Game 10: GMU (7-2) vs Loyola Md. (1-9) on Saturday, December 16, at 6:00 PM.

GMU79

All-American
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
The entire night was beneath us. Embarrassing on all counts. I've given up on our attendance ever being anything above pathetic. No students, 1/5 of the band, lame alums. Sigh, we suck in this area, always have and always will. Play home games at the RAC or build a 3,000 seat arena, we're never going to fill EBA. I moved away from a special needs fan because I got tired of being kicked in the head and threatened with death. Well, it's not any better this year. A bunch of 60+ year old men right behind me who talk like teenage girls. If you want to stitch and bitch go out to dinner to talk about work and your feelings. Text each other, get a room, just shut the hell up.
I am tired of it all too. When will we ever just be a good team that kicks butt when we are supposed to, pulls some big time upsets, and wins (most) of the games we are supposed to?

On the positive side, Tony got us a win tonight where we probably lose under our last 3 coaches. So there is that. I think Tony is on the right track and will get us where we want to be, but tonight was so familiar I wanted to scream.

BTW, who is the grey haired old sour puss with the big head and constant frown always sitting behind the bench?
 

hoopsjunkie75

Specialist
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
BTW, who is the grey haired old sour puss with the big head and constant frown always sitting behind the bench?
HAH! I have a feeling you're talking about Jay Marsh. GMU Class of 1973 and the former Director of Security.

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GMU79

All-American
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023

Mason2005

All-American
GIVING DAY 2023
I am tired of it all too. When will we ever just be a good team that kicks butt when we are supposed to, pulls some big time upsets, and wins (most) of the games we are supposed to?

On the positive side, Tony got us a win tonight where we probably lose under our last 3 coaches. So there is that. I think Tony is on the right track and will get us where we want to be, but tonight was so familiar I wanted to scream.

BTW, who is the grey haired old sour puss with the big head and constant frown always sitting behind the bench?
They didn't have a big for half the game and won by 8
 
Based on the post-game press conference, it appears that the current plan is for Jalen to redshirt this season.
Well that sucks. Especially after I watched Bamisile drain three threes in about five minutes. Having Haynes for the A10 games would make a difference.
 

GMU_DCU

All-Conference
Pretty uninspiring effort and loss of composure against a team that should have been in an easy out. Inexcusable kick to the head by Kelly, and he deserves a suspension for that. Hard to feel good about this one.
 

MASONscott

Starter
GIVING DAY 2023
Fwiw, watched a brief discussion with Matt McCall and another former head coach this week. The topic was how this is the most difficult part of the season for coaches and teams. The students are gone. The players are coming off exams. Practices are hit and miss. Players heads tend to be distracted with friends and family.

Not an excuse for this game but the message I got is survive this period as a team and move on. We survived for now.
 

psyclone

Hall of Famer
Tony said the T got the guys fired up and they got several stops after that. Seemed the opposite to me. They seemed deflated and didn't Loyola score 10 straight points after that?
Yes, they did.
From the play-by-play:
Technical foul on Tony at the 11:49 mark. Loyola made the 2 tech fts and then hit a 3. Then went 3 possessions without scoring followed by consecutive possessions getting 2 pointers and then a ft.
So a 10-0 run to take a 44-42 lead; Maddux hit a 3 with 8:23 left to end the run and retake the lead.

While Loyola had 3 empty possessions after their 5 pts immediately resulting from the tech, Mason went scoreless for the next 3 minutes, while the Greyhounds scored an additional 5 pts. Could have been worse, I suppose, but I wouldn't call the tech a strategic success. Indeed, Tony also said in the press conference that he had hoped to get through the year without getting any techs.
 

nchocola

Walk-On
Not impressed with Kelly’s actions at all yesterday. Not only was his action inexcusable but I’m sure he was told by the coaches multiple times not to get into foul trouble with no Malik tonight. He really let the team down in that perspective. Hope he learns from this moment.

They need to draw up more plays for Maddox in general. Hall was getting ready to throw the game away during a stretch of the 2nd half until Tony called timeout. Following the timeout they go to Maddox, he scores, next possession gets fouled hits all 3 free throws.

Maddox is our best offensive player. They need him to take more than 7 shots a game. I truly believe we will go as far as he can take us in conference play.
 

Jack Strop

Starter
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Trying to stay positive here. No one on the team looked particularly dialed in. This happens a lot after the exam layoff. However, the team didn't collapse under it's own wait while the foundation (Amari, Malik) was swept away from competition. Mason kept a hold on their identity—defense first empowering the offense. Even after Tony's meltdown he was able to regather control and focus his team toward and ugly win. Learn from this. Gain strength from this. Just don't do it again.
 

GMU79

All-American
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
Not impressed with Kelly’s actions at all yesterday. Not only was his action inexcusable but I’m sure he was told by the coaches multiple times not to get into foul trouble with no Malik tonight. He really let the team down in that perspective. Hope he learns from this moment.

They need to draw up more plays for Maddox in general. Hall was getting ready to throw the game away during a stretch of the 2nd half until Tony called timeout. Following the timeout they go to Maddox, he scores, next possession gets fouled hits all 3 free throws.

Maddox is our best offensive player. They need him to take more than 7 shots a game. I truly believe we will go as far as he can take us in conference play.
At least if anybody should know how to handle this, it would be Tony.
Unlike the former Duke coach who let his players step on people and trip them (habitually) and didn't do anything about it.
 

NewPatriot

Starter
Fwiw, watched a brief discussion with Matt McCall and another former head coach this week. The topic was how this is the most difficult part of the season for coaches and teams. The students are gone. The players are coming off exams. Practices are hit and miss. Players heads tend to be distracted with friends and family.

Not an excuse for this game but the message I got is survive this period as a team and move on. We survived for now.
Many others coaches have stated that the winter break gives players and coaches them opportunity to indivually and collectively get better without distractions. Incidentally, those coaches usually go on to win NCAA games in March.

It also explains why McCall tenure was a disaster at UMASS.
 
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