Game Thread: Mason (11 - 3 / 0 - 1) vs St. Bonaventure (9- 5 / 1 - 0), Wednesday, January 8th, 7:00

[Five Two]

That might have been our best chance to beat the Bonnies for a while - they will be very good next year. Kinda depressing.

Was thinking the same thing. They are a year away from being really good.

Tonight was a punch in the gut. And its going to hurt for a few days.

 

[mkaufman1]

Bona is younger in players that matter

oh yeah I know they are very young too, and they are also at a different point. Schmidt has been there 13 years and made the ncaas.

but all in all, both teams are young, and a home game against a fellow projected middle of the pack team shouldn’t be the way it was tonight. You shouldn’t get worked to the point where it looks like the players don’t care.

I just have huge issues with it. It’s year 5. If you’re going to lose, then at least lose but don’t be embarrassed.

 

[tblack33]

I just erased my original statement of, "We do not make adjustments" because I'm trying not to cheapen my argument with exaggeration. But, for the most part, we do not make adjustments. It's getting old. EVERY game against even a halfway decent team, the other team sets the tone. The other team sets the tempo. We have to adjust to their players. We have to adjust to their strengths. We don't "get them to play our game" because we don't have a game. We have no identity and I'm beginning to think it's because we have no leader.

I'll say it again... I have been a Paulsen guy because I appreciate what has happened and what I thought was happening. But I was wrong. If you are actually watching these games this season, and you do not see that there is a coaching problem, I just don't know what to say to you. Cue the people who think "positive" means "lying," "blind," or "stupid" to tell us that it's not Coach's fault our 3's aren't falling, it's not Coach's fault Bona's are, etc., etc., etc. I'd rather be realistic. You can be positive, but still admit you were wrong when things suck.

If we aren't recruiting shooters in this modern era of basketball, if we are recruiting them but can't land any of them, if we land them but they get to us and forget how to shoot, etc., at what point are we allowed to put this on the person at the top? We got the wrong assistants? He hired them. Got the wrong players? He signed them. Don't make in-game adjustments? Whose job is that?

Why are we able to build a big lead, and then get blown out? Because other coaches see how we built the lead, adjust, and we just do not counter. It's maddening to watch.

You can make a list of everything that's going wrong and someone can jump on and say why it's not DP's fault. You can also look at all of the things that are out of his control, and if the haters can jump on and say why it is his fault. There is a small predictable core of posters who you know what they're going to say. But watch, one by one, all of the moderate, optimistic realists change their tune about this coach.

We cannot have THIS MANY problems and have them not be the head coach's "fault." Enough B.S. These kids have no quit in them and are playing their hearts out. But they need to be told what to do and how to do it. I'm not even necessarily a "Fire Dave Paulsen" guy. Sure as hell not mid-season, and maybe even not at the end. But do not extend him and when the time comes, if there is not a meaningful post-season appearance that is at least competitive, do not renew him. He got us back to almost-respectable. He has not shown me any reason to believe he is the guy that can take the next step.

This is NOT an overreaction to wins and losses, so spare me the "our record keeps getting better," "we consistently exceed expectations," "you're just frustrated that the rebuild takes longer than you hoped." This is my so-so basketball mind watching games, watching the trajectory, and being honest about what I actually see. There is such a thing as "the eye test" and we fail.

I've been relegated to watching almost all of our game son TV, which allows the benefit of hearing supposedly unbiased commentary, watching replays, rewinding things and rewatching it, and it's less emotional. Whenever I see us play live, and win, I get all hyped up about the team because we have some really talented and fun players. When I watch us on TV, win or lose, I see some glaring deficiencies in nearly every single aspect of the program. It's disheartening. I think my once-a-season or once-a-month long frustrated post is about to become once-a-week...

This is a well thought out breakdown of a lot of our problems. I’m really interested to see the other side of the argument at this point. Before even though I didn’t agree with it I at least understood it, now I don’t even understand it. No one who is actually watching the games can be seeing much positive.

 

[tblack33]

Was thinking the same thing. They are a year away from being really good.

Tonight was a punch in the gut. And its going to hurt for a few days.

Lofton owns us. Was really impressed with their big man. They’ve got a solid core who have really developed well over the last year. They are gonna make a run at the league next year and the year after.

