25-26 NCAA Tournament Bracketology

[GMU1983]

No, the at large is not over 0-1 QUAD 1 with at least one opportunity to go. Quad 2 we are 2-1. We have not had any Quad 3 or 4 losses you are mistaken.

 

[jruby]

It’s always been that way but “being perfect” now means blowing bad teams out instead of just beating them.

It has not always been that way! Up until about 4-5 years ago the A10 got multiple bids every single year. If that's really the case we are now back to the debate what is the actual point in being in the A10? Just blow everyone out of the water every year in the CAA and go dancing. I agree it is the new normal but hardly what it used to be. For the record last year was the worst NCAA tournament ever. It was an epic joke for so many reasons. All so the SEC can make money since they can't win at football anymore. I guess they need hoops now too. I mean at this point I guess it really doesn't even matter for most schools. You're just hoping to get hot from 3 for 3 days in March.

 

[jruby]

No, the at large is not over 0-1 QUAD 1 with at least one opportunity to go. Quad 2 we are 2-1. We have not had any Quad 3 or 4 losses you are mistaken.

This is a quad 3 loss at end of year. Rhode island is awful, Miller is going to get fired. With that said It happens, they played bad. It's almost impossible to go perfect. Winning on the road is hard. They are still kids, just the system really sucks. Where it really doesn't matter if you win every other game as losses matter a lot more than the wins and it really is making the sport stupid. It's like well so and so lost to better teams so they are better! I mean whatever we all know the game. The path was there but very fine line. It's gone now and so be it. The slow starts the stupid turnovers and just overall a bad game. Riley played terrible and thats the worst part is it exposed if you take him out of the game you can beat mason.

 

[Verdad]

No, the at large is not over 0-1 QUAD 1 with at least one opportunity to go. Quad 2 we are 2-1. We have not had any Quad 3 or 4 losses you are mistaken.

And GW just moved up to Q2 win and a Q1 road game, along with Q1 games @ vcu and vs SLU.

No more bad losses and win 2 of those 3 and we are in the discussion for at large. Especially if we get a statement win vs a ranked SLU last game of the season.

Of course that is a tall order, but also very possible given the fact we have already eaten vcu/gw and went 18-2 in our first 20 games.

Lets fix the slow starts, tighten up the D and lets roll!

 

[GMU1983]

You get it thanks for the support!!!

 

[jkh1978]

I’ve never understood the Riley hype. Didn’t want to come out and say but it’s now been exposed. He can’t pass around and he can’t help on defense.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I’ve never understood the Riley hype. Didn’t want to come out and say but it’s now been exposed. He can’t pass around and he can’t help on defense.

He has far exceeded my expectations this season. Does he have areas to improve on in his game? Sure. But for the most part, he’s gone toe-to-toe with 2/3 of the best bigs in the league and held his own. In the A-10, he’s 16th in scoring, 10th in rebounds, 6th in fg%, He will bounce back to form, and Tony can keep playing the matchups with him and Kanga to help him with some of his deficiencies.

 

[gmutom]

It's like Oduro all over again. No matter how many things Riley does well, some hater surfaces after a loss or bad game to shit all over him. Nobody here disputes that Riley has flaws and frustrating lapses — especially on defense — but it's disingenuous to act like he hasn't easily been our best player outside of Mincy.

Sure, we might have won yesterday if he figured out how to beat two or three defenders every time he touched the ball or managed to get the ball back outside to a shooter, but how many games would we have lost this year without his offensive contributions? I'm guessing at least five, and that without looking at our schedule.

 

[jruby]

It's like Oduro all over again. No matter how many things Riley does well, some hater surfaces after a loss or bad game to shit all over him. Nobody here disputes that Riley has flaws and frustrating lapses — especially on defense — but it's disingenuous to act like he hasn't easily been our best player outside of Mincy.

Sure, we might have won yesterday if he figured out how to beat two or three defenders every time he touched the ball or managed to get the ball back outside to a shooter, but how many games would we have lost this year without his offensive contributions? I'm guessing at least five, and that without looking at our schedule.

Riley and Kanga blended together would be the perfect player. Tony did a great job using them interchangeably and maximizing what each brings up until yesterday. That’s where he’s been masterful. Unfortunately, Miller simply had the better game plan. They took Riley out of the game entirely, and there was never an adjustment.

Mason still played poorly overall, but whatever else Miller is or isn’t, he’s been around a long time, and he did accomplish a lot at Dayton, far more than Grant has or ever will. So maybe, once in a blue moon, there’s still something there.

And Mason had a target on its back. They were never going to go perfect. The hope was just to get through the road games with only loses at GW and vcu. But not playing anyone good on the road beyond those two really limits their chances to pick up Quad 1 wins to offset bad losses. That’s just the reality of the A-10 without dynamic scheduling.

 

[gmutom]

Riley and Kanga blended together would be the perfect player. Tony did a great job using them in interchangeably and maximizing what each brings up until yesterday.

