Game 22: GMU (19-2 / 7-1) at St. Bonaventure (13-8 / 2-6) on Saturday, January 31, at 6:30 PM.

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Man, we made so many mistakes including one I thought would do us in: Allenspach’s technical foul with about two minutes left.

How in the world did we survive this? I don’t think I’ve seen a team at Mason with as as much fault tolerance as this one.

This team has some mental chops man. They are tough and never give up even when it seems hopeless to us fans.

Yes we need better starts ASAP! But the calm determination I see in this team in crunch time is just spectacular. They seem to all of a sudden get in sync when it matters.

 

[PDGL Hoops]

I completely wrote us off but kept watching because I like to test my patience. Once again they proved me wrong!

 

[DRK331]

I know this has nothing to do with the big win yesterday over St Bonaventure but wanted to post about this event tomorrow: (Mods, feel free to delete this post if you wish)

The Ask Me Anything event with GMU Athletics Director Marvin Lewis is Monday Feb 2nd from 5:30PM-9:30PM

Location: High Side
4009 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, VA, United States, Virginia
Phone number: (703) 865-8181
Website: https://highsideva.com/

Schedule
• 5:30 – 6:30 PM | Community Mingle
• 6:30 – 8:30 PM | AMA Session
• 8:30 – 9:30 PM | Post-AMA Mingle & Networking

Admission: Free (RSVP required)
RSVP: https://forms.gle/JQrtwZWCQKFw7L1n8 (or link in bio)
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres provided by High Side (first come, first served)
Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase

Topics include:
• Building Mason Nation in Fairfax City
• Competing in the NIL era
• Fan experience, facilities, and game day culture

 

[GMU79]

Man, we made so many mistakes including one I thought would do us in: Allenspach’s technical foul with about two minutes left.

How in the world did we survive this? I don’t think I’ve seen a team at Mason with as as much fault tolerance as this one.

This team has some mental chops man. They are tough and never give up even when it seems hopeless to us fans.

Yes we need better starts ASAP! But the calm determination I see in this team in crunch time is just spectacular. They seem to all of a sudden get in sync when it matters.

Fault tolerance. A new term to me, but it sure fits.

 

[GMU1983]

Bonnies collapse, suffer defeat to George Mason despite late 14-point lead

By SPENCER BATES batesoleanstar@gmail.com ST. BONAVENTURE — Through 30 minutes the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team looked renewed. Fresh off an important rivalry win over Duquesne, just its s…

oleanstar.com

 

[mkaufman1]

Man, we made so many mistakes including one I thought would do us in: Allenspach’s technical foul with about two minutes left.

How in the world did we survive this? I don’t think I’ve seen a team at Mason with as as much fault tolerance as this one.

This team has some mental chops man. They are tough and never give up even when it seems hopeless to us fans.

Yes we need better starts ASAP! But the calm determination I see in this team in crunch time is just spectacular. They seem to all of a sudden get in sync when it matters.

As other coaches have probably said, its not how you start its how you finish.

But I likewise agree. I have absolutely no idea how we pulled this one off and continue to win like this, but I will gladly take it.

All those mental mistakes we would see over the course of many years, missing a key assignment, a dumb turnover didnt happen towards the end yesterday. I will say that Jahari Long got bailed out on his drive because he did walk, but fortunately they called a foul.

Need to find a way to just keep getting better. Thankfully two home games this week.

 

[GMU79]

Bonnies collapse, suffer defeat to George Mason despite late 14-point lead

By SPENCER BATES batesoleanstar@gmail.com ST. BONAVENTURE — Through 30 minutes the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team looked renewed. Fresh off an important rivalry win over Duquesne, just its s…

oleanstar.com

They have lost 6 games in the last 5 minutes. That's where we win 'em!

 

[psyclone]

Again, as I try to point out everytime you guys want to use +/- . . . Sivka and Allenspach were getting subbed out on defense at the end of the game. Therefore, they only have chances for +s and Kanga and Presley had to take all the -s. It’s really not the tell-all stat that you would like it to be.

That's a valid point. However, in last night's game, I'm not sure it would have made that much of a difference.

If I'm remembering it correctly, late in the game Mitchell went to the ft line 3 times for 2 shots and each time he missed the first shot. Assuming that Sivka and Allenspach would then be subbed back in at that juncture (I honestly don't remember if that was the case, but it seems likely that it would have been), they would have been in the game when Mitchell made his second shot, which he did each time.

Obviously, Kanga and Presley were prevented from getting subsequent +s, but on those occasions, they wouldn't have been on the floor for Mitchell's made FTs.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Lot of similarities in this team with last year's, although last year I was usually more confident because I knew we could just win in a 40 point rock fight. This year's winning formula seems to be "terrible start+???=close win." Not sure how long that's sustainable but good teams find a way to win I guess.