 

[Patriotsince81]

This is a well thought out breakdown of a lot of our problems. I’m really interested to see the other side of the argument at this point. Before even though I didn’t agree with it I at least understood it, now I don’t even understand it. No one who is actually watching the games can be seeing much positive.

The dance team is hot.

 

[Patriotsince81]

This is a well thought out breakdown of a lot of our problems. I’m really interested to see the other side of the argument at this point. Before even though I didn’t agree with it I at least understood it, now I don’t even understand it. No one who is actually watching the games can be seeing much positive.

The band, while short handed, still rocks.

 

[tblack33]

The dance team is hot.

Maybe they can draw up some set plays for
us.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Maybe they can draw up some set plays for
us.

Lob it over the top and thrust the hips.

 

[Irish44j]

I went to the game and a few thoughts:

1. AJ looked scared to do ANYTHING down low against their guy (with the huge knee brace). I don't recall him making a single move to the basket when he got the low post feed - either fumbled the ball and turned it over, or passed it back out, or stepped back and missed jumpers. Almost everyone sitting around me was commenting on it. The guy he was matched up against looked to be the same size and wasn't using much leverage. I couldn't understand why AJ didn't go at him, especially since he wasn't in foul trouble.
2. Hartwell should never have the ball when the shot clock is under 10. He cannot get a shot off over the bigger guy guarding him - and the guy guarding him is always bigger. He got bailed out once on a questionable foul
3. Oduro - I hardly remember him playing at all - not sure why not. Maybe it was a matchup thing, but I can't understand why he would ever be sitting while Mar is on the floor.
4. Mar - other than one nice stepback shot, he looked overmatched out there, as usual
5. The defense actually looked really good until the last 5 minutes of the game when the wheels came off completely.
6. Once the Bonnies went to pressure Man D to stop the outside shots, Mason looked really bad with ball handling. They're already bad against the zone, which the Bonnies used a lot for most of the game.
7. Everyone in the stands was getting frustrated that literally nobody on the team seemed interested in attacking the rim, either on offense or defense. Calixte was the only guy on the team that seemed interested in some contact down low, and he wasn't in there all that much.
8. Practically nobody was boxing out on rebounds. IDK what it looked like on TV, but GMU was totally dominated on the boards by a team that didn't look any bigger. I think one of the Bonnies had something like 20 boards, and few of them appeared to be contested.
9. Our offense is totally uncreative. If the 3's aren't falling, the team seems clueless as to how to score.
10. Unlike the TCU and vcu games, where Mason looked totally outclassed, we looked to be on the same level as the Bonnies in terms of size and skill. But they looked like they were putting in way more effort than we were.
11. The girl directly in front of us on the dance team kept us entertained, despite the lousy second half. Some things haven't changed since I graduated 22 years ago!

 

[mkaufman1]

We need @mason lawyer to cheer us up

 

[mkaufman1]

Will we get refunds in a class action lawsuit?

lmao if only man. Obviously when dave gets fired mason is getting a record donation so that’s something to look forward to.

 

[MasonSAE4]

I went to the game and a few thoughts:

1. AJ looked scared to do ANYTHING down low against their guy (with the huge knee brace). I don't recall him making a single move to the basket when he got the low post feed - either fumbled the ball and turned it over, or passed it back out, or stepped back and missed jumpers. Almost everyone sitting around me was commenting on it. The guy he was matched up against looked to be the same size and wasn't using much leverage. I couldn't understand why AJ didn't go at him, especially since he wasn't in foul trouble.
2. Hartwell should never have the ball when the shot clock is under 10. He cannot get a shot off over the bigger guy guarding him - and the guy guarding him is always bigger. He got bailed out once on a questionable foul
3. Oduro - I hardly remember him playing at all - not sure why not. Maybe it was a matchup thing, but I can't understand why he would ever be sitting while Mar is on the floor.
4. Mar - other than one nice stepback shot, he looked overmatched out there, as usual
5. The defense actually looked really good until the last 5 minutes of the game when the wheels came off completely.
6. Once the Bonnies went to pressure Man D to stop the outside shots, Mason looked really bad with ball handling. They're already bad against the zone, which the Bonnies used a lot for most of the game.
7. Everyone in the stands was getting frustrated that literally nobody on the team seemed interested in attacking the rim, either on offense or defense. Calixte was the only guy on the team that seemed interested in some contact down low, and he wasn't in there all that much.
8. Practically nobody was boxing out on rebounds. IDK what it looked like on TV, but GMU was totally dominated on the boards by a team that didn't look any bigger. I think one of the Bonnies had something like 20 boards, and few of them appeared to be contested.
9. Our offense is totally uncreative. If the 3's aren't falling, the team seems clueless as to how to score.
10. Unlike the TCU and vcu games, where Mason looked totally outclassed, we looked to be on the same level as the Bonnies in terms of size and skill. But they looked like they were putting in way more effort than we were.
11. The girl directly in front of us on the dance team kept us entertained, despite the lousy second half. Some things haven't changed since I graduated 22 years ago!

