Game 32: A10 Tournament - #8 GMU (20-11 / 9-9) vs #9 St. Joe’s (19-12 / 9-9).

[933127]

On national TV - both at the half and at the end of the game - Lange revealed he doesn't know what he's doing. At the half he wondered out loud, "With some of the shots you wonder...'Are they good or bad?' but hey, that's how we play!"

At the end he said, "I wish we were playing some other team instead of Richmond."

As to the first point, most of us can tell a good shot from a bad one. And regarding the latter point about not wanting to play Richmond. What coach would ever admit this???

Still, SJU is moving on - not because of Lange - but in spite of him.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed Billy Lange's comment. The coach lets his players shoot whenever they want, 4 guard lineup, no offensive rebounding. It's no wonder this SJU team finished the season as a 9th seed, live and die by the 3's. To his credit Billy Lange at least knows the importance have having good shooters on a team. Unlike Paul Hewitt who was obsessed with recruiting 6'7 combo guards/swingman and overlooked other skills in a player that's needed to win games.

Tony Skinn needs to recruit more shooters.
During the offseason the remaining players should definitely work with a private shooting coach.

 

[GMU79]

Hey Fordham beating the Hipsters right now! That would be a little positive news on the day.

BIG positive news!

 

[GMU79]

And that is what people have missed on Billups and why, if Skinn is a Larranaga student ---defense-defense, he has been on the floor.

He generally stops another guy. What he held every player he faced under average except King once?

If he's defending his guy down below their average....then it's like he scored double digits with the differential.

Yes, defensive points not allowed is like offensive points scored.

 

[GreenLantern]

Not an OT game all season. Big room for improvement next season!

 

[gmujim92]

Overall the season was meh. Measuring stick for me was meeting KEs win total in conference, which we did.

I do not care about 20 wins whatsoever, we did it beating the blind and deaf and ultimately it means nothing. When we win 20 actually scheduling tough opponents I’ll be impressed.

A lot of work to do on this roster in the offseason. There’s a lot of opportunities to come to Fairfax and earn quality minutes.

I’m not disappointed in what Tony was able to put together this year, but I’m also far from impressed.

We beat at least 2 tournament teams so far in Dayton and South Dakota State, plus Toledo won the MAC regular-season, Richmond of course shared the A-10 regular-season and Austin Peay made it to the finals of the ASun.

Could’ve been much better, of course, we blew a bunch of very winnable games, but overall pretty good for Year 1 and a lot to build on.

 

[jruby]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed Billy Lange's comment. The coach lets his players shoot whenever they want, 4 guard lineup, no offensive rebounding. It's no wonder this SJU team finished the season as a 9th seed, live and die by the 3's. To his credit Billy Lange at least knows the importance have having good shooters on a team. Unlike Paul Hewitt who was obsessed with recruiting 6'7 combo guards/swingman and overlooked other skills in a player that's needed to win games.

Tony Skinn needs to recruit more shooters.
During the offseason the remaining players should definitely work with a private shooting coach.

Paul Hewitt gave up and didn't even try. Who knows what he was even trying to do, there's zero reason even remembering that clown. Yes we need some shooters and another big, honestly another big is even more important than shooters.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

We beat at least 2 tournament teams so far in Dayton and South Dakota State, plus Toledo won the MAC regular-season, Richmond of course shared the A-10 regular-season and Austin Peay made it to the finals of the ASun.

Could’ve been much better, of course, we blew a bunch of very winnable games, but overall pretty good for Year 1 and a lot to build on.

These are pretty much my sentiments after the sting of being knocked out of the tournament our first game. It's been a fun season for me. I made it to 7 home games this season including Dayton and Richmond. I can't remember the last time I was interested enough to go to more than 1-2 games, probably the CAA days.

Also, joining the boards here has gotten me more plugged in. Thanks to everyone for having me. I think the future is bright for Tony's future teams.

 

[mkaufman1]

Lots to say about the game but I’m not really sure it’s worth it. Unfortunately we started too flat and by the time we woke up on either side the ball we were done. Lange made sure Maddux was denied the ball for the most part, made it impossible to get an open shot and that was that. Baraka did all he could, but it was too little too late. Disappointing end to a great year 1 under Tony. I too may have gotten my hopes up too high with how the nonconf went, but overall it was a good first year. I have much higher expectations obviously and have no doubt that we have the right staff in place to achieve those goals. I’m really tired of losing and it’s exhausting losing every year way too early in the a10 tournament.

On a different note, I had a ton of fun this year rooting for the program as a fan. Watching the team come together last spring I truly didn’t know what year 1 would be like. Very pleased at some of our wins even though we continue to have perplexing losses. All in all it was awesome rooting for one of our own and I can’t wait to see what year 2 brings.

Today stings, but soon the portal will be open and I have no doubt this staff will look to bring in more of the right pieces to build our program. I can’t wait for November.

 

[GMUgemini]

We beat at least 2 tournament teams so far in Dayton and South Dakota State, plus Toledo won the MAC regular-season, Richmond of course shared the A-10 regular-season and Austin Peay made it to the finals of the ASun.

Could’ve been much better, of course, we blew a bunch of very winnable games, but overall pretty good for Year 1 and a lot to build on.

I said it before the tournament started that this is the first season since joining the A10 that one could say that if Mason played the way they are capable of playing that they could beat any team in the A10. In pretty much any other season you would have had to say “well if we can avoid X, Y and Z team maybe we have a chance.” (Usually Davidson, Bonaventure, vcu, or Dayton). This year felt different.

