Game 1: GMU (0-0) vs UMBC (0-0) on Monday, November 2, at 4:00 PM.

[BraddockBeach]

Nice win yesterday, good 2nd half

 

[emjayar08]

This. Thank You. Thank you. Support artists and not AI slop made by data centers.

Whos going to make our game day thread art now? I think most agree with your point but not sure it applies here.

Also, are the artists in this scenario the branding firm that we paid millions to develop the slop logo we got?

 

[psyclone]

Baraka was looking to draw fouls as he drove to the basket. He wasn't getting the calls he thought he should have gotten. He always looking to get free throws.

Indeed, last year with Mercer, Baraka was 9th in the country in Fouls Drawn per 40 minutes averaging 7.5. And he shot 81% from the line, so he gets a fair number of his points from there.

Some guy by the name of Dybantsa was 15th at 7.2.

The refs seemed pretty slow blowing the whistle, at least in the first half.

 

[DRK331]

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EOE dunk from the game yesterday

 

[GMUgemini]

Indeed, last year with Mercer, Baraka was 9th in the country in Fouls Drawn per 40 minutes averaging 7.5. And he shot 81% from the line, so he gets a fair number of his points from there.

Some guy by the name of Dybantsa was 15th at 7.2.

The refs seemed pretty slow blowing the whistle, at least in the first half.

They were collapsing really hard on Okojie yesterday (sometimes being triple teamed when he hit the paint) and the refs did allow a lot more contact in the first half.

I thought the very first play where we got him open cutting the basket was a good idea but he missed the layup and didn’t really go back to it again. I couldn’t tell if it was because they did a really good job covering our actions off the screen or if we got trigger happy with the 3s.

 

[Stoolguy]

Some guy by the name of Dybantsa was 15th at 7.2.

What’s he doing now? Wonder if he could help the wizards at all

 

[GMUFan26]

nnaji- supposedly bad knees. Not completely sure.

Back*-- Bad Back. Aiming for a late December return.

 

[mkaufman1]

Back*-- Bad Back. Aiming for a late December return.

Gotcha- I heard knee but I know how info can be. Either way he isn't healthy enough to contribute at the moment.

 

[NewPatriot]

Gotcha- I heard knee but I know how info can be. Either way he isn't healthy enough to contribute at the moment.

Its the lower lumbar spine injury he suffered back in June '24 playing for FC Barcelona and re-aggravated last season playing for Baylor...

IMHO, he is sidelined for the season.

 

[99 Patriot]

I think some of you are just making stuff up. He's been practicing and is getting closer to being game ready. We'll see him probably after the Florida trip would be my guess.

 

[GMUgemini]

I think some of you are just making stuff up. He's been practicing and is getting closer to being game ready. We'll see him probably after the Florida trip would be my guess.

If he is listed as “not injury related” it must be fitness (coming back from injury, not yet ready to play). Last thing you want is for him to aggravate something because he gets tired out there.

But I have zero inside information so I’m making stuff up here. Makes sense to me though. Not sure why they wouldn’t just list him as undisclosed injury like Marville if he’s actually injured.

 

[mkaufman1]

My info came from like over the summer, so its dated. I haven't gotten much other than "hes not healthy"

 

[TweederGMU]

I'd say let's just focus on the players who are here and are on the bench ready to play each game.

Let's let things play out rather than jump to assumptions and saying random things none of us truly knows about or heard from the rumor mill.

 

[Jack Strop]

I'd say let's just focus on the players who are here and are on the bench ready to play each game.

Let's let things play out rather than jump to assumptions and saying random things none of us truly knows about or heard from the rumor mill.

Yeah, but having no air-tight information kinda just burns a whole in one's belly.

 

[Ben Chwarmer]

I wonder if Baraka is really actually 100% healthy? He was fine but wasn't electric either. I know he had an injury and may still be working back from it.

I feel like he played pretty good, he just wasn’t getting the calls.

 

[GMUMiked]

I feel like he played pretty good, he just wasn’t getting the calls.

I agree with this. He looked like he could get to the hoop when he wanted, he missed some at the rim and created contact but didn't get the whistle.

 

[jruby]

I feel like he played pretty good, he just wasn’t getting the calls.

He just looked tired at times. Nothing major so why I said may still be working back from injury to get in game shape etc. He wasn't bad but his shooting wasn't good and that can often be a direct results of tired legs etc. I'm not worried about it. I do think he still has another level he can get to.

 

[psyclone]

At the presser, when someone asked for a comment on the fact that BO and BOC only had a total of 1 turnover for the game, Tony downplayed that aspect of their game and mentioned that we likely would need better scoring from them going forward and that the quality of some of their shots was poor enough that they might as well be turnovers.

 

[GMUFan26]

My info came from like over the summer, so its dated. I haven't gotten much other than "hes not healthy"

My info came from this Monday, halftime lol. Person with knowledge seemed pretty confident he's playing this year.

 

[NewPatriot]

I in game shape etc. He wasn't bad but his shooting wasn't good and that can often be a direct results of tired legs etc. I'm not worried about it. I do think he still has another level he can get to.

I look at the overall quality of guard play as a step down from last year. I don't think either Baraka or BOC have to displayed the ability to situationally change speeds like Mincy and Long. That feature for both guards gave vcu and SLU fits last year.

My concern is that if this team can only play fast and not change speeds. We will see more unforced turnovers against teams in close games.

Yes Baraka got his 20 and 5.. but Stetson still went 12-21 last year.