 

[jruby]

Good coaches win close games. Something we would always lose under previous coaches. How they won this game i'm not quite sure other than these guys are battle tested. I think they could avoid making it so difficult on themselves but maybe its just that this is the way this team is built. They won't blow teams out but they will grind you out and hit the clutch plays when it matters most. I think they can probably keep doing this with the exception of St Louis. They will have to play a full 40 to win that game.

 

[gmutom]

Again, as I try to point out everytime you guys want to use +/- . . . Sivka and Allenspach were getting subbed out on defense at the end of the game. Therefore, they only have chances for +s and Kanga and Presley had to take all the -s. It’s really not the tell-all stat that you would like it to be.

All stats can be both misleading and telling, but the reality is nobody on our roster had a remote chance to stop or even slow down Mitchell in the post. Even Jaylen Haynes would have had his hands full against a mobile 6-8, 270-pound post player who averages a double-double.

Alllenspach's defensive liabilities are frustrating and well documented, but Mitchell also threw Ellington around like a ragdoll and was able to muscle Kanga out of the way several times for easy buckets. Given all three were exposed defensively, Tony went with by far the best offensive player. Riley had three fouls and was nursing a rib injury, so bringing Kanga in as a defensive sub was smart coaching.

 

[TweederGMU]

I know this has nothing to do with the big win yesterday over St Bonaventure but wanted to post about this event tomorrow: (Mods, feel free to delete this post if you wish)

The Ask Me Anything event with GMU Athletics Director Marvin Lewis is Monday Feb 2nd from 5:30PM-9:30PM

Location: High Side
4009 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, VA, United States, Virginia
Phone number: (703) 865-8181
Website: https://highsideva.com/

Schedule
• 5:30 – 6:30 PM | Community Mingle
• 6:30 – 8:30 PM | AMA Session
• 8:30 – 9:30 PM | Post-AMA Mingle & Networking

Admission: Free (RSVP required)
RSVP: https://forms.gle/JQrtwZWCQKFw7L1n8 (or link in bio)
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres provided by High Side (first come, first served)
Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase

Topics include:
• Building Mason Nation in Fairfax City
• Competing in the NIL era
• Fan experience, facilities, and game day culture

Isn't this place tiny.... like can hold 40 people?

Why not do it at Commonwealth Brewing so more people can attend.

 

[DRK331]

Game highlights here

 

[GMU79]

Game highlights here

Not bad, but those were highlights!?
They skipped virtually everything.

 

[GMUgemini]

Not bad, but those were highlights!?
They skipped virtually everything.

At the very least they could have cut the beginning before the tip

 

[tblack33]

Commented during the game but waited to provide assessment. Can't say enough about the will of this team they never quit. The really good: Kory and Fatt on both offense and defense, they kept us close and in the game; the good : Defense the last 7 minutes of the game minus the post D; the bad : our starts, don't know why but the last 5-6 games we fall behind and have to play catch up, Troutman's play, he has 4 pts and a couple rebounds the last 2 games , what has happened to his play, finally some our substitutions make no sense , where was Kanga when we were getting killed in the paint? The ugly: our post defense , they scored at will against both Riley and Nick at least when Kanga was in he bodied Mitchell up or fouled him hard. I don't understand why Tony keeps Riley in there when he is getting torched. Just things we need to clean up if we want to beat Dayton ,vcu away and St Louis. Great comeback win.

Riley plays because he’s our second leading scorer, and far and away our most efficient offensive player looking at his per 40 numbers. Our offense is actually build to run through Riley and get him touches to open things up for the guards.

 

[Masonman]

Mincy is normally a lot more careful with the ball. A little bit of an off game for Mincy in terms of ball security

Mincy is the best thing to happen to George Mason basketball since the invention of the sneaker!

 

[Masonman]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLrIw6KQc-8

An accurate assessment of the game.

 

[Ben Chwarmer]

I am..I'm simply saying Curran is a large reason for mason's success. St. Bonnie descent and Mason's ascent are coincide with Curran arrival in Fairfax.

The AD needs to keep him at all costs.

I agree—Curran is an excellent ball coach, and it’s a perfect combo with Skinn. Skinn is masterful at relationship-building, which is crucial in the NIL era. He can get people excited enough to donate and invest in the program.

Curran also comes across as well-spoken in interviews. That said, Mason wants to be big time, and I’m not sure the next hire should be a first-time head coach again. Then again, Skinn was a first-time head coach—and he’s absolutely crushing it.

Hopefully Skinn remains the head coach and is able to secure raises for his assistants so Curran can stay as well. It’s only a matter of time before Curran starts getting head-coaching calls too.

 

[Sport31]

H

Riley plays because he’s our second leading scorer, and far and away our most efficient offensive player looking at his per 40 numbers. Our offense is actually build to run through Riley and get him touches to open things up for the guards.

Never said Riley shouldn't play. Put him at the 4 and Kanga at the 5 when you have big bruising guys who can move. The offense goes thru the guy in the middle it can go thru Kanga just as easily. Kanga plays half the time Riley does gets one less board , plays better D and blocks shots. I m sure if he played 25-30 min a game he would average 10 pts too.BTW Fatt is our second leading scorer now.