Game 9: GMU (4-4) vs ODU (3-5) on Saturday, December 4, at 7 PM.

[tblack33]

Looking at the stats again from last night. Gaines and Schwartz had off nights (3-14 combined). Many here refer to the "Big 4" and have said that if one or two of them have an off night when we'll struggle. Well, they did and we did. You can't win many games shooting 32.7% overall, 21.4% from 3, and just 52.6% from the charity stripe.

52% from the free throw line is concerning. We have not been a good free throw shooting team, and it absolutely needs to be a focus in practice alongside the well documented turnover and defensive issues.

 

[Patriotsince81]

52% from the free throw line is concerning. We have not been a good free throw shooting team, and it absolutely needs to be a focus in practice alongside the well documented turnover and defensive issues.

71.7% for the year. So if we make our usual percentage and don't throw up as many bricks we win.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I was a bit surprised that we went with the walkon in that situation last night. I’ll disagree that he should be first off the bench, but something’s gotta be going given the substitution bringing in a walkon before him.

Agreed. Whether health or discipline, something more has to be going on. Although Blake Buchannon played fine for the little bit of action he saw, and may be deserving of 2 minutes a game (if in place of the right people's minutes).

While Fazier hasn't looked great off the bench in his limited minutes, he still has given us 13 and 5 in 21 minutes this season. Fun fact, that's the most points per minute on the team (on 71% shooting and 2/3 from deep). Surely he would be a better option than the bench that gave us 1 point total last night.

 

[Five Two]

Re: the T on KE. Was it deserved? Hard to know for sure. I do know he was warned twice prior that he was getting close to "the line". Then a few minutes before the technical, he went after the same ref that would eventually give him the T and the ref basically told him "thats it" and walked away as KE was yelling at him. I was surprised he didn't get one at that moment. So having seen what happened throughout the game, it was just a matter of time that he was going to get one, IMO.

 

[GMUgemini]

Was Frazier on the bench?

 

[gmujim92]

Was Frazier on the bench?

Yes and in uniform

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Any insight you can share?

Nah I don't know shit, all I know is if he isn't the starter or at least 20 mpg by mid-January I would bet he never will be here.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

Agreed. Whether health or discipline, something more has to be going on. Although Blake Buchannon played fine for the little bit of action he saw, and may be deserving of 2 minutes a game (if in place of the right people's minutes).

While Fazier hasn't looked great off the bench in his limited minutes, he still has given us 13 and 5 in 21 minutes this season. Fun fact, that's the most points per minute on the team (on 71% shooting and 2/3 from deep). Surely he would be a better option than the bench that gave us 1 point total last night.

It's plain bizarre but it has to be something other than his ability. When he's been given more than a 1-2 minute opportunity, he's contributed. He rebounds, can finish, and has good form from deep. There's no obvious shortcomings, at least that I see.

On a per-minute basis he's contributing more than Jones.

 

[psyclone]

It's plain bizarre but it has to be something other than his ability. When he's been given more than a 1-2 minute opportunity, he's contributed. He rebounds, can finish, and has good form from deep. There's no obvious shortcomings, at least that I see.

On a per-minute basis he's contributing more than Jones.

Attitude, "coachability", maybe? Just speculating here; no inside info.

 

[GMUgemini]

Attitude, "coachability", maybe? Just speculating here; no inside info.

Something we won’t ever know probably.

It would have been interesting to see someone ask about it in a roundabout way, about Buchanon getting into the game when he did, for instance.

I’ve got no problem with a walk-on getting real minutes if they can contribute (Tim Burns is an example).

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

It's frustrating see us open up with Cooper at the point and let Hartwell get so much time off the ball, when he has clear defensive liabilities (as well as offensive shortcomings). Perhaps Frazier is equally terrible on the defensive side of the ball?

 

[FreeGunston12]

It's frustrating see us open up with Cooper at the point and let Hartwell get so much time off the ball, when he has clear defensive liabilities (as well as offensive shortcomings). Perhaps Frazier is equally terrible on the defensive side of the ball?

Can't be. Even if he is out of position, at least his size can make up for some of it. And you can switch with him on the floor, unlike Hartwell.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Something we won’t ever know probably.

