Game 23: GMU (15-7 / 4-5) vs Loyola Chicago (15-7 / 7-2) on Wednesday, February 7, at 7:00 PM.

[JimP]

Another mediocre year from another mediocre team. That track keeps playing over and over for GMU and its fans.

Why do I allow myself to be optimistic each year?

 

[JimP]

It’s worth asking if we are as talented as we think we are. I see three great players in Hall, Maddox and Kelly and a rising star in Okojie, but we are average at best after that.

We played 8 guys tonight, and one was Ball who only played a few minutes in the first half. Two of the 7 players who saw significant minutes combined for 5 points.

Tony runs his starters into the ground like Paulsen used to do, and we seem to run out of steam. I’m not blaming Tony for this loss — that’s on our players for the turnovers and piss-poor defense — but we’ve obviously hit a wall in three straight games.

So much for being deep this year...

 

[GMUgemini]

It’s worth asking if we are as talented as we think we are. I see three great players in Hall, Maddox and Kelly and a rising star in Okojie, but we are average at best after that.

We played 8 guys tonight, and one was Ball who only played a few minutes in the first half. Two of the 7 players who saw significant minutes combined for 5 points.

Tony runs his starters into the ground like Paulsen used to do, and we seem to run out of steam. I’m not blaming Tony for this loss — that’s on our players for the turnovers and piss-poor defense — but we’ve obviously hit a wall in three straight games.

We really miss Malik. We don’t have a traditional center right now.

In the last game we missed his toughness on the defensive glass. In this game I’d say we missed his ability to bang in the post defensively and alter shots in the paint.

Not that he’d be playing big minutes if he was available but all of these losses just needed a few possessions more to go our way defensively.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Totally frustrated right now. Last time out we lost because we allowed 18 offensive rebounds, poor clock management, and the ultimate bonehead foul to close out a game. Tonight we lose at home because of careless turnovers, critical missed free throws, and not understanding that sometimes it's better to give up two than 3. I'm afraid our MO is becoming, we're GMU and we'll find a way to lose a close game. Damn I am so frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hoops10]

Tony says they wore us out. Well what do u expect when u have only five players and no bench. Forget this year, move on play everybody and go find better players next year. Loyola sucked last year and this year they are a terrific well coached team.
At least TS is seeing first hand the level of play in the A10. It is all about recruiting. Go find better players.

 

[JimP]

We really miss Malik. We don’t have a traditional center right now.

In the last game we missed his toughness on the defensive glass. In this game I’d say we missed his ability to bang in the post defensively and alter shots in the paint.

Not that he’d be playing big minutes if he was available but all of these losses just needed a few possessions more to go our way defensively.

Malik did play a couple minutes in the 1st half. Why didn't he play in the 2nd?

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

Totally frustrated right now. Last time out we lost because we allowed 18 offensive rebounds, poor clock management, and the ultimate bonehead foul to close out a game. Tonight we lose at home because of careless turnovers, critical missed free throws, and not understanding that sometimes it's better to give up two than 3. I'm afraid our MO is becoming, we're GMU and we'll find a way to lose a close game. Damn I am so frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was ridiculed for saying it’s time to try different lineups… at a certain point a coach can’t keep going to the well with players if they keep turning the ball over and contributing to defensive liabilities which end up losing games. Are you willing to admit it’s time for Skinn to start getting creative with the lineup?

 

[JimP]

How many times did their big oaf guy go at Kelly with ease and either we didn’t help or he just spun away from a week double?

It's like Kelly went from fouling with reckless abandon to thinking the sole purpose of defense was not fouling. Yes - it wasn't just him, the team D was atrocious.

 

[KAOriginal]

This is the modern A10. You're kidding yourself if you think you can go less than 7-8 deep without significant bench contribution and get thru the season.

You're better off to dump a few stars and find a pretty good group of 10.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Men's basketball post game press conference vs. Loyola Chicago, 2/07/24 | By George Mason Athletics | Facebook

Men's basketball post game press conference vs. Loyola Chicago, 2/07/24

www.facebook.com

 

[JimP]

This is the modern A10. You're kidding yourself if you think you can go less than 7-8 deep without significant bench contribution and get thru the season.

You're better off to dump a few stars and find a pretty good group of 10.

Yeah - I don't recall Newton playing much in the 2nd half either...

Newton and Henry oughta be good enough at this point in their careers to get some decent run.

 

[Patriotsince81]

After watching the press conference I'm even more pissed.

 

[jruby]

I was ridiculed for saying it’s time to try different lineups… at a certain point a coach can’t keep going to the well with players if they keep turning the ball over and contributing to defensive liabilities which end up losing games. Are you willing to admit it’s time for Skinn to start getting creative with the lineup?

You said to play a hurt player and a player who has a personal matter and will not be playing this year. That was the issue not that it was time to play other players. Very different.

 

[JimP]

After watching the press conference I'm even more pissed.

Why's that?

 

[mkaufman1]

After watching the press conference I'm even more pissed.

Tony is not happy with how we played tonight at all. He’s gotta correct it.

 

[jruby]

Very ugly game, can't lose that game at home and expect to stay out of the bottom. That was 100% a must win game. Loyola came as advertised. Much like junk yard dogs, Not super athletic, not highly skilled but they play 11 deep and they foul hard every single play! They are relentless in their fouling and it alters the whole game. It's definitely an interesting strategy and most nights it will win games if the other team fails to take advantage at the line and makes stupid decisions with the ball. Credit to them they just wanted it more.

 

[jruby]

It’s worth asking if we are as talented as we think we are. I see three great players in Hall, Maddox and Kelly and a rising star in Okojie, but we are average at best after that.

We played 8 guys tonight, and one was Ball who only played a few minutes in the first half. Two of the 7 players who saw significant minutes combined for 5 points.

Tony runs his starters into the ground like Paulsen used to do, and we seem to run out of steam. I’m not blaming Tony for this loss — that’s on our players for the turnovers and piss-poor defense — but we’ve obviously hit a wall in three straight games.

I think something happened when Henry went down. Can't blame the kid, he's going through a very hard situation but that hurts. Nico leaving has turned into a nightmare as there really isnt another big man now. Just limited in their roles down low. Oh well, maybe they can play a couple tough games down the stretch and build off that and it's time for someone to step up as a leader. Hit the portal hard for 2nd big man with Hayes and look for a better 2nd year.

 

[GMUgemini]

Why's that?

How about this quote: “came into the last timeout, the under 4 timeout, and looked into the eyes of my players and not a single one of them looked like they wanted to win. It’s a two possession game and they’re acting like we are down 13.”

 

[jruby]

How about this quote: “came into the last timeout, the under 4 timeout, and looked into the eyes of my players and not a single one of them looked like they wanted to win. It’s a two possession game and they’re acting like we are down 13.”

Honestly never thought I would see that under skinn. Under Paulsen 100%, or under Hewitt no doubt. However under Tony? This one hurt, Loyola isn't a talented team, they just play hard and don't give up. They don't have any special players or really do anything well at all other than foul hard every single play! Should have been a 8-10 point win. You can try and sugar coat it but they simply fought harder and there's nothing more to it. Can look for something in the numbers but it isn't there. It was effort, while the reffing was the biggest joke alive, no clue how one of those guys did the final 4. He was a clown tonight with that said you can't win or lose games based on the refs. You fight and find a way to win!

 

[GSII]

maybe its time for some Tee Ball.