Game 4: GMU (2-1) vs Central Michigan (1-2) on Wednesday, November 13, at 7:00 PM.

[mkaufman1]

I’m more concerned (maybe confused is the better word) with how the staff has used this roster so far than anything else. Despite it being early season some things just seem off.

- Newton started 5 games all last season but suddenly is a bonafide starter and is getting a lot of chances offensively, don’t understand his role expanding with the roster we now have

- Anderson has two or less 3pt attempts in 3/4 games, and played just 14 minutes tonight. Why is it such a struggle to get him more involved?

- OConnor is clearly more comfortable off ball and it gives the offense more options, why are they forcing him as a PG/consistent ball handler?

- Begg is expectedly struggling, but continues to get a lot of run. Is KD incapable of playing more than 25 minutes? Is Quigley that bad?

To end on a positive note, Billups is a stud. Don’t care that he can’t shoot, his defense and just overall effort is so valuable and fun to watch.

This is spot on. Judging from the press conference that Tony had last night, many if not all of these questions are what he and the staff are trying to figure out. Whether its the rotation and going "too deep", or O'connor playing PG because they are "most comfortable" with him at the moment are items to solve.

I can't imagine Tony is going to make drastic changes in the non-conference and especially this early, but I do expect that many of these questions will be answered by the time conference play rolls around. It sounds like he has the same questions and issues to figure out that we have been talking about.

Beating a dead horse a bit and there are things they see that I don't see, but I certainly think the rotation and positioning will be tightened up as the non conference season goes on. I'm most concerned with how Tony fixes these items that he obviously sees as well.

 

[GMU79]

This is spot on. Judging from the press conference that Tony had last night, many if not all of these questions are what he and the staff are trying to figure out. Whether its the rotation and going "too deep", or O'connor playing PG because they are "most comfortable" with him at the moment are items to solve.

I can't imagine Tony is going to make drastic changes in the non-conference and especially this early, but I do expect that many of these questions will be answered by the time conference play rolls around. It sounds like he has the same questions and issues to figure out that we have been talking about.

Being a dead horse a bit and there are things they see that I don't see, but I certainly think the rotation and positioning will be tightened up as the non conference season goes on. I'm most concerned with how Tony fixes these items that he obviously sees as well.

One of the problems with fouling up in the OOC games is you torpedo your automatic bid chances, making winning the A10 tourney a must.
And here we are again.

 

[mkaufman1]

One of the problems with fouling up in the OOC games is you torpedo your automatic bid chances, making winning the A10 tourney a must.
And here we are again.

I agree. Until Mason is able to schedule like a Dayton or able to basically go undefeated, having a chance for an at-large is going to be close to impossible. It sucks and gives you no margin for error. I’m still all in on this group and expect big things.

 

[Patriotsince81]

In case you missed it. VERY telling.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5u8XMLBqxM

 

[GMU79]

I agree. Until Mason is able to schedule like a Dayton or able to basically go undefeated, having a chance for an at-large is going to be close to impossible. It sucks and gives you no margin for error. I’m still all in on this group and expect big things.

Really hope you are right, but we have a long way to go.

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Watching live in the arena, I was so pissed that KD didn't get a call after being knocked out of bounds by CMU, but looking back, even if he was on the court and still standing, that inbounds by Billups would have still been a turnover.

I can't understand what he was looking at to make him throw the ball to no one in the backcourt.

Overall one of the worst officiated games in my memory banks, but w/o so many missed FT's it wouldn't have mattered.

Not ready to burn down the barn just yet, but wow do they need answers quickly.

 

[PDGL Hoops]

I don't think an at large was ever in the cards but you have to win home games. Especially against, what I consider to be, lesser competition. On to the next.

 

[Junkees9]

That last turnover was a real head scratcher. The inbounds pass literally went to no one. And on top of that, Maddox (our best player and best free throw shooter) was open right in front of Billups. Get it to Maddox, he hits the free throws -- game over. What a completely frustrating loss.

 

[Masonman]

Year in and year out. Same old, same old.

Another dagger to the heart!

 

[Pablo]

Turnovers for the first 4 games - https://gomason.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2024

TURNOVERS	George Mason	Opponents
Total	61	46
Per Game	15.3	11.5
Margin	-3.8	--
Assist/Turnover Ratio	0.9	1.0
Points Off Turnovers	13.0	15.3

 

[GMUgemini]

There may not be solutions this year. Both his two first choice PGs are conversions projects, Begg isn’t ready, and Quigley might never be.

Watching live in the arena, I was so pissed that KD didn't get a call after being knocked out of bounds by CMU, but looking back, even if he was on the court and still standing, that inbounds by Billups would have still been a turnover.

I can't understand what he was looking at to make him throw the ball to no one in the backcourt.

Overall one of the worst officiated games in my memory banks, but w/o so many missed FT's it wouldn't have mattered.

Not ready to burn down the barn just yet, but wow do they need answers quickly.

Don’t know if that’s true, considering Billups panicked once KD fell to the floor. Had Johnson been able to run through the hold and gotten open he is most likely getting the inbounds.

 

[jruby]

There may not be solutions this year. Both his two first choice PGs are conversions projects, Begg isn’t ready, and Quigley might never be.

Going to be hitting portal hard again. Just way this landscape is going to go. Gota find a new team every year now. Looking more and more like pros only where every one is on 1 year contracts

 

[mkaufman1]

There may not be solutions this year. Both his two first choice PGs are conversions projects, Begg isn’t ready, and Quigley might never be.

