Game Thread: Mason (11-2) vs. vcu (10-3), Sunday, January 5th, 12:00 PM

[gmutom]

This was simply a game of men vs boys. We would have had a better chance against the kids who played at halftime. I didn’t necessarily expect to win, but it’s really discouraging we didn’t bother to show up.

 

[Haxormax]

Defeatist attitude? I'll give you defeatist!! We're the worst!

 

[Walter]

Can we sign up to play GW first next year?

GW will probably be good soon. Christian is a good coach

 

[Sons of Mason]

I understand everyone being extremely frustrated per every vcu loss, but this team will likely finish where they were predicted 8-9. Which means we end up with around a .500 A10 record. For those on the fire Paulsen train, you may be disappointed. I don't see Mason getting rid of Paulsen anytime soon unless a we get a new AD or complete collapse. I'm not a fan of him myself but he appears to be what the Admin wants quiet, average, cheap (relative to previous two coaches).

 

[Falco]

Bye Bye Paulsen. Blown out by every competent team this year.

 

[PoorManProfit]

This was simply a game of men vs boys. We would have had a better chance against the kids who played at halftime. I didn’t necessarily expect to win, but it’s really discouraging we didn’t bother to show up.

It’s not that they didn’t “show up”. They just aren’t talented enough to compete against decent teams.

 

[JimP]

Barring an absolute disaster in conference this year, GMU should and likely will stick with Paulsen. Anybody remember how bad we were in the A-10 with Hewitt? Better chance getting into top 4 with Paulsen than going out and getting a new guy and starting over.

 

[JimP]

GW will probably be good soon. Christian is a good coach

I agree.

 

[mkaufman1]

Barring an absolute disaster in conference this year, GMU should and likely will stick with Paulsen. Anybody remember how bad we were in the A-10 with Hewitt? Better chance getting into top 4 with Paulsen than going out and getting a new guy and starting over.

Paulsen isn’t going anywhere. He’s improved the program, the recruits keep getting better based on improvements made the last 2-3 years, etc. That said he’s got to find a way to go from improvement to championship quality at some point.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Maybe AJ should come off the bench. He’s very foul prone lately. Let him get the feel of the game from the bench first.

May be worth a try.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

I understand everyone being extremely frustrated per every vcu loss, but this team will likely finish where they were predicted 8-9. Which means we end up with around a .500 A10 record. For those on the fire Paulsen train, you may be disappointed. I don't see Mason getting rid of Paulsen anytime soon unless a we get a new AD or complete collapse. I'm not a fan of him myself but he appears to be what the Admin wants quiet, average, cheap (relative to previous two coaches).

But would a new AD (assuming USC is serious about wanting BE) and President agree with this assessment? I have no idea, but when the people who hired you are no longer a part of the picture, things can change.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

This was simply a game of men vs boys. We would have had a better chance against the kids who played at halftime. I didn’t necessarily expect to win, but it’s really discouraging we didn’t bother to show up.

More discouraging to me is that I don't think we lacked effort, Tom. We're just an undersized team that can't shoot. I just think we have a pretty low ceiling at this point.

 

[mkaufman1]

More discouraging to me is that I don't think we lacked effort, Tom. We're just an undersized team that can't shoot. I just think we have a pretty low ceiling at this point.

not sure how Mason is undersized. They have Calixte, Oduro, AJ all at 6’7 and above, plus you have Miller at 6’6.

if you want to say they aren’t as talented as vcu or have a guy that can take over to exploit a weakness like Silva that’s one thing. But this team is not undersized so much anymore. Their failure to adjust to Silva without AJ was a big problem today.

 

[sleeperpick]

not sure how Mason is undersized. They have Calixte, Oduro, AJ all at 6’7 and above, plus you have Miller at 6’6.

if you want to say they aren’t as talented as vcu or have a guy that can take over to exploit a weakness like Silva that’s one thing. But this team is not undersized so much anymore. Their failure to adjust to Silva without AJ was a big problem today.

They are undersized for the simple fact that they refuse to play AJ at the 4. I’m sorry but I’m the biggest AJ guy in the world but he cannot play the 5. But Paulsen is a thick headed numb nuts that cannot adapt

 

[MasonSAE4]

More discouraging to me is that I don't think we lacked effort, Tom. We're just an undersized team that can't shoot. I just think we have a pretty low ceiling at this point.

Exactly this. There have been games in the DP era where I’ve thought “man we really didn’t show up until the second half” but today I never really got the sense that the hustle wasn’t there. I just watched a team whose only 3 in the first half came on a circus shot. At this point Greene clearly can’t hit the broad side of anything, Kier is taking flat footed NBA range shots because he’s playing hurt, and Hartwell is ice cold. Not really interested in hearing that Koelek is the answer because we need more than one shooter. I can’t say I know enough to comment on Poliete or Henry, but man the shooting could be rough for a few years.

 

[mkaufman1]

They are undersized for the simple fact that they refuse to play AJ at the 4. I’m sorry but I’m the biggest AJ guy in the world but he cannot play the 5. But Paulsen is a thick headed numb nuts that cannot adapt

he may not play the 5 but when you have Oduro and Calixte who can’t defend Silva (for the most part, greg had a few nice moments on him), AJ is your next bet. Plus I think they went 4 guards for ball handling and what not. Hopefully he can play more of the 4 in other matchups.

 

[sleeperpick]

Exactly this. There have been games in the DP era where I’ve thought “man we really didn’t show up until the second half” but today I never really got the sense that the hustle wasn’t there. I just watched a team whose only 3 in the first half came on a circus shot. At this point Greene clearly can’t hit the broad side of anything, Kier is taking flat footed NBA range shots because he’s playing hurt, and Hartwell is ice cold. Not really interested in hearing that Koelek is the answer because we need more than one shooter. I can’t say I know enough to comment on Poliete or Henry, but man the shooting could be rough for a few years.

Henry very much our best recruit

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

not sure how Mason is undersized. They have Calixte, Oduro, AJ all at 6’7 and above, plus you have Miller at 6’6.

if you want to say they aren’t as talented as vcu or have a guy that can take over to exploit a weakness like Silva that’s one thing. But this team is not undersized so much anymore. Their failure to adjust to Silva without AJ was a big problem today.

Maybe not in comparison to vcu this year, but I would argue with the exception of Oduro, we are undersized. Calixte is a bit player at best and at 6'7" AJ is routinely facing guys a couple inches taller. Now, it's not the end of the world if the undersized guys are more skilled, but when they're not, it's an issue....Not to mention the fact that we're often undersized on the perimeter as well.

I think the thing that bugs me more than anything, though, is that we can find a guy to consistently hit open perimeter shots. We have these guys who come in with great reputations as shooters. They struggle early, lose confidence, and never become a factor. It's very discouraging.

 

[MasonSAE4]

not sure how Mason is undersized. They have Calixte, Oduro, AJ all at 6’7 and above, plus you have Miller at 6’6.

if you want to say they aren’t as talented as vcu or have a guy that can take over to exploit a weakness like Silva that’s one thing. But this team is not undersized so much anymore. Their failure to adjust to Silva without AJ was a big problem today.

You can be tall and undersized. Love AJ, but the dudes a pole. As Sleeper said, that’s fine at the 4. Not the 5. Also our bigs are just not that aggressive. The official heights say one thing, but the eye test says another. We look undersized compared to vcu at pretty much every position except for the 3.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Henry very much our best recruit

Yeah that’s what it seems based on highlights, just not sure to what extent he’s going to alleviate our outside shooting issues.