Game 10: GMU (9-0) at Va Tech (7-2) on Saturday, December 6, at 3:00 PM.

[Pikapppatri8]

I think this one is gonna be tough. Going from whatever the hell that style is that Cornell plays to a team that is really patient and takes care of the ball is gonna be whiplash. Would love a win, but would gladly take a strong showing where we tighten up the fundamentals.

We are really playing with house money now - if we win - FFS its going to be bananas here - If we show strong and competent play and lose a close one or moderately close one - we walk into A10 play with a strong hand.

 

[Masonman]

Trying to get a gauge of just how many away fans we will have!! Right now thinking anywhere from 50-100 students how many of you all are going??

I am going with 3 others!

 

[NewPatriot]

This is from top to bottom the most talented roster in Mason history. This team has literally won half the games missing 3 starters and is just integrating 2 coming injuries in the last 4 games.

Coach says the roster is incredibly connected which will continue to speed up acclimation process.

The team really hasn't even scratched the service of how good it can be. The rest of conference is in for a wakeup call.

 

[HoopsAdmin]

NEED AN AI IMAGE FOR THIS MATCHUP!

 

[GunstonsGhost]

NEED AN AI IMAGE FOR THIS MATCHUP!

Got some ideas to try this evening. Someone mentioned the Maniak recently, gonna try to work that into this one.

 

[Old Man]

NEED AN AI IMAGE FOR THIS MATCHUP!

 

[HoopsAdmin]

Fans have already started tailgating in the parking lot of Cassell Coliseum...

 

[Portlandian]

A turkey hunt with Patriot Pat might be too obvious.

 

[HoopsAdmin]

 

[undertherock]

This is from top to bottom the most talented roster in Mason history. This team has literally won half the games missing 3 starters and is just integrating 2 coming injuries in the last 4 games.

Coach says the roster is incredibly connected which will continue to speed up acclimation process.

The team really hasn't even scratched the service of how good it can be. The rest of conference is in for a wakeup call.

I like this team a lot but I still think Team 59 was better. This year's team is more deep but Team 59 had an A10 DPOY, an A10 First Team big, and an automatic knockdown shooter in Maddox. I also doubt this year's team can go 15-3 in conference play but we will find out. Outside of Mincy, nobody stands out to me as a bonafide game-changer.

I'd be willing to change my opinion after conference play, but I still have a lot of love for last year's team that I've yet to find with this year's team.

 

[NewPatriot]

I like this team a lot but I still think Team 59 was better. This year's team is more deep but Team 59 had an A10 DPOY, an A10 First Team big, and an automatic knockdown shooter in Maddox. I also doubt this year's team can go 15-3 in conference play but we will find out. Outside of Mincy, nobody stands out to me as a bonafide game-changer.

I'd be willing to change my opinion after conference play, but I still have a lot of love for last year's team that I've yet to find with this year's team.

Last year team was the best team in 15 years but in Tony Skinn's words, the offense was "awful".
Last year's team had no ball handlers or play makers and the reason it had more turnovers than assists for the season.

Last year, Mason kenpom offense efficiency ranking floated from 190 - 225 and ended at 194.
This team's offensive efficiency ranking is 73; a 120 spot jump. The top 3 scorers are have shoot better than 44% fg/82%ft/47% 3 pt...of all of which adds up to 58 kenpom ranking..last year's high kenpom was 78.

True. There is alot of basketball to play, but this team is definitely capable of taking the A10.

.

 

[undertherock]

Last year team was the best team in 15 years but in Tony Skinn's words, the offense was "awful".
Last year's team had no ball handlers or play makers and the reason it had more turnovers than assists for the season.

Last year, Mason kenpom offense efficiency ranking floated from 190 - 225 and ended at 194.
This team's offensive efficiency ranking is 73; a 120 spot jump. The top 3 scorers are have shoot better than 44% fg/82%ft/47% 3 pt...of all of which adds up to 58 kenpom ranking..last year's high kenpom was 78.

True. There is alot of basketball to play, but this team is definitely capable of taking the A10.

.

I was going to counter and say last year's team had better defense anchored by Jared Billups, but then I asked ChatGPT:

Category	2024–25 (Full Season)	2025–26 (9–0 Start)	Edge
Adjusted Defensive Efficiency	~Top 100	~Top 40–60	This Season
Opp. Points Per Game	~68–70	~60–65	This Season
Opp. FG%	Middling	Much lower	This Season
Opp. 3PT%	Too high	Strong suppression	This Season
Turnovers Forced	Average	Higher	This Season
Rim Protection	Inconsistent	Strong	This Season
Defensive Rebounding	Good	Even better	This Season
Consistency	Up and down	Extremely stable	This Season

F*ck it, if we beat VT on Saturday, I will fully buy-in.

