Game 1: GMU (0-0) vs Wofford (0-0) on Monday, November 3, at 7:00 PM.

[gmujim92]

Thought the same thing about Presley but with the opposite instinct: to drive instead of shoot.

Edit: by the way, I’ve also heard people try to compare Adebayo to Newton, but Adebayo is for sure a stretch 4 and plays like it. Newton was a wing playing at the power forward position.

Regarding Presley, I was most impressed for Game 1 that he seems to have a great understanding of his strengths and weaknesses — there were a couple times he could’ve forced up a 3 but either passed or drove instead. Played very much within himself.

In fact, I’d say all of our guys were excellent in that regard. We missed a bunch of shots around the rim, Ellington in particular had a hard time finishing, but for the most part it looked like a bunch of guys trying to play to their respective strengths. Not a lot of crazy “WTF was he thinking?” moments.

This has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time now — getting players to understand and accept their role isn’t always shooting/dribbling — so I hope it continues. We very much need the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts.

 

[Jack Strop]

A couple more thoughts; we need a maniac or two, or a team of people, even if they are not students, on the wood and in the isles creating this atmosphere, with flags, signs, ect.. The cheer team, masonettes, and yes, even the green machine, just don't do enough to get the students involved.
I actually liked the DJ for the most part. His positioning in the student section is questionable, but, it is what it is. He needs to get more involved and interact with the students when playing music, get them up and play things that will get the students going and not just grooving in their chairs. (enough with party in the EBA, that's an atmosphere killer)
I don't know who the front few rows are reserved for, but the front few rows need to go to students who WANT to be there, not TOLD to be there.

How 'bout hiring deadmau5 as a guest DJ?

 

[Mason2005]

We have a dynamic PG now!

https://x.com/3L_Creations/status/1986415085120856290?s=09

 

[mkaufman1]

Calling it now

1) Mincy makes us go "Baraka who?
2) Mincy is the real point guard that we need.

#1 is a bold statement from me because I'm a huge Baraka guy and absolutely loved watching him play point for us.

Yep- after game 1, I hold to this.

 

[TheStringer]

Yep- after game 1, I hold to this.

its a crying shame he money searched his way out of good basketball and is now playing ball at *checks notes* Mercer. oof

 

[Walter]

I went to the Mercer @ UT game on Monday. I didn't even know Baraka was playing for Mercer. He didn't especially stand out. I wish I had known, I would have made more attention to his play.

 

[GMUgemini]

I went to the Mercer @ UT game on Monday. I didn't even know Baraka was playing for Mercer. He didn't especially stand out. I wish I had known, I would have made more attention to his play.

Only looking at the box score, this surprises me a little in that he took 13 shots and went 8-8 from the FT line.

Mercer has played 2 games and it looks like he’s been very inefficient from the floor (7-26; 1-5 from 3), but incredibly efficient from the line 14-14.

 

[Walter]

Mercer was good from the line, but atrocious from the 3 pt and layups. I am sure Baraka was one of the players who missed a lot of layups.

 

[jessej]

Mercer was good from the line, but atrocious from the 3 pt and layups. I am sure Baraka was one of the players who missed a lot of layups.

on a positive note:
his older brother has cracked into the playing rotation at Howard
he was the 3rd player of the bench vs Missouri

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

Only looking at the box score, this surprises me a little in that he took 13 shots and went 8-8 from the FT line.

Mercer has played 2 games and it looks like he’s been very inefficient from the floor (7-26; 1-5 from 3), but incredibly efficient from the line 14-14.

To be fair to Baraka (and this was the case during his one year at Mason too), but I'm sure a couple of those misses are because he got violated on the way to the basket and still got a shot up to go to the line

 

[Patriotsince81]

I realize I am in the HUGE minority here but if you leave Mason, FU. I could care less what happens to you after you make the choice to leave for the all mighty dollar. Loyalty and commitment? LOL. Concepts reserved for those with character, few and far between these days. Let the hate begin.

 

[Verdad]

I realize I am in the HUGE minority here but if you leave Mason, FU. I could care less what happens to you after you make the choice to leave for the all mighty dollar. Loyalty and commitment? LOL. Concepts reserved for those with character, few and far between these days. Let the hate begin.

Not that straight forward for me.

If guys put in their time here and then want a shot at a bigger stage (and paycheck) like Oduro - I can't hate them and wish them luck.

If you come in for a year and immediately bolt for bigger stage/paycheck like Baraka - then I no longer root for you but don't have personal animus.

If you come in and use us as a stepping stone and quit on the team because your ankle has to be amputated - then I will actively root against you.

Then there are guys like Polite, Malik Henry, Austin Ball, etc - they weren't in the Coaches plans/getting the PT they could somewhere else and transfer out. I will actively root for them, especially if they put in multiple years here.

Flip side is the guys who stay (like Maddux, BOC, Oduro initially) are treasured and have a chance to be school legends.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Not that straight forward for me.

If guys put in their time here and then want a shot at a bigger stage (and paycheck) like Oduro - I can't hate them and wish them luck.

If you come in for a year and immediately bolt for bigger stage/paycheck like Baraka - then I no longer root for you but don't have personal animus.

If you come in and use us as a stepping stone and quit on the team because your ankle has to be amputated - then I will actively root against you.

Then there are guys like Polite, Malik Henry, Austin Ball, etc - they weren't in the Coaches plans/getting the PT they could somewhere else and transfer out. I will actively root for them, especially if they put in multiple years here.

Flip side is the guys who stay (like Maddux, BOC, Oduro initially) are treasured and have a chance to be school legends.

I respect your opinion. No worries.

 

[The Great PATSby]

I realize I am in the HUGE minority here but if you leave Mason, FU. I could care less what happens to you after you make the choice to leave for the all mighty dollar. Loyalty and commitment? LOL. Concepts reserved for those with character, few and far between these days. Let the hate begin.

My only exception is coaching changes. I still followed and rooted for the select players that left after Paulsen was fired i.e. Miller and Kolek.

 

[DRK331]

Baraka played a huge role in the 2nd half in the home win over #16 ranked Dayton in Tony's first year.

 

[Patriotsince81]

My only exception is coaching changes. I still followed and rooted for the select players that left after Paulsen was fired i.e. Miller and Kolek.

Good point.

 

[jessej]

I realize I am in the HUGE minority here but if you leave Mason, FU. I could care less what happens to you after you make the choice to leave for the all mighty dollar. Loyalty and commitment? LOL. Concepts reserved for those with character, few and far between these days. Let the hate begin.

what about those who graduate with a Bachelor's Degree, then pursue a 5th year and a Master's Degree elsewhere?

 

[Patriotsince81]

I probably should have prefaced my remarks by saying that the likes of Okojie, Hall, and Haynes, can kiss my a$$. I was raised to be polite and professional and that served me well over a lifetime personally and professionally. But, I offer no apologies at this point.

 

[Patriotsince81]

what about those who graduate with a Bachelor's Degree, then pursue a 5th year and a Master's Degree elsewhere?

No problem with that. More power to you if you graduate.

 

[jessej]

I realize I am in the HUGE minority here but if you leave Mason, FU. I could care less what happens to you after you make the choice to leave for the all mighty dollar. Loyalty and commitment? LOL. Concepts reserved for those with character, few and far between these days. Let the hate begin.

what about those who transferred TO GMU - as undergrads from other Universities, in search of more playing time and/or more money?