News George Mason’s Anali Okoloji suspended for stepping on Anthony Collins (VIDEO)

[patriot2000]

I saw the video and during the game the commentators even said it looked like AO was trying to keep his balance and it was not intentional. His hands were up and he looked off balance.

That's what it looked like at first, but the second kick was a downward thrust that seemed to have nothing to do with balance. The entire thing was clearly unintentional until the last push with the foot.

PiKapp, I admire your positive attitude about our team and players without being a totally blind homer. But I will say this -

I have very little (or no) inside information under this regime. But I did hear something about this situation from someone who knows someone who knows something. I'm assuming it's not my privilege to share the information but I think it's safe to offervthis conjecture:

Do you really think this would be an indefinite suspension with no public suport from the AD/coaches if he did nothing wrong? Why was he supported at the press conference then suddenly he's suspended? Perhaps some discussions were had and some confessions were made. Maybe the athlete you are saying unintentionally stepped on an opposing player has, himself, admitted it was intentional. Or, maybe I'm wrong. I live 3 hours away and no longer have friends within the organization. Friends of friends of friends are not always reliable.

I'm not sure why I'm being honest about my feelings about AO... I usually leave my individual criticisms off the boards. I guess it's just that our support of our players seems disingenuous if we can't also be honest about our complaints.

Again, disclaimer, all of my thoughts on AO are my opinions about him ON THE COURT. I know nothing about him as a young man and assume he's a great student and citizen.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

 

[Walter]

I am going to assume that even when AO comes back after the suspension he will never see the court again.

 

[Patriotfan49]

LOL at the comments people had when we signed him....expecting a big east reject to just blow it up. I recall one off the top of my head that particularly hilarious "Kevin Durant like mismatches".

I still to this day have no idea why he is eating a scholarship or other than Hewitt doing AO's mom a solid, why he is here to begin with

 

[GMUSSTN]

LOL at the comments people had when we signed him....expecting a big east reject to just blow it up. I recall one off the top of my head that particularly hilarious "Kevin Durant like mismatches".

I still to this day have no idea why he is eating a scholarship or other than Hewitt doing AO's mom a solid, why he is here to begin with

He's Hewitt's wet dream...6'8", 215lbs., mediocre at all positions...

 

[Patriotfan49]

He's Hewitt's wet dream...6'8", 215lbs., mediocre at all positions...

That much is obvious lol....

 

[GMUgemini]

LOL at the comments people had when we signed him....expecting a big east reject to just blow it up. I recall one off the top of my head that particularly hilarious "Kevin Durant like mismatches".

I still to this day have no idea why he is eating a scholarship or other than Hewitt doing AO's mom a solid, why he is here to begin with

I think it's pretty obvious at this point in his career (if he has one left here) is that he's playing out of position. I think Hewitt would do Anali a service by putting him closer to the basket.

He's about the same size as Jenkins, both height and build, but less coordinated. Why is AO playing on the perimeter? It reminds me of the Birdsong situation when Coach L tried to put Birdsong on the perimeter and it just didn't work.

 

[Patriotfan49]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/102087/anali-okoloji

Just curious, where the hell are these kind of schools? "Impact Basketball Academy"?

Gemini you may be right, but to be honest I cant see him doing any better down low. I think his best fit would be out on the perimeter being used as a guard like forward. I cant even imagine he would know what to do back to the basket down low...I think his best position is where he will be next game, not suiting up.

 

[gmu2006]

That's what it looked like at first, but the second kick was a downward thrust that seemed to have nothing to do with balance. The entire thing was clearly unintentional until the last push with the foot.

PiKapp, I admire your positive attitude about our team and players without being a totally blind homer. But I will say this -

I have very little (or no) inside information under this regime. But I did hear something about this situation from someone who knows someone who knows something. I'm assuming it's not my privilege to share the information but I think it's safe to offervthis conjecture:

Do you really think this would be an indefinite suspension with no public suport from the AD/coaches if he did nothing wrong? Why was he supported at the press conference then suddenly he's suspended? Perhaps some discussions were had and some confessions were made. Maybe the athlete you are saying unintentionally stepped on an opposing player has, himself, admitted it was intentional. Or, maybe I'm wrong. I live 3 hours away and no longer have friends within the organization. Friends of friends of friends are not always reliable.

I'm not sure why I'm being honest about my feelings about AO... I usually leave my individual criticisms off the boards. I guess it's just that our support of our players seems disingenuous if we can't also be honest about our complaints.

Again, disclaimer, all of my thoughts on AO are my opinions about him ON THE COURT. I know nothing about him as a young man and assume he's a great student and citizen.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

I disagree, Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk, from what I could see the last push with the foot was because he was already slightly off balance, not even looking down, and the heal of his foot gets slightly caught in the USF players shirt. This causes him to fall forward slightly and put light pressure on a pansy USF player on the ground. I watched the DVR recording several times at home in slow motion. He was off balance enough that even a slight entanglement from the shirt would cause him to fall forward.

