Game 34: Atlantic 10 Tournament FINAL - #2 GMU (26-7) vs #1 vcu (27-6) on Sunday, March 16, at 1:00 PM.

[jruby]

I agree but I also think those two boneheaded early season loses killed us. If we had beaten CMU and ECU I bet we are a last 4 in team.

Everyone said who cares they won't matter....... I think given way SEC has ruined all of college sports it wouldn't have mattered and everyone was likely right. Mason could have won every game but Duke and Marquette and lost to vcu twice and would have been left out.

It hurt to lose like that, but I had such a great experience being in Cap One these last 3 days. Also I survived an 11-21 season under Paulsen my sophomore year, I can live with an NIT bid.

AKA the A10 invitational with the only schools who will schedule them playing also. It's a pretty stupid tournament. A10 schools hands down the best schools in it. Wouldn't shock me if someone like St Louis wins it all.

 

[GSII]

Did Haynes try and miss that last FT?

 

[mkaufman1]

Alright- finally going to drop my two cents.

AWESOME weekend. Props to everyone who came from near and far to cheer on our program. That was AMAZING. I haven't seen that much Mason spirit at a basketball game since 2006. No joke. It was amazing connecting with so many of you in person, and for those who I was only in touch with on text, it was still great to be part of the run with you. Its an absolutely amazing season and I have had so much fun rooting for our program this season.

Yesterday was heartbreaking, but that was an awesome game between two old college rivals. Mason brought their best and vcu brought their best. A few more rolls and we had the game. Of course, the refs let vcu dictate the physicality and made a ton of phantom calls but we don't lose or win because of refs. Haynes probably has about 50 black and blue marks from all the slapping he got on his arms yesterday. The fact that a "ref you suck" chant broke out, and the refs got booed at halftime tells you all you need to know. I can't believe Mason fans did that! Lol. Hope that the A10 puts us on Friday Night A10 against them next year at EBA.

The A10 showcased their very best on CBS for the whole country. Not CBS7 via vpn or some random channel with a fuzzy feed, but CBS.

As far as the game, we were going to have to play completely perfect at every level of detail to beat a team like vcu. We had a solid offensive game plan that was executed, we got the ball inside to Haynes, we ran screens and cuts to try to get our guys open. We limited our turnovers.

Defensively we gave them our all, but a guy like Shulga is going to find a way even with a hand in his face. I also loved that during that jump ball our guys were ready to help each other and things were chippy. No nice guys on the court, these guys had each others back. Speaking of which, the minute Anderson missed the game tying shot, Maddox ran over to him and others as well. I probably should try to rewatch the game, but considering we lost I don't really feel like I need to relive it.

Onto the NIT, lets win a few more and keep raising the program bar. Go Mason!

 

[hoops10]

College Basketball is going thru a major transition. First lets stop calling it college basketball, these players have moved on from students to employees. Its sad but seems to be reality. Teams will change rosters almost completely every year, so who knows what to expect. In any event the almighty dollar will dictate end results. So while Mason is now playing in a mid major type event (NIT) seems fair. The days of Mid major schools playing power 4/5 schools is gone. The days of Mason/vcu reaching final four status is an illusion. I just don't believe mid major schools will keep pouring more and more money into sports. Lets have two tournaments, one for the big money schools and the other like the 2025 NIT. Sure there will be arguments about who belongs where, but that issue needs to evolve. Personally, I think the whole thing sucks. But when you move emotion to the side and think practical, its the only way to keep interest and survive. I also believe George Mason is and will always be for me my school of choice. I am going to support them no matter what the outcome.

 

[gmujim92]

Why didn't Skinn call a timeout and set up a play???!!

You never want to stop the clock against a team like vcu and let them set their defense. Jalen made an incredible play at 6-8, 265 pounds to get the ball up the floor, cross into the lane and make a perfect pass to Zach.

You literally cannot ask for a cleaner look than we got from a 40% 3-point shooter. The ball just somehow didn’t go in. Very unlucky.

 

[dr. gunnie]

You never want to stop the clock against a team like vcu and let them set their defense. Jalen made an incredible play at 6-8, 265 pounds to get the ball up the floor, cross into the lane and make a perfect pass to Zach.

You literally cannot ask for a cleaner look than we got from a 40% 3-point shooter. The ball just somehow didn’t go in. Very unlucky.

I've watched that last shot a couple dozen times this morning. Everything was perfect. I still don't know how it rattled out.

 

[DRK331]

The last play of the game:

https://x.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/1901354741273448851

 

[gmujim92]

I've watched that last shot a couple dozen times this morning. Everything was perfect. I still don't know how it rattled out.

I keep imagining how the arena would’ve sounded had he made it. We were all ready to go absolutely berserk.

 

[mkaufman1]

I keep imagining how the arena would’ve sounded had he made it. We were all ready to go absolutely berserk.

I probably would have jumped and tackled someone nearby in excitement lol

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Very interesting comment from Chris Knocke today on the Junkies...He thought that the vcu guy who got the flagrant should have been ejected. Apparently, he was sitting right by where it happened.

 

[mkaufman1]

Very interesting comment from Chris Knocke today on the Junkies...He thought that the vcu guy who got the flagrant should have been ejected. Apparently, he was sitting right by where it happened.

The replay that I saw in the arena saw that it was very intentional. I think the refs were actually debating whether or not it should have been a flagrant 2 on Russell. I suspect it was very close. It was completely intentional and not incidental.

 

[MasonByMarriage]

Adding to what others have said. That atmosphere was phenomenal. We could not have asked for better support. Would love for that to carry over into EBA. Sat behind Zach's mom, dad and sister for the game. Great family. At the beginning, Mom told me "this is my baby's last college game." Almost had me crying. I told her they weren't done yet. Can't imagine how they felt after that shot. As much as we all wanted it to go in for us, as fans, I absolutely would've given anything for it to go in for them.

Special team, special year. I'm sure it took years off my life but I wouldn't trade it.

 

[Masonfan3]

The replay that I saw in the arena saw that it was very intentional. I think the refs were actually debating whether or not it should have been a flagrant 2 on Russell. I suspect it was very close. It was completely intentional and not incidental.

If Russell was an inch taller or the elbow was an each higher, then he would have been ejected. The intent was there but he was an inch below it connecting with K.D.'s head.

 

[mkaufman1]

If Russell was an inch taller or the elbow was an each higher, then he would have been ejected. The intent was there but he was an inch below it connecting with K.D.'s head.

Agreed - he just missed and that's probably what the difference was. I was busy watching the drive and foul so I missed it but then I saw KD motioning he got hit in the head. I caught a replay on twitter.

 

[DRK331]

Full game here

Full game here

 

[DRK331]

Post game pressers

Full game posted above also

 

[jessej]

who made the All-Tournament Team?

 

[psyclone]

I think that I heard on the post game press conference that both Haynes and Maddux made the team

 

[GMUgemini]

I think that I heard on the post game press conference that both Haynes and Maddux made the team

Without looking this would be mine:

Jack Clark vcu
Max Shulga vcu
Jalen Haynes GMU
Darius Maddox GMU
Xzayvier Brown St. Joseph’s

 

[GSII]

Very interesting comment from Chris Knocke today on the Junkies...He thought that the vcu guy who got the flagrant should have been ejected. Apparently, he was sitting right by where it happened.

It got in KDs head, so it worked. He had a terrible game.