Unfortunately, they had a shitty first half and blew it but that’s the way these tournaments can go.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

We absolutely have to get shooters… Assuming we still have a PG who’s elite at blowing by his man, there will be plenty of open looks to be knocked down. Way too many games this year where we struggled from 3. Can’t win in the modern game going 1-13.

 

[GMU79]

We absolutely have to get shooters… Assuming we still have a PG who’s elite at blowing by his man, there will be plenty of open looks to be knocked down. Way too many games this year where we struggled from 3. Can’t win in the modern game going 1-13.

Or 0-10

Lots to say about the game but I’m not really sure it’s worth it. Unfortunately we started too flat and by the time we woke up on either side the ball we were done. Lange made sure Maddux was denied the ball for the most part, made it impossible to get an open shot and that was that. Baraka did all he could, but it was too little too late. Disappointing end to a great year 1 under Tony. I too may have gotten my hopes up too high with how the nonconf went, but overall it was a good first year. I have much higher expectations obviously and have no doubt that we have the right staff in place to achieve those goals. I’m really tired of losing and it’s exhausting losing every year way too early in the a10 tournament.

On a different note, I had a ton of fun this year rooting for the program as a fan. Watching the team come together last spring I truly didn’t know what year 1 would be like. Very pleased at some of our wins even though we continue to have perplexing losses. All in all it was awesome rooting for one of our own and I can’t wait to see what year 2 brings.

Today stings, but soon the portal will be open and I have no doubt this staff will look to bring in more of the right pieces to build our program. I can’t wait for November.

Perplexing is putting it mildly, but yeah.

 

[mkaufman1]

We absolutely have to get shooters… Assuming we still have a PG who’s elite at blowing by his man, there will be plenty of open looks to be knocked down. Way too many games this year where we struggled from 3. Can’t win in the modern game going 1-13.

Completely agree. We need someone to partner with Maddux who can completely takeover shooting from deep. Newton showed glimpses this year, but I don’t think he’s the guy.

We could really use Gibson Jimerson, maybe he hits the portal if Travis is fired. Heh.

 

[GMUSSTN]

Completely agree. We need someone to partner with Maddux who can completely takeover shooting from deep. Newton showed glimpses this year, but I don’t think he’s the guy.

We could really use Gibson Jimerson, maybe he hits the portal if Travis is fired. Heh.

I've liked our offense this year with Ball on the floor...if he keeps developing and we add another shooter from the portal I like the ability to spread the floor.

 

[jruby]

Sure they will play more inside outside with Haynes. Does no one understand Haynes is a post player? He ain’t shooting 3’s! Expect a more versatile team next year where they DONT have to just rely on 3’s.

Surely they won’t get physically assaulted and beat down by the cult again next year.

Yes they need some more versatile guards at the end of the day though. Defense wins games more than shooting does. Pair inside out with a PG who can handle the ball and they play D, sky is the limit.

But if you guys want to play run and gun, jack up 3’s, Tony won’t be your guy. That was English. Tony will find the kids who are tough enough to win games by playing hard nose d and grinding it out.

 

[psyclone]

Post-game from a10 site:
Mason portion begins close to 18 minute mark--

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOpQOEbFkwI

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Sure they will play more inside outside with Haynes. Does no one understand Haynes is a post player? He ain’t shooting 3’s! Expect a more versatile team next year where they DONT have to just rely on 3’s.

Surely they won’t get physically assaulted and beat down by the cult again next year.

Yes they need some more versatile guards at the end of the day though. Defense wins games more than shooting does. Pair inside out with a PG who can handle the ball and they play D, sky is the limit.

But if you guys want to play run and gun, jack up 3’s, Tony won’t be your guy. That was English. Tony will find the kids who are tough enough to win games by playing hard nose d and grinding it out.

Playing defense and being able to knock down 3s is not mutually exclusive. I expect my perimeter players to be able to make the 3. I'm not asking for a 6'10" stretch 5 that can shoot 40% from 3, but I want my guards to be able to shoot from deep consistently. You don't have to "rely" on 3s, but you damn sure be able to make them or you're a middle of the pack A-10 team at best.

 

[tblack33]

Playing defense and being able to knock down 3s is not mutually exclusive. I expect my perimeter players to be able to make the 3. I'm not asking for a 6'10" stretch 5 that can shoot 40% from 3, but I want my guards to be able to shoot from deep consistently. You don't have to "rely" on 3s, but you damn sure be able to make them or you're a middle of the pack A-10 team at best.

Took the words out of my mouth. This idea that players can only be one dimensional and only be good at one thing is so out of date.

 

[GMUSSTN]

I simply think we shoudl find the best players available, coach them up to be elite, and go undefeated. Make it so.

 

[jruby]

Not what was said, just going to get ‘shooters’ isn’t the answer, going to get better guards. Yes no **** you need complete players but that’s not what these posts said. He’ll Mason finally found a pg after 10 years and people want 5 new players which is just plain stupid!

So again disagree 100% that going to get 5 shooters is the answer. Maybe finding 2 complete all around scoring guards who can play with Okie Haynes and Maddox is way to go…. That may be too complex though.

Also No one would call Hall a shooter, they would call him a scorer but sure go get shooters! Whatever….. just an oddly specific term for it to be used when yeah they actually need ‘scorers’

 

[jruby]

Also not having a true post player killed them. Kelly dropped the ball in the post and then didn’t box out. Games he played well Mason won. Games he sucked they lost. Funny how that worked out, anyway. Haynes should be huge upgrade in toughness rebounding and playing in post. Okie at the point, Maddox at the 2 and find 2 other scorers who can hit a shot from time to time. Should have a solid team.