I wish he just shoved his foot down fully, then stomped on the USF players head for good measure. Then this would be worth a suspension.

AO may not be that productive on the floor and may cause issues in some cases, but if our bigs get into foul trouble or need a rest, he could at least be useful for a minute or two. I don't think the suspension was warranted in this case.

 

[Patriotfan49]

I disagree, Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk, from what I could see the last push with the foot was because he was already slightly off balance, not even looking down, and the heal of his foot gets slightly caught in the USF players shirt. This causes him to fall forward slightly and put light pressure on a pansy USF player on the ground. I watched the DVR recording several times at home in slow motion. He was off balance enough that even a slight entanglement from the shirt would cause him to fall forward.

I wish he just shoved his foot down fully, then stomped on the USF players head for good measure. Then this would be worth a suspension.

AO may not be that productive on the floor and may cause issues in some cases, but if our bigs get into foul trouble or need a rest, he could at least be useful for a minute or two. I don't think the suspension was warranted in this case.

Look at the replay again dude lol:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5nlEA8BUTQ

 

[GMUgemini]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/102087/anali-okoloji

Just curious, where the hell are these kind of schools? "Impact Basketball Academy"?

Gemini you may be right, but to be honest I cant see him doing any better down low. I think his best fit would be out on the perimeter being used as a guard like forward. I cant even imagine he would know what to do back to the basket down low...I think his best position is where he will be next game, not suiting up.

I wasn't really thinking of it in terms of offense (because he has no offensive game).

 

[gmubrian]

I wasn't really thinking of it in terms of offense (because he has no offensive game).

And that is what we really need more of, big guys that don't score?

 

[GMUgemini]

And that is what we really need more of, big guys that don't score?

We have what we have...

I just think he'd foul less, turn the ball over less, and be more productive with the minutes he does get if he isn't out on the perimeter handling the ball or guarding players much quicker and more agile than him.

 

[GMUSSTN]

I wasn't really thinking of it in terms of offense (because he has no offensive game).

Is it better or worse than J2 though? Maybe AO can manage to go up with the ball and not get stuffed by the rim...

 

[Patriotfan49]

Its getting bad at this point.....where we are basically using "cant be worse than this guy, may as well play him" lol

 

[patriot2000]

GMU2006, no matter how many times we've watched the video, I think we're seeing what we want to at this point. That's not a dig on your perspective, just the truth about both of our perspectives. I admit I am biased by hearing from what I think is a reliable source that no one close to the organization thinks the suspension was unwarranted.

However, based on what happened in game, that we fans could see, I wholeheartedly agree that anything more than a game is massive overkill. This assumes that there was not a greater behind the scenes issue like fighting with the coaches or AD about the 1 game suspension. Assuming what we've seen and heard is all there is to it, I maintain that a one game suspension is fair as long as any other player is treated the same way. I don't want the kind of program where an AO is disciplined for a hard foul and a Sherrod Wright gets a free pass.

Oh, and I finally have remembered to uncheck the GalaxyS4 box.

 

[gmubrian]

We have what we have...

I just think he'd foul less, turn the ball over less, and be more productive with the minutes he does get if he isn't out on the perimeter handling the ball or guarding players much quicker and more agile than him.

I hear what you are saying. It was just the thought of another guy down low that can't score sent shivers up my spine.

 

[GMUSig03]

My 2 cents:

My Fiancee met Anali at walmart and ended up having a long conversation with him and she could not have described him as a nicer/more humble kid. He even waited around for her to autograph some mason paraphernalia she had in her car.

I think he definitely kicked the guy but it was a spur of the moment reaction out of frustration, it wasn't taunting like Sherrod's finger poke and it wasn't premeditated like Skinn's nut shot. It also wasn't done to harm as it was more of a push than a kick.

I think it is totally warranted to give him a one game suspension, and I am happy to have that accountability in our program (unlike any of Urban Meyer's programs).

I don't think any of us can really opine with any certainty on any aspect of the suspension that relates to what Anali said/did after, in terms of communicating with the Coaches, but it seems pretty obvious that he lied to Hewitt and that is the reason for the change from defending him to suspending him.

I think it's unfair to clamour for an indefinite suspension or to kick him off the team and any one doing so has to admit they are tainted by their disapproval of his play on the court. No one would be saying to kick him off the team if it was Sherrod/Allen/Jenkins/Marko

 

[Walter]

I don't know AO but I get the impression that he is a good guy. He made a mistake. I am sure he feels bad about what happened. We should let it go. No use continuing to hammer the guy.

 

[MasonFanatic]

We have what we have...

I just think he'd foul less, turn the ball over less, and be more productive with the minutes he does get if he isn't out on the perimeter handling the ball or guarding players much quicker and more agile than him.

Most of his turnovers seem to happen in the paint....

 

[MasonFanatic]

If it wasn't an intentional kick, then it was reckless disregard for the helpless player on the floor. I'm sure Coach Hewitt weighed Anali's explanation against the video evidence. He started out by defending his player, so something big enough to change his mind must have come to light.

But enough about that.