Game 31: AT Virginia Commonwealth University, Saturday, March 4th, 2 PM, MASN

[stimes]

Ok its time to put our pride behind us, and release Abrams out the dog house. We don't match up with vcu very well, Kier, Grayer and Ian are too small to match up with Tillman. We have to play two bigs against vcu to have a chance. Tillman killed us both games. Moore is a great defender, but I think he just gives up too many inches. vcu exploited our offense. They scouted us very well. They knew what we were running before our plays even started. Paulson has to put in a new offense in the tournament, something none of the teams have seen before. We struggle with teams that have athletic bigs. We play four guards and don't press. Its time to mix things up or its going to be a very early exit. Our offense is stagnant, we are playing through Jenkins who holds the ball entirely too long. He has to make a quick move and go, or pass it. Instead in dribbles like four or five times, while everyone is standing around watching and waiting to see what he's going to do. Our high screen and role which was our bread and butter has been non existent because our bigs slip to the basket before actually setting the screen. Some coaches are set in their ways, but you have to coach to your personal. We have a team full of guards, lets go get after some people!!! First we have to get past Fordham which won't be an easy task.

 

[gmujim92]

Ok its time to put our pride behind us, and release Abrams out the dog house. We don't match up with vcu very well, Kier, Grayer and Ian are too small to match up with Tillman. We have to play two bigs against vcu to have a chance. Tillman killed us both games. Moore is a great defender, but I think he just gives up too many inches. vcu exploited our offense. They scouted us very well. They knew what we were running before our plays even started. Paulson has to put in a new offense in the tournament, something none of the teams have seen before. We struggle with teams that have athletic bigs. We play four guards and don't press. Its time to mix things up or its going to be a very early exit. Our offense is stagnant, we are playing through Jenkins who holds the ball entirely too long. He has to make a quick move and go, or pass it. Instead in dribbles like four or five times, while everyone is standing around watching and waiting to see what he's going to do. Our high screen and role which was our bread and butter has been non existent because our bigs slip to the basket before actually setting the screen. Some coaches are set in their ways, but you have to coach to your personal. We have a team full of guards, lets go get after some people!!! First we have to get past Fordham which won't be an easy task.

Ugh, not this sh!t again.

 

[MasonGrad01]

Ok its time to put our pride behind us, and release Abrams out the dog house. We don't match up with vcu very well, Kier, Grayer and Ian are too small to match up with Tillman. We have to play two bigs against vcu to have a chance. Tillman killed us both games. Moore is a great defender, but I think he just gives up too many inches. vcu exploited our offense. They scouted us very well. They knew what we were running before our plays even started. Paulson has to put in a new offense in the tournament, something none of the teams have seen before. We struggle with teams that have athletic bigs. We play four guards and don't press. Its time to mix things up or its going to be a very early exit. Our offense is stagnant, we are playing through Jenkins who holds the ball entirely too long. He has to make a quick move and go, or pass it. Instead in dribbles like four or five times, while everyone is standing around watching and waiting to see what he's going to do. Our high screen and role which was our bread and butter has been non existent because our bigs slip to the basket before actually setting the screen. Some coaches are set in their ways, but you have to coach to your personal. We have a team full of guards, lets go get after some people!!! First we have to get past Fordham which won't be an easy task.

FREE ABRAM, ONLY PLAY TALL PEOPLE ON THE BENCH! C'MON PAULSEN YOU DUMMY!

 

[GSII]

Its gonna be hard to beat vcu, but imagine if we do. We probably get Richmond in the semi's.

Mason vs Dayton in the A10 Final for an auto bid to the dance. Imagine that. You gotta dream. You gotta see it.

To beat vcu I think you have to mix up the D and add in a 3-2 zone with the wings doubling cox and/or tillman. Jenkins can take Cox one on one some of the time. When Jenkins is out, I'd even let Revalo stand there and deter his shot. They can't shoot all year. WE are just in a slump. IF they doube Tillman they can't get beat off the dribble when recovering back to their man. I expect a much closer game in the state of Pennslyvania where we are what? Undeafted this year?

 

[Patriot8]

FREE ABRAM, ONLY PLAY TALL PEOPLE ON THE BENCH! C'MON PAULSEN YOU DUMMY!

UNLEASH THE FURY DAVE!!!

