Game 9: GMU (4-4) vs Toledo (5-2) on Saturday, December 3, at 2:00 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

They crushed Richmond tonight 90-67. I will update stats in the morning.

Ken Pom: Gives us just a 51% chance of winning on our own floor.
GMU - 133
Toledo - 90

We are 1-3 against Toledo all-time.

Toledo was picked 2nd out of the 12 teams in the MAC preseason polls just behind Kent State. JT Shumate was chosen to the preseason 1st team. Setric Millner was chosen to the 2nd team. Toledo returns four starters from last year's 26-8 squad. They lost to Dayton in the NIT last year.

Toledo is currently 5-2 on the season. They are 3-0 at home, 0-0 on the road, and 2-2 at neutral sites.

Wins: Valparaiso (85-70), UAB (93-85), Oakland (112-90), Northern Kentucky (82-69), Richmond 90-67.
Losses: Kansas City (83-71), East Carolina (86-75)

Schedule: https://utrockets.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2022-23
Roster: https://utrockets.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster?path=mbball
Stats: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/utrockets.com/documents/2022/11/8/Toledo_MBB_Statistics.pdf

The Rockets are led by 6’2” RayJ Dennis (19.0 ppg), 6’7” JT Shumate (18.5 ppg), 6’7”Setric Millner (16.2 ppg & 8.2 reb), and 6’2” Dante Maddox Jr. (10.7 ppg). 6’4” Ra’Heim Moss (6.3 ppg) and 6’5” EJ Farmer (3.8 ppg) have both started for the Rockets. 6’2” Tyler Cochran (9.0 ppg) plays a lot of minutes off the bench.

The Rockets average 86.3 points per game while giving up 80.5. Toledo is shooting 49.1% from the floor and 38.1% from 3. Opponents are shooting 46.6% from the field and 38.0% from 3. The Rockets have out rebounded their opponents by 1.3 board thus far. They shoot 76.0% from the charity stripe and have averaged 11.3 turnovers per game.

The game is on MASN and ESPN+.

My prediction: This team will be dangerous! These guys shoot the 3 VERY well. Dennis (41.9% from 3), Shumate (40.7% from 3) and Maddox (45.5% from 3) will need to be closely watched on the perimeter. EJ Farmer (3-5 for 60% from 3) has a small sample size in limited minutes. Defend the 3, take care of the ball, rebound, shoot well from the floor and make free throws and we have a chance. We don’t and take the loss at home. Toledo 78 - Mason 69.

Discuss.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 3.14159265359.....
Them 2 3/16
OT

 

[gmubrian]

Reminder that this is a tailgate game starting at 11 AM.

 

[tblack33]

Assuming flights work out this will be the first game I’m back in the states for this season. Really hope to make it and hope to see Mason rise to the occasion. This is the style of team we *should* matchup well with, fast paced, not the best defense. I think we can run and gun with them. Should be a great time. Excited to see it from the new season ticket location. I haven’t had a beer in months so I might piss in my pants a little bit but so do our oldest and youngest fans during games so I will fit in please don’t mention my pee pants.

 

[GMU79]

Assuming flights work out this will be the first game I’m back in the states for this season. Really hope to make it and hope to see Mason rise to the occasion. This is the style of team we *should* matchup well with, fast paced, not the best defense. I think we can run and gun with them. Should be a great time. Excited to see it from the new season ticket location. I haven’t had a beer in months so I might piss in my pants a little bit but so do our oldest and youngest fans during games so I will fit in please don’t mention my pee pants.

I haven't had a beer ever, but at my age the pee thing is still an issue.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Got to beat those Mud Hens! I think GMU will be down by a lot at the half and then will come back in the second to either lose close or get the W. They seem to be a second half team.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

Apparently the athletic department is now marketing this game as the "Merten Classic" after former university president Dr. Alan Merten. Wonder if this will become an annual event, and why they selected the Toledo game.

 

[Yossarian]

I thought I’d find some connection between Toledo and Dr. Merten when I searched the internet for famous people from that town, but all I found was this:

 

[Yossarian]

As an aside, I highly recommend ordering a couple of chili dogs and beers at this place. If… you’re ever in Toledo…

Tony Packo's

Tony Packos Pickle and Peppers are World Famous from MASH and Klinger. Located in Toledo Ohio. Or order online today!

www.tonypacko.com

 

[GMUMiked]

Hard to team to figure out. They lost to Kansas City, who I've never heard of, and then smoked Richmond. They score a ton of points but also give up a ton of points (gave up 50 in the 2nd half to KC). Can we shoot the ball well enough to keep up?

 

[JimP]

Hard to team to figure out. They lost to Kansas City, who I've never heard of, and then smoked Richmond. They score a ton of points but also give up a ton of points (gave up 50 in the 2nd half to KC). Can we shoot the ball well enough to keep up?

I'm wondering if their D is really all that bad. Yeah, they gave up 90 to Oakland, but they scored 112 on them.

 

[mkaufman1]

Maybe Toledo is coached by Paul Westhead.

I kid I kid. They only gave up 67 to Richmond last night.

 

[TweederGMU]

We can't start slow on Toledo cause these guys can score. 3 players averaging over 15 points and this team can make 3's as well. Team plays fast and has aggressive guys. However, they aren't a big team. 2 Forwards at 6'7. May try going with 2 bigs to start and see if we can bully them around down low and see how that goes.... get some easy around the rims and layups/shooting confidence and draw some fouls early on their guys cause I don't think they have a deep bench either.

If we can score on them down low and make over 40% of our 3's then we should win.

However, I don't think we can score enough to keep up with Toledo, this team is still trying to find an identity. Our scoring is too inconsistent and not sure what team will show up.

Toledo 74
Goodguys 66

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

I hope our guys don’t play like a bunch of C U N Toledos

 

[phoenix-arizona]

 

[GMUSSTN]

We can't start slow on Toledo cause these guys can score. 3 players averaging over 15 points and this team can make 3's as well. Team plays fast and has aggressive guys. However, they aren't a big team. 2 Forwards at 6'7. May try going with 2 bigs to start and see if we can bully them around down low and see how that goes.... get some easy around the rims and layups/shooting confidence and draw some fouls early on their guys cause I don't think they have a deep bench either.

If we can score on them down low and make over 40% of our 3's then we should win.

However, I don't think we can score enough to keep up with Toledo, this team is still trying to find an identity. Our scoring is too inconsistent and not sure what team will show up.

Toledo 74
Goodguys 66

Almost feels like the opposite of Auburn...instead of a team that just smothers us defensively we gotta run and gun and try and inject some defense into the game....somehow. Maybe by lazily doubling on the perimeter and not closing out under the net?

 

[JimP]

I see Toledo football faces Ohio in the MAC championship tomorrow at noon. This may prove beneficial to Mason, as hopefully the Toledo hoopsters will be preoccupied with the fate of the football team. I think we need to root for an Ohio win.

Good trash talking opportunity for Ticket, VBJ or Saquan if they can lay a "Bobcats 1st and goal from the 3, about to go up two TDs" on a Toledo shooter. I guess that'd make our guys weirdly preoccupied with the MAC championship, so perhaps we need members of the crowd to take up that mantle.

 

[GSII]

Not sure if we can hang with Toledo. Kinda wish this game was in a week from from bc we are emerging in certain areas. Mainly JF.

 

[gmubrian]

Reminder that this is a tailgate game starting at 11 AM.

FYI- tailgate has been canceled due to weather forecast

 

[tblack33]

How do the tickets work with no QR code? What I’m seeing in the app doesn’t look like there’s anything to scan?