To points 1&8, Osunniyi is three inches taller than AJ. Depending on where you were sitting it may have seemed more equal but that guys got some length even on him. AJ looked like he was realizing what it was like to play against himself.

 

[mkaufman1]

sent him a tweet

It’s the return of @GMURaider everyone! Welcome back.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Dumb, dumber, and dumbest DP quote after a loss.
"The Bonnies really turned it up in the second half," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "I don't think I've ever seen a player impact the game so much and score eight points [Osun Osunniyi]. We really struggled against their matchup zone. We got really good looks in the first half and then our guys got a little tentative. We looked tremendous the first 15 minutes, but our toughness getting to the 50-50 balls and battling adversity needs to get better."

Pass the buck again douche.

 

[sleeperpick]

Once brad leaves and we get a new president I hope they fire Darrell, paulsen, all of his assistants other than simpkins, jay marsh’s 170 year old useless a** and everyone else. Find someone that lives in 2020 not 1970 and try and create a modern day basketball culture. Recruiting will improve when people realize we aren’t playing grand daddy basketball anymore. If I see paulsen cuss and kick at one more ally oop attempt I might throw something at him on the court.

 

[Irish44j]

To points 1&8, Osunniyi is three inches taller than AJ. Depending on where you were sitting it may have seemed more equal but that guys got some length even on him. AJ looked like he was realizing what it was like to play against himself.

Interesting. They really looked to be similar in height and build when standing next to each other all the time. but I'll take your word for it. One thing I've noticed is that almost all the bigs on teams we played this year seem to have that unstoppable baby hook. I keep on wondering why AJ hasn't developed that shot, because it's really the only option when he's up against stronger big men.

 

[sleeperpick]

Stop playing AJ at the 4 you dumb dumb coach

 

[mkaufman1]

Dumb, dumber, and dumbest DP quote after a loss.
"The Bonnies really turned it up in the second half," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "I don't think I've ever seen a player impact the game so much and score eight points [Osun Osunniyi]. We really struggled against their matchup zone. We got really good looks in the first half and then our guys got a little tentative. We looked tremendous the first 15 minutes, but our toughness getting to the 50-50 balls and battling adversity needs to get better."

some of these kids have been under dave 2-3-4 years, and they don’t know how to be tough or battle adversity? And they’ve played much of their lives too. Like come on. And the fact is they just lost 2 in a row, so you think they’d be ready to adjust.
Guess not.

 

[patriotchild]

To points 1&8, Osunniyi is three inches taller than AJ. Depending on where you were sitting it may have seemed more equal but that guys got some length even on him. AJ looked like he was realizing what it was like to play against himself.

AJ also has zero post moves, which was brutally evident tonight. It’s dunk or nothing. i would have liked to see Odoro, but I’m guessing he’s too slow on defense for OO. Calixte has some nice moves, but gave up size on D.

As with MSS we have no answer for a talented or somewhat talented big man right now.

I pray for these fellas when we play DU. we might not score 30.

 

[sleeperpick]

If Dave thinks Oduro isn’t good enough to play when AJ obviously cannot play the position because he’s undersized and it’s unnatural than damn maybe I was right that this kid should have gone to a NEC school. I don’t even think he’s that bad to not play him and put aj in a position to succeed. But as Gmu Jim says I am not masons basketball coach Herr Paulsen so I don’t know shit