Mason’s A-10 Finish

[MasonSAE4]

Someone needs to lay an egg against Fordham or La Salle. This clear divide down the middle isn't doing us favors. Crazy to think that we're only three wins away from what would've gotten us top four last season.

 

[GMUgemini]

I would agree, same with Dayton. We are going to have a near sellout most likely for homecoming vs Duquesne, so hopefully we get that tie breaker too. Split with vcu and beat Duquesne and I think we are in great shape for top 4.

Depending on how we do with the rest of the road games (@St. Bonaventure looms large, but so does Richmond after vcu -- can't afford to drop both), if we split with vcu and beat Duquense, I think we might be in good position to get top 2, possibly win the conference.

 

[GMUYoda]

URI loses on the road to UMASS today, 77-70

 

[dr. gunnie]

Thank you very much Minutemen!

 

[GMUgemini]

Thank you very much Minutemen!

They were bound to finally win one.

 

[psyclone]

As of this morning, Kenpom has us ranked as #114 in the country, based on the differential (+5.70) between our offensive efficiency (104.9) and our defensive efficiency (99.2). Our worst ranking during the year was #170 after the Vermont loss. Since then, it has been a pretty steady climb up the ladder with the biggest jumps after the St. Joe's and URI wins on the road.

Kenpom also provides efficiency ratings and rankings based on just conference play. We're currently tied for first in the conference with Dayton for offensive efficiency (107.1) and are second behind Davidson in defensive efficiency (90.2).

That yields a differential of +16.9 which is best in the conference (Dayton is second with +11.2). To carry this out further, if we had that differential across ALL our games this season, we'd currently be ranked #33 nationally, between NC State and Indiana!

I know, I know, this 16.9 differential is based on a small sample size and likely inflated by the fact that we have yet to play any of the 3 strongest teams in the conference (Dayton, vcu, and St. Louis) with 3 of those 4 games on the road where we currently are 5-8 pt underdogs. Still, it's fun to take a "green and gold" glasses view on where we are!

 

[Pikapppatri8]

More important thing to take away is what DP has done to adjust his approach with the team and have them coached up to perform better as a team. I think this has shown DP's strength. He can get the best out of these young men.

I am enjoying see him lead us out of the valley of the virus.

 

[psyclone]

As of this morning, Kenpom has us ranked as #114 in the country, based on the differential (+5.70) between our offensive efficiency (104.9) and our defensive efficiency (99.2). Our worst ranking during the year was #170 after the Vermont loss. Since then, it has been a pretty steady climb up the ladder with the biggest jumps after the St. Joe's and URI wins on the road.

Kenpom also provides efficiency ratings and rankings based on just conference play. We're currently tied for first in the conference with Dayton for offensive efficiency (107.1) and are second behind Davidson in defensive efficiency (90.2).

That yields a differential of +16.9 which is best in the conference (Dayton is second with +11.2). To carry this out further, if we had that differential across ALL our games this season, we'd currently be ranked #33 nationally, between NC State and Indiana!

I know, I know, this 16.9 differential is based on a small sample size and likely inflated by the fact that we have yet to play any of the 3 strongest teams in the conference (Dayton, vcu, and St. Louis) with 3 of those 4 games on the road where we currently are 5-8 pt underdogs. Still, it's fun to take a "green and gold" glasses view on where we are!

Time to update this:

Kenpom has us ranked as #117 in the country, based on the differential (+5.20) between our offensive efficiency (103.7) and our defensive efficiency (98.5).

Kenpom also provides efficiency ratings and rankings based on just conference play. We're currently fourth in the conference for offensive efficiency (103.5) and are first in defensive efficiency (90.4). That yields a differential of 13.1. If that was our differential for the year, we would currently be #52 in the Kenpom rankings.

The differential for all the teams in the A10 in conference play, ranked from best to worst:

• Mason +13.1
• Dayton +10.9
• vcu +9.6
• Davidson+8.9
• St Bonaventure +5.6
• St. Louis +5.6
• Duquesne +2.3
• URI +1.0
• LaSalle -3.8
• GW -6.7
• UMass -10.2
• Richmond -10.5
• Fordham -15.0
• St. Joe's -15.1

Naturally some of the variability in conference differentials is a function of differences in schedules (some teams have played better opponents than others). So we might want to be a bit wary of our high positive differential---our conference strength of schedule (another kenpom stat) is ranked 9th, while vcu's is 5th in difficulty. UMass is first, St. Louis is last).

 

[GSII]

so what your saying is these stats don't mean shit and it comes down to Brooklyn?

 

[psyclone]

so what your saying is these stats don't mean shit and it comes down to Brooklyn?

Obviously it always comes down to how you do in the A10 tournament. While these conference-only kenpom stats are imperfect, they do give us a sense of how we currently have improved, especially defensively, over the first part of the season. Puts a number on how we're doing and at least some basis for projecting as how we might do in the near future. And provides some reason to be cautiously optimistic.

 

[psyclone]

A couple of games of interest tonight:

• Richmond on the road leading St. Louis at the half: 47-40
• URI on the road leading Duquesne 42-29 early in the second half

 

[dr. gunnie]

The ole’ mid-game score jinx is alive and well

 

[psyclone]

The ole’ mid-game score jinx is alive and well

Nobody warned me that I was jinxing the outcome!

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Good news - Richmond looking good in this game

Bad news - Richmond fans will see another year of mooney

 

[MasonSAE4]

Good news - Richmond looking good in this game

Bad news - Richmond fans will see another year of mooney

They’re gonna blow it. They can’t rebound. Giving up a ton of second chance points.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

They’re gonna blow it. They can’t rebound. Giving up a ton of second chance points.

I feel you but SLU is also giving up a lot of turnovers

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Richmond up 9 now

 

[MasonSAE4]

I feel you but SLU is also giving up a lot of turnovers

Ignore me. I forgot SLU can't shoot for shit.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Ignore me. I forgot SLU can't shoot for shit.

Funny thing is - that is the team we were really worried about - and Dayton

 

[Pikapppatri8]

And here comes the choke