Game 30: St. Louis (10-6) on Wednesday, March 4, at 7:00 PM.

[gmutom]

In my opinion I have a little more confidence in this staff making decisions on playing time...

Matt, you obviously follow our staff more closely than me, because I can't name a single assistant on Dave's staff other than Simpkins.

 

[Masonfan3]

The JDS situation reminds me to a degree of Vaughn Gray. Many of us on here thought he could be a difference maker if he got some significant playing time.

We all questioned Hewitt a LOT so it made sense to question why he didnt get run. In this same scenario, we question Dave a lot of the same ways so I think its fair to say, why not get JDS some run.

In my opinion I have a little more confidence in this staff making decisions on playing time, and I have to think with the depth issues they’ve had this year (And always had), if the kid could be a difference they would have played him. But then again I don’t really know. I just think the kid didnt work out (possibly for a variety of reasons), and has already been recruited over. Its a shame because I’m sure he could be in the gym shooting a lot and that would probably help him.

I do however think this situation is a bit different than an AJ situation in the fact that AJ showed flashes even if he would get pulled or didnt’ have as much run as we should have thought. JDS unfortunately hasn’t even had a game to my knowledge where he had a big impact (feel free to correct me).

Agree with pretty much everything you are saying but how is JDS supposed to have an impact when he doesn't get much time? I mean he scored 6 points in 2 minutes against UMD..give him 10 minutes and he would have scored 30 If the guy is a good teammate and plays hard in practice then I think he deserves a few more minutes and lets see what happens.

 

[mkaufman1]

Matt, you obviously follow our staff more closely than me, because I can't name a single assistant on Dave's staff other than Simpkins?

Haha- all good. Pete Hutchins and Bryson Johnson are the other two assistants.

 

[mkaufman1]

Agree with pretty much everything you are saying but how is JDS supposed to have an impact when he doesn't get much time? I mean he scored 6 points in 2 minutes against UMD..give him 10 minutes and he would have scored 30 If the guy is a good teammate and plays hard in practice then I think he deserves a few more minutes and lets see what happens.

Yeah I mean its twofold, how does a guy impact the game when he doesnt get a chance? But on the flip side would he impact the game in a bad way if he got a lot of time? I don’t know the answers but I have to think the staff thinks they know.

I just have to think the staff wants to develop our other guards and that the guys that do play are the key for Mason’s success (and for the staff to keep their jobs at this point). I’m sure they are hoping the NCAA gives Kier a 5th year and he wants to come back.

 

[gmutom]

Yeah I mean its twofold, how does a guy impact the game when he doesnt get a chance? But on the flip side would he impact the game in a bad way if he got a lot of time?

It reminds of the classic line from a baseball manager after one of his players complained to the media that he would get more hits if he got more at bats: "Tell him he'd get more at-bats if he got more hits."

 

[GMUgemini]

Vaughan Gray also showed some promise. As a freshman he scored 3.4 ppg in 11 mpg and shot 40% from 3, so there was reason to believe he could have developed into a good player if he were handled correctly. He also had good size for a wing.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

worst scholarship player in Mason history? Makan Konate. dude never scored a single point in 4 years.

But he did get us Burnsie

 

[Pablo]

But he did get us Burnsie

Was there ever a better Mason walk-on player than Tim Burns? For the purpose of accuracy, Makan Konate had 4 career points. And, like Burns, he has a Final Four ring.

 

[KAOriginal]

worst scholarship player in Mason history? Makan Konate. dude never scored a single point in 4 years.

Didn't the kid kill a lion in his native country as some manhood ritual?

He can be on any team he wants just for the street cred.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I would expect JDS to thrive at a smaller school where he can get playing time and shots, but that doesn’t mean he should be getting more playing time here.

Add in "and runs a system that sets off ball screens on the perimeter", and that's all I've been saying.

 

[smccart5]

I second the motion to let Mar get more minutes at this point. Two reasons.

One, I don’t want us to break AJ for no reason. I applaud his effort to come back in the game, but if his injury is at all serious some adult should step in and do the right thing and shut him down. And seeing that we mismanaged Boyd’s wrist I’m not confident.

