Game 24: HOMECOMING - GMU (20-3 / 8-2) vs St. Joe’s (15-8 / 7-3) on Saturday, February 7, at 4:00 PM.

[NewPatriot]

Great win. The defense was fantastic in second half. However, Tony is playing too much ball control offensively by spreading player out and get back to spraying the ball like in the first 10 games of the season. They don't make the other team work hard enough on defense by allowing the offense to become stagnant.

 

[psyclone]

Great win. The defense was fantastic in second half. However, Tony is playing too much ball control offensively by spreading player out and get back to spraying the ball like in the first 10 games of the season. They don't make the other team work hard enough on defense by allowing the offense to become stagnant.

We're seeing much more zone which slows down the offense. Makes it more difficult for our drivers to get to the hoop. And we're not shooting our 3's well enough to get the other team out of the zone.

 

[TheStringer]

We're seeing much more zone which slows down the offense. Makes it more difficult for our drivers to get to the hoop. And we're not shooting our 3's well enough to get the other team out of the zone.

Yeah it’s almost like our legs got a little tired. I don’t really understand the screens at the top of the key. A zone gets broken by quick passing and we still rely too much on trying to dribble through it. It’s odd

 

[BraddockBeach]

Big W yesterday and turnout at EBA!!

 

[Stoolguy]

Shout out to stool guy , there had to be 2-2.5k students at the game. Good win, agree with what most said. The starting 5 needs a minor adjustment, take Stas out and put Fatt, Kanaga, or even Adebayo in. Good energy off the bench from everyone. Off nite for Kory but Jahri picked him up. Better help defense tonite except in the post, I don't know why Riley doesn't challenge or help on D. Nice homecoming win.

We finished with just over 2,000 students! First time since Nov 8 2013 vs AmericanU!!

 

[psyclone]

coverage of game from A10 talk:

George Mason men bounce back, beat St. Joe's 60-52 on Homecoming Day

Ten days ago, the George Mason University men’s basketball team put on a defensive clinic against Davidson late in the second half, holding the Wildcats to nine points in the final 10 minutes. On Saturday, they managed to outdo themselves in front of a massive crowd in EagleBank Arena. It’s...

www.a10talk.com

 

[DRK331]

Amazing Homecoming crowd yesterday! 7355!

 

[FreeGunston12]

Yeah it’s almost like our legs got a little tired. I don’t really understand the screens at the top of the key. A zone gets broken by quick passing and we still rely too much on trying to dribble through it. It’s odd

We clearly are having difficulty passing into the gaps of the zone and/or catching the ball and making the right decision quickly in those gaps. The screens are trying to get the ball handlers into those gaps, often pulling attention from the corner or middle baseline defender. It hasn’t been super effective, but the concept is fine IMO when our bigs are turning the ball over on every catch at the foul line.

 

[GMU1983]

Do we have st joe Coach postgame?

 

[GunstonsGhost]

We finished with just over 2,000 students! First time since Nov 8 2013 vs AmericanU!!

That is pretty amazing given the artic winds, last minute change to bring events indoors, and the recent deflating loss. I was anticipating a lot of people sitting this one out. Students were in their seats early too. The lower bowl was full a half hour before tip off.

 

[DRK331]

Highlights from the big Homecoming win

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Just wanted to share a couple fleeting thoughts now that I'm sober again:
- Big ups to the university and volunteers who were able to move everything indoors at the last minute, and also break down in EBA before the game. I'm pretty sure my eyeballs froze shut for a few seconds walking between EBA and Buchanan Hall. I'm glad I didn't have to live like that very long.
- I'm a fan of the DJ. He really won me over with the "Catch me Outside" cut. That one really peaked my buzz.
- Glad Stas got a start on homecoming. I know there are a lot of people negging on him lately, but he wouldn't be getting minutes, and now a start without putting in work in practice. Yes he has been streaky, but obviously CTS has confidence in him. It reminds me of the beginning of last season when everyone was hating on Haynes saying Gio should start, but CTS kept saying Haynes was the best player in practice. Everything worked itself out.

I'd also argue that Stas may end up being one of the few players to be here for four years. We don't get many players like that anymore and I enjoy watching his progression, hopefully for a couple more years.

"How bout dat!?"

