Game 33: (A-10 Tournament, Brooklyn, NY), St. Bonaventure, Friday, March 15th, 2:30 PM, NBCSN

[PoorManProfit]

During the losing streak to open the season, it was obvious we had not developed into a good scoring team. That wouldn't be the end of the world if we were more consistent and capable on defense, but due to size (or maybe effort/legs/focus) we could not sustain 40 minutes of solid D once over the course of the season.

Injuries aside, the worst part of the season is that the team did not make any notable progress from non-conference play. Our A-10 schedule masked many of our problems because we had some of our best shooting nights at St Joes and Rhode Island to get us off to a hot start. Could our guys beat either of these squads right now if we played them in Brooklyn? I doubt it.

I still think this team will be a little better next year, and I'm curious to see how we look and act without Otis at the point. Unfortunately, I think there are quite a few other squads in the conference that will pass us and improve even more. Can AJ get a clue? Can Greene find some consistency? Will Miller make a big sophomore leap? Will Reuter leap at all? Impossible to say.

It's clear other A-10 squads don't think much of us, so I assume we'll get a preseason ranking around 7th or 8th. That's probably about right.

Paulsen's not going anywhere. I'm ok with that for now. But it's time to put up or shut up. My fear is that's not how the AD views it. I think Paulsen is Brad's guy and he's good as long as we're not fighting for last place and we're bringing in "character" guys. Win a few games, be good citizens -- expectations end there.

If we fire Paulsen, who could we even reel in to replace him? Mason has no fanbase, little funding, few big donors, no expectations, no pedigree outside Larranaga's tenure, an old arena, and no bells and whistles to attract big recruits. The program is a project in every sense of the word. Oh, and we're not exactly shelling out big bucks for a coach, either.

I also question the university's support for our flagship sport. From what I've seen from afar, the Cabrera era has been a lot of talk about Basketball being a priority. But I have a feeling that it still isn't a "front door"... and that they've just been slapping some new paint on Tom O'C's old side-door and hoping no one would notice. Everything the school does, from handrails to social media to the logo redesign has been decidedly small time. No guts. No vision.

Very low-energy. SAD!

Be careful spreading all these truths on these boards...

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

CTown in West Virginia or MGM?

Ctown where I can bet

 

[Petey Buckets]

Great job.

Thanks Jollay. Let's meet up in a parking lot late at night again soon.

 

[GMUgemini]

It'll be interesting to see how well the Bonnies play tomorrow: Welch, Lofton and Griffin all played the entire game (never were subbed out), Osun played 37. URI is a good defensive team (better than us) it'll be interesting to see what those legs look like late in the second half.

 

[psyclone]

Last column for the season in the Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...iots-focus-is-forward/?utm_term=.b951b9ab874e

 

[mkaufman1]

Disappointing to lose again on Friday but not unexpected. Mason gave it their all and had some chances, but really couldn’t build off the bonaventure cold start enough. I thought mason defended decently but offensively they couldn’t come up with the big basket and they also gave up too many backbreakers.

I think the guys know how hard they need to work. Everyone else will get better but it’s so important that they up their game as much as they can too. Everyone around the program seems to agree that it’s time to take next steps. Going 11-7 in league and being respectable is nice but they have to figure out how to go beyond and be championship level.

 

[JPgmuswim]

I caught up with him in the locker room postgame and asked how we get from where we are to competing with the elite teams in the A10. He acknowledged the athleticism gap and that we don't necessarily have the horses we need. It's about five minutes of him talking about Otis and then talking about that question, but it's thoughtful stuff. It'll be in a pod we're dropping shortly.

Great job Petey,
That’s an interesting and honest statement he made, look forward to hearing it. If he believes we don’t have the athleticism and horses we need then how does he plan on getting it?
I don’t think it’s been addressed with the upcoming class yet.

 

[GMUgemini]

Great job Petey,
That’s an interesting and honest statement he made, look forward to hearing it. If he believes we don’t have the athleticism and horses we need then how does he plan on getting it?
I don’t think it’s been addressed with the upcoming class yet.

Xavier Johnson is going to be a good one.

Paulsen talked about playing Goanar and Miller together, so I’m guessing that’s what we will see next season. And he talked about how crucial it was losing Boyd. So I’m assuming he thinks he has theee guys with the size and athleticism to compete). AJ is athletic, but he’s still a pencil and he has the discipline of my two-year-old (she’s a lovely person but try telling her she can’t do something).

