Searching for Vaughn Gray

[AAUMAN]

I saw the UMass game and observed the shot of the night from Vaughn Gray. Vaughn was on the floor in the first half for about 2 or 3mins but the 3pt shot that he took was of beauty.....this kid ran off a screen full speed at the top of the key(three pt arc) and elevated about 20 inch off the floor and launched what was the most beautiful J in that game.....PERIOD. I know this game and believe me that is a NEXT LEVEL stroke and it's a DAMN SHAME that this head coach and coaching staff doesn't know how to use this kid. Other than Patrick Hollway who will provide scoring next year? If Vaughn Gray is smart he will leave this program and find a home where he can show chase his skill set because this kid can BALL and who will provide the offensive punch for this team other than Patrick Holloway next year? Holloway and Gray could put up crazy numbers in the back court next year but like I said Gray would be a fool to stay with this head coach and coaching staff. Good luck to Gray and his future because this dude is talented. No one on this team can stroke it like that......form and function is what I'm talking about and not just shooting a J or 3pt shot.

 

[Walter]

He would have to move down a level or sit out a year. That is a tough decision for a kid.

 

[azgmu]

I saw the UMass game and observed the shot of the night from Vaughn Gray. Vaughn was on the floor in the first half for about 2 or 3mins but the 3pt shot that he took was of beauty.....this kid ran off a screen full speed at the top of the key(three pt arc) and elevated about 20 inch off the floor and launched what was the most beautiful J in that game.....PERIOD. I know this game and believe me that is a NEXT LEVEL stroke and it's a DAMN SHAME that this head coach and coaching staff doesn't know how to use this kid. Other than Patrick Hollway who will provide scoring next year? If Vaughn Gray is smart he will leave this program and find a home where he can show chase his skill set because this kid can BALL and who will provide the offensive punch for this team other than Patrick Holloway next year? Holloway and Gray could put up crazy numbers in the back court next year but like I said Gray would be a fool to stay with this head coach and coaching staff. Good luck to Gray and his future because this dude is talented. No one on this team can stroke it like that......form and function is what I'm talking about and not just shooting a J or 3pt shot.

He took one shot the whole game. Even if what you're saying is true, how do you judge that from just one shot?

 

[AAUMAN]

GMUBRIAN you are correct. Give Gray 25+ mins with the rope off his neck and don't tell me this kid can't get major buckets aganist anyone in the A10. Is Gray a star?.....who is to say when this kid NEVER got a shot with this head coach and coaching staff....see GMUTOM you only know Bball on a small scale but I'm in this game on a higher level and your argument has no weight because there is no way you can measure what Gray can do if he was NEVER given a FEAR change. Like I said GMUTOM....stay in your little town with your little views because I'm talking some MAJOR ish....

 

[AAUMAN]

He took one shot the whole game. Even if what you're saying is true, how do you judge that from just one shot?

You just have to KNOW the GAME....

 

[gmutom]

AAUMAN, thanks for bringing some much-needed credibility back to our boards. It's always nice to get the perspective of somebody who's in the game "on a higher level." And as humbled as I am that you mentioned me my name, all I can do as a fan is root for the players the coaches put on the court.

Do I think Gray could do more if given more minutes? Absolutely. I imagine that could be said about any player getting more PT. Do I think he's done everything asked of him to warrant extra minutes? I have no idea, but there has to be some reason he's not playing more — aside from being behind Allen, Wright and Holloway on the depth chart.

Unlike you, I have no agenda. As a Mason fan, I just want to win ball games; and if VG is a player who can help us do it, then by all means he should be on the court 35 minutes a game. I hope he sticks around and inherits all of Allen's minutes next season, but I also wouldn't be shocked to see him leave if he feels like he hasn't gotten a fair shake.

 

[Pablo]

I hope he sticks around and inherits all of Allen's minutes next season, but I also wouldn't be shocked to see him leave if he feels like he hasn't gotten a fair shake.

It seems more likely to me that Vaughn Gray would inherit Sherrod Wright's minutes at the "3", while Patrick Holloway would replace Allen as the starter at the "2" position. Of course, this is assuming that both will return to Mason next season.

 

[gmutom]

It seems more likely to me that Vaughn Gray would inherit Sherrod Wright's minutes at the "3", while Patrick Holloway would replace Allen as the starter at the "2" position. Of course, this is assuming that both will return to Mason next season.

Valid point, Pablo. I never really think of Allen as a prototypical 2-guard, but Holloway would definitely fill that role. Either way, there will be about 63 minutes of playing time opening up in our backcourt with Sherrod and Bryon moving on, so the opportunity will certainly be there for both Patrick and Vaughn to get some major court time.

 

[Mason2005]

The games I've seen VG play in, he seems pretty lost on the offensive side and defensively he is terrible. There's always like a 3 ft gap b/t him and his man. If he tightens up his defense he'll see the court more.

 

[GMUgemini]

The games I've seen VG play in, he seems pretty lost on the offensive side and defensively he is terrible. There's always like a 3 ft gap b/t him and his man. If he tightens up his defense he'll see the court more.

He does have a pretty jump shot, though.

 

[Mason2005]

Valid point, Pablos. I never really think of Allen as a prototypical 2-guard, but Holloway would definitely fill that role. Either way, there will be about 63 minutes of playing time opening up in our backcourt with Sherrod and Bryon moving on, so the opportunity will certainly be there for both Patrick and Vaughn to get some major court time.