I thought Ellington also made the most of the minutes he got yesterday.

 

[JimP]

I thought Ellington also made the most of the minutes he got yesterday.

I thought he might get more minutes in the 2nd half.

 

[JimP]

It has not always been that way! Up until about 4-5 years ago the A10 got multiple bids every single year. If that's really the case we are now back to the debate what is the actual point in being in the A10? Just blow everyone out of the water every year in the CAA and go dancing. I agree it is the new normal but hardly what it used to be. For the record last year was the worst NCAA tournament ever. It was an epic joke for so many reasons. All so the SEC can make money since they can't win at football anymore. I guess they need hoops now too. I mean at this point I guess it really doesn't even matter for most schools. You're just hoping to get hot from 3 for 3 days in March.

The new normal is a crock.

 

[GMU79]

The new normal is a crock.

Yeah, players should not be allowed to dunk!

 

[FlPatriot]

It's like Oduro all over again. No matter how many things Riley does well, some hater surfaces after a loss or bad game to shit all over him. Nobody here disputes that Riley has flaws and frustrating lapses — especially on defense — but it's disingenuous to act like he hasn't easily been our best player outside of Mincy.

Sure, we might have won yesterday if he figured out how to beat two or three defenders every time he touched the ball or managed to get the ball back outside to a shooter, but how many games would we have lost this year without his offensive contributions? I'm guessing at least five, and that without looking at our schedule.

Think his passive D and inability to pass out of a double team are legitimate issues. As one pointed out yesterday, he was double/triple teamed multiple times and usually lost the ball rather than find the open man. His D could also use work…he’s not assertive.

 

[gmutom]

Think his passive D and inability to pass out of a double team are legitimate issues. As one pointed out yesterday, he was double/triple teamed multiple times and usually lost the ball rather than find the open man. His D could also use work…he’s not assertive.

Of course he has flaws and limitations. If he was the perfect player some people here expect him to be, he’d be playing in the Big 10, SEC or ACC. Yet, despite those “legitimate issues,” he’s still one of the elite big men in the A10. Let’s enjoy him for what he is rather than dwelling on what he isn’t.

 

[GMU79]

Of course he has flaws and limitations. If he was the perfect player some people here expect him to be, he’d be playing in the Big 10, SEC or ACC. Yet, despite those “legitimate issues,” he’s still one of the elite big men in the A10. Let’s enjoy him for what he is rather than dwelling on what he isn’t.

Can fans do that?

 

[GMUgemini]

Think his passive D and inability to pass out of a double team are legitimate issues. As one pointed out yesterday, he was double/triple teamed multiple times and usually lost the ball rather than find the open man. His D could also use work…he’s not assertive.

Oduro’s sophomore season in a nutshell. He was much better in year 3 and downright dominant in year 4.

Will we even have Allenspach after this year? Probably not. A 6’11 guy who has the offensive skill set he does? Probably get 7 figures at a P4 team.

 

[jkh1978]

I’m glad that Riley was found and contributing. But this is a bracketology thread. We can look at the numbers, which Mason doesn’t have, or the eye test, which all but a few players have weaknesses. I love watching this team but they are not of the quality to get an at large spot.

 

[mkaufman1]

I’m glad that Riley was found and contributing. But this is a bracketology thread. We can look at the numbers, which Mason doesn’t have, or the eye test, which all but a few players have weaknesses. I love watching this team but they are not of the quality to get an at large spot.

While I tend to agree, the eye test and "last 10" usually are important to to those who are evaluating teams for the tournament. February is usually when things heat up regarding at large contention.

I honestly don't really know what to think at this juncture. Part of me thinks if we offset the URI loss with some solid wins, we will still be in the conversation. The other part of me thinks that we needed the 29 or 30 wins to just be on the bubble.

Either way, I expect Mason to be top 4 for the tournament and somewhere in the 25-27 win scenario. Whether that gets us on the bubble or the same place as last year is all TBD. My hope is that Mason still has their best basketball ahead of them, and can stomp some of the weak opponents we have left on the schedule. The best way to move the needle is when the spread is 8, to win by 15.

 

[Verdad]

While I tend to agree, the eye test and "last 10" usually are important to to those who are evaluating teams for the tournament. February is usually when things heat up regarding at large contention.

I honestly don't really know what to think at this juncture. Part of me thinks if we offset the URI loss with some solid wins, we will still be in the conversation. The other part of me thinks that we needed the 29 or 30 wins to just be on the bubble.

Either way, I expect Mason to be top 4 for the tournament and somewhere in the 25-27 win scenario. Whether that gets us on the bubble or the same place as last year is all TBD. My hope is that Mason still has their best basketball ahead of them, and can stomp some of the weak opponents we have left on the schedule. The best way to move the needle is when the spread is 8, to win by 15.

I guess there is only one thing left to do.... Tweeder - what is it?