 

[psyclone]

Just wanted to share a couple fleeting thoughts now that I'm sober again:
- Big ups to the university and volunteers who were able to move everything indoors at the last minute, and also break down in EBA before the game. I'm pretty sure my eyeballs froze shut for a few seconds walking between EBA and Buchanan Hall. I'm glad I didn't have to live like that very long.
- I'm a fan of the DJ. He really won me over with the "Catch me Outside" cut. That one really peaked my buzz.
- Glad Stas got a start on homecoming. I know there are a lot of people negging on him lately, but he wouldn't be getting minutes, and now a start without putting in work in practice. Yes he has been streaky, but obviously CTS has confidence in him. It reminds me of the beginning of last season when everyone was hating on Haynes saying Gio should start, but CTS kept saying Haynes was the best player in practice. Everything worked itself out.

I'd also argue that Stas may end up being one of the few players to be here for four years. We don't get many players like that anymore and I enjoy watching his progression, hopefully for a couple more years.

"How bout dat!?"

I generally agree on Stas, although he did have a pretty brutal game against St. Joe's. Worse yet, his body language exuded how discouraged he felt. Needs to be able to shake off bad plays/shots so that he can subsequently make positive contributions.

 

[Jack Strop]

I generally agree on Stas, although he did have a pretty brutal game against St. Joe's. Worse yet, his body language exuded how discouraged he felt. Needs to be able to shake off bad plays/shots so that he can subsequently make positive contributions.

Stas needs to figure out how to play in the paint against the bodies that are a bit thicker than his. I am sure that his whispy frame getting blown around like a paper bag on the freeway is the source of his frustration (I know because I too am thin and wirey). Everyone is probably telling him, "You have to put on some pounds, dude. Just EAT!" Not so easy when one's body won't allow an extra ounce.

I see him trying to use his quickness and length to get around big bodies on O or peskily swat and swipe at layups on D. Stas is a Sophomore. Give him time to grow and learn. Hopefully, Stas will build upon his strengths and work around his weaknesses to become a solid threat. Go Stas!

 

[Old Man]

Stas "Needs to be able to shake off bad plays/shots so that he can subsequently make positive contributions."

If Stas can accomplish this, he will be outstanding.

The best shooters normally miss half their shots and two-thirds of 3s. Baseball players normally miss over 70% of their at-bats, and if they calculated how many pitches are thrown to balls hit, it would even be sooo much less success. Hockey players score on maybe 10% of their shots as a team.

The point is, to quote the philosopher T. Swift, Shake it off!

 

[NewPatriot]

Stas needs to figure out how to play in the paint against the bodies that are a bit thicker than his. I am sure that his whispy frame getting blown around like a paper bag on the freeway is the source of his frustration (I know because I too am thin and wirey). Everyone is probably telling him, "You have to put on some pounds, dude. Just EAT!" Not so easy when one's body won't allow an added ounce.

I see him trying to use his quickness and length to get around big bodies on O or perkily swat and swipe at layups on D. Stas is a Sophomore. Give him time to grow and learn. Hopefully, Stas will build upon his strengths and work around his weaknesses to become a solid threat. Go Stas!

MHe is a stretch 4 not a back to the basket post player so he is not guarding Robbie Avila..he's guarding athletic Wings and stretch 4's who face up on the perimeter like AJ McCottry and Barry Evans 90 percent of the time..so he needs to keep that laterally quickness

Really, Skinn and his staff should continue to work with Ellington and Kanga on playing post defense without fouling and spare Allenspach more minutes.

 

[Jack Strop]

MHe is a stretch 4 not a back to the basket post player so he is not guarding Robbie Avila..he's guarding athletic Wings and stretch 4's who face up on the perimeter like AJ McCottry and Barry Evans 90 percent of the time..so he needs to keep that laterally quickness

Really, Skinn and his staff should continue to work with Ellington and Kanga on playing post defense without fouling and spare Allenspach more minutes.

Stas has many moments where he is needed to defend in the paint, as would any 4, no matter if he's a stretch-4 or a natural-4. Often, the 4 has to switch with the 5 when circumstances dictate. This is where Stas gets into trouble and gets knocked around. He can stick to his man pretty well outside of the paint no matter who he is defending, but once he enters the paint he has trouble holding his weight.

 

[gmulion]

Stas has many moments where he is needed to defend in the paint, as would any 4, no matter if he's a stretch-4 or a natural-4. Often, the 4 has to switch with the 5 when circumstances dictate. This is where Stas gets into trouble and gets knocked around. He can stick to his man pretty well outside of the paint no matter who he is defending, but once he enters the paint he has trouble holding his weight.

And Kanga and Ellington struggle when they are at the 4 and have to switch on guards out top.
Adebayo seems to be the one who has the athletic ability to do both, but he seems to get lost at times.