 

[G M U]

Ok its time to put our pride behind us, and release Abrams out the dog house. We don't match up with vcu very well, Kier, Grayer and Ian are too small to match up with Tillman. We have to play two bigs against vcu to have a chance. Tillman killed us both games. Moore is a great defender, but I think he just gives up too many inches. vcu exploited our offense. They scouted us very well. They knew what we were running before our plays even started. Paulson has to put in a new offense in the tournament, something none of the teams have seen before. We struggle with teams that have athletic bigs. We play four guards and don't press. Its time to mix things up or its going to be a very early exit. Our offense is stagnant, we are playing through Jenkins who holds the ball entirely too long. He has to make a quick move and go, or pass it. Instead in dribbles like four or five times, while everyone is standing around watching and waiting to see what he's going to do. Our high screen and role which was our bread and butter has been non existent because our bigs slip to the basket before actually setting the screen. Some coaches are set in their ways, but you have to coach to your personal. We have a team full of guards, lets go get after some people!!! First we have to get past Fordham which won't be an easy task.

I like thinking outside the box but Abram will not be playing any meaningful minutes the rest of this season. In theory, adding additional length would help alter shots but Abram will not be providing that due to effort/skill/practice or some other unknown reason. If people want to bash an idea though, feel free to offer an alternative idea. However, until Paulsen surprises us with another lineup, it's unlikely we're straying away from our current rotation. It's not working versus vcu this year but I think it's just the pill we have to swallow and hope our guys get hot.

 

[sleeperpick]

I like thinking outside the box but Abram will not be playing any meaningful minutes the rest of this season. In theory, adding additional length would help alter shots but Abram will not be providing that due to effort/skill/practice or some other unknown reason. If people want to bash an idea though, feel free to offer an alternative idea. However, until Paulsen surprises us with another lineup, it's unlikely we're straying away from our current rotation. It's not working versus vcu this year but I think it's just the pill we have to swallow and hope our guys get hot.

it is ironic that people that come with alternatives often get mocked by the same few on here. If you are content with getting bullied by every team that has a solid 4+5 like vcu then stay the course and expect to get beat again. if not, maybe try something different. Maybe try Jalen at the 4 for 2 mins or something if we find ourselves getting bullied on the inside like Tillman was doing to Jaire (he put in yeomen's work but was far too little) but I digress. Dave is a great coach, but I wish in this one instant he would try something a little different for a couple minutes.

 

[gmubrian]

And yet you won't give the poor guy a single penny to help him succeed more. #givepaulsenapenny

I'd gladly give Paulsen money, but It is my understanding that doing so would be an NCAA violation.

 

[Mason Addict]

I'm not feeling too bad about this loss. We know vcu guards can't beat us, we just gotta find a way to control both their bigs and defensive rebounds if we play them again in the tourney. Lost game 1 because of defensive rebounds but it was good to see we reversed that in game 2 except Tillman went off.

Our guards play hard, play smart and disciplined basketball, good days are near fellows.

 

[GSII]

Don't give up, Don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano

 

[Falco]

Ok its time to put our pride behind us, and release Abrams out the dog house. We don't match up with vcu very well, Kier, Grayer and Ian are too small to match up with Tillman. We have to play two bigs against vcu to have a chance. Tillman killed us both games. Moore is a great defender, but I think he just gives up too many inches. vcu exploited our offense. They scouted us very well. They knew what we were running before our plays even started. Paulson has to put in a new offense in the tournament, something none of the teams have seen before. We struggle with teams that have athletic bigs. We play four guards and don't press. Its time to mix things up or its going to be a very early exit. Our offense is stagnant, we are playing through Jenkins who holds the ball entirely too long. He has to make a quick move and go, or pass it. Instead in dribbles like four or five times, while everyone is standing around watching and waiting to see what he's going to do. Our high screen and role which was our bread and butter has been non existent because our bigs slip to the basket before actually setting the screen. Some coaches are set in their ways, but you have to coach to your personal. We have a team full of guards, lets go get after some people!!! First we have to get past Fordham which won't be an easy task.

I totally agree, this is totally valid!

 

[KAOriginal]

Never give up, never surrender!

