The Big Dance: Is Mason going?

[A.-Siegfried]

Of course, many pundits and basketball followers said the exact same thing about Davidson last year, too. I will just say this, the A-10 isn't the ACC, and there is no monopoly at the top of the standings (also Richmond couldn't even beat a Hewitt-led GMU team, I'd be surprised if they had a winning record against Paulsen).

Um. Richmond beat us last year at their place. In a game when they didn't grab a single offensive rebound. They didn't need to, of course, because they shot 68% in the first half.

One of the low points for me.....

 

[Patriotsince81]

I'm thinking that MarchMadness32 is really GMURaider's father. I appreciate the optimism.

 

[March Madness32]

Can I jump in as a new fan? I really don't know much about your team but I like the direction they are going. I have family in Leesburg and they are semi-fans so I'm following you guys as well. I have to go on generalities right now, the current happenings in the A10, etc. I like your new coach, I believe your big man will have a breakout year which will open things up for the rest of your team. I cannot figure out the guard situation because I hear that is your greatest need and I can't decipher the rest of the team right now. I like cinderellas in the big dance and in my view you guys are the up and comers and I'm getting in early. I think .500 this year is on the low end, considering the ooc and the changes in the league. I'll go .650 or .700 for starters and next year we'll have some momentum. I'm in.

 

[psyclone]

Can I jump in as a new fan? I really don't know much about your team but I like the direction they are going. I have family in Leesburg and they are semi-fans so I'm following you guys as well. I have to go on generalities right now, the current happenings in the A10, etc. I like your new coach, I believe your big man will have a breakout year which will open things up for the rest of your team. I cannot figure out the guard situation because I hear that is your greatest need and I can't decipher the rest of the team right now. I like cinderellas in the big dance and in my view you guys are the up and comers and I'm getting in early. I think .500 this year is on the low end, considering the ooc and the changes in the league. I'll go .650 or .700 for starters and next year we'll have some momentum. I'm in.

New fans are always welcome and someone sounding an optimistic note (perhaps even wildly optimistic) will serve as a nice contrast to the "cautiously hopeful" that characterizes most of the rest of the veteran message board fans. There's no arguing that you're "getting in early" and I hope you'll be able to say,
"I told you so" come next March!

 

[GMUgemini]

Um. Richmond beat us last year at their place. In a game when they didn't grab a single offensive rebound. They didn't need to, of course, because they shot 68% in the first half.

One of the low points for me.....

So they split with a 9-22 team...

The point being that they were 1-3 against the Hewitt-led Patriots. And losing Kendall Anthony is not an insignificant event.

But the overall point is unless Murrell, Livingston, Abram, and/or Mayimba can contribute right away the next two years are going to be rocky.

The positive is next year we probably will have the best front court in the A-10 (because I'm confident that Paulsen will be able to actually utilize Jenkins' strengths), especially defensively.

 

[Walter]

In all seriousness, it is possible that Shevon will improve so much that he will dominate the A10. If that happens, who knows . . . maybe . . . sneak up on some teams . . . find ourselves in the top half . . . get hot in Brooklyn . . . .

 

[GMUgemini]

In all seriousness, it is possible that Shevon will improve so much that he will dominate the A10. If that happens, who knows . . . maybe . . . sneak up on some teams . . . find ourselves in the top half . . . get hot in Brooklyn . . . .

I'm pretty sure Thompson already was dominating the A10 last year. And with a Jenkins who I'm sure will be utilized properly, I think our frontcourt is going to be pretty damn good.

For me it's a matter of Moore and Holloway. Can Moore make defenses respect his outside shot (it doesn't have to be pretty, and it doesn't have to be deadly, just respectable)? And can Paulsen's offense give Holloway a kind of structure to get him some more open shots (no more chucked up under duress 3s)?

And then there's the matter of our bench...given Paulsen's offense and Marko and Royal's skillsets, I think both of them can contribute, but after that it's a huge gaping chasm of question marks. This team could surprise, or it could be maddening to watch, but at least there's hope.

 

[gmutom]

My prediction is that we will feel great after beating three good teams we shouldn't, but then reality will smack us in the face when we are listed under "Bad Losses" for those three teams.

 

[GMUSig03]

I'm pretty sure Thompson already was dominating the Can Moore make defenses respect his outside shot (it doesn't have to be pretty, and it doesn't have to be deadly, just respectable)?

Moore went from not shooting a single 3 as a freshman (he obviously was not allowed to) to shooting 6-20 (30%) last year. If he improved that significantly in one off season after being the only guard I have ever heard of in college basketball who is not permitted to take a 3 pt shot, I'm optimistic he can be a consistent 33%+ shooter, which is perfectly respectable, if not solid/good.

 

[Washingtonian]

Jon Rothstein ‏
A 10 Power Rankings: Dayton, URI, Davidson, vcu, GW, SJU, SLU, Richmond, La Salle, SBU, UMass, Duquesne, George Mason, Fordham.

 

[gmutom]

Jon Rothstein ‏
A 10 Power Rankings: Dayton, URI, Davidson, vcu, GW, SJU, SLU, Richmond, La Salle, SBU, UMass, Duquesne, George Mason, Fordham.

Anybody know where we can find a foam finger with 13 digits?

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Anybody know where we can find a foam finger with 13 digits?

I actually found one at the Chernobyl visitor's center. Just ask for Yuri, he's a good guy:

 

[Herndon]

I actually found one at the Chernobyl visitor's center. Just ask fo Yuri, he's a good guy:

Worst. Wob. Ever.

 

[GMURaider]

NCAA is a heavy lift in the first year. I just hope we can get into the NIT and frankly even the CBI/CIT might be halfway okay for year 1 considering the wreck Hewitt left us in.

 

[GMURaider]

I welcome you with open arms. We need all the fan support/enthusiasm we can get. I too was once new.

Can I jump in as a new fan? I really don't know much about your team but I like the direction they are going. I have family in Leesburg and they are semi-fans so I'm following you guys as well. I have to go on generalities right now, the current happenings in the A10, etc. I like your new coach, I believe your big man will have a breakout year which will open things up for the rest of your team. I cannot figure out the guard situation because I hear that is your greatest need and I can't decipher the rest of the team right now. I like cinderellas in the big dance and in my view you guys are the up and comers and I'm getting in early. I think .500 this year is on the low end, considering the ooc and the changes in the league. I'll go .650 or .700 for starters and next year we'll have some momentum. I'm in.