Welcome AJ WIlson

[sleeperpick]

To be fair, he's actually done a good job avoiding cheap fouls this year. It was pretty much just a problem against vcu and maybe one other game this year.

American was the other. he was out of control defensively that game.

 

[GMUgemini]

Imagine if he could stay out of foul trouble.

He had 0 fouls

To be fair, he's actually done a good job avoiding cheap fouls this year. It was pretty much just a problem against vcu and maybe one other game this year.

American was the other one, I think.

 

[gmujim92]

You know this is not true, we have closed almost every game out with AJ at the 5. I expect better.

Closed almost every game out? Ok. But he has not been used as the sole/primary big for the majority of a game until Bona. That was my point.

Jesus you people nitpick posts to death.

 

[sleeperpick]

Closed almost every game out? Ok. But he has not been used as the sole/primary big for the majority of a game until Bona. That was my point.

Jesus you people nitpick posts to death.

AJ and Greg/Josh combined tandem play roughly the same amount of mins per game. I personally have not seen a lineup without any of the three in this year. Does not take a genius to figure out there is about 12-13 mins a game that AJ is in without either Greg or Josh... thus AJ plays 12-13 out of his 27 mins a game at Center... so, NO this was not just vcu and Bona. He plays almost half his minutes at Center. look at Navy for crying out loud... been a thing all year for those watching

 

[Falco]

He has played the 4 all season until the Bona game. Try again.

Are you related to DP or something?

 

[gmujim92]

AJ and Greg/Josh combined tandem play roughly the same amount of mins per game. I personally have not seen a lineup without any of the three in this year. Does not take a genius to figure out there is about 12-13 mins a game that AJ is in without either Greg or Josh... thus AJ plays 12-13 out of his 27 mins a game at Center... so, NO this was not just vcu and Bona. He plays almost half his minutes at Center. look at Navy for crying out loud... been a thing all year for those watching

When Goanar is in, there are minutes where he is guarding the primary post. They have tried to limit AJ’s time defending the post for the express purpose of avoiding fouls — and as noted, it has worked for the most part.

 

[gmujim92]

Are you related to DP or something?

Or something, I guess

 

[GMUgemini]

When Goanar is in, there are minutes where he is guarding the primary post. They have tried to limit AJ’s time defending the post for the express purpose of avoiding fouls — and as noted, it has worked for the most part.

The problem is, if you've got Goanar and AJ in there against a bigger athletic team (some of the teams we played this year were big, but not very athletic), you lose almost all of your rebounding ability. The game really got out of hand in the second half, because Osun or Lofton would grab one or two offensive rebounds and they would eventually lead to Bona 3s. That allowed Bona to pull away (oh, and Paulsen saying the guards need to rotate over to stop Osun from grabbing the offensive rebound when AJ blocks a shot is insane -- you can't expect Kier or Greene or XJ to block out Osun). I think someone mentioned on the Bona's board that Bona had 12 more second chance points than Mason (17 to 5) and they won by 12, there's your difference.

And, yeah, will Oduro or Calixte get much going against Osun? No. But at least with Oduro, you can set him up on the elbow and force Osun to guard him out there (because he will and can make that shot) and pull him far enough from the basket so that Miller and Kier and AJ can have some space to work. If felt like we just conceded the paint to Bonaventure without having enough shooters to concede the paint.

 

[gmujim92]

The problem is, if you've got Goanar and AJ in there against a bigger athletic team (some of the teams we played this year were big, but not very athletic), you lose almost all of your rebounding ability. The game really got out of hand in the second half, because Osun or Lofton would grab one or two offensive rebounds and they would eventually lead to Bona 3s. That allowed Bona to pull away (oh, and Paulsen saying the guards need to rotate over to stop Osun from grabbing the offensive rebound when AJ blocks a shot is insane -- you can't expect Kier or Greene or XJ to block out Osun). I think someone mentioned on the Bona's board that Bona had 12 more second chance points than Mason (17 to 5) and they won by 12, there's your difference.

And, yeah, will Oduro or Calixte get much going against Osun? No. But at least with Oduro, you can set him up on the elbow and force Osun to guard him out there (because he will and can make that shot) and pull him far enough from the basket so that Miller and Kier and AJ can have some space to work. If felt like we just conceded the paint to Bonaventure without having enough shooters to concede the paint.

I’m not defending small ball. Frankly not sure what we all are arguing about.

 

[sleeperpick]

When Goanar is in, there are minutes where he is guarding the primary post. They have tried to limit AJ’s time defending the post for the express purpose of avoiding fouls — and as noted, it has worked for the most part.

we get the extremely awesome lineup of Greg and Goanar together each game for 3-5 mins in the 1st half each game which is pure basketball bliss. So again I disagree. would love if you could find some stats about AJ playing the 4 all year except for the past two games. Because it is not true to my eye or statistics. If you have the info I would love to see it.

 

[sleeperpick]

I’m not defending small ball. Frankly not sure what we all are arguing about.

we are arguing that that you said AJ has played the 4 all year other than last two games. which is just silly to even say if you watch the games.

 

[Mason32]

Blown away by how many seem to believe we have this uptapped elite A-10 roster simply just playing "out of position" in a game that has been positionless for quite some time...

 

[GMUgemini]

Blown away by how many seem to believe we have this uptapped elite A-10 roster simply just playing "out of position" in a game that has been positionless for quite some time...

The college game is still not positionless...Osun cannot play on the wing, for instance, not by a longshot. AJ at 6'7 would make a fine center if he, a, had a wider frame and, b, could box out under the basket against taller players.

We don't have an elite A10 roster because we don't have a single elite scorer, but we do have a decent defense when everyone is locked in and playing where they're supposed to play, so why not try to make more games into rock fights?

 

[MasonSAE4]

We don't have an elite A10 roster because we don't have a single elite scorer, but we do have a decent defense when everyone is locked in and playing where they're supposed to play, so why not try to make more games into rock fights?

I think people are forgetting that the defense really isn't the issue. Giving up 61 against a team with a guy who can dominate us at the rim and Lofton isn't bad. That's why it was beyond bullshit when Dave was talking about the team hanging their head during the game. They never gave up, they just weren't put in a position to put the ball in the basket. If we had given up 80, then different story.

 

[GSII]

Anyone else think Hartwell's slump/illness has played a role in our slump? He hit some big shots in the Caymans. That's disappeared. Also Kier returning might have affected the chemistry? Who knows really, I still blame Lil Dave and Jollay for failing to recruit higher caliber players.

 

[GMUgemini]

Anyone else think Hartwell's slump/illness has played a role in our slump? He hit some big shots in the Caymans. That's disappeared. Also Kier returning might have affected the chemistry? Who knows really, I still blame Lil Dave and Jollay for failing to recruit higher caliber players.

Oh, for sure, Hartwell's shooting slump in playing into it. I don't think Kier has messed up the chemistry, but he's been disappointing since the Cayman's too (where he shot 90% from the floor).

 

[Mason32]

The college game is still not positionless...Osun cannot play on the wing

Positionless basketball doesn't mean a team's "bigs" play around the perimeter but sure whatever helps your narrative

 

[GMUgemini]

Positionless basketball doesn't mean a team's "bigs" play around the perimeter but sure whatever helps your narrative

It means that can and your guards are big enough to switch on to the opposing bigs.

 

[TweederGMU]

Apparently he is hurt in the LaSalle game right now. Do we know the injury.....

 

[GMUgemini]

Apparently he is hurt in the LaSalle game right now. Do we know the injury.....

He came down on top of a heap of people, was holding his lower back. Maybe a lower back strain?