Game 20: George Washington University, Jan 25th, Noon, NBCSN

[gmujim92]

I don't hate Hewitt. I don't know the man and wouldn't hate him if I did.

But in coaching, you are what your record says you are ... and Hewitt's record proclaims loudly that he is a program destroyer.

Had he stayed around Siena long enough, he probably would've run their program into the toilet, as well.

Now the only question is how long it will take El Presidente to see the light.

 

[azgmu]

My take is that 8th place in the A-10 was about right and given the current talent and coaching staff, expecting much more was not realistic.

Not to detract from the rest of your comment, but it's interesting how these preseason prognostication thingies love to find ways to make themselves authoritative.

 

[Dawgs99]

I disagree. I expected us to go at least 8-8 or 9-7 in conference play.

Our roster is clearly limited and plays as stupid as a senior-laden team possibly can, but we've handled these A10 teams before, including the one point over Richmond last year. This conference is good but hardly overwhelming this year.

That's why the talent argument only goes so far.

But even if the A10 is too much for what we have what has really angered me was the squeak home wins against American, St. Francis and Penn.Everyone points out we could have easily won a few more games; hell, we almost LOST those against vastly inferior talent.

This sums up exactly where I am with this team and coach. The wins this season have almost been as bad as the close gut wrenching losses. We play down to the level of the shitty teams and barely win....American, Penn, St. Francis....and then play up for the better team but still ultimately lose the game. The shitty "wins" this season say more about our coach/team than the close losses IMO. I really wanted Hewitt to succeed here....but I just don't see it happening.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Here is my question to all of those who defend/minimize blame on Hewitt: What was the number 1 selling point for hiring him?? To me, it was recruiting. We were told what a great recruiter he was. Now, all I hear is how he doesn't have the talent to compete. He's had 3 years to recruit. Now, I'm being told he could only have recruited well as long as recruits knew we were an A10 team? When does this deficiency fall on him?

 

[GMUgemini]

Here is my question to all of those who defend/minimize blame on Hewitt: What was the number 1 selling point for hiring him?? To me, it was recruiting. We were told what a great recruiter he was. Now, all I hear is how he doesn't have the talent to compete. He's had 3 years to recruit. Now, I'm being told he could only have recruited well as long as recruits knew we were an A10 team? When does this deficiency fall on him?

The first line of defense of a poorly coached team is always, "we just don't have the talent to compete. Wait until <insert recruits name> comes in, then we'll have the players we need." It's amazing how much more talented/skilled/athletic teams are when they have good coaches.

 

[Walter]

I notice other A-10 teams are getting 4 star recruits. We will need 5 star recruits just to be competitive because, well, you know why.

 

[azgmu]

Here is my question to all of those who defend/minimize blame on Hewitt: What was the number 1 selling point for hiring him?? To me, it was recruiting. We were told what a great recruiter he was. Now, all I hear is how he doesn't have the talent to compete. He's had 3 years to recruit. Now, I'm being told he could only have recruited well as long as recruits knew we were an A10 team? When does this deficiency fall on him?

He has an overall winning record everywhere he's coached, he's been coach of the year in two different conferences, he's coached in a major conference, he's coached NBA stars, and he's been to the championship game. Really, he looks good on paper.

 

[Pablo]

Here is my question to all of those who defend/minimize blame on Hewitt: What was the number 1 selling point for hiring him?? To me, it was recruiting. We were told what a great recruiter he was. Now, all I hear is how he doesn't have the talent to compete. He's had 3 years to recruit. Now, I'm being told he could only have recruited well as long as recruits knew we were an A10 team? When does this deficiency fall on him?

"Athletic Director Tom O'Connor said that he was looking for a 'good communicator' first and foremost, and that he feels he has that in Hewitt." - see
http://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason...witt-press-conference-george-mason-basketball.

 

[mason2k1]

"Athletic Director Tom O'Connor said that he was looking for a 'good communicator' first and foremost, and that he feels he has that in Hewitt." - see
http://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason...witt-press-conference-george-mason-basketball.

"The one thing I feel very confident we can do is, we're going to be able to recruit."

 

[Bricker]

All I know is we better all sort out the exact percentage blame that falls on Hewitt vs. the players or these discussions will continue to spin in a circle until I toss my laptop out the window...

