Thompson is only averaging 9 pts a game and the patriots only have 28.6 3 Pt. FG percentage? What happened this season? Why did the Patriots collapse?

Thompson hurt his foot against Ok St., Marko was suspended 6 games, Marquis is currently hurt, Holloway left the team, and we are relying on 4 freshman to give us big minutes and each one of those freshman have struggled with consistency and defense.


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[mkaufman1]

vcu alumnus here with a question. Mason came out strong with 2 wins over Ole Miss and Okahoma State. Thompson had 20 pts and 17 rebounds against OK St. Gujanicic provided the patriots a stretch forward who hit 3's and created proper spacing to operate inside. but Thompson is only averaging 9 pts a game and the patriots only have 28.6 3 Pt. FG percentage? What happened this season? Why did the Patriots collapse?

Its not so much that Mason has collapsed, its that everything that needed to go right (like 110 percent right), hasn't. This season wasn't about wins and losses, it was about rebuilding a culture and brand of winning, including building classes for the future after all the defections from the Hewitt era. Add to that, as Gemini mentioned, someone leaving, a suspension, and pretty much the most experienced and best all around guard Mason has, having his ankle injury flare up again its been troublesome. The team doesn't have the depth or experience to compete at a high level quite yet. They are probably still about 2 years from being decent, but Mason should be climbing towards respectability starting next year.

 

[NewPatriot]

Its not so much that Mason has collapsed, its that everything that needed to go right (like 110 percent right), hasn't. This season wasn't about wins and losses, it was about rebuilding a culture and brand of winning, including building classes for the future after all the defections from the Hewitt era. Add to that, as Gemini mentioned, someone leaving, a suspension, and pretty much the most experienced and best all around guard Mason has, having his ankle injury flare up again its been troublesome. The team doesn't have the depth or experience to compete at a high level quite yet. They are probably still about 2 years from being decent, but Mason should be climbing towards respectability starting next year.

Do you believe the players are buying into Paulsen's system and getting comfortable in their new roles?

 

[mkaufman1]

Do you believe the players are buying into Paulsen's system and getting comfortable in their new roles?

Absolutely.

 

[NewPatriot]

Absolutely.

What players besides Thompson, Marko and Moore should I be watching when Mason has the ball?

 

[Gopher+RamFan]

I don't know, maybe I'm being too hard on our friends down south. I've known several vcu grads, and count several among my dearest friends.
They're alot like us in alot of ways. Most importantly, like us, they have failed spectacularly to win an A-10 title since joining the league. They're losers, like us, just not quite as lovable.

I know its a technicality, but vcu won the only recognized A10 title last year in Brooklyn. The A10 doesn't recognize or give out a regular season title. Now that doesn't stop teams from putting it on a banner, since you can put anything on a banner (we finally took down our "#6 final ranking banner")

 

[GMU_DCU]

What players besides Thompson, Marko and Moore should I be watching when Mason has the ball?

Well you wont help but be able to watch Otis Livingston the freshman PG. He runs the offense and pretty much plays every minute of every game. Jaire Grayer and DeAndre Abram can get hot from 3 point range but lately the whole team has been very poor at 3 point shooting.

 

[99 Patriot]

I hate vcu with such passion that it's difficult to not just make fun of them and their fans, but I'll do my best not to.

What I'm anxious to see is 3 or 4 years from now who won the coaching hire battle of 2015. I have on very good authority that Wade was on our list of candidates to be interviewed, however he had caught wind already at that time that the Texas/Shaka dominoes were likely to fall into place and he would likely be the lead candidate to go back to vcu. Our folks told him if that was at all on his mind he should hold out for it. At the same time I've heard administrators from both schools suggest that DP is ultimately the better coach, though Wade obviously makes more sense to the Rams because he maintained some consistency from the previous regime.

Wade obviously has all the advantages now with better facilities, inheriting a much better team and being able to build off recent success, but in a few years who will have the advantage? Assuming he hasn't moved on as well I'm anxious to see who got it more right for the future of their program.

Oh yeah, I also hope there is major traffic on 95 and that their fan bus gets stuck in a Chipotle parking lot somewhere.

 

[NewPatriot]

Well you wont help but be able to watch Otis Livingston the freshman PG. He runs the offense and pretty much plays every minute of every game. Jaire Grayer and DeAndre Abram can get hot from 3 point range but lately the whole team has been very poor at 3 point shooting.

Are they missing open 3's within the offensive scheme or quick shots?

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I know its a technicality, but vcu won the only recognized A10 title last year in Brooklyn. The A10 doesn't recognize or give out a regular season title. Now that doesn't stop teams from putting it on a banner, since you can put anything on a banner (we finally took down our "#6 final ranking banner")

Holy cats I forgot. I am a complete doosch. Now my holier than thou persona feels kind of empty.

 

[NewPatriot]

I hate vcu with such passion that it's difficult to not just make fun of them and their fans, but I'll do my best not to.

What I'm anxious to see is 3 or 4 years from now who won the coaching hire battle of 2015. I have on very good authority that Wade was on our list of candidates to be interviewed, however he had caught wind already at that time that the Texas/Shaka dominoes were likely to fall into place and he would likely be the lead candidate to go back to vcu. Our folks told him if that was at all on his mind he should hold out for it. At the same time I've heard administrators from both schools suggest that DP is ultimately the better coach, though Wade obviously makes more sense to the Rams because he maintained some consistency from the previous regime.