Two, I want to see if Mar can play through whatever his mental block is. Seems like he may have taken a positive step last game. If we want to have any shot at competing next year we all need to be rooting for Mar. And if he doesn’t seem like he can do it, maybe it’s time to suggest the ole transfer.

JDS, eh. Still seems like it hasn’t slowed down for him. But sure. Let it fly a few times.

At one point during Mars Frosh year I thought, “ wow we finally have an NBA player”...unreal what we are seeing now.

I agree with your idea of letting him play through it only because I think his #1 problem is lack of confidence. He seems awkward with the ball and unsure of almost every play. Reminds me of the line from Sandlot “if you weren’t thinking you wouldn’t have thought that”. He needs to stop thinking and just play

 

[smccart5]

AJ has never averaged less than 10 minutes a game in his 3 seasons of playing. JDS is playing 4 minutes a game. That is a huge difference. What I said by "not given the opportunity" was that he is not given the opportunity to shoot his way out of a slump as he averages about a shot a game.

Thinking this teams issue is about playing time for certain players is grasping at straws. Their is no one on the bench who is going to magically change the equation..besides Paulsen.

Our #1 problem is system based. I hate our offense

 

[Dawgs99]

At one point during Mars Frosh year I thought, “ wow we finally have an NBA player”...unreal what we are seeing now.

I agree with your idea of letting him play through it only because I think his #1 problem is lack of confidence. He seems awkward with the ball and unsure of almost every play. Reminds me of the line from Sandlot “if you weren’t thinking you wouldn’t have thought that”. He needs to stop thinking and just play

I feel like Mar has looked a little bit better/more comfortable the last few games...of course this is all relative to his recent form. Maybe, just maybe he is starting to work through some of his issues?

 

[Five Two]

Back to the game.......
we've lost 5 of the last 6 meetings with SLU. The only win coming in January of '18 at EBA.
We've lost by an average of 5 points and our lone win was by 5 points.

 

[GMUgemini]

I feel like Mar has looked a little bit better/more comfortable the last few games...of course this is all relative to his recent form. Maybe, just maybe he is starting to work though some of his issues?

He still looks uncomfortable out on the perimeter whenever he has the ball and a lot more comfortable in the paint. When he is in the game we have to find a way to get him the ball closer to the basket where he looks a lot better. His offensive rebounding and FT shooting was a pretty huge part of the comeback and being in the paint will also get him to the line more often too.

 

[Pablo]

https://gomason.com/news/2020/3/3/mens-basketball-mason-hosts-slu-for-senior-night-wednesday.aspx:

"Mason has outrebounded its opponent in 11 of 16 A-10 games. The Patriots are fourth in the league in rebounding margin (+3.2) and second in blocks per game (4.6)."

"Mason has posted a 3-10 record since 2019 A-10 Most Improved Player Justin Kier re-fractured his foot on Jan. 14."

 

[TweederGMU]

Goodguys 60
Fat White Michellin Men in training 68

 

[Mason32]

"Mason has posted a 3-10 record since 2019 A-10 Most Improved Player Justin Kier re-fractured his foot on Jan. 14."

Get used to quotes like this in offseason from DP...

 

[psyclone]

SLU favored by 3 by Kenpom, by 2 by Vegasinsider. We've been 5-6 apts better than the spread the last 2 games, but SLU beat the spread by 15 in their last game at URI..

Tough matchup as one of our few strengths is offensive rebounding % (2d in conference), and SLU is 2d in defending against their opponent's OR% while being 1st themselves in OR%. Also, I've been surprised how they have been able to beat both vcu and URI's press in recent games. I've always thought they were the type of team that pounded you in the paint with their big guys.

They still are terrible from the ft line (worst in the conference and 353d in Div 1), although Perkins is the exception (77%).

 

[Jack Strop]

I feel like Mar has looked a little bit better/more comfortable the last few games...of course this is all relative to his recent form. Maybe, just maybe he is starting to work through some of his issues?

Mar was lightening-quick during one play under the basket at Duquesne that resulted in free throws. He can do it. GoMar just needs to get out of his own head.