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

[mkaufman1]

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.

Yeah - Masonfanatic and I both think Marko is hurt with the back injury. MF mentioned that he believes he hurt it in the Penn game. Not sure what Corey's injury is, but maybe it is that "turf toe" he struggled with last year?

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

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 enjoyed talking with those radio personalities before the game and at halftime. I was pretty hammered, but told Lurch watch how I'm going to lose the under and Mason plus 4.5 when we led at halftime 30-29. I told him about the Hewitt hate as well.

Good guys, but 106.7 should be Bill Rohland at least half the day.

 

[GMUgemini]

Wasn't Long a much better defender though?

Yes he was, although Sherrod showed promise as a defender his freshman year. I'm not sure why he's become such a turnstile.

I agree Tom, Ideally I think you would have wanted Marko inbounding the ball with Moore and Jenkins as options one and two with Marko becoming a pressure valve after the inbound.

Having Jenkins in the floor instead of Copes would have made the defenders respect the middle of the floor more knowing Jenkins can sprint up the court with the ball. What was Copes going to do in that situation, set a moving screen maybe?

 

[gmutom]

Lonegran and AU's new coach might very well be the only coaches not on the hot seat in this area. Thank God Turgeon and Thompson III are also shitting the bed, because it deflects more of the attention away from our crappy season.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Has anyone else had bowel problems since Mason started playing like this? I remember spending a whole long weekend in Dayton in 2006 and not pooping even once, and now in 2014 it's like seven times a day.

 

[Raider_SPE]

or Lonergan going to the 1-3-1, opposing coaches consistently make at least one strategic change that stops our offense cold.

BTW, If Hewitt watched the GW vcu tape, he would have seen this coming a mile away.

They did the same exact thing. . . . went to a zone, and vcu could not do a thing, which ultimately put them in a position to win.

 

[mason2k1]

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.

MVC doesn't have bathrooms....so I've heard...

 

[Washingtonian]

BTW, If Hewitt watched the GW vcu tape, he would have seen this coming a mile away.

They did the same exact thing. . . . went to a zone, and vcu could not do a thing, which ultimately put them in a position to win.

One of the assistants should have gone to that game to scout.

 

[gmutom]

BTW, If Hewitt watched the GW vcu tape, he would have seen this coming a mile away.

For those who go to the Gold Room before games, Coach Krieder addressed the crowd and specifically mentioned that they were aware of and practiced to face GW's 1-3-1 zone. The key for those not familiar with it is attacking it from the baseline, and we actually got a few open looks by doing so. Easier said than done, though with GW's height.

It is a very tough defense when it's run properly, as evidenced by every team John Belein has coached. I wouldn't mind seeing us run something like that, but we seem to struggle running a basic zone.

 

[Raider_SPE]

we actually got a few open looks by doing so.

I was surprised by the first couple of possessions myself, take out J2 being unconscious from about 16-17 feet @ the high post, I did not feel we fared to well.

 

[patriot2000]

I was surprised by the first couple of possessions myself, take out J2 being unconscious from about 16-17 feet @ the high post, I did not feel we fared to well.

You're right, but keep in mind J2 DOES have that shot. Although he is wildly inconsistent, we can't pretend it was just luck. I'd like to think J2 got those shots because of good execution of a good plan.

Now if only we could adjust after the opposing coach figures out what we're doing

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

For those who go to the Gold Room before games, Coach Krieder addressed the crowd and specifically mentioned that they were aware of and practiced to face GW's 1-3-1 zone. The key for those not familiar with it is attacking it from the baseline, and we actually got a few open looks by doing so. Easier said than done, though with GW's height.

It is a very tough defense when it's run properly, as evidenced by every team John Belein has coached. I wouldn't mind seeing us run something like that, but we seem to struggle running a basic zone.

Of course we prepared for it. The problem is against a somewhat unusual zone we have less set plays, and so our players actually have to make decisions and use their basketball instincts more.

And that never works out well for us.

 

[Raider_SPE]

we can't pretend it was just luck. I'd like to think J2 got those shots because of good execution of a good plan.

Now if only we could adjust after the opposing coach figures out what we're doing

Oh, most definitely; I did not think it was luck at all. Was just pointing out if it wasn't for his couple of buckets most on here would be singing a different tune even though we did seem prepared for it (for a couple of possessions anyways).

Coach needs to find out how to get the ball in J2's hands more often when he is 10-15 feet out.

 

[dr. gunnie]

Coach needs to find out how to get the ball in J2's hands more often when he is 10-15 feet out.

I recommend handing it to him, since it seems half the time he touches the ball it goes off his hands and out of bounds. Zing!

He does have a decent midrange game - we need him hitting those shots to have a chance Saturday.

 

[psyclone]

I believe it was against the zone that Jalen made nice passes to Bryon (twice) and Sherrod who were open along the baseline but missed layups. Good plays but didn't execute the layups. 6 pts lost which also was the difference in the final score.

 

[Raider_SPE]

I recommend handing it to him, since it seems half the time he touches the ball it goes off his hands and out of bounds. Zing!

Ha, you are right. I was going to add . . . but you also need some one that can actually pass out of that position as well.

Was trying to stay fully positive in my comment, it is damn hard to do these days.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

So if what I am hearing is correct we have X and O strategy against our opponents well in advance but our players cannot execute - that falls on them not Hewitt. This conundrum gets more and more curious. Did anybody check for lead in the paint in the locker room?

 

[gmu05]

So if what I am hearing is correct we have X and O strategy against our opponents well in advance but our players cannot execute - that falls on them not Hewitt. This conundrum gets more and more curious. Did anybody check for lead in the paint in the locker room?

I'm with the crowd that believes the staff isn't clueless or lacks overall basketball IQ but I do think they have a problem identifying and implementing the kind of game plan that works best for this roster.

 

[GMU84fanman]

Lost in another loss was JWII's excellent game. He played with more confidence. I think having JJ so active in and around the basket made JWII's life a bit easier but ultimately you have to knock them down and he did. I think BA missed to point blank shots inside on good passes. But as Tom noted, it isn't easy with GW's height and athleticism inside.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

MVC doesn't have bathrooms....so I've heard...

Who the hell would use a bathroom at MVC? Too high of a risk finding Jollay in a trench coat standing next to a urinal.