Game Thread: Mason vs LaSalle

[gmujim92]

& My Wager is $100 that Mason doesn't finish higher than 6.

Yeah I’m not touching that.

 

[GMUgemini]

Relax. I have never bashed reuter, I liked his offensive game a LOT. Defense and athleticism was bad but at least he made the right passes and can make a FT. Now Oduro can stretch out the Defense a little bit from the FT line because of his mid-range, i'm just curious why that high post grab and backdoor cut couldn't be done with Oduro in zone situations.

Both Kier and Miller have shown they can play in pivot in the middle of a zone. I’m not sure why they were so achingly bad against Bona.

 

[gmujim92]

Both Kier and Miller have shown they can play in pivot in the middle of a zone. I’m not sure why they were so achingly bad against Bona.

Because Schmidt is smart and he had one of the guards dropping down to take away the pass to the middle. You can do that when you don’t have to worry about the opponent’s outside shooting, which was pretty much nonexistent in the second half.

 

[mason89]

Both Kier and Miller have shown they can play in pivot in the middle of a zone. I’m not sure why they were so achingly bad against Bona.

He was playing a very creative 1-1-3 zone where one guard played the in the ball-handling area and the other guard focused on guarding the key...Kier's sweet spot. Loved watching it in action, but wished it was against a different team!

 

[GMUgemini]

He was playing a very creative 1-1-3 zone where one guard played the in the ball-handling area and the other guard focused on guarding the key...Kier's sweet spot. Loved watching it in action, but wished it was against a different team!

So it sounds like we actually could have used Oduro writing up at either elbow?! I guess Paulsen didn’t trust him to make the right decisions with the ball in his hands?

 

[sleeperpick]

So it sounds like we actually could have used Oduro writing up at either elbow?! I guess Paulsen didn’t trust him to make the right decisions with the ball in his hands?

even I wanted Oduro in more than the 3 mins he played.... Paulsen didn't though apparently

 

[gmujim92]

even I wanted Oduro in more than the 3 mins he played.... Paulsen didn't though apparently

Just guessing, but after watching Oduro get abused by MSS, seems like Dave figured AJ was the better option to guard Osunnyi.

I thought AJ did a really good job against him, even though we obviously got destroyed on the boards.

 

[sleeperpick]

Just guessing, but after watching Oduro get abused by MSS, seems like Dave figured AJ was the better option to guard Osunnyi.

I thought AJ did a really good job against him, even though we obviously got destroyed on the boards.

he did just fine 1-1 defending but the team can't rebound with AJ guarding him and Osun took AJ out of his offensive game and we had no big to tae advantage of Bona's smaller lineup when Aj was equalized

 

[psyclone]

Kenpom #157 Mason a 3 pt underdog to #158 LaSalle. We're back to where we were in the very beginning of the year in the Kenpom ratings and now predicted to be 7-11 in conference.

LaSalle is a bottom 50 team on offense in terms of Block% (where we're particularly good on defense thanks to AJ), Steal % and Turnover% (were we're middle of the pack).

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Because Schmidt is smart and he had one of the guards dropping down to take away the pass to the middle. You can do that when you don’t have to worry about the opponent’s outside shooting, which was pretty much nonexistent in the second half.

Wait, so you're saying he adjusted? Hmm, interesting thought.

 

[Copes4Three]

Yeah I’m not touching that.

Of course you wont .

 

[GMUgemini]

Wait, so you're saying he adjusted? Hmm, interesting thought.

He probably just watched tape. Can't remember the other team that did that to us (maybe Loyola (MD)?), but they sagged into the FT line in their zone and neutralized us.

 

[PoorManProfit]

Kenpom #157 Mason a 3 pt underdog to #158 LaSalle. We're back to where we were in the very beginning of the year in the Kenpom ratings and now predicted to be 7-11 in conference.

LaSalle is a bottom 50 team on offense in terms of Block% (where we're particularly good on defense thanks to AJ), Steal % and Turnover% (were we're middle of the pack).

