Game 24: LaSalle University, SUNDAY, February 10th, 2 PM, Stadium/MASN

[Washingtonian]

According to this, and an ad that aired during the Richmond game, the game will be shown on MASN:
http://www.masnsports.com/shows-and-programming/

Stadium's website is here: https://watchstadium.com/sport/college-basketball/

LaSalle comes in with a 7-14 record, 5-4 in the A-10, and 3-3 in away games, after beating St. Joe's last night by a score of 83-69.

The schedule is here: https://goexplorers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball
The roster is here: https://goexplorers.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball
The stats are here: https://goexplorers.com/documents/2019/2/5/MBB_Combined.pdf
Last season's box score from the game in Philadelphia is here: https://gomason.com/boxscore.aspx?id=8290&path=mbball (a 69-62 loss)

Pookie Powell is averaging 15.7 PPG (scored 11 points in last season's game), Isiah Deas is averaging 11.8 PPG, Saui Phiri (in 11 games) is averaging 11.6 PPG, Jack Clark is averaging 10.6 PPG (in 9 games, he is a freshman). Ed Croswell is averaging 6.0 RPG.

The game notes from the St. Joe's game is here (my thinking was they would list the probable starters like Mason does w/their games notes, but that isn't the case): https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/lasalle.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/2/3/Game_21_SJU.pdf

Discuss.

 

[Patriotsince81]

To say that we are struggling a bit right now would be an understatement. Defensively we have had two straight meltdowns. Over the last 6 games we are averaging just 66.3 points. Our lack of consistent scorers who can get 15 - 20 every night is hurting us. If we don't hold our opponents to 65 we can't win. The 35 turnovers combined against vcu and Richmond brings back haunting memories of earlier in the year when we simply did not value the ball. Injuries continue to mount. Kier has struggled now that teams have made him the point of emphasis.

How will the team respond? The slide continues on our home floor. LaSalle 81 - GMU 63. I hope like hell I'm wrong. I just have that feeling.

 

[GSII]

Team looks tired. Like I said before vcu probably killed our morale forever. It doesn't seem like we respond to a loss like that well. It should piss us off and everyone turn into a Hulk. But instead we are showing more weaknesses.

Sally 77
Mason 69

 

[Five Two]

Limit turnovers and shoot the 3 ball at a decent clip. rinse and repeat the rest of the conference season.

In addition to turnovers and 3 point shooting, this game is where coaching will be huge. They can't let the last 2 games in Richmond dictate the next few games. I hate vcu, but that was an acceptable loss. If you want to chalk up the UR loss as 'we are going to have a bad one somewhere', ok. But thats now 2 in a row and DP needs to right the ship on Sunday.

 

[JimP]

Well - LaSalle just won at Richmond, has a better road than home record and looks to play pretty good defense. Thought this had the potential to be a laugher a couple weeks ago, but this will be a tough game.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us - 66
Them - 65
OT

 

[mkaufman1]

Important game. Not making any predictions but it’s a big one for many reasons.

 

[Jack Strop]

Play like the Mason team did in the final seven minutes of the @UR game and win seven of the next eight.

Play like the Mason team did in the first 33 minutes of the @UR game and lose eight of the next eight.

Only Mason's players can play the game. My new motto: "Don't settle for what your opponent gives you, TAKE what you WANT!"

 

[sleeperpick]

Play like the Mason team did in the final seven minutes of the @UR game and win seven of the next eight.

Play like the Mason team did in the first 33 minutes of the @UR game and lose eight of the next eight.

Only Mason's players can play the game. My new motto: "Don't settle for what your opponent gives you, TAKE what you WANT!"

but what if the Mason players in the last 7 minutes of the UR game can't sniff the floor even though they should?

 

[mkaufman1]

but what if the Mason players in the last 7 minutes of the UR game can't sniff the floor even though they should?

Then we post on the message boards to complain!

 

[PoorManProfit]

The Explorers are the hot team right now, so Patriot Fan should be very concerned.

LAS 69
G Mas 72

Note: Those road green uniforms are awful.

 

[psyclone]

Kenpom has us as 9 pt favorites. Seems like a lot given our recent play.

Based on Kenpom conference play data, LaSalle is first in 3 pt shooting (37%) but last in 2 pt% (43.4%) and as you might suspect, are 2d in the conference in their % of points they get from 3. On the other hand, we are 3d in defending the 3 (27%), despite the last 2 games.

LaSalle's defensive efficiency (#4) is about the same as ours (#3).

 

[GMU_DCU]

LaSalle is on an upward swing while we are on a downward swing. If Kier doesn't shake whatever funk he is in we can count this as our third loss in a row.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

LaSalle is on an upward swing while we are on a downward swing. If Kier doesn't shake whatever funk he is in we can count this as our third loss in a row.

I could be wrong but I seem to remmember in the vcu game, Kier wincing in pain after he got hit on his thumb. Anyone esle recall that?

 

[patriotchild]

It was against GW. Paulsen said it wasn’t a problem in his Richmond post game. BG asked.

I’ve had the sneaking suspicion the Otis has been nursing some kind of injury all year that the program will never admit.

I think the same goes for Kier. If he is hurt they won’t say. I haven’t paid close enough attention to see if he was tipping any possible issue during the last two games.

Seems like all our key guards are banged up/tired. They’ve had to shoulder a lot of the load this year and last. Hopefully they shake it.

 

[TweederGMU]

Look for the team to bounce back here. The stench of Richmond will be off of them and can focus on getting revenge at a later time for those teams. La Salle is very beatable.

Kier and Greene will bounce back and make some 3's.

Goodguys 72
Tim Legler's Caddy's 64

 

[GMUgemini]

Kenpom has us as 9 pt favorites. Seems like a lot given our recent play.

Based on Kenpom conference play data, LaSalle is first in 3 pt shooting (37%) but last in 2 pt% (43.4%) and as you might suspect, are 2d in the conference in their % of points they get from 3. On the other hand, we are 3d in defending the 3 (27%), despite the last 2 games.

LaSalle's defensive efficiency (#4) is about the same as ours (#3).

These numbers kind of scare me: a good 3 point shooting team that can defend? equals trap for Mason.

 

[Washingtonian]

Game preview:
https://gomason.com/news/2019/2/8/m...-la-salle-meet-sunday-in-eaglebank-arena.aspx

 

[sleeperpick]

Lasalle is pretty athletic. To match that I would love to trot out a lineup of Otis kier Greene Miller and AJ. No big man that will bully AJ and a lot of shot blocking opportunities since Lasalle runs a pick and pop offense. It will never happen and AJ probably won’t play a minute in the game. But a man Can still dream.

Some coaches just don’t know how to coach freak athletes. And no Muscala doesn’t count

 

[By George.]

Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but we’ve launched a new podcast called The Ryan and Domcast featuring 2 Green Machine members. Obviously they’re both young but it’s interesting to get a kids perspective. For context: they didn’t know who Big Boi was at the Super Bowl halftime show and last week was the first time they’ve been to Richmond, but they talk shit about vcu's band and a twitter beef they got into with a 30 year old ex Peppa. They both live on campus and discuss all the construction and of course talk Men’s and Women’s b-ball.

If it’s a lazy weekend, check it out - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/by-george-podcast-by-george/id1088351501?mt=2#episodeGuid=https://giantkiller.co/ByGeorge/?p=979

For non Apple heads - https://giantkiller.co/ByGeorge/2019/02/04/hey10-ep-3/