Game 9: GMU (8-0) vs Cornell (5-2) on Tuesday, December 2, at 7:00 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

The game is on ESPN+.

Preseason notes:
Cornell is a member of the Ivy League.
They were picked to finish 3rd in preseason polls behind Yale and Harvard.
The Big Red return five of their top 8 leading scorers from last year.

KenPom: Gives us an 87% chance of winning.
GMU - 61
Cornell - 146
NET:
Mason -
Cornell -

History:
We are 1-1 against Cornell all-time. We lost 68-60 at EBA on 11/14/15. We beat them 90-83 on 11/15/23 at EBA.

Cornell is currently 5-2 on the season. They are 3-0 at home, 2-2 on the road, and 0-0 at neutral sites.

Schedule: https://cornellbigred.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

Wins: Lafayette College (97-78), Army (86-73), Colgate (95-92 in 2 OT), Misericordia University D3 (114-70), Bucknell (101-72)
Losses: Kent State (110-102), Illinois St. (76-65)

Probable Starters:
6’2” Cooper Noard - 22.5 ppg & 5.0 reb - Senior
6’4” Adam Hinton - 14.7 ppg - Senior
6’6” DJ Nix - 7.8 ppg - Senior
6’7” Kaspar Sepp - 6.3 ppg & 6.0 reb - Junior
6’3” Jacob Beccles - 6.8 ppg - Junior

Reserves averaging double figure minutes that have played in at least 4 games:
5’9” Corbin Zentner - 5.2 ppg - Senior
6’5” Josh Baldwin - 4.5 ppg & 4.8 reb - Senior
6’5” Gioacchino Panzini - 4.3 ppg - Sophomore

Roster: https://cornellbigred.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Team Stats:

Cornell averages 93.2 points per game (21st in the nation) while giving up 83.5 (330th in the nation).

The Big Red shoot 48.0% from the floor and 39.0% from 3.
Opponents are shooting 45.2% from the field and 35.2% from 3.

The Big Red shoot 72.7% from the free throw line.

They have out rebounded opponents by 4.2 board per game and average 14.7 turnovers per contest.

Stats: https://cornellbigred.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats

Thoughts: It’s safe to say that they value and emphasize offense more than defense. One major key to this game will be defending the 3. The Big Red are 2nd in the nation in 3 pointers attempted per game (37.2) and 1st in 3’s made per game (14.5). We are currently 39th in 3 point percentage defense.

In 6 out of 7 games thus far they have scored 86 or more points. Their starting line-up is very experienced, as is the bench. If we limit Noard and Hinton our chances of walking away with win number 9 look good.

Discuss.

 

[GMUYoda]

Might seem a bit out of place, but I hope we aren't caught looking forward to VT. This has trap game written all over it... especially as Patriotsince81 mentioned their 3 pt expertise above

 

[NewPatriot]

Might seem a bit out of place, but I hope we aren't caught looking forward to VT. This has trap game written all over it... especially as Patriotsince81 mentioned their 3 pt expertise above

I don't think is the going to happen. The let down from the MTE took place in the first half today"s.game.

 

[GMU79]

Might seem a bit out of place, but I hope we aren't caught looking forward to VT. This has trap game written all over it... especially as Patriotsince81 mentioned their 3 pt expertise above

Tony said in the post-game presser that our D needed to improve.

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

@Patriotsince81 Thank you for doing these write ups for every game, they are very helpful!!

 

[Pikapppatri8]

"The Big Red shoot 48.0% from the floor and 39.0% from 3.
Opponents are shooting 45.2% from the field and 35.2% from 3." -- that 3 point shooting percentage concerns me - we could get caught from long range if they get hot.

 

[Portlandian]

Their mascot is Touchdown the Bear so a possible AI thumbnail of Mason Manic taming a circus bear.

 

[DRK331]

Highlights of the Cornell game from Tony Skinn's first year as head coach (Mason won 90-83)

Keyshawn Hall had 29 points

 

[Pablo]

Men's Basketball Sets School, Sojka Pavilion Records in 101-72 Victory at Bucknell - Cornell University Athletics

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday

cornellbigred.com

"LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Cornell won its fifth straight to improve to 5-2, while the Bison slipped to 2-7.

The Big Red shot .673 from the field, breaking the 40-year-old single-game program record of .656 vs. Marist during the 1989-90 season. Cornell's 20 made 3-pointers and 30 assists also set arena records in the 14th consecutive win for the Big Red against Patriot League opponents."

BTW, Cornell plays at Towson on Wednesday night.

 

[GMU79]

Men's Basketball Sets School, Sojka Pavilion Records in 101-72 Victory at Bucknell - Cornell University Athletics

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday

cornellbigred.com

"LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Cornell won its fifth straight to improve to 5-2, while the Bison slipped to 2-7.

