Game 13: GMU (11-1) vs Penn (6-5) on Sunday, December 28, at 5:00 PM.

[NewPatriot]

Have we seen Ellington play at the 4 tho? Seems like we always see him in the 5.

He is a 3 time starter at the center position prior to coming to Mason. He is a 5.

 

[NewPatriot]

Mason's Kenpom dropped from 79 to 86


They have dropped 45 spots since the tech loss!

 

[Patriotsince81]

Just got back from the game. That was a really poor effort on the defensive side of the ball, especially the first 10 minutes. Giving up 24 in the first nine/ten minutes equates to 96 for a full game. MUCH work to do on the defensive end. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be 12-1. In fact it's what I predicted for the OOC part of our schedule. I predicted that NOT because I thought we'd dominate, but because of who we were going to play. I had high hopes for our A10 resume but those hopes have ebbed. I originally thought/hoped for 12-6, now maybe 8-10. Time, as always, will tell and I hope the team finally buys into the defensive mentality that we all know Skinn teaches and values. Fingers crossed as the season progresses.

 

[BraddockBeach]

Glad we got the W but should have won by a lot more

 

[GunstonsGhost]

He is a 3 time starter at the center position prior to coming to Mason. He is a 5.

That's what I'm saying. Why are folks saying he should start over Adebayo?

 

[DRK331]

Post game presser with Tony Skinn, Fatt Hill, and Nick Ellington

Post game presser with Tony Skinn, Fatt Hill, and Nick Ellington

 

[GMU79]

Post game presser with Tony Skinn, Fatt Hill, and Nick Ellington

Post game presser with Tony Skinn, Fatt Hill, and Nick Ellington

Stay away from playing really smart non scholarship players. Wow!! Tony just took a shot as his team. imo. But not in a "throw them under the bus way," but rather "you guys aren't dummies but you sure are playing like it" way.
Good for him! Maybe calling the guys out will get their attention.

 

[NewPatriot]

That's what I'm saying. Why are folks saying he should start over Adebayo?

Exactly. I am providing you support evidence vs the conjecture about him being a starting pf.

 

[Sport31]

Just got back from game, I echo what has been said so far. Poor defense and terrible foul shooting, missed 14 FTs ughh. Tony was very animated during the timeouts ,screaming about effort and defense. Not sure what the coaches can do. At this point they don't seem to be adapting to Tony s style. I guess you can sit them on the bench but then the offense would suffer. Yes we are12-1 but we will have major problems with top 5 teams in a-10 play unless a miracle happens with our D.

 

[GM Logo Guy]

I think Penn wins their league this year. They almost took down their third A10 team tonight.

 

[NewPatriot]

Stay away from playing really smart non scholarship players. Wow!! Tony just took a shot as his team. imo. But not in a "throw them under the bus way," but rather "you guys aren't dummies but you sure are playing like it" way.
Good for him! Maybe calling the guys out will get their attention.

The fact that he did NOT talk address moving out the ball and sharing the basketball is troubling.

They have regressed both offensive and defensive end analytically.

Its the reason Mason will drop outside of the NET TOP 75 later on tonight.

Mason had 13 assists on 34 baskets with Penn making 19 assists on 30 baskets says it all.

 

[DRK331]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Fatt Hill's big basket at the end of the game

@MasonMBB on Instagram

 

[mkaufman1]

Just got back from the game. That was a really poor effort on the defensive side of the ball, especially the first 10 minutes. Giving up 24 in the first nine/ten minutes equates to 96 for a full game. MUCH work to do on the defensive end. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be 12-1. In fact it's what I predicted for the OOC part of our schedule. I predicted that NOT because I thought we'd dominate, but because of who we were going to play. I had high hopes for our A10 resume but those hopes have ebbed. I originally thought/hoped for 12-6, now maybe 8-10. Time, as always, will tell and I hope the team finally buys into the defensive mentality that we all know Skinn teaches and values. Fingers crossed as the season progresses.

I hear you. Don’t think they’ll be bad and turn into an 8-10 team. There’s enough weak teams in the league that Mason will handle. I do think that if they are going to get to 12 or 13 wins or beyond they have much to improve upon defensively . And that will be the difference between whether they get a top 4 spot, or they end up in the 5-9 range.

