Game 22: GMU (15-6 / 4-4) at UMass (13-7 / 4-4) on Saturday, February 3, at Noon.

[Patriotsince81]

The game is on ESPN+.

KenPom: Gives us just a 37% chance of winning.
GMU - 98
UMass - 94
NET:
Mason - 83
UMass - 90

We are 12-5 (.706) against UMass all-time.

UMass is currently 13-7 on the season and 4-4 in A10 play. They are 9-2 at home, 1-4 on the road, and 3-1 at neutral sites.

Wins: U Albany (92-71), Quinnipiac (102-81), Central Connecticut St. (89-60), USF (66-56), UMass Lowell (91-77), West Virginia (87-79), Portland (100-78), ODU (87-65), Sienna (79-66), Duquesne (80-61), La Salle (81-65), GW (81-67), St. Louis (84-73),
Losses: Harvard (78-75), Towson (81-71), Georgia Tech (73-70), Dayton (64-60), Rhode Island (89-77), Loyola Chicago (79-78), St. Joe’s (78-77),

Schedule: https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster: https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats: https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2023/pdf

UMass is well balanced and the Minutemen go 9 deep. Statistical leaders are 6’10” Josh Cohen (16.9 ppg & 7.0 reb), 6’7” Matt Cross (15.9 ppg & 8.2 reb), 6’2” Rahsool Diggins (12.7 ppg), 6’0” Keon Thompson (9.9 ppg), 6’0” Jaylen Curry (8.0 ppg), 6’8” Dani Hankins-Sanford (7.6 ppg), and 6’4” Jayden Ndjigue (5.4 ppg).

UMass averages 81.4 points per game while giving up 72.1. The Minutemen are shooting 46.3% from the floor and 31.5% from 3. Opponents are shooting 41.7% from the field and 34.2% from 3. They shoot 69.8% from the free throw line. The Minutemen out rebound their opponents by 4.2 boards per game and average 10.9 turnovers per contest.

My prediction: All of a sudden this game looms VERY LARGE. Lose this one and any hope of top 4 is greatly diminished. Lose and PIG becomes within the realm of possibility. Sigh. No prediction on my end……….

Discuss.

 

[tblack33]

This is winnable, but need to limit turnovers and do a better job rebounding on defense than we did tonight to have a chance. Agree that if we lose this top 4 is pretty much dead. This Umass team is decently deep, and talented down low, but I’ve watched them go through some boneheaded stretches just like us. Not writing us off just yet, but gut tells me this is a 4-6 point loss.

 

[mkaufman1]

We need this one. Badly. Can we get stops? Can we get production from the bench? Can Ronny go back to contributing?

I have full confidence we will adjust. But this will be a tough road game. Hoping for a win so that we end this week 1-1.

 

[hoopsaddict]

Love ronnie as a person, but he is such a detriment to the offensive flow and can’t guard anyone at the D1 level. It’s time to start Baraka and look at giving Tre Woods some run behind Baraka. Can’t wait to have Justin Begg next year or Dinkins back.

 

[99 Patriot]

UMass has had a week to prep for this one and knows how big it is. Will take a much cleaner effort than we gave last night.

 

[GMU79]

I am losing confidence in expected wins. Now I am just hoping for them. Same as every year about this time.

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

UMass has had a week to prep for this one and knows how big it is. Will take a much cleaner effort than we gave last night.

This is an interesting game in my eyes. UMass has the week of prep against us, but they're also just not a three point shooting team- depends very heavily on interior play. So, in theory, they matchup better for us than any other team in the A-10. Up to the guys to perform however.

 

[Mason2005]

UMass 79
Us 68

 

[GMU79]

UMass 79
Us 68

Say it ain't so, Joe!

 

[GMUgemini]

UMass 79
Us 68

UMass isn’t good enough to beat us by double digits. This will most likely be another 1-2 possession game either way.

Containing Matt Cross is the critical piece here, because he’s one of those annoying forwards who is also a really good passer, so
somehow they have to limit his ability to not just score, but to find the open man if we decide to double or trap him when he gets the ball.

 

[Where's the party?]

Can't pick us to win an away game till we start to shoot better. Sorry boys but I see no chance in this one.

UMass - 85
Us - 78

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 79
Them 78
OT

 

[PDGL Hoops]

Just win.

 

[HoopsAdmin]

 

[psyclone]

View attachment 2086

Some creative spelling on the UMass jersey, and a collared shirt to boot!

 

[HoopsAdmin]

Some creative spelling on the UMass jersey, and a collared shirt to boot!

I didn't see much of a reason to correct it!

 

[phoenix-arizona]

New mascot right there. No notes. That Gunston is a real Pazuzu.

 

[GMU79]

New mascot right there. No notes. That Gunston is a real Pazuzu.

I liked the cute Gunston, but this guy is one bad dude!! Love it!!

 

[psyclone]

New mascot right there. No notes. That Gunston is a real Pazuzu.

Had to look up Pazuzu.

In ancient Mesopotamian religion, Pazuzu is a personification of the southwestern wind, and held kingship over the lilu wind demons. As an apotropaic entity, he is considered as both a destructive and dangerous wind, but also as a repellant to other demons, one who safeguards the home from their influence. Wikipedia

 

[Pablo]

George Mason Heads to New England for Saturday Showdown with UMass - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason University men's basketball team (15-6, 4-4) wraps up a two-game road swing with a Saturday matinee at Massachusetts (13-7, 4-4).

gomason.com

"PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots check in at 84th in Tuesday's NET rankings. That's the highest Mason has been at this point of the season in program history. The team also is No. 95 in the KenPom rankings.

• Mason is coming off a tough 75-73 setback at Saint Joseph's Wednesday. Mason had a chance to win it with under 20 seconds to play, but could not convert on its final possession. Key Saint Joseph's runs in each half – 7-0 in the first and 13-4 in the second – ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

• Sophomore Keyshawn Hall led Mason with 19 points and eight rebounds. He is averaging 20.5 points over the Patriots' past two games and is sixth in the league in scoring (18.0 ppg) in conference play.

• Graduate forward Amari Kelly added an A-10 personal-best 18 points (7-13 FG) and grabbed eight rebounds. He has now scored 10+ points in 10-straight games and ranks second on the team in scoring in road contests (14.4 ppg).

• Senior Darius Maddox notched 15 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3pt FG) at Saint Joseph's. He's averaging 19.5 points and shooting 59.1 percent from the floor (.538 3pt FG) over George Mason's past two contests.

• A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week Baraka Okojie notched 14 points off the bench while contributing a career-best six assists and game-high four steals on Wednesday. The freshman is averaging 16.0 points over Mason's past two games and ranks second in the A-10 in steals (2.0/game) in league contests this season.

• Mason ranks 13th nationally in 2pt FG defense (.441), 25th in overall FG defense (.399) and 65th in scoring defense (67.0 ppg). Despite that stout defense, the Patriots have struggled over the past two games while giving up 79.5 points/game and allowing opponents to shoot 50.9 percent from the floor (.429 3pt FG).

• The Patriots did not allow an opponent to shoot 50 percent from the floor over the first 19 games, the longest stretch to start a season since 2011-12. However, Mason's opponent has now shot 50 percent or better from the floor in each of the past two games.

• The Patriots have trailed at the half in five of the past six games. On the season, Mason is a perfect 11-0 when holding a halftime lead, but just 4-6 when trailing at the break.

• Hall leads the A-10 in defensive rebounds/game (7.8), rebounds/game (8.9) and double-doubles (8).

• Mason shot 37 percent from 3-point range in non-conference play but ranks 12th in the A-10 in 3pt FG percentage in league games (.315)."