Game 23: GMU (20-2 / 8-1) vs Duquesne (11-10 / 3-5) on Wednesday, February 4, at 7:00 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRS2cfEX60c

 

[Stoolguy]

Hard watch there. Too many turnovers.

Wished we had more students tonight but it is hard without a giveaway and right before hoco. It will be better for hoco. Especially with the alcohol flowing.

If we get the free beer game soon that should be a good one for student engagement and attendance.

 

[Stoolguy]

Hated how much we got into #2’s head just to lose…. Don’t know if anyone could hear but he felt the wrath of everyone.

 

[nchocola]

Look it wasn’t a good loss but too many people here are hitting the panic button talking about top 4 being in jeopardy and having no chance at large.

They still have @vcu and St Louis at home and all of February to go. They are 20-3.

You can’t turn the ball over 17 times and expect to win. They still had a chance at the end which is surprising considering how many times they turned the ball over.

Duquesne was stronger and more physcial than Mason. They had 0 answers for A. Williams and his size as a guard. They definitely missed BOC tonight and his size at guard.

This was the first game where they had a set of bad sequences in the last three minutes to end the game. Kanga gets the block late, nobody goes to get the rebound for us. Turnover. Jahari missed layup. Nobody stops A Williams.

Takeaway of the game is value the ball moving forward. They would have won if they did that.

Move forward and bring it on Saturday.

 

[EXpatriot13]

What the hell is wrong with Troutman?

Total non-factor 4 games in a row now. Not the only problem, but a significant one.

 

[jruby]

Look it wasn’t a good loss but too many people here are hitting the panic button talking about top 4 being in jeopardy and having no chance at large.

They still have @vcu and St Louis at home and all of February to go. They are 20-3.

You can’t turn the ball over 17 times and expect to win. They still had a chance at the end which is surprising considering how many times they turned the ball over.

Duquesne was stronger and more physcial than Mason. They had 0 answers for A. Williams and his size as a guard. They definitely missed BOC tonight and his size at guard.

This was the first game where they had a set of bad sequences in the last three minutes to end the game. Kanga gets the block late, nobody goes to get the rebound for us. Turnover. Jahari missed layup. Nobody stops A Williams.

Takeaway of the game is value the ball moving forward. They would have won if they did that.

Move forward and bring it on Saturday.

I mean fortunately and unfortunately the bar is now Tournament or bust. Given the stupid system it is almost unrealistic though. On top of which no one wants to play Mason. The schedule was awful. I really can't say they deserve to be an At Large after the last couple weeks. They just aren't that good right now. Injuries are real and no one talks about them. It's actually amazing they lasted this long with how many guys have been hurt.

If the Tournament was in DC I would give a chance. No one is going to Pittsburgh. They never do, mason will have 50 fans. vcu will pack it with their stupid little hipsters and that will be that. Maybe vcu finds a way to finally choke it away but it just is what it is. It was a nice distraction for a little while it lasted. I feel bad for the kids but thats life now with huge money on the table. They can't afford for mason to be taking spots in the Tournament.

 

[Jack Strop]

Very frustrating game. And now we are not healthy at all with Riley's rib and Mincy''s thumb. I hope we can heal up while not losing back-to-back home games. That would be disastrous.

On the plus side, Troutman finally got a bucket and Stas looks like he's fixed the short-armed 3-pt attempts.

When there's good ball movement, Mason succeeds. Too much dribbling = not much success. Back to the drawing board. A surging St. Joe's coming in for HC is worrisome.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Hoping we can course correct on taking care of the ball. We've been trending the wrong direction in the TO department in the last couple games.

12/31 - La Salle - 0 TO
01/03 - RI - 9 TO
01/07 - Fordham - 9 TO
01/10 - vcu - 7 TO
01/13 - Lo-Chi - 7 TO
01/19 - GW - 13 TO
01/24 - RI - 9 TO
01/28 - Davidson - 13 TO
01/31 - Bonnies - 16 TO

02/04 - Dukes - 17 TO - The trend continues and finally caught up with us when Mincy is injured and can't save us.

 

[Sport31]

Hated how much we got into #2’s head just to lose…. Don’t know if anyone could hear but he felt the wrath of everyone.

Section 130 heard you. Good job. Keep trying to get more students to the game.

 

[GMU1983]

Yup

 

[Jack Strop]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRS2cfEX60c

Looks like Tony's gonna shake things up in the lineup. Also, he's pissed about the lack of toughness, especially in the home floor. Respond,, Mason Team, respond.

 

[psyclone]

Mason goes from #76 to 79 in Kenpom and projects us to finish 12-6 (3d in conference, behind SLU and vcu and ahead of St. Joe's).

 

[Jack Strop]

Mason goes from #76 to 79 in Kenpom and projects us to finish 12-6 (3d in conference, behind SLU and vcu and ahead of St. Joe's).

Cheezits... going .500 over the next eight games is NOT what I call success or upward momentum.

 

[NewPatriot]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRS2cfEX60c

The #1 item I took away from this post is the Jahari Long's response to the question about the slow start. I will paraphrase it "We don't respect Inferior opponents, we only go all against opponents ahead of us like vcu and SLU".

So this is what the university is paying for a team that gives a half-a$$ effort every game and doesn't try until the game is in jeopardy??

 

[GMUgemini]

We all knew that was happening but at least he’s admitting it.

But also don’t inflate yourself too much, they let the same thing happen against Tech.

 

[Patriot Blue]

I mean fortunately and unfortunately the bar is now Tournament or bust. Given the stupid system it is almost unrealistic though. On top of which no one wants to play Mason. The schedule was awful. I really can't say they deserve to be an At Large after the last couple weeks. They just aren't that good right now. Injuries are real and no one talks about them. It's actually amazing they lasted this long with how many guys have been hurt.

If the Tournament was in DC I would give a chance. No one is going to Pittsburgh. They never do, mason will have 50 fans. vcu will pack it with their stupid little hipsters and that will be that. Maybe vcu finds a way to finally choke it away but it just is what it is. It was a nice distraction for a little while it lasted. I feel bad for the kids but thats life now with huge money on the table. They can't afford for mason to be taking spots in the Tournament.

What a loser take.

 

[Mason2005]

I can't believe our 2 conf losses are vs URI without their top scorer after half and Duq without theirs the entire game......

 

[NewPatriot]

We all knew that was happening but at least he’s admitting it.

But also don’t inflate yourself too much, they let the same thing happen against Tech.

We?? Speak for yourself..and a 5th year player with almost 90 games of power conference experience does not get credit for admitting a problem that has existed for weeks.

He of all people understand the situation better than anyone.

Skinns goal is an NCAA bid. The upper classman need to convey the requirement to play with a sense of urgency against every conference opponent.

 

[JimP]

The #1 item I took away from this post is the Jahari Long's response to the question about the slow start. I will paraphrase it "We don't respect Inferior opponents, we only go all against opponents ahead of us like vcu and SLU".

So this is what the university is paying for a team that gives a half-a$$ effort every game and doesn't try until the game is in jeopardy??

Haven't had a chance to listen to it, but it sounds like it might be some self/team reflection that will hopefully be useful for the rest of the season. GMU needs to take each team seriously - they still have a lot to play for.

 

[DRK331]

Video from the game yesterday