It would have been interesting to see someone ask about it in a roundabout way, about Buchanon getting into the game when he did, for instance.

I’ve got no problem with a walk-on getting real minutes if they can contribute (Tim Burns is an example).

Would be a good question for the next coach's show.

 

[JPgmuswim]

Kim said the guys need to get tougher and refuse to switch when they know that’s exactly what the offense wants — to get a scoring guard isolated against Hartwell.

Love the fact that we have a coach who is willing to speak so frankly, win or lose.

Listening to the post game presser I have a feeling KE is going to have a very different looking roster next season. After a season of evaluating there may be some suggestive departures.

That’s just my take.

 

[gmujim92]

Listening to the post game presser I have a feeling KE is going to have a very different looking roster next season. After a season of evaluating there may be some suggestive departures.

That’s just my take.

The only players who I think are effectively guaranteed a scholarship next season (if they want one) are:

Oduro, Ticket, Cooper, Jones, Fernandez and Dinkins.

That leaves 7 spots. Expect Kim and staff to be very active in the portal because he’s clearly not here for some 10-year plan and our roster is nowhere near good enough to win the A-10.

 

[gmujim92]

Would be a good question for the next coach's show.

Won’t get asked. No chance.

 

[JPgmuswim]

The only players who I think are effectively guaranteed a scholarship next season (if they want one) are:

Oduro, Ticket, Cooper, Jones, Fernandez and Dinkins.

That leaves 7 spots. Expect Kim and staff to be very active in the portal because he’s clearly not here for some 10-year plan and our roster is nowhere near good enough to win the A-10.

Agree 100%

 

[mkaufman1]

Finally got my thoughts together

- The fact that KE is talking a lot about toughness speaks volumes. I think its just something that hasn't been in the program for many years. That toughness has to be at a certain championship quality and its obvious that English has to help change this a bit. That will take some time, but we might see more games like yesterday where he talks about being tough. The way the game started really speaks volumes, whether it was the Oduro turnovers or letting ODU beat them down the floor on a break.

- 1 Point from the bench yesterday, which came on a Gray free throw. The boxscore for Mason is ugly. 7 assists, and 17-52 from the field including 6-28 from deep. Gaines had only 2 points even though he had 9 rebounds. Oduro obviously struggled but found a way to score 14 and have 12 rebounds. 12 rebounds might be the best hes done, or close. There is no way Mason is going to win very many games with just 1 point off the bench. I know they have a short rotation but they definitely need some output to help out.
-The rotation, obviously something KE is trying to figure out confused me a bit. Gray and Gadsden got a few minutes in the 1st half, and Gray was one of the first off the bench and I thought did a nice job for a good 6-7 minutes in the first half but didn't play that much in the second half. Buchanon played in the 2nd half a minute which speaks volumes when Frazier Gray Gadsden and Kabimba are available. Gadsden did have a nice block in his few minutes. Gray didn’t play most of the 2nd part of the 2nd half which was a little puzzling to me.
- Point guard is going to be a struggle without XJ and its unknown whether Polite will ever get a chance here if he isn't healthy all of this year. Hartwell is extremely frustrating because of his defensive limitations and he is either red hot or ice ice cold. I thought Gray did a nice job in his minutes but he is raw and inexperienced. Navy is going to be a formidable challenge and somehow Mason has to get better production.
The technical on English was ridiculous. He jumped up out of excitement for Henry’s almost dunk and the ref took it as something towards him.

-Offense was also a struggle in half 2, missing free throws, and ODU really spread their lead after Hartwell chucked a quick 3. Some really sloppy possessions and only 5 points in the first 9 minutes. Also, the free throws were piss poor percentage wise. They missed way too many.

Pretty sure the technical on Gaines basically changed the course of the game.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Hartwell is extremely frustrating because of his defensive limitations and he is either red hot or ice ice cold.

Agree with almost everything what you posted above but have to disagree about Hartwell. I haven't seen him red hot yet this year. 15 - 61 from the floor. 24.6% is the worst on the entire team.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Won’t get asked. No chance.

There's a way to ask as gemini said. In a very Bill Rohland way: "Coach, we have a long history of loving our walk-ons here. What does Blake Buchannon give you?".

If he was truly trying to send a message, KE can jump all over that one.