2022-2023 Season; Hopes, Dreams, Wishes, Analysis & Predictions

[HoopsAdmin]

Looking on the bright side...

We are all hopeful that this schedule will give us a 12-1, 11-2 or 10-3 OOC record. Beating BC or Auburn along with a strong OOC and A10 combined record is almost the only way to ensure an at-large bid. Probably more likely that we go 10-3 or 9-4.

Coupled with an in-conference record of 13-5 / 12-6 / 11-7, gives us an overall record range of anywhere from 24-7 to 19-12.

What are your predictions, given 13 OOC and 18 A10 games?

 

[GMUgemini]

I’m not falling into the trap of trying to make predictions in August, no way.

For an at-large bid against this schedule they are going to have to win at least two of the tough road games (Dayton, Auburn, vcu, Loyola-Chicago, St. Louis, Bonaventure, Davidson), pretty much all of their home games, not lose to ODU on the road, and win two games (including against BC) in the MTE.

Mason has a really tough road schedule and a really “easy” home schedule. So all the opportunities to pick up good wins are on the road this year. At-large not likely unless this team is 10 times better than it was last season.

 

[gmujim92]

I’m not falling into the trap of trying to make predictions in August, no way.

For an at-large bid against this schedule they are going to have to win at least two of the tough road games (Dayton, Auburn, vcu, Loyola-Chicago, St. Louis, Bonaventure, Davidson), pretty much all of their home games, not lose to ODU on the road, and win two games (including against BC) in the MTE.

Mason has a really tough road schedule and a really “easy” home schedule. So all the opportunities to pick up good wins are on the road this year. At-large not likely unless this team is 10 times better than it was last season.

Just playing devil’s advocate, having the tougher games on the road is what you want if you think you have a team capable of getting an at-large because of the way NET is calculated. If we can’t get a couple good road Ws from this schedule we’re probably not good enough anyhow so …

 

[GMUgemini]

Just playing devil’s advocate, having the tougher games on the road is what you want if you think you have a team capable of getting an at-large because of the way NET is calculated. If we can’t get a couple good road Ws from this schedule we’re probably not good enough anyhow so …

True, but getting two potential top 25 teams twice, once at home, is a really nice potential resume builder.

 

[Patriotsince81]

HOPING:
1. Everyone stays healthy.
2. Oduro is better than last year.
3. Cooper and Gaines are better than last year.
4. Bailey, Singleton, Ojiaku, and the freshmen are as good or better than advertised.
5. We get consistent production/stability at the point from any combination of Singleton, Polite, or Dinkins.
6. We have the bench depth we are all hoping for and expecting so minutes for key guys can be reduced.
7. EVERY player better understands and can EXECUTE what is expected on BOTH ends.
8. We have no Covid breaks.
9. We now have the "toughness" that KE has said we lacked last year.
10. KE has learned and grown as a coach.
11. We make free throws, layups, and 3's at good percentages.
12. Everyone buys into their role on the team.
13. We value the ball and don't turn it over.

Not too much to ask for!

If all of that happens I'm confident we'll shock some people, finish top 4 in the A10, and dance in March. Best case 11 - 2 OOC and 13 - 5 in A10 play. 24 - 7 overall and we dance!

If a few, or several, things above don't happen we could actually be disappointing. How's that for being noncommittal and playing the role of Captain Obvious?

Time will tell. Hoping for and expecting a good year. If we go 19 - 12 (10 - 8) or worse I'll be disappointed or downright pissed.

 

[gmujim92]

24-7 should at least have us in the conversation for an at-large, assuming we can pick off a couple Q1 wins, so that’s what I’m going with.

It’s obviously not easy to improve by 10 games in one season, but we lost a ton of close ones last year and I’m a blind homer so whatever lol.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

24-7 should at least have us in the conversation for an at-large, assuming we can pick off a couple Q1 wins, so that’s what I’m going with.

It’s obviously not easy to improve by 10 games in one season, but we lost a ton of close ones last year and I’m a blind homer so whatever lol.

25 and 3 - called it here first. Roll baby!

 

[mkaufman1]

f**k it

31-0 and we take all 6 games in the ncaa tournament. Book it.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

f**k it

31-0 and we take all 6 games in the ncaa tournament. Book it.

Balls to the wall no fear, no backing down, screw sobriety, win it all baby. We will be the new 1972 Dolphins.

 

[gmujim92]

f**k it

31-0 and we take all 6 games in the ncaa tournament. Book it.

Then we’re definitely gonna need a new coach lol

 

[gmubrian]

f**k it

31-0 and we take all 6 games in the ncaa tournament. Book it.

Lucky for you that 117cc5 (or whatever his handle was) isn't on here to file a copyright claim against you. I wonder what ever happened to him.
Speaking of people that are missing in action, haven't seen much from Pablo in a while.

 

[mkaufman1]

Real talk

I'm expecting Mason to make a jump this year. Not going to lie, I have expectations and I think most others around the fan base do as well. I'm tired of losing, and I have to think the team put together for this year has the best chance to make the NCAAs.

It isn't going to be easy, the OOC doesn't have many games that give Mason a margin for error. Lose a game like Tulane, Hofstra, or most others and its going to be tough to overcome.

Its hard for me without looking at every roster, looking at every program to really put a win total out there. A few programs have new coaches so most of the crappy coaches have left the league.

I do expect a few things though.

