Game 8: GMU (5-2 / 1-0) vs Dayton (4-2 / 0-1) on Saturday, January 2, at 4:30PM.

[GMUgemini]

Looking over the box score this morning reminds me of how misguided our strategy was yesterday with their depleted lineup. Instead of attacking them to get them in foul trouble, we played passively and allowed them to get away with winning with only seven players (none with more than three fouls).

We only took 11 FTs the entire game, and at no point did Wilson, Johnson, Kolek, Hartwell, Polite or Hadera EVER make it to the charity stripe. Think about that for a second. Those six players played a combined 110 minutes and not once did any of them draw enough contact while shooting to warrant a free throw.

Dayton's worst nightmare going into this game shorthanded was getting into foul trouble, and we were more than happy to oblige them. No, we are not a great FT shooting team, but it would have been nice to dictate the outcome of the game for once instead of always reacting to what the other team wants or needs us to do.

And this is precisely what I’m tired of about how Mason has played the last 6 seasons.

 

[Petey Buckets]

Tom nailed the in-game analysis. Missed opportunity to steal one on the road that could be important for tiebreakers and seeding later on this season.

I would really love to know how often we've played a full 40 minutes against a good team under Dave. Feels like either get blown out or come storming back from 15 down every damn time. The glass half full take is that the guys battled back, the glass half empty take is why are we down 18 immediately after the opening tip. Just mind boggling.

 

[mkaufman1]

Like I say, turn the corner, circle the same block.

we saw other adjustments in defensive strategy along the way, but not exploiting their lack of depth is really mind boggling. That was the difference and separates you when you are in a league like the a10.

 

[Pablo]

Looking over the box score this morning reminds me of how misguided our strategy was yesterday with their depleted lineup. Instead of attacking them to get them in foul trouble, we played passively and allowed them to get away with winning with only seven players (none with more than three fouls).

We only took 11 FTs the entire game, and at no point did Wilson, Johnson, Kolek, Hartwell, Polite or Hadera EVER make it to the charity stripe. Think about that for a second. Those six players played a combined 110 minutes and not once did any of them draw enough contact while shooting to warrant a free throw.

Dayton's worst nightmare going into this game shorthanded was getting into foul trouble, and we were more than happy to oblige them. No, we are not a great FT shooting team, but it would have been nice to dictate the outcome of the game for once instead of always reacting to what the other team wants or needs us to do.

I like the way that Davidson's Bob McKillop operates. He relies totally on his son and the other assistants to prepare the game plan. Then, he does the in-game coaching and makes the required adjustments as the game goes on. If the game plan isn't working, then he has no incentive to stick with it.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Like I say, turn the corner, circle the same block.

we saw other adjustments in defensive strategy along the way, but not exploiting their lack of depth is really mind boggling. That was the difference and separates you when you are in a league like the a10.

Not to worry. I have us covered with our slogan for next year......."Seven Years of Suck."

 

[GMUgemini]

Tom nailed the in-game analysis. Missed opportunity to steal one on the road that could be important for tiebreakers and seeding later on this season.

I would really love to know how often we've played a full 40 minutes against a good team under Dave. Feels like either get blown out or come storming back from 15 down every damn time. The glass half full take is that the guys battled back, the glass half empty take is why are we down 18 immediately after the opening tip. Just mind boggling.

It's not just good teams...it's middling teams and even bad teams. There have been WAY too many wins left on the table for this precise reason.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

You’re all a bunch of whiny quitters. We actually won that game. By a lot. It was stolen by the crooked Refs and @Pikapppatri8 has been on the phone w/the A-10 offices.

We only need 9 points after all!!!

 

[GSII]

That article made the loss even worse. Not only did they have only 7 players, I think it said 5 of those 7 had not played a college game before this season. And to put the cherry on top, two assistant coaches were absent as well.

No wonder DP was pissy. He played a team that had one arm tied behind it's back, and lost.

 

[Petey Buckets]

According to kenpom, at 63 possessions this was by far our slowest-paced game of the season (second was 68 against Howard). Just inexcusable from a game planning/management perspective.

