Game Thread: Mason (8-1) vs. Jacksonville State (2-4), Tuesday, Dec. 3rd, 7:00 PM

[smccart5]

I'm not there yet, but I DO feel like there are zero games left on the schedule that it would SURPRISE. Like, this team may not be a great team, but it's a team that makes sense, and guys have roles, and guys have skills, and on any given night, any of 5 guys could have a big game and pull us across the line.

THAT's what feels like the OCM era: we have enough good players that on any given night, 1 or 2 of them is going to have a pretty good game. Some nights 3 or 4 are, and those nights, we're TROUBLE.

This is what all mid-major teams hope for, and we have it. If you have a team like this every year that's competitive, gets 20+ wins...etc., then one year they will get hot at the right time and make some serious noise. We're not asking for the WORLD, just an NCAA trip every couple years!

 

[GMUgemini]

This is what all mid-major teams hope for, and we have it. If you have a team like this every year that's competitive, gets 20+ wins...etc., then one year they will get hot at the right time and make some serious noise. We're not asking for the WORLD, just an NCAA trip every couple years!

If you take a look at St. Joe's record under Phil Martelli, that's not a horrible place to be (granted, he was there an eternity in college coaching terms), but 24 seasons, 7 NCAA appearances (1 Sweet 16, 1 Elite 8, 2 rounds of 32), and 6 NITs (2 Runner-ups, 2 second rounds). Granted, he had some lean years you wouldn't want to see, but overall a pretty solid 20 years worth of basketball (including 6 straight trips to either the NIT or NCAA).

I'd take McKillops record in the A-10 so far, too. So far, he's only missed the postseason once, and that was still a 17 win season. But McKillops is probably a Hall of Fame level coach.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

XJ if FAST. Guy can move at another speed from everyone else on the floor. He's already pretty under control, but see a lot of potential for him to be very good as he gains more control/experience

Agree and it was really dsiplayed on one play last night on a fast break that he effortlessly put on the jets and got the layup. He's a great finisher and will only get better.

 

[mkaufman1]

Agree and it was really dsiplayed on one play last night on a fast break that he effortlessly put on the jets and got the layup. He's a great finisher and will only get better.

He might be as fast as Cornelius was, but I think XJ is a better finisher and will only get better.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

He might be as fast as Cornelius was, but I think XJ is a better finisher and will only get better.

And XJ is 3 inches taller and 15 pounds heavier than AC.

 

[Junkees9]

What happened to Daddy Haidara? Is he hurt and I just missed that news?

 

[GMUgemini]

What happened to Daddy Haidara? Is he hurt and I just missed that news?

Yeah, wrist injury.

 

[mkaufman1]

And XJ is 3 inches taller and 15 pounds heavier than AC.

Yeah- I think XJ can be like a Bryan Allen type (same body build, but I think his shot is better at this point than Allen's as a frosh even though BA didn't play much frosh year). But if he can be a BA with DJ type speed that would be wonderful.

 

[smccart5]

And XJ is 3 inches taller and 15 pounds heavier than AC.

Memory is a little fuzzy at this point, but i remember AC always being a little out of control when he turned on the jets to get to the bucket

 

[JPgmuswim]

Yeah, wrist injury.

Wonder how serious it is or if he played too many games to redshirt this year. From the little I saw of him a year of seasoning wouldn’t hurt.

 

[Dawgs99]

Wonder how serious it is or if he played too many games to redshirt this year. From the little I saw of him a year of seasoning wouldn’t hurt.

I think he only dressed for 1 maybe 2 games....seems like a prime candidate for a medical redshirt. This could be a real benefit for us and him a few years from now.

 

[gmutom]

Yeah, wrist injury.

So bizarre to have two players suffering from serious wrist injuries. Maybe the entire team needs to start wearing those Wonder Woman bracelets or something.

 

[mkaufman1]

Memory is a little fuzzy at this point, but i remember AC always being a little out of control when he turned on the jets to get to the bucket

Yep! You remember like I do. It was basically like watching Luis Mendoza.

 

[GMUgemini]

I think he only dressed for 1 maybe 2 games....seems like a prime candidate for a medical redshirt. This could be a real benefit for us and him a few years from now.

That seems reasonable. With a rotation Hartwell, XJ, Miller, Kier, and Greene there are scant minutes on the wing for another player to get this year (and yes I know Hartwell isn't going to be playing on the wing, but Kier, Miller, and Greene are going to take pretty much all the minutes 2 and 3 spots).

 

[mason89]

Yeah- I think XJ can be like a Bryan Allen type (same body build, but I think his shot is better at this point than Allen's as a frosh even though BA didn't play much frosh year). But if he can be a BA with DJ type speed that would be wonderful.

To me, his game most resembles that of Darren Tarver whose Mason career lasted only 2 games due to heart issues. What a great talent, though.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...-tarver/6f999ebc-bdcb-48cd-9d4f-0b48d0248c17/

 

[Falco]

Yeah- I think XJ can be like a Bryan Allen type (same body build, but I think his shot is better at this point than Allen's as a frosh even though BA didn't play much frosh year). But if he can be a BA with DJ type speed that would be wonderful.

He reminds me of Boyd and Moore. Boyd’s strength and Moore’s ability to get to the hoop.

 

[Mason2005]

Giant Killer post game recap and highlights. Enjoy.

https://giantkiller.co/2019/12/04/video-jacksonville-state-vs-george-mason-post-game-highlights/

 

[MasonSAE4]

One thing I've been thinking about since Tuesday is I hope Kier's return doesn't herald the return of our handoff-based offense. I thought there were large stretches of games before he came back where the ball moved far better than it had at any time under DP because of how balanced our starting five was (and AJ's emergence under the basket) but there were times on Tuesday that looked as if they guys expected to just let Kier take the ball at the top of the key and do his thing and they weren't really moving.

 

[mkaufman1]

One thing I've been thinking about since Tuesday is I hope Kier's return doesn't herald the return of our handoff-based offense. I thought there were large stretches of games before he came back where the ball moved far better than it had at any time under DP because of how balanced our starting five was (and AJ's emergence under the basket) but there were times on Tuesday that looked as if they guys expected to just let Kier take the ball at the top of the key and do his thing and they weren't really moving.

Definitely agree with you, but that said I don't think anyone was doing anything right for the most part on either end of the ball. They would have 2-3 good possessions on defense or offense and then 3 bad ones.

They are going to have to be a lot more focused and ready to go Saturday, because American (I think) is better than their record. I know they have one guy who can really score. Hopefully they are practicing and focusing better going into Saturday.

 

[Falco]

Giant Killer post game recap and highlights. Enjoy.

https://giantkiller.co/2019/12/04/video-jacksonville-state-vs-george-mason-post-game-highlights/

GK hit the nail on the head. The arena felt sleepy.

Idk what needs to change but live sporting events in general (not just mason) seem pretty lame to me.

Sports used to be innovative, they incorporated bands, cheerleaders, dancers, half time shows. But now it’s the same acts across all sports.