 

[GMUgemini]

I was going to counter and say last year's team had better defense anchored by Jared Billups, but then I asked ChatGPT:

Category	2024–25 (Full Season)	2025–26 (9–0 Start)	Edge
Adjusted Defensive Efficiency	~Top 100	~Top 40–60	This Season
Opp. Points Per Game	~68–70	~60–65	This Season
Opp. FG%	Middling	Much lower	This Season
Opp. 3PT%	Too high	Strong suppression	This Season
Turnovers Forced	Average	Higher	This Season
Rim Protection	Inconsistent	Strong	This Season
Defensive Rebounding	Good	Even better	This Season
Consistency	Up and down	Extremely stable	This Season

F*ck it, if we beat VT on Saturday, I will fully buy-in.

ChatGPT is way wrong on the stats. Last year’s team was top 25 nationally.

 

[DRK331]

Biggest game of the season on Saturday.

 

[FlPatriot]

This VT game feels a lot like the game against Wichita State. If I remember correctly tony hit a three near the end of the game to put us ahead for good. Great things came after. We beat Tech and we’ll turn a few heads.

 

[psyclone]

ChatGPT is way wrong on the stats. Last year’s team was top 25 nationally.

Kenpom
End of 24-25:
Off Effic-194
Def Effic- 31

So far this season:
Off Effic-73
Def Effic-52

 

[GMU79]

Biggest game of the season on Saturday.

So far.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

I like this team a lot but I still think Team 59 was better. This year's team is more deep but Team 59 had an A10 DPOY, an A10 First Team big, and an automatic knockdown shooter in Maddox. I also doubt this year's team can go 15-3 in conference play but we will find out. Outside of Mincy, nobody stands out to me as a bonafide game-changer.

I'd be willing to change my opinion after conference play, but I still have a lot of love for last year's team that I've yet to find with this year's team.

I hear what you're saying, although I'm not sure I agree with a blanket statement that #59 "was better." It took a handful of games before we really locked in on a rotation. And once we settled with JB and KD coming in together after the first media timeout, man that was a intense sequence of basketball. Those two together were a lot of fun to watch. It also took Jalen a couple games to really get going. Heading into the JMU game at Thanksgiving last year was looking pretty questionable. It's pretty safe to say we're feeling much better about where we're at right now than we were this time last year.

I think we're still figuring out the rotation and the injuries certainly disrupted things. We definitely have more options this year on the offense. Fatt and Troutman may not be on the JB and KD level of defense, but they're dangerous and prevent teams from being able to lock down one shooting threat like we had last season. Time will tell, but to me I think we have a much higher ceiling with #60 than last season.

 

[undertherock]

I hear what you're saying, although I'm not sure I agree with a blanket statement that #59 "was better." It took a handful of games before we really locked in on a rotation. And once we settled with JB and KD coming in together after the first media timeout, man that was a intense sequence of basketball. Those two together were a lot of fun to watch. It also took Jalen a couple games to really get going. Heading into the JMU game at Thanksgiving last year was looking pretty questionable. It's pretty safe to say we're feeling much better about where we're at right now than we were this time last year.

I think we're still figuring out the rotation and the injuries certainly disrupted things. We definitely have more options this year on the offense. Fatt and Troutman may not be on the JB and KD level of defense, but they're dangerous and prevent teams from being able to lock down one shooting threat like we had last season. Time will tell, but to me I think we have a much higher ceiling with #60 than last season.

Sure, this year can have a higher Kenpom and NET ranking but unless we're A10 regular season champions and make the tournament final again...who had a greater legacy? Attending the final at Cap One Arena was the most our program has peaked since 2011. I don't want to damper how great this season is going so far, I just have a new unfair level of expectation now.

Maybe this year's team is better, and I really hope they are

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Sure, this year can have a higher Kenpom and NET ranking but unless we're A10 regular season champions and make the tournament final again...who had a greater legacy? Attending the final at Cap One Arena was the most our program has peaked since 2011. I don't want to damper how great this season is going so far, I just have a new unfair level of expectation now.

Maybe this year's team is better, and I really hope they are

Keep in mind we are comparing full season stats to beginning of season stats for this year. I am liking where we are. I do feel there is more offensive consistency than last year - especially since we are not always edging out wins - but I admit it's a feeling - not backed up by any real analysis of data.