 

[GSII]

According to kenpom, at 63 possessions this was by far our slowest-paced game of the season (second was 68 against Howard). Just inexcusable from a game planning/management perspective.

You seem to understand this. Does DP? Does his staff? Anyone? Buellar? Buellar?

 

[Petey Buckets]

You seem to understand this. Does DP? Does his staff? Anyone? Buellar? Buellar?

I think there's some nuance here in that when our press doesn't generate turnovers it does push opponents deeper in the shot clock. I noticed a few times Dayton taking 8-9 seconds to cross halfcourt and starting their sets with 15-17 seconds left on the shot clock. Usually that's a good result but it played into their hands in this case. Not sure tactically how they could have adjusted without being much more aggressive, but considering Crutcher and Watson are such good ballhandlers that could've gotten burned too. Only two steals all game and only 12 TOs for Dayton is still pretty bad considering they had two guards play 40 minutes though.

 

[GMUgemini]

I think there's some nuance here in that when our press doesn't generate turnovers it does push opponents deeper in the shot clock. I noticed a few times Dayton taking 8-9 seconds to cross halfcourt and starting their sets with 15-17 seconds left on the shot clock. Usually that's a good result but it played into their hands in this case. Not sure tactically how they could have adjusted without being much more aggressive, but considering Crutcher and Watson are such good ballhandlers that could've gotten burned too. Only two steals all game and only 12 TOs for Dayton is still pretty bad considering they had two guards play 40 minutes though.

If we were more efficient offensively and more solid defensively, I'd say being able to play slow and forcing the opposing team to play with a shortened clock would work, but we aren't either of those two things.

 

[gmujim92]

I think there's some nuance here in that when our press doesn't generate turnovers it does push opponents deeper in the shot clock. I noticed a few times Dayton taking 8-9 seconds to cross halfcourt and starting their sets with 15-17 seconds left on the shot clock. Usually that's a good result but it played into their hands in this case. Not sure tactically how they could have adjusted without being much more aggressive, but considering Crutcher and Watson are such good ballhandlers that could've gotten burned too. Only two steals all game and only 12 TOs for Dayton is still pretty bad considering they had two guards play 40 minutes though.

Apparently it’s genius-level stuff for a coach to insist on speeding up the opponent when they are severely shorthanded. Because we spent the entire first half letting them do whatever they pleased like it was a walk in the MFing park.

 

[PoorManProfit]

I think there's some nuance here in that when our press doesn't generate turnovers it does push opponents deeper in the shot clock. I noticed a few times Dayton taking 8-9 seconds to cross halfcourt and starting their sets with 15-17 seconds left on the shot clock. Usually that's a good result but it played into their hands in this case. Not sure tactically how they could have adjusted without being much more aggressive, but considering Crutcher and Watson are such good ballhandlers that could've gotten burned too. Only two steals all game and only 12 TOs for Dayton is still pretty bad considering they had two guards play 40 minutes though.

Shocking that a squad with strong ball handlers handled a press applied by an unathletic opponent.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I think there's some nuance here in that when our press doesn't generate turnovers it does push opponents deeper in the shot clock. I noticed a few times Dayton taking 8-9 seconds to cross halfcourt and starting their sets with 15-17 seconds left on the shot clock.

I mean I consider most of what we did a delay press with the goal to make em pass it a few times and start halfcourt offense late...only get an occasional TO.

Worked fine, and shot clock 101 defense, but not what I'd limit myself to against a depleted roster.

And as you nail, play that methodical against...

 

[GSII]

So our press promotes effective ball movement for the opposing teams offensive set??

Is this the cousin of 'homecourt disadvantage'?

 

[gmujim92]

Yes, and I'm sure he'd be locking down Jalen Crutcher, Bones Hyland, Kellan Grady, and Jordan Goodwin on the perimeter too...5 steals a game, 5 blocks, and 5 assists? You're delusional if you think this guy is even the 8th best player on a good A-10 team.

Who????

 

[Pablo]

Who????

George Papas

 

[GMUgemini]

George Papas

Yes, wrong thread...deleted the post.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Fordham erasing all pretense of our moral victory versus Dayton (no one thinks that), taking the Flyers to the brink...down 43-41 eight minutes left.