1) Be in the NCAA conversation. I don't want the NIT, but if that's where they end up, it'll be disappointing but whatever.
2) Semis of the A10 tournament. I'm tired of watching Mason lose on Friday of the tournament. They need to make Saturday. Simple as that. Making it deep into the tournament only helps their resume and eye test. I'd love to see Mason on championship Sunday but you have to win on Friday and Saturday first.

I know that things look good overall, recruiting has picked up etc, but if you can't win with a roster like this, its pretty disappointing.

 

[gmujim92]

Barring serious injuries, I struggle to see how this team isn’t significantly improved from last season.

VJ Bailey should be able to replace most of what Schwartz gave us on offense, while being an upgrade defensively. He’s being slept on because he played so little last season.

Josh, Ticket and Coop should all be much more effective — especially at the end of close games — not having to play basically the entire 40 minutes.

And no offense to Buchanan, but Kim no longer has to use a walk-on as sixth man.

All that should be enough to flip those close Ls to Ws, again assuming we don’t lose Josh for an extended period.

 

[GMUgemini]

I think fortunately or unfortunately for us the A10 is probably not going to have a down year this year and so it’ll be harder to win, but also have more opportunities to see postseason play if we win (11-5 in conference is going to look a lot different than the last time we achieved that).

Finish top 5. Don’t lose to any scrub teams. Put yourself into a position to win the conference (starts by making the semis, as Kaufman said) and what happens after that happens after that.

It’ll come down to depth and point guard play (the one big question mark in our starting 5). Defense should be better than last season. We hopefully have better depth behind both Oduro and the guards. If Polite or Dinkins or Saquan or any combination of those three don’t screw up point guard duties, we should be in the mix.

 

[GMU79]

Real talk

I'm expecting Mason to make a jump this year. Not going to lie, I have expectations and I think most others around the fan base do as well. I'm tired of losing, and I have to think the team put together for this year has the best chance to make the NCAAs.

It isn't going to be easy, the OOC doesn't have many games that give Mason a margin for error. Lose a game like Tulane, Hofstra, or most others and its going to be tough to overcome.

Its hard for me without looking at every roster, looking at every program to really put a win total out there. A few programs have new coaches so most of the crappy coaches have left the league.

I do expect a few things though.

1) Be in the NCAA conversation. I don't want the NIT, but if that's where they end up, it'll be disappointing but whatever.
2) Semis of the A10 tournament. I'm tired of watching Mason lose on Friday of the tournament. They need to make Saturday. Simple as that. Making it deep into the tournament only helps their resume and eye test. I'd love to see Mason on championship Sunday but you have to win on Friday and Saturday first.

I know that things look good overall, recruiting has picked up etc, but if you can't win with a roster like this, its pretty disappointing.

Honestly, after the way things have been I would take the NIT. Obviously I want the NCAA, but still.

 

[mkaufman1]

Honestly, after the way things have been I would take the NIT. Obviously I want the NCAA, but still.

I don't disagree because it is at least valuable March basketball. Something is better than nothing.

That said, Kim wasn't brought in and isn't being paid to bring Mason to the NIT. I would be disappointed with the NIT.

 

[Patriotsince81]

f**k it

31-0 and we take all 6 games in the ncaa tournament. Book it.

I'd like to order whatever your were drinking when this was posted. LOL.

 

[DRK331]

Honestly, after the way things have been I would take the NIT. Obviously I want the NCAA, but still.

This is George Mason Basketball. We have standards here. If it's not NCAA, it's a failed season.

 

[Patriotsince81]

FYI:
Record it takes to finish 4th in the A10. Last 9 years.

12-5 Covid
7-4 Covid
12-6
12-6
10-8
13-5
13-5
11-5
12-6

 

[gmujim92]

I think fortunately or unfortunately for us the A10 is probably not going to have a down year this year and so it’ll be harder to win, but also have more opportunities to see postseason play if we win (11-5 in conference is going to look a lot different than the last time we achieved that).

Finish top 5. Don’t lose to any scrub teams. Put yourself into a position to win the conference (starts by making the semis, as Kaufman said) and what happens after that happens after that.

It’ll come down to depth and point guard play (the one big question mark in our starting 5). Defense should be better than last season. We hopefully have better depth behind both Oduro and the guards. If Polite or Dinkins or Saquan or any combination of those three don’t screw up point guard duties, we should be in the mix.

Really beyond Dayton and SLU I don’t see anything in the A-10 that we should be losing sleep over. Those 2 squads are legit loaded.

Beyond that:

vcu — Lost 3 starters in Williams, Curry and Ward, plus a young rotation piece in Brown-Jones. Baldwin and Nunn is a terrific backcourt but up front they are ???

Loyola — Also returns its starting backcourt, Norris and Kennedy are both really good, but lost a ton of veteran experience from last season. Counting on young guys and transfers.

Davidson — Lost the best coach in the A-10, along with the POY (Brajkovic) and starters in Lee and Jones.

Richmond — Only starter returning is Burton. Did well enough in the portal, but losing Golden and Gilyard will hurt.

UMass — Other than Fernandes, who is excellent, it’s basically a brand-new team with a new coach. Plenty of talent but who knows if it will fit together.

Bona — A completely new team. Even with Schmidt expect them to fall off significantly.

Rhody — Also rebuilding with a new coach. Talented but young and very very thin up front. Gonna take some time.

I know Mason deserves no benefit of the doubt at this point, but there’s a not-absurd argument to be made that we have the third-best roster in the A-10. It should be an exciting season.