I was thinking earlier today if anyone would take the bet that G Mas finishes under .500 overall? My first reaction is no (although it might be razor-thin close). However, with Diet Mountain Dew Dave at the helm, it just might happen with a 4-14 A-10 implosion. I don't see many wins on the schedule with this crew.

 

[Pablo]

https://gomason.com/news/2020/1/9/mens-basketball-mason-starts-road-swing-at-la-salle-saturday.aspx:

"FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team plays its first A-10 road game of the season Saturday when the Patriots battle La Salle in Philly.

Tip-off inside Tom Gola Arena is set for 2 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+. In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 1:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• Mason will look to snap a three-game losing skid Saturday. During that stretch, the Patriots have struggled offensively, averaging 53.7 points while shooting 35.8 percent and 29.2 percent from 3-point range.

• The Patriots started 5-of-7 from 3-point range Wednesday vs. St. Bonaventure and led 19-4, but scored 30 points in the next 34 minutes as SBU held a +16 (34-18) edge in the second half en route to a 61-49 win.

• Justin Kier (11 points, 3-6 3pt FG) and AJ Wilson (11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks) led Mason against the Bonnies. Freshman guard Xavier Johnson made his first careeer start, played 36 minutes and dished out three assists.

• Redshirt-junior AJ Wilson is third in the nation in blocks/game (3.67). Wilson is fourth on Mason's all-time blocks list (127) and his 55 blocks in 2019-20 is t-3rd in single season history.

• SBU held a +20 (44-24) edge on the glass against Mason. Prior to the TCU game, the Patriots averaged a +5.4 rebounding margin. During the losing skid, Mason's average is -15.0.

• Mason's 11 regular season non-conference wins are a Division I school record. The Patriots had 10 victories in 2016-17 and 2010-11, and nine in 2011-12 and 2007-08. The 1983-84 team (Div. II) tallied 16 regular season non-conference wins. Mason began the year 5-0 for the first time in school history.

• Through two A-10 games, Kier is averaging 11 points and shooting 40 percent from 3-point range in 32.6 minutes per contest.

• Offensive rebounds continue to be both a strength and weakness for the Patriots. Per KenPom, Mason grabs an offensive board on 32.2 percent of their possessions (68th nationally), but gives one up on 31.2 percent of possessions (285th nationally).

• The Patriots commit just 15.5 personal fouls per game (62nd nationally, 3rd in A-10) and the team's defensive free throw rate (opponent FT attempts/FG attempts) is just 23.3 percent, good for 23rd nationally.

• Wilson leads Mason with 12.8 ppg in road/neutral site games this season. He also averages 9.4 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. Jamal Hartwell II is at 12.4 ppg and shoots 36.7 percent from 3-point range away from EagleBank Arena.

HISTORY vs. LA SALLE
Saturday's matchup marks the seventh all-time meeting between Mason and La Salle. The programs had never met prior to the Patriots' entry into the Atlantic 10 in 2013-14. The Patriots have won all three meetings in Fairfax, but the Explorers have captured two of three in Philly. Last season, Mason won 84-76 in EagleBank Arena behind a career-best 21 points and seven rebounds from then junior Javon Greene. Mason senior Justin Kier has played in two career games vs. the Explorers and put up an impressive 16 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 66.7 percent (14-21) from the floor.

A LOOK AT THE EXPLORERS (10-5, 1-2 A-10; NET No. 169, KenPom No. 158)
La Salle was picked to finish 10th out of 14 teams in the 2019-20 Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The Explorers put together a strong 9-3 non-conference slate, including a title-winning 3-0 performance at the Gulf Coast Showcase. La Salle has dropped two of its three A-10 games, including an 84-58 setback to #15 Dayton in Tom Gola Arena and a victory at Fordham. The Explorers feature a top-100 KenPom defense (95th, 0.96 points/possession) and rank 40th nationally in 3pt FG defense (.290). La Salle is led by senior Isiah Deas, who averages 12.7 points per game. Junior David Beatty is at 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest, while sophomore Ed Croswell chips in 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest.

