Game 29: AT La Salle University, Saturday, February 27th, 2 PM, NO TV

[GMUgemini]

I definitely think it is youth. Youth relies more on emotion which brings inconsistency. I can tell you that Mason is going to be very good next year. Mason has a lot of guards than can create their own shot, the confidence isn't always there but they always in to position to make a play in the lane.

It will get better for Mason and sooner than anyone thinks..

I worry about losing Shevon, though. No one else on the roster erases bad shot attempts and extends the offense like him, sometimes while fending off three players at the same time.


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[Petey Buckets]

Biggest box score takeaway is the disparity in offensive efficiency between our guards and forwards:

Forwards combined for 41 points on 17-25 shooting
Guards combined for 27 points on 10-41 shooting

Otis and Jaire are the only guards who even made a field goal. Outside of our top six (starters + Jalen) we're not getting any consistent offensive production.

The good news is that jump shooting should improve next year with Boyd and Newman coming in and everyone else getting a year of experience. The other good news is that this should make vcu's loss to us look even worse.

 

[GSII]

Bruno can shoot too.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

We may have taken too many perimeter shots, but you have to take (and make) some against a zone that not only stacks the paint, but doubles often in the post.
Defense was stupid against Fat LeBron especially, at times. Another natural let down for a young team.

 

[liem.le.3388]

I think the guards we have this year will make good big improvements in their shooting once the new guards come. It'll make for better practices, competition and rest during games. We see how good they can be when they can put their all in a game.

 

[Washingtonian]

I made the trip to Philly for the game......I would say about 50 Mason fans were in attendance.

There were giveaways in the 2nd half for the students, one of which was free housing for a year. You had to be present to win. Someone at Mason should steal this idea, this would get more students in the seats, at least for one game. Some of the Mason fans were chanting at the beginning of the game "Eaglebank North". I thought that was funny, but 2 trips to an arena doesn't make a name change.

The game itself....when everyone is "on" on the same night, Mason won't lose. When one of your guards doesn't shoot well at all, things fall apart. There wasn't much inside play and La Salle was playing zone for the most part which is why some of the turnovers happened (cross court passes).

Is free throw shooting more mental or is this team just that bad at it?

 

[liem.le.3388]

I made the trip to Philly for the game......I would say about 50 Mason fans were in attendance.

There were giveaways in the 2nd half for the students, one of which was free housing for a year. You had to be present to win. Someone at Mason should steal this idea, this would get more students in the seats, at least for one game.

The game itself....when everyone is "on" on the same night, Mason won't lose. When one of your guards doesn't shoot well at all, things fall apart. There wasn't much inside play and La Salle was playing zone for the most part which is why some of the turnovers happened (cross court passes).

Is free throw shooting more mental or is this team just that bad at it?

50 fans, that's a great showing. You guys filled 25% of their gym.

 

[Washingtonian]

50 fans, that's a great showing. You guys filled 25% of their gym.

Father Peter brought some students as well. The gym was pretty full actually, but considering some high school gyms in the DC area are bigger than what La Salle has, that may not be saying much.

 

[GMUSig03]

That was the worst college gym I have ever seen. Pretty sure they had the heat on too.

The game was exactly what Coach P warned us it would be - a let down after vcu. On to GW...

 

[Washingtonian]

That was the worst college gym I have ever seen. Pretty sure they had the heat on too.

The game was exactly what Coach P warned us it would be - a let down after vcu. On to GW...

Worse than Drexel? That is the baseline to me, in terms of lousy arenas.

 

[Steve33]

big let down after the vcu game. I watched the game online and it just seemed they didnt have even close to the same jump. oh well on the GW tomorrow.

 

[GreenLantern]

There goes our NCAA hopes!

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

There goes our NCAA hopes!

As bad as that was, I don't think the NCAA will kick us out of Division I basketball. And if so, the NAIA will always be there.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

If regulation was a thing, GMU could always get dropped down to Southern Conference, and then Big South.

 

[GMUSig03]

As bad as that was, I don't think the NCAA will kick us out of Division I basketball. And if so, the NAIA will always be there.

Then we could get Mayimba back!

 

[Jack Strop]

The good news is that jump shooting should improve next year with Boyd and Newman coming in and everyone else getting a year of experience.

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Slow down grasshopper. Expectations need to be realistically tempered.Yes, next year's Sophomores will show some improvement over this season.

Yes, Newman and Boyd can shoot playing HS ball, but as they will have to speed up their games to keep pace with faster players in the NCAA there's going to be a steep learning curve.

They'll help us eventually, but not until they have a few dozen games behind them. Don't be surprised if these two start out hot only to hit nothing but the back of the iron for the bulk of next season.

 

[Petey Buckets]

There's nothing unrealistic about saying "jump shooting should improve next year." We have nowhere to go but up:

FG%: .407, 312th in the entire NCAA
3P%: .288, 343rd in the entire NCAA

There are only 351 teams that play division 1 basketball. We're a worse 3-point shooting team than all but eight of them.

I would also bet that either Ian or Karmari (or both) shoot better than 29% from 3 next year. That's the combined average of our four freshman guards, and it's awful.

 

[GSII]

Imo, the talent level of of DP's 2nd class, is a little higher than his 1st. Dixon and Kam probably will max out as role players. Otis, Grayer have work to do, defense and dribbling respectively, to name a few. DeAndre could bulk up, and actually be a surprise. This new class is similar except for Boyd. I think he picks up the college game pretty quick. Overall, if Revalo & Jenkinscan finish at the rim, I can see our fg and 3pt% go up 3-7%.

 

[Jack Strop]

I didn't say that there will be no improvement. I am being cautious about putting too much stake and pressure on the incoming class. It seems like most freshmen start out well then completely lose their ability and confidence to shoot. Clankers and airballs result — lots of them! It's the product of being coached up and adjusting to the speed/quality of the NCAA game and the length of its season.

The most recent examples are Abrams and Grayer. Both came out firing well in November then their shooting went straight south where it has remained. Happens almost every time, no matter the expectation, the quality of coaching, or the quality of their teammates.