 

[mason2k1]

So the Junkees gave GW their usual 2 min shout out this morning, but this time it was at our expense. Lurch said he was at the game, and it was clear that Lonergan was a much better in game X's & O's coach, and that Mason simply plays stupid. It was then argued that Hewitt had 2 20+ win seasons here but they attributed this losing season to the conference change.
They also talked about Maryland's woe's and how it's Turgeon's 3rd year here and he's going to be 0-3 in making the tournament. They said that he got brought in boasting excellent recruiting, however they haven't seen that in the quality of players that they currently have. They're at 11-9 and the junkees were talking about him being a bust and not finishing out his contract.

 

[Five Two]

So the Junkees gave GW their usual 2 min shout out this morning, but this time it was at our expense. Lurch said he was at the game, and it was clear that Lonergan was a much better in game X's & O's coach, and that Mason simply plays stupid. It was then argued that Hewitt had 2 20+ win seasons here but they attributed this losing season to the conference change.
They also talked about Maryland's woe's and how it's Turgeon's 3rd year here and he's going to be 0-3 in making the tournament. They said that he got brought in boasting excellent recruiting, however they haven't seen that in the quality of players that they currently have. They're at 11-9 and the junkees were talking about him being a bust and not finishing out his contract.

What I found interesting was when they mentioned local teams struggling, Lurch called out Maryland and Georgetown multiple times as struggling. He didn't really include us as struggling; the only reason we were in the conversation was that we played GW.

 

[mason2k1]

What I found interesting was when they mentioned local teams struggling, Lurch called out Maryland and Georgetown multiple times as struggling. He didn't really include us as struggling; the only reason we were in the conversation was that we played GW.

I thought the same thing. I thought we'd be at the top of the list of local teams struggling. No, 2 teams with winning records get the pity party.

 

[gmutom]

Both Wright and Allen have shown they have issues handling the ball, especially in late game scenarios. Given that, it seems to me to be crazy (by Einstein's definition) to sub out our point guard in those situations, literally less than 5 seconds before both of the turnovers.

If I'm reading your comments correctly, I agree with you completely that Moore or even Edwards should have been on the court at the end of the UMass game. That was a bad coaching decision!

To my point, I also think it speaks volumes that our two senior guards are actually considered a liability during crunch time because they can't be relied upon not to turn the ball over and in Sherrod's case make FTs. It's tough to close out games when the two players who handle the ball the most are the biggest liabilities.

We all know Hewitt is at best an average game coach, which is even more reason why he needs to be able to count on his senior guards to dribble the ball two feet with no drama. Like I've said several times, there is plenty of blame to go around. I just want our players and coaches to figure something out, so we start winning again.

 

[GMUgemini]

Come on, Tom. Sherrod Wright is like a Cam Lon clone. You wouldn't want him or Tate bringing the ball up the court against that kind of press either. We relied on Hancock, Pearson and DJ in 2011 because Long had about as loose a handle as Sherrod.

Couple that with the players being out of position and Jenkins throwing Allen and Sherrod the ball in the absolute worst place you could (pinned agains the baseline and sideline) and they had no chance.

 

[gmutom]

Come on, Tom. Sherrod Wright is like a Cam Lon clone. You wouldn't want him or Tate bringing the ball up the court against that kind of press either. We relied on Hancock, Pearson and DJ in 2011 because Long had about as loose a handle as Sherrod.

I agree with everything I quoted above, especially the Cam Long analogy. I think one of our biggest issues is we struggle with primary ballhandlers (other than a true freshman in Moore), let alone secondary ballhanders. Marko and Jenkins both seem adequate, but Marko doesn't seem to be in our late-game rotations for some reason.

If I were an opposing coach, I'd press us every time Moore wasn't on the floor, and I'd double team him on inbounds passes when he is.

 

[gmu05]

Come on, Tom. Sherrod Wright is like a Cam Long clone.

Wasn't Long a much better defender though?

 

[patriot2000]

Is there a definitive answer? Is Marco hurt?

Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

 

[gmutom]

Is there a definitive answer? Is Marco hurt?

Marko looked like he hurt his back several games ago and appeared to be in a lot of pain. Somebody said both he and Corey are battling injuries, which might explain their limited playing time lately.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I have to apologize to all the places I pooped at Saturday into Sunday, culminating in two out of three bathrooms in the home in Leesburg I ended up in.

Brion's, IHOP, The Tally Ho theater, MVC...you all have my sincere apologies.

This counts as a public apology since I assume you all read these boards.