 

[jessej]

I think Penn wins their league this year. They almost took down their third A10 team tonight.

I picked them as #3
1) Yale
2) Columbia
Franny has done a great job so far - but this still isn't his whole team in his image.

 

[jruby]

I still think they have a shot at 15-3. Nothing has really changed in my opinion. They really haven't played that great of D all year outside 5-10 minutes stretches. Maybe its more like 12-6 but 8-10 is just being very very pessimistic. They have a very very favorable schedule which is good and bad. Good for Wins bad for Net. Only real tough road games are Bonnies and vcu. GW Richmond and St joes are tricky. vcu St louis only tough home games. Have to think 11-7 is about as bad as it gets and that's if they lose all those. No way do I see 8-10 with schedule they have. Is the Defense absoulety horrible right now? Yes but the offense is good enough right now to carry through. I get being angry but I think the path is still very much alive.

 

[nchocola]

We escaped again.

Offensively I’m not concerned. They can keep up with a lot of teams on that side of the ball.

Defensively we need to play some zone at times and/or play different lineups. Our guards are not great at defending other than Presley. Other than Long, our guards are not physical/strong enough to keep guys from driving the lane on us.

I love CTS but today he was saved by the rotation rather than making the adjustment that was needed much earlier on. I think he kind of stumbled into the solution today but I could be wrong for sure.

Kanga saved the team from taking a L today.

The second he came in the game around the 12 minute mark, Mason went on a run to get ahead of Penn. Why? Because once he came in, they could not drive the paint at will anymore. He is a defensive presence and shot eraser down low. He boxed guys out and tore down the boards. He is the definition of toughness.

CTS needs to find a way to get Kanga much more involved moving forward. I know he isn’t polished offensively but they need him on defense and on the boards. Play him at the 5 and you can still play Riley/Nick/Stas with him. Just put him on the opposite side of the post ups and have him go for offensive boards. They need to find him at least 20 minutes.

 

[hoops10]

Not sure why CTS brings in Sivka when he has Kanga. Its like night and day difference.
Not only will he defend down low, but the playing time will give him the experience a freshman needs. Many of these A10 teams have strong forwards and centers. We need Kanga to get quality minutes. He will make a difference.

 

[NewPatriot]

I still think they have a shot at 15-3. Nothing has really changed in my opinion. They really haven't played that great of D all year outside 5-10 minutes stretches. Maybe its more like 12-6 but 8-10 is just being very very pessimistic. They have a very very favorable schedule which is good and bad. Good for Wins bad for Net. Only real tough road games are Bonnies and vcu. GW Richmond and St joes are tricky. vcu St louis only tough home games. Have to think 11-7 is about as bad as it gets and that's if they lose all those. No way do I see 8-10 with schedule they have. Is the Defense absoulety horrible right now? Yes but the offense is good enough right now to carry through. I get being angry but I think the path is still very much alive.

Offensively they are good enough the beat Lasalle and Fordham on athleticism and one on one play. URI is winnable but it's a 50/50. The problem is the NET ranking will continue to drop substantially because offensive and defensive inefficiency..most likely out of the Top 100 by 1/10/26.

Based on the way vcu has played the last 3 games against its cupcakes with enough urgency to take each one down by 25+....they will paste Mason by the same margin at EBA on if they don't get it together on both ends of the floor...at that point the season is over....

 

[DRK331]

George Mason vs Penn video by MTC Media

 

[psyclone]

Student section is gone - for this game. Replaced with 2 rows of court facing seats on risers, with tables and seats behind them. I see beer taps and a soda refrigerator. But I don't see any food.

Students now sitting in the section next to the band.

DJ has been shifted over as well as the cheerleaders.

Attendance: 3860
Seemed bigger than that. Family Day promotion--long lines in concourse for balloon animals/ face painting.

I thought maybe they had the idea of changing the student section as last week's winter graduation would have changed/taken out the bleachers. With classes not starting again for 3+ weeks, no particular need for a significant space for students. There were some folks sitting above the portal at what would have been the student section.