I think writing off Quigley as "never being ready" after 4 games under Tony is pretty hyperbolic.

He obviously is transitioning to a new staff, new expectations etc and is 4 games in. If you look at his stats from last year he really took off late in the season which is why he became a candidate to move up a level. I have no doubt that he is going to figure it out especially from the tape I have seen on him. The plan was always for him to be a "backup option #1" under KD. Now, I can see a situation where he starts playing more and they split the role 50/50 once he adjusts. I certainly hope that is the case because KD can only do so much at PG and is "learning" it again after not playing it for a while. That is why we have O'connor playing some minutes there.

Begg is a true freshman. I know we were spoiled after Okojie hit the floor last year and knew what to do very quickly but his time will come. I don't understand at the moment why Begg gets more rope than Quigley but regardless thats a bit of a drum I am beating.

If Quigley ends up not panning out, I'll eat my words. It is just way too early to write this kid off after he performed well at Iona last year. I know that is a MAAC school, but still.

 

[jessej]

Going to be hitting portal hard again. Just way this landscape is going to go. Gota find a new team every year now. Looking more and more like pros only where every one is on 1 year contracts

sad but true

 

[GSII]

Anderson should of been played atleast 25 mins. Vs a zone you'd think he could of helped us. Thats on the Coaches. As for the team not being prepared mentally, pull everyone and play the walk ons. Start cussing their asses out.

 

[gmutom]

I'm as frustrated as anyone about last night's game, but anybody who thought we were going to add nine new players this season and get an at-large bid needs to get their head examined. It's going to be at least another month before Tony figures out the chemistry of this team, including who should start and — more importantly — who should finish each game.

I think his biggest challenge will be disposing of any preconceived lineups he pictured at the beginning of the season and admitting he might have been wrong. What started as an opening five of O'Connor, Maddox, Billups, Newton and Haynes could end up being Johnson, Maddox, O'Connor, Anderson and Gio.

There are ample minutes for 10 guys on this team to eat; they just might be sitting at different tables than they thought. If Billups has to come off the bench and get 25 minutes as our 6th man, so be it; if we have to go small with Haynes and Gio on the bench, let's do it. The only goal for this team should be playing our best ball come March, because an at-large bid was never on the table regardless of last night's outcome.

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

I think writing off Quigley as "never being ready" after 4 games under Tony is pretty hyperbolic.

He obviously is transitioning to a new staff, new expectations etc and is 4 games in. If you look at his stats from last year he really took off late in the season which is why he became a candidate to move up a level. I have no doubt that he is going to figure it out especially from the tape I have seen on him. The plan was always for him to be a "backup option #1" under KD. Now, I can see a situation where he starts playing more and they split the role 50/50 once he adjusts. I certainly hope that is the case because KD can only do so much at PG and is "learning" it again after not playing it for a while. That is why we have O'connor playing some minutes there.

Begg is a true freshman. I know we were spoiled after Okojie hit the floor last year and knew what to do very quickly but his time will come. I don't understand at the moment why Begg gets more rope than Quigley but regardless thats a bit of a drum I am beating.

If Quigley ends up not panning out, I'll eat my words. It is just way too early to write this kid off after he performed well at Iona last year. I know that is a MAAC school, but still.

After last night let’s hope we can beat the MAAC school on our schedule ☹️☹️

 

[psyclone]

I think writing off Quigley as "never being ready" after 4 games under Tony is pretty hyperbolic.

He obviously is transitioning to a new staff, new expectations etc and is 4 games in. If you look at his stats from last year he really took off late in the season which is why he became a candidate to move up a level. I have no doubt that he is going to figure it out especially from the tape I have seen on him. The plan was always for him to be a "backup option #1" under KD. Now, I can see a situation where he starts playing more and they split the role 50/50 once he adjusts. I certainly hope that is the case because KD can only do so much at PG and is "learning" it again after not playing it for a while. That is why we have O'connor playing some minutes there.

Begg is a true freshman. I know we were spoiled after Okojie hit the floor last year and knew what to do very quickly but his time will come. I don't understand at the moment why Begg gets more rope than Quigley but regardless thats a bit of a drum I am beating.

If Quigley ends up not panning out, I'll eat my words. It is just way too early to write this kid off after he performed well at Iona last year. I know that is a MAAC school, but still.

My sense in a couple of games so far is that Quigley is short enough so that some of our opponents have guards who post him up down low and we haven't come up with a scheme to give him help in those situations without getting burned. Quigley appears smooth enough as a ball handler on offense.

 

[mkaufman1]

My sense in a couple of games so far is that Quigley is short enough so that some of our opponents have guards who post him up down low and we haven't come up with a scheme to give him help in those situations without getting burned. Quigley appears smooth enough as a ball handler on offense.

Agreed- since he is only 5'11 he is going to need help on the defensive end, but no reason it can't be adjusted to. Plenty of short guards have done well defensively in the A10.

 

[gmujim92]

Just wanted to pop back in and say, as frustrated as we all are by botching a winnable game, Central Michigan gave Marquette all it could handle as well. Credit to them, they’re better than the brand name suggests and I’d be shocked if they’re not a legit contender for the MAC title.

Hopefully our staff is using these first four games to figure out some stuff regarding the rotation and playing combinations. I still believe in the overall talent but there needs to be significant improvement in chemistry and execution between now and March for Mason to be a factor in the A-10 race.