Wade obviously has all the advantages now with better facilities, inheriting a much better team and being able to build off recent success, but in a few years who will have the advantage? Assuming he hasn't moved on as well I'm anxious to see who got it more right for the future of their program.

Oh yeah, I also hope there is major traffic on 95 and that their fan bus gets stuck in a Chipotle parking lot somewhere.

At this point, you would have to say vcu, vcu gave Shaka's assistant hefty raises every season after the final four to ensure continuity within the program. branded their playing style on every level and leverage it to secure the funds for a new practice facility and sustain high level recruiting classes.

Mason could have done the same in 2006 and parlayed their final four into program expansion and building a regional brand to compete with Georgetown and Maryland. Mason can still do it now but they have a much tougher task now the program has descended to this point. On the bright side, Mason hired a good president, A.D. and basketball so resurgence is around the corner. What's good for Mason is good for the A10.

 

[GMU_DCU]

Are they missing open 3's within the offensive scheme or quick shots?

We have no problem getting open 3s, players just missing them. Freshmen hitting the wall of a long season seems to be the biggest contributing factor.

 

[GMU_DCU]

In case anyone needs a reminder...great highlight video from the Sherrod buzzer beater game.

View: https://youtu.be/zUYUi2HYgd0


Man do I miss Ryan Pearson.

 

[NewPatriot]

We have no problem getting open 3s, players just missing them. Freshmen hitting the wall of a long season seems to be the biggest contributing factor.

I fully expect that will change before the end of the season..

 

[GMUSig03]

Chance to knock vcu out of first place and off the bubble? Yes please! Winning tonight would make the whole season worth it. Would love to see Paulsen lay the foundation for winning homecoming and against vcu.

MASON - 66
Sacrificial lambs - 65

Moore with a driving layup to win the game.

 

[99 Patriot]

At this point, you would have to say vcu, vcu gave Shaka's assistant hefty raises every season after the final four to ensure continuity within the program. branded their playing style on every level and leverage it to secure the funds for a new practice facility and sustain high level recruiting classes.

Mason could have done the same in 2006 and parlayed their final four into program expansion and building a regional brand to compete with Georgetown and Maryland. Mason can still do it now but they have a much tougher task now the program has descended to this point. On the bright side, Mason hired a good president, A.D. and basketball so resurgence is around the corner. What's good for Mason is good for the A10.

You're obviously right in your, "at this point..." conclusion, hence why I said I'm anxious to see 3 or 4 years into the future. With Shaka gone and the spotlight a little dimmer down there, is WW able to keep the momentum and keep getting into the dance or in five years are you a nice program that used to have Shaka coaching them. On the flip side for us, is our coach and administration able to turn us into a great comeback story that is suddenly an annual contender in the A-10?

WW and vcu have a ton of advantages right now, but things change. Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt were going to bring a bunch of rings to Philly and establish a dynasty there. Now they play in front of 10,000 fans with the corpse of Ryan Howard as the only recognizable piece from their glory years.

 

[NewPatriot]

You're obviously right in your, "at this point..." conclusion, hence why I said I'm anxious to see 3 or 4 years into the future. With Shaka gone and the spotlight a little dimmer down there, is WW able to keep the momentum and keep getting into the dance or in five years are you a nice program that used to have Shaka coaching them. On the flip side for us, is our coach and administration able to turn us into a great comeback story that is suddenly an annual contender in the A-10?

WW and vcu have a ton of advantages right now, but things change. Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt were going to bring a bunch of rings to Philly and establish a dynasty there. Now they play in front of 10,000 fans with the corpse of Ryan Howard as the only recognizable piece from their glory years.

Please excuse my ignorance. Are these all new GMU recruits for next year?

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I am eager to look into the future because we are bad at basketball right now.

Suggest the vcu fans meet up at Oh George! before the game. Fun atmosphere and lots of microbrews reminiscent of Cary Street.

 

[G M U]

You're obviously right in your, "at this point..." conclusion, hence why I said I'm anxious to see 3 or 4 years into the future. With Shaka gone and the spotlight a little dimmer down there, is WW able to keep the momentum and keep getting into the dance or in five years are you a nice program that used to have Shaka coaching them. On the flip side for us, is our coach and administration able to turn us into a great comeback story that is suddenly an annual contender in the A-10?

WW and vcu have a ton of advantages right now, but things change. Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt were going to bring a bunch of rings to Philly and establish a dynasty there. Now they play in front of 10,000 fans with the corpse of Ryan Howard as the only recognizable piece from their glory years.

Yeah, first year success under a new coach is deceiving due to the inability to label current success under the new or old coaching regime. Paul Hewitt was 24-9 his first year. You would look at that and go "wow, what a great hire" but really it was mostly the success of Larranagas players. Four years later we were able to see the true Hewitt system and it stunk. It will be interesting to see the two programs in 3-4 years when both coaches have established their respective regimes.

 

[Walter]

What makes me think that vcu made a good hire in Wade is 1) Chattanooga is doing very well this year. They have dominated the SoCon and were an at-large on somebracket projection sites before some late season losses. 2) vcu was smart to hire from within (sort of) as they hired a guy who the current players would respond to and accept. He didn't try to change the system.