Game 5: GMU (2-2) at East Carolina (3-0) on Saturday, November 16, at 4:00 PM.

[GMU79]

I'm not disagreeing with the general idea of it being a time to change the starting lineup, but one thing the announcers noted during the ECU game was that it was our 4th game in 8 days, with 2 of them on the road. They indicated that Tony was complaining that they hadn't much time to practice.

Hence, it has limited the opportunities to try different lineups and/or get the same lineup to get better at learning new roles. Not making excuses, but it does seem to explain some of the continued issues that we've been seeing in the last few games.

Nah, they repeatedly said they were talking about Madison.

 

[Where's the party?]

I waited 24 hours to comment. Here's my take on the starting five by the time A10 play starts:

Quigley - He's the only one that looks like a point guard out there.
KD - He needs to start shooting more and talking less
Maddux - As many minutes as he can play
Anderson - He's got size and can shoot
Gio - Much better shape and more effective than Happy Feet

First off the bench is Billups - most likely for KD or to spell Maddux
Ball/Woody and Anderson will mostly be a rotation depending on who's hot
Haynes to spell Gio only.

We'll see if Tony agrees come A10 time. At this point we'll have to win the tournament to get invited anywhere.

 

[gmujim92]

Recognizing you are what your record says you are, we played pretty badly in the last two games and are still a botched inbounds pass/3-point heave and a mystifying Brayden no-shot away from winning both.

Would you feel significantly different about the team so far if we were 4-1 instead of 2-3?

Even with all the turnovers, I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that a very dangerous team emerges between now and March.

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

Recognizing you are what your record says you are, we played pretty badly in the last two games and are still a botched inbounds pass/3-point heave and a mystifying Brayden no-shot away from winning both.

Would you feel significantly different about the team so far if we were 4-1 instead of 2-3?

Even with all the turnovers, I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that a very dangerous team emerges between now and March.

20 wins doesn't even get us to the NIT. So it would have to be a dangerous team that finishes top 3-4 and has 22-25 wins.

 

[Verdad]

Recognizing you are what your record says you are, we played pretty badly in the last two games and are still a botched inbounds pass/3-point heave and a mystifying Brayden no-shot away from winning both.

Would you feel significantly different about the team so far if we were 4-1 instead of 2-3?

Even with all the turnovers, I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that a very dangerous team emerges between now and March.

I think that is why we are all so frustrated- we can see the opportunity for this team to be so much better.

 

[jruby]

Recognizing you are what your record says you are, we played pretty badly in the last two games and are still a botched inbounds pass/3-point heave and a mystifying Brayden no-shot away from winning both.

Would you feel significantly different about the team so far if we were 4-1 instead of 2-3?

Even with all the turnovers, I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that a very dangerous team emerges between now and March.

No! There’s no PG on the team. It’s been an issue since cam long or Luke Hancock with very few glimpses in between now. Okie would have been solid but he’s dumb and likely pissed away his college careeer. He’ll be playing at a lower school than A10 next year when he transfers again. This isn’t rocket science, no pg = mediocre at best non post season team. There’s not one post season team in country that doesn’t have a pg, you can get by with other team builds but lacking a pg will never work.

 

[Sport31]

Number 1, Tony has to do something about the turnovers, they are killing this team. Couple of other thoughts on the game : we had two chances to win the game at end of regulation and first OT, both times were horrible possesions; the final play of the game why does o Connor pass up going to the basket ( he was 2-3 feet from the basket)and pass it to Woody- bad decision; Gio is way better then Haynes; lack of hustle - have seen this last two games; finally Tony needs to shake up lineup maddox., o Connor and maybe Gio should be the only givens , get Ball, KD , Quigley, or Anderson in there.

 

[gmujim92]

No! There’s no PG on the team. It’s been an issue since cam long or Luke Hancock with very few glimpses in between now. Okie would have been solid but he’s dumb and likely pissed away his college careeer. He’ll be playing at a lower school than A10 next year when he transfers again. This isn’t rocket science, no pg = mediocre at best non post season team. There’s not one post season team in country that doesn’t have a pg, you can get by with other team builds but lacking a pg will never work.