With 3 guys coming in next year who can fill the 2/3 spot and are said to be defensively minded players VG will have to fight for those minutes.

 

[gmubrian]

The games I've seen VG play in, he seems pretty lost on the offensive side and defensively he is terrible.

You could say that about just about everyone else on the team...

Based on what I understand about the offense we are supposed to be playing (a dribble drive style), he is hanging out in the corner to create space for others to drive into the lane. Holloway seems to regularly go through the same motions (or lack thereof), so it would seem to me that they are receiving similar instructions.

 

[MasonFanatic]

AAUMAN, Where were you when Vaughn Gray stepped out of the way of Ovie Soko's drive and got absolutely posterized on a dunk against Duquesne? If you want to know why Vaughn doesn't get more playing time, I don't think you need to look any further than Vaughn himself. He doesn't play enough defense.

 

[NoCliche87]

The games I've seen VG play in, he seems pretty lost on the offensive side and defensively he is terrible. There's always like a 3 ft gap b/t him and his man. If he tightens up his defense he'll see the court more.

I would agree but from what we all see is that every player down the line can't play defense and gets beat repeatedly

 

[gmutom]

I would agree but from what we all see is that every player down the line can't play defense and gets beat repeatedly

This is what I love about NoCliche87. Unlike AAUMan, he is at least open-minded to a discussion on what VG needs to do to improve. And I do agree with your point above, because there truly are no great defenders on this team. Hell, Marko makes Vaughn look like Gary "the Glove" Payton defensively.

Although there are probably things Gray could do to earn more time, I just think it comes down to a number of available minutes. Justified or not, we know Hewitt is going to play Allen and Wright most of the game, which means VG is battling Holloway for court time (especially with Moore getting so many minutes at the point).

 

[AAUMAN]

AAUMAN, Where were you when Vaughn Gray stepped out of the way of Ovie Soko's drive and got absolutely posterized on a dunk against Duquesne? If you want to know why Vaughn doesn't get more playing time, I don't think you need to look any further than Vaughn himself. He doesn't play enough defense.

Come on Dude! George Mason back court D....are you kidding me. Get a clue....why would Vaughn Gray take a charge when Marko and Cope got beat on that play. Stop pulling this Vaughn doesn't play D out of your azz.....who does on this team especially Man 2 Man? how about no one. Answer this question for me! Where will the scoring come from next year other than Patrick? MasonFanatic... you are a small town dude with a small town view(go coach your little guy YMCA team and teach them how to play D).....George Mason and D(man 2 man).....wake the hell up. All you have to do is review the game tapes on the back court man 2 man D and just laugh your azz off when it comes to KEY STONE COPS style of D...man 2 man that is.

 

[Patriotfan49]

AAUMAN, Where were you when Vaughn Gray stepped out of the way of Ovie Soko's drive and got absolutely posterized on a dunk against Duquesne? If you want to know why Vaughn doesn't get more playing time, I don't think you need to look any further than Vaughn himself. He doesn't play enough defense.

You could insert EVERYONE of our players names in this...

Where was *fill in the blank* when so and so drove the lane or turned the corner or laid it in etc......I like VG alot and think he could help us out, but to say his defense is the issue is bs. Its not as if we have any lock down artists on the team, and Sherrod's defense is about as bad as they come in the body of a guard.

Also lets not isolate one single play, because that is not indicitive of an entire body of work. When Gray has been out on the floor this season, I watch to see how he does on defense since its been long rumored that was his "issue" and he isnt bad. Sure hes not a lock down defender, but he is no different than any other of our guys.

 

[mason2k1]

MasonFanatic... you are a small town dude with a small town view(go coach your little guy YMCA team and teach them how to play D).....George Mason and D(man 2 man).....wake the hell up.

Like I said GMUTOM....stay in your little town with your little views because I'm talking some MAJOR ish....

all this small town talk

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CVLVaBECuc

 

[AAUMAN]

With 3 guys coming in next year who can fill the 2/3 spot and are said to be defensively minded players VG will have to fight for those minutes.

The 3 guys Mason has coming in next year are TRASH.....check the ESPN TOP 100 and check their rankings(1 thru 100 ratings)......You have no one rated over 80 in ratings and you're taking about this WEAK AZZ recruiting class that is coming in and I mean WEAK. vcu has a real recruiting class with one 4star and two 3star STUDS...what about George Mason? My name is AAUMAN not CLUELESS so before you reply do some research and just stop coming up with BS from the top of your head.....FACTS and only the FACTS because I'll can give you the FACTS. Talking about next year recruiting class.....stay in your little town and read your small town news paper sport section....lol

 

[NoCliche87]

This is what I love about NoCliche87. Unlike AAUMan, he is at least open-minded to a discussion on what VG needs to do to improve. And I do agree with your point above, because there truly are no great defenders on this team. Hell, Marko makes Vaughn look like Gary "the Glove" Payton defensively.

Although there are probably things Gray could do to earn more time, I just think it comes down to a number of available minutes. Justified or not,...

Thanks tom.... I mean it is what it is at this point, let's call a spade a spade... especially being our record indicates NO ONE being a lockdown defender on this team... hell if we played man to man for the umass game im not so sure we'd have the same outcome because just as much as we can score, everyone gives up and some... but for others to single him out as if he's the only one that doesn't play defense is far from truth and i wonder what they see when others that are playing get beat repeatedly.

but anyways... traveling down for the homecoming tomorrow... hope to see a few of you guys there...