ACTIVATING SUCCESS IN THE ATLANTIC 10
Over the last three seasons, George Mason has become one of the most consistent programs in the A-10. The Patriots are one of just four programs to post a league record of .500 or better in each of the past three campaigns. The other programs are Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure and vcu. Mason has averaged 9.7 A-10 wins over the past three seasons. The Patriots averaged 4.3 conference victories over their first three seasons in the league.

UP NEXT
Mason returns to the DMV to play at Revolutionary Rival George Washington on Wednesday (January 15). Tip-off inside the Smith Center is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+."

 

[TweederGMU]

& My Wager is $100 that Mason doesn't finish higher than 6.

We will be lucky to win 6 games in the A-10.

 

[Pablo]

https://goexplorers.com/news/2020/1...ns-with-alcoholic-beverage-pilot-program.aspx:

"PHILADELPHIA – La Salle Athletics will partner with its concessionaire, Aramark, to begin a pilot program that will sell alcoholic beverages within Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center for the remainder of the 2019-20 men's basketball season, school officials announced on Thursday.

'Our athletics department staff has reviewed data and best practices pertaining to alcohol sales at peer institutions within the Atlantic 10 and around the country,' Director of Athletics and Recreation Brian Baptiste said.

'Currently, nine other conference institutions sell alcohol to the public during basketball games,' Baptiste continued. 'We believe this pilot program will enhance the game-day experience for our fan base.'

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 11 with the men's basketball game against George Mason, beer and hard cider will be available for purchase by fans 21 and over on the mezzanine level of Tom Gola Arena, in addition to The Hideaway Tent location."

 

[GreenLantern]

Us - 53
Them - 86
OT

 

[FreeGunston12]

Bingo except our bigs ARE serviceable.

I don't know. I'm pretty down on AJ right now. Couldn't contain his excitement against vcu. And I personally put a lot of blame on him for letting SBU back in the game yesterday. He got selfish with his touches and it cost us all momentum in the first half.

Oduro is way ahead of schedule but hasn't shown that he is ready for conference play at all.

I personally like Calixte's game. My guess is that he doesn't get time because he slows down the offense. He always turns his back to the basket when he has the ball and can't run that pick/handoff very well. Add to that the free throw woes. I wish Paulsen would design something where he stands in the weak short corner and AJ/Miller set the ball screens.

If we lose this one, I'm back on the fire Paulsen train.

 

[gmubrian]

I wonder why people think Brad's definitely giving him more time. The contract extensions in the first two years were clear indicators that the clock isn't ticking yet. Those stopped happening... clock is ticking now.

Brad's never getting that SEC job you know he craves unless he can win in basketball at a basketball-first school. Gotta think he's approaching his tipping point as well.

I would not read too much into the end of extensions after the first two years. Those extensions were built into the original contract that was a 5+2.

I would be REALLY surprised if Brad dumped Paulsen at the end of this year. That would be very bold, paying out a coach two years early that hasn’t done an appalling job. I can’t really recall anything that Brad has done that has been what I would consider bold. Some good, obvious low hanging fruit type decisions, but nothing bold unless you count hiring your football buddy to do, apparently, nothing.

 

[Pablo]

I would not read too much into the end of extensions after the first two years. Those extensions were built into the original contract that was a 5+2.

I would be REALLY surprised if Brad dumped Paulsen at the end of this year. That would be very bold, paying out a coach two years early that hasn’t done an appalling job. I can’t really recall anything that Brad has done that has been what I would consider bold. Some good, obvious low hanging fruit type decisions, but nothing bold unless you count hiring your football buddy to do, apparently, nothing.

I don't believe that Edwards has the authority to fire the men's basketball coach, although he could recommend doing so.