Quigley is absolutely a point guard.

 

[GMUgemini]

No! There’s no PG on the team. It’s been an issue since cam long or Luke Hancock with very few glimpses in between now. Okie would have been solid but he’s dumb and likely pissed away his college careeer. He’ll be playing at a lower school than A10 next year when he transfers again. This isn’t rocket science, no pg = mediocre at best non post season team. There’s not one post season team in country that doesn’t have a pg, you can get by with other team builds but lacking a pg will never work.

You are forgetting Bryon Allen and Otis Livingston (they were not the problem while they were here), but yes we have had serious issues finding an A10 caliber PG for awhile now.

 

[jruby]

Number 1, Tony has to do something about the turnovers, they are killing this team. Couple of other thoughts on the game : we had two chances to win the game at end of regulation and first OT, both times were horrible possesions; the final play of the game why does o Connor pass up going to the basket ( he was 2-3 feet from the basket)and pass it to Woody- bad decision; Gio is way better then Haynes; lack of hustle - have seen this last two games; finally Tony needs to shake up lineup maddox., o Connor and maybe Gio should be the only givens , get Ball, KD , Quigley, or Anderson in there.

Is O’Connor really that great? I wouldn’t say he’s a lock. He had a horrible possession to end game in regulation. Gio, Maddox, Ball or Anderson and just let Billups run the point. He honestly can’t be any worse than any of the others. What’s the worst that happens?

You are forgetting Bryon Allen and Otis Livingston (they were not the problem while they were here), but yes we have had serious issues finding an A10 caliber PG for awhile now.

Otis was fine but he wasn’t a top tier pg, he’s miles ahead of what they have now though. If you want the post season your PG better be at least 2nd or 3rd team and he was so he would be good enough.

 

[GMUgemini]

Quigley is absolutely a point guard.

I would like to see Quigley get a runout in these next two games.

I’d like to see Newton go back to being the 7th man and not a starter, either see if Anderson can work his way into being a contributor or saying f it and go 4 guards (Quigley, O’Connor, Maddox, Billups). Billups can guard someone 6’7 so long as they aren’t bruisers.

 

[jruby]

I would like to see Quigley get a runout in these next two games.

I’d like to see Newton go back to being the 7th man and not a starter, either see if Anderson can work his way into being a contributor or saying f it and go 4 guards (Quigley, O’Connor, Maddox, Billups). Billups can guard someone 6’7 so long as they aren’t bruisers.

100% Billups has to play if JQ runs the point. He’s horrible on defense. Newton can’t play in said situation though I agree.

 

[Falco]

I feel like newton is great at getting a shot, but the ball just never goes in.

I prefer him to facilitate instead of being aggressive.

 

[gmujim92]

I feel like newton is great at getting a shot, but the ball just never goes in.

I prefer him to facilitate instead of being aggressive.

Woody is a streaky 3-point shooter, no doubt. But his issue is he just disappears offensively for long stretches — case in point, 11 points in the first half Saturday, then zippo the rest of the way.

That just can’t happen, especially with a senior. Need more consistency from him.

 

[Dawgs99]

I didn't watch the game this weekend so I'm not as pissed as some of you guys who had to watch it. In the limited time he's played, JQ looks like the most "ready to play" PG on the roster. Surprised he's not getting more time. We've also been offering HS PGs so the staff must see a need still after this season. KD is not a PG but he's also not a shooter so where does he even fit in? I'd like to see JQ get more of a run over the next few games and see if we start to look like a real basketball team.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Woody is a streaky 3-point shooter, no doubt. But his issue is he just disappears offensively for long stretches — case in point, 11 points in the first half Saturday, then zippo the rest of the way.

That just can’t happen, especially with a senior. Need more consistency from him.