-Jason Nesmith

 

[Patriot8]

Ok its time to put our pride behind us, and release Abrams out the dog house. We don't match up with vcu very well, Kier, Grayer and Ian are too small to match up with Tillman. We have to play two bigs against vcu to have a chance. Tillman killed us both games. Moore is a great defender, but I think he just gives up too many inches. vcu exploited our offense. They scouted us very well. They knew what we were running before our plays even started. Paulson has to put in a new offense in the tournament, something none of the teams have seen before. We struggle with teams that have athletic bigs. We play four guards and don't press. Its time to mix things up or its going to be a very early exit. Our offense is stagnant, we are playing through Jenkins who holds the ball entirely too long. He has to make a quick move and go, or pass it. Instead in dribbles like four or five times, while everyone is standing around watching and waiting to see what he's going to do. Our high screen and role which was our bread and butter has been non existent because our bigs slip to the basket before actually setting the screen. Some coaches are set in their ways, but you have to coach to your personal. We have a team full of guards, lets go get after some people!!! First we have to get past Fordham which won't be an easy task.

Just so we are clear.. the key to success is to implement an entirely new offense, 3 days before the conference tournament?

I can understand trying a two-big lineup (for the first time in 30 games) for 2-4 minutes in the 1st half for defensive purposes to see how it does, but if you think that pairing Jenkins with Relvao or Temara is going to suddenly cause the offense to flow better, I think you're mistaken.

Also, I am not sure if you have noticed, but this is a tired team, so pressing might not be the best formula at this point in the season.

 

[99 Patriot]

Tillman took it to us no doubt, but with a scouted focus on him, I'm pretty sure we can hold him to less than 70% from the floor... I wonder if we toy with Marquise on him? The only time we were real successful against Cavanaugh from GW in the second half was when Marquise was on him. Granted he's a different player and Marquise was able to neutralize him on the perimeter and his dribble penetration, but it might be worth a try for stretches of the game.

My biggest concern there would be Lewis. Lost in a tough game was that Lewis was held to 1 point. We don't want him getting hot as he's about the only guy who could consistently hurt us from outside.

Here's hoping we get the chance to find out and take it to Fordham.

 

[Vurbel]

 

[GMUgemini]

We would probably have to do a pack line style defense to keep Allie-Cos and Tillman out of the paint and hope vcu's guards don't get hot from 3.

 

[gmujim92]

We would probably have to do a pack line style defense to keep Allie-Cos and Tillman out of the paint and hope vcu's guards don't get hot from 3.

We already use pack-line D principles. We doubled the post hard against Alie-Cox and pretty well shut him down, but had no answer for Tillman.

 

[Mason2005]

We already use pack-line D principles. We doubled the post hard against Alie-Cox and pretty well shut him down, but had no answer for Tillman.

If we play them again someone needs to bite the bullet and go after his knees.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[patriot2000]

That is the way I took patriot2000's comment. I believe he, like us, is 100% on board with Paulsen and this team team as well. I was just throwing him some support when he was being criticized for his comment that I thought was taken, possibly, too sensitively.

110% on board. Really fun season, and still the COY in my book. Thanks for the support

 

[Petey Buckets]

Petey,
How do we guard bigger 4's like Tillman?

I really beleive we can make a run in pittsburg but we have to guard Tillman. But without a player (sans Abrams), what do we do?

I don't think Dave changes strategy much. As fun as it is to daydream about putting Jalen on Alie-Cox and letting Temara club Tillman, that requires one of the bigs to run the offense from the four spot. They've both been running from the five all year, so inserting a second big makes the offense a little disjointed, which leads to misses and turnovers, which leads to easy baskets from runouts, which more than likely neutralizes any defensive equity you picked up in the first place. And as hopeless as Grayer and Boyd looked, it's also kind of a leap of faith to think Relvao or Temara could hang with Tillman at this point in their careers. He's really good.

Short of giving Grayer and Boyd a steel folding chair to use on Tillman, I think you'll see more conscious doubles thrown at him more quickly. We usually double the post after the player catches and sets. Tillman was getting his shots off quickly - very quick turnarounds and catch-and-shoots as someone mentioned previously. He wasn't doing any Jalen-style post-ups that take ten seconds. If we see vcu again, I think you see the double on Tillman come hard on the entry pass. Dave can't leave Grayer and Boyd on an island again. Will Wade, as much as I hate his stupid Gabe from The Office looking face, did a really good job of getting Tillman looks in the paint. He knows that's an advantage and he'll keep trying to hammer it.