Our biggest deficit has been at the 5 since Shevon and Jalen left. We need either a miracle to happen in the offseason, or a grad transfer to come in for one year.

 

[GMUYoda]

Bonaventure crushed URI... 68-51. SLU crushed Davidson badly in the 2nd half... Davidson was outscored in the 2nd half 38-15 after the score was tied at 29 at the half

So either SBU or SLU going to the dance tomorrow

 

[PoorManProfit]

Bonaventure crushed URI... 68-51. SLU crushed Davidson badly in the 2nd half... Davidson was outscored in the 2nd half 38-15 after the score was tied at 29 at the half

So either SBU or SLU going to the dance tomorrow

The men were playing today. Should be a good one tomorrow!

 

[psyclone]

SLU surprisingly has played really good offense against both Dayton and Davidson. I still find it hard to believe that they can continue to shoot so well when they were 8th in the A10 offensively for the year. Will they hit the wall tomorrow?

Schmidt is a better coach and more likable, so that 's where my heart will be in the final.

 

[Walter]

Go SBU. It will make me feel better about losing to them.

 

[GMUgemini]

Go SBU. It will make me feel better about losing to them.

This is exactly what I said could happen. The only thing was I was hoping for Mason to get past SBU and in this position.

I have a hard time believing SBU can keep up what they have been doing against such a physical team and no depth. We will see.

 

[psyclone]

I have a hard time believing SBU can keep up what they have been doing against such a physical team and no depth. We will see.

SLU essentially played just 6 guys today and tomorrow will be their 4th game in 4 days. Unless they've really turned a corner offensively, I would hope they won't shoot almost 50% from 3 like they did today. Lofton and Welch will need to shoot well again from outside to defeat the zone.

 

[Washingtonian]

What's funny about all of this is SLU had their top 50 recruit leave mid season. If they win today......

 

[phoenix-arizona]

13 or 14 seed to whichever side wins today?

 

[GMUgemini]

13 or 14 seed to whichever side wins today?

St. Louis won. I think they get a 12 seed.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Cool. Maybe this is the year an a-10 team gets out of the first weekend.

 

[Five Two]

Thank you URI for making this a 2 bid league this season

 

[TweederGMU]

During the losing streak to open the season, it was obvious we had not developed into a good scoring team. That wouldn't be the end of the world if we were more consistent and capable on defense, but due to size (or maybe effort/legs/focus) we could not sustain 40 minutes of solid D once over the course of the season.

Injuries aside, the worst part of the season is that the team did not make any notable progress from non-conference play. Our A-10 schedule masked many of our problems because we had some of our best shooting nights at St Joes and Rhode Island to get us off to a hot start. Could our guys beat either of these squads right now if we played them in Brooklyn? I doubt it.

I still think this team will be a little better next year, and I'm curious to see how we look and act without Otis at the point. Unfortunately, I think there are quite a few other squads in the conference that will pass us and improve even more. Can AJ get a clue? Can Greene find some consistency? Will Miller make a big sophomore leap? Will Reuter leap at all? Impossible to say.

It's clear other A-10 squads don't think much of us, so I assume we'll get a preseason ranking around 7th or 8th. That's probably about right.

Paulsen's not going anywhere. I'm ok with that for now. But it's time to put up or shut up. My fear is that's not how the AD views it. I think Paulsen is Brad's guy and he's good as long as we're not fighting for last place and we're bringing in "character" guys. Win a few games, be good citizens -- expectations end there.

If we fire Paulsen, who could we even reel in to replace him? Mason has no fanbase, little funding, few big donors, no expectations, no pedigree outside Larranaga's tenure, an old arena, and no bells and whistles to attract big recruits. The program is a project in every sense of the word. Oh, and we're not exactly shelling out big bucks for a coach, either.

I also question the university's support for our flagship sport. From what I've seen from afar, the Cabrera era has been a lot of talk about Basketball being a priority. But I have a feeling that it still isn't a "front door"... and that they've just been slapping some new paint on Tom O'C's old side-door and hoping no one would notice. Everything the school does, from handrails to social media to the logo redesign has been decidedly small time. No guts. No vision.

Very low-energy. SAD!

You are spot on. Our fanbase was a joke in Brooklyn. Not many came nor cared to cheer or stand and cheer much outside a handful. Apathy has set in.