The Big Red shot .673 from the field, breaking the 40-year-old single-game program record of .656 vs. Marist during the 1989-90 season. Cornell's 20 made 3-pointers and 30 assists also set arena records in the 14th consecutive win for the Big Red against Patriot League opponents."

BTW, Cornell plays at Towson on Wednesday night.

If this year's defensive was last year's defense, I would be less worried. Still, we have proven that we can score bigly if we need to. And our D this year isn't exactly a colander either.
Plus, we are not Bucknell.
Make it 9-0, Patriots!!

 

[psyclone]

Men's Basketball Sets School, Sojka Pavilion Records in 101-72 Victory at Bucknell - Cornell University Athletics

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday

cornellbigred.com

"LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Cornell won its fifth straight to improve to 5-2, while the Bison slipped to 2-7.

The Big Red shot .673 from the field, breaking the 40-year-old single-game program record of .656 vs. Marist during the 1989-90 season. Cornell's 20 made 3-pointers and 30 assists also set arena records in the 14th consecutive win for the Big Red against Patriot League opponents."

BTW, Cornell plays at Towson on Wednesday night.

3 games in 4 days. But given the blowout at Bucknell, Cornell had 11 guys with between 13-20 minutes, and a day to recuperate from the 3 hr bus ride to Fairfax, tired legs shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Men's Basketball Sets School, Sojka Pavilion Records in 101-72 Victory at Bucknell - Cornell University Athletics

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday

cornellbigred.com

"LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Cornell's offense rewrote both the school and arena record books when the dust settled on the Big Red's 101-72 victory over Bucknell on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Cornell won its fifth straight to improve to 5-2, while the Bison slipped to 2-7.

The Big Red shot .673 from the field, breaking the 40-year-old single-game program record of .656 vs. Marist during the 1989-90 season. Cornell's 20 made 3-pointers and 30 assists also set arena records in the 14th consecutive win for the Big Red against Patriot League opponents."

BTW, Cornell plays at Towson on Wednesday night.

This is going to be a test of our defense - if we soften up at any moment - Cornell will score. We need to make strong hits at their three point game and make them go inside. it would be helpful if we can get an early lead.

 

[Old Man]

This is going to be a test of our defense - if we soften up at any moment - Cornell will score. We need to make strong hits at their three point game and make them go inside. it would be helpful if we can get an early lead.

"Make them go inside" ??? I agree we need to be all over them on the three, but with their tallest guy (on '81s preview) is listed at 6' 7", inside isn't much of an option against Allenspach, Kanga, Sivka, and Mendy, unless they have a 6' 7" guy named Jai Lewis on their roster. I think they will live or die by the three. Let's make'em die by it

 

[GunstonsGhost]

I think we'll be well prepared and have a stronger start on defense than the JMU game. One of the noticeable halftime adjustments was how tightly Mincy was guarding Douglas on the perimeter. Douglas had 16 points in the first half, but only 6 in the second. Mincy was making him visibly frustrated. I predict we lock in early and blow em out of the gym by 20+ points.

 

[Old Man]

I think we'll be well prepared and have a stronger start on defense than the JMU game. One of the noticeable halftime adjustments was how tightly Mincy was guarding Douglas on the perimeter. Douglas had 16 points in the first half, but only 6 in the second. Mincy was making him visibly frustrated. I predict we lock in early and blow em out of the gym by 20+ points.

Mincy made him so frustrated, Douglas got called for a technical with 37 seconds left.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Mincy made him so frustrated, Douglas got called for a technical with 37 seconds left.

I was going to mention that too, but I couldn't remember if it was on Douglas or McBride. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[mkaufman1]

I think we'll be well prepared and have a stronger start on defense than the JMU game. One of the noticeable halftime adjustments was how tightly Mincy was guarding Douglas on the perimeter. Douglas had 16 points in the first half, but only 6 in the second. Mincy was making him visibly frustrated. I predict we lock in early and blow em out of the gym by 20+ points.

Mincy made him so frustrated, Douglas got called for a technical with 37 seconds left.

We also had Presley on him at times and that really helped frustrate Douglas.

 

[psyclone]

I think we'll be well prepared and have a stronger start on defense than the JMU game. One of the noticeable halftime adjustments was how tightly Mincy was guarding Douglas on the perimeter. Douglas had 16 points in the first half, but only 6 in the second. Mincy was making him visibly frustrated. I predict we lock in early and blow em out of the gym by 20+ points.

TV guys mentioned that in the second half, Mason used a variety of taller guards on Douglas. Would be interesting to see the breakdown of the match-ups.

 

[variaban]

Cornell has what it takes to win the Ivy League and are running on their own winning streak after opening the season with 2 losses. This can be another under the radar quality win down the road as long as the guys stay focused and take it one game at a time.

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

I would just like to point out that Cornell played Bucknell, who has a bottom 20 three point defense in the country.

This is a Tony team at home. We're faster and stronger than this Cornell group, I expect us to hammer them in the paint and beat them on defense. Should be easier than JMU on paper