But why do we NEED more consistency from Woody Newton offensively? He’s a 5th year player who has never been that in his career, on this roster he should be a defensive role player off the bench and whatever we get from him on offense in his targeted minutes is a bonus.

We go through way too many long stretches where we have no one on the court who can (or is in position to) hit an outside jumper other than Maddox, I thought this roster was built to help avoid that? To help free guys up and create space? 1-2 3PA per game from Anderson and OConnor is insane.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

But why do we NEED more consistency from Woody Newton offensively? He’s a 5th year player who has never been that in his career, on this roster he should be a defensive role player off the bench and whatever we get from him on offense in his targeted minutes is a bonus.

We go through way too many long stretches where we have no one on the court who can (or is in position to) hit an outside jumper other than Maddox, I thought this roster was built to help avoid that? To help free guys up and create space? 1-2 3PA per game from Anderson and OConnor is insane.

Agreed with this. Anderson was supposed to be a dead eye shooter, but can't get on the court? If we're so worried about the defensive end then play the shooter (Anderson or Ball) with Billups. TBH, I'm just tired of having athletic guys who can't hit the broad side of a barn when it matters. If we were a total lockdown defensive team holding teams to under 60, sure OK, but our defense is mediocre at best.

With the consideration that it is a small sample size, Haynes offensive ability was way overstated. I haven't seen much I've been impressed with so far.

 

[psyclone]

Agreed with this. Anderson was supposed to be a dead eye shooter, but can't get on the court? If we're so worried about the defensive end then play the shooter (Anderson or Ball) with Billups. TBH, I'm just tired of having athletic guys who can't hit the broad side of a barn when it matters. If we were a total lockdown defensive team holding teams to under 60, sure OK, but our defense is mediocre at best.

With the consideration that it is a small sample size, Haynes offensive ability was way overstated. I haven't seen much I've been impressed with so far.

Actually, according to Kenpom stats, our effective fg% is rather good--40% (19th in Div 1 where the average is 50%). On the other hand, our turnover defense and keeping the other team off the offensive boards is not good. Leads to be 74th in overall defensive efficiency.

 

[gmujim92]

Agreed with this. Anderson was supposed to be a dead eye shooter, but can't get on the court? If we're so worried about the defensive end then play the shooter (Anderson or Ball) with Billups. TBH, I'm just tired of having athletic guys who can't hit the broad side of a barn when it matters. If we were a total lockdown defensive team holding teams to under 60, sure OK, but our defense is mediocre at best.

With the consideration that it is a small sample size, Haynes offensive ability was way overstated. I haven't seen much I've been impressed with so far.

Our defense is much, much better than mediocre. Sorry I know people are frustrated but there’s no need to just make up stuff to be pissed about.

Edited to add, if we start rebounding better the defense has a chance to be elite.

But why do we NEED more consistency from Woody Newton offensively? He’s a 5th year player who has never been that in his career, on this roster he should be a defensive role player off the bench and whatever we get from him on offense in his targeted minutes is a bonus.

We go through way too many long stretches where we have no one on the court who can (or is in position to) hit an outside jumper other than Maddox, I thought this roster was built to help avoid that? To help free guys up and create space? 1-2 3PA per game from Anderson and OConnor is insane.

Anderson has to start bringing more to the table than just a pretty jump shot or Woody will continue to get most of the minutes at the 4. Because while fans care mostly about scoring, coaches prioritize defense and Woody is also our best rebounding big.

 

[mkaufman1]

Our defense is much, much better than mediocre. Sorry I know people are frustrated but there’s no need to just make up stuff to be pissed about.

Edited to add, if we start rebounding better the defense has a chance to be elite.


Anderson has to start bringing more to the table than just a pretty jump shot or Woody will continue to get most of the minutes at the 4. Because while fans care mostly about scoring, coaches prioritize defense and Woody is also our best rebounding big.

Even if woody is our best rebounding big and solid defensively, he still gets too much run. There’s times we need a bucket and he’s still out there with Billups. I get the need to play Woody but it just seems like overkill to me.