Game 28: GMU (21-6 / 9-5) at St. Joe’s (17-10 / 9-5) on Wednesday, February 25, at 7:00 PM.

[DRK331]

How can we fix this?

 

[GMU79]

How can we fix this?

Spend lots more money. Sad to say.

 

[jkh1978]

Did Tony try to correct and go for more offense? He can learn for this and better identify the guys that will play harder for the next team.
I have no problem having a guy like Stas on the bench. We don’t need eight starters just one at every position.

 

[Pablo]

Spend lots more money. Sad to say.

Or perhaps, spend money more wisely by recruiting less players in their final year of eligibility.

 

[DRK331]

Video from the game yesterday

 

[NewPatriot]

Mason was 8-1 through the first half of the conference schedule. Mostly close wins, yes, but even after Mincy got hurt I don’t think anyone would’ve predicted this kind of collapse.

In retrospect it’s pretty obvious this group was a poor fit for a defense-first coach. Unfortunately it’s not easy to find guys who are good at both ends when you’re shopping for talent at Goodwill.

We trailed every team at half time and had to become back every time.

The Mason barely escaped Loyola with a win; the ramblers had 6 players out and Mason's defense let their 5-9 walk on PG have a career night. Barely escaped St. Bonaventure; it took a 17 point comeback to beat them in the end

Everyone here was concerned that the slow starts would come back and bite them in the butt.

You could see offensively..they began to play selfish one on one basketball.. Allenspach stopped kicking the ball out to open shooters. No more cuts to the basket

But I heard Jahari Long say the team's attitude was that.they didn't need to show up for inferior opponents in the first half...I know the collapse was in progress.

Yes...the light at the end of the tunnel was the headlamp of an on coming train...the signs were all there..fans overlooked it because of wins.

 

[jessej]

The 24-25 team was largely composed of guys from P4 programs that "transferred down" to the A-10.
This 25-26 team is composed of guys who are parallel transfers or transferred up.

I believe that the P4 transfers are of a different type - skill wise, but equally important - mentally. No doubt that the injury to Mincy was/is a big loss, but the response of the rest of this team is troubling and reveals this core difference in resiliency, adaptability, hustle, stepping up, that are key in situations like this.

At this point the option for post season play are very limited:
Win the A-10 Tourney - get the NCAA AQ.
Make it to the A-10 Finals and get a NIT bid?
Crown - no chance.
the other tournament where the teams pay $27,000 each to play - IMO of little value with yearly roster turnover

I have no idea of what GMU is paying its players - but roster construction and NIL budget optimization will be key to future success. But this late season meltdown may have damaged the transferability of some on this roster. And I don't know if CTS will ask a few of the scholarship players to leave.

A look at the current roster leads me to believe that
1) at least 3 off the 6 with expiring eligibility will leave, with OConner being the highest probability of returning, usure of what Hill and Long will do.
2) I expect that both Mincy and Allenspach leave for better paying NIL, unsure of what Troutman will do
3) I am unsure of what the 2 scholarship sophomores will do but the walk-ons have no other options but to stay
4) I expect at least one of the 3 freshmen not named Skinn to move on
5) And i hope the 2 incoming HS players don't change their minds

 

[NewPatriot]

The 24-25 team was largely composed of guys from P4 programs that "transferred down" to the A-10.
This 25-26 team is composed of guys who are parallel transfers or transferred up.

I believe that the P4 transfers are of a different type - skill wise, but equally important - mentally. No doubt that the injury to Mincy was/is a big loss, but the response of the rest of this team is troubling and reveals this core difference in resiliency, adaptability, hustle, stepping up, that are key in situations like this.

At this point the option for post season play are very limited:
Win the A-10 Tourney - get the NCAA AQ.
Make it to the A-10 Finals and get a NIT bid?
Crown - no chance.
the other tournament where the teams pay $27,000 each to play - IMO of little value with yearly roster turnover

I have no idea of what GMU is paying its players - but roster construction and NIL budget optimization will be key to future success. But this late season meltdown may have damaged the transferability of some on this roster. And I don't know if CTS will ask a few of the scholarship players to leave.

A look at the current roster leads me to believe that
1) at least 3 off the 6 with expiring eligibility will leave, with OConner being the highest probability of returning, usure of what Hill and Long will do.
2) I expect that both Mincy and Allenspach leave for better paying NIL, unsure of what Troutman will do
3) I am unsure of what the 2 scholarship sophomores will do but the walk-ons have no other options but to stay
4) I expect at least one of the 3 freshmen not named Skinn to move on
5) And i hope the 2 incoming HS players don't change their minds

Chattanooga won last year's NIT with D2 transfers

 

[gmujim92]

The 24-25 team was largely composed of guys from P4 programs that "transferred down" to the A-10.
This 25-26 team is composed of guys who are parallel transfers or transferred up.

I believe that the P4 transfers are of a different type - skill wise, but equally important - mentally. No doubt that the injury to Mincy was/is a big loss, but the response of the rest of this team is troubling and reveals this core difference in resiliency, adaptability, hustle, stepping up, that are key in situations like this.

At this point the option for post season play are very limited:
Win the A-10 Tourney - get the NCAA AQ.
Make it to the A-10 Finals and get a NIT bid?
Crown - no chance.
the other tournament where the teams pay $27,000 each to play - IMO of little value with yearly roster turnover

I have no idea of what GMU is paying its players - but roster construction and NIL budget optimization will be key to future success. But this late season meltdown may have damaged the transferability of some on this roster. And I don't know if CTS will ask a few of the scholarship players to leave.

A look at the current roster leads me to believe that
1) at least 3 off the 6 with expiring eligibility will leave, with OConner being the highest probability of returning, usure of what Hill and Long will do.
2) I expect that both Mincy and Allenspach leave for better paying NIL, unsure of what Troutman will do
3) I am unsure of what the 2 scholarship sophomores will do but the walk-ons have no other options but to stay
4) I expect at least one of the 3 freshmen not named Skinn to move on
5) And i hope the 2 incoming HS players don't change their minds

The biggest difference between Team 59 and Team 60, IMHO, boils down to attitude.

There were some serious badasses on last year’s team. Remember Jalen and Darius having to be separated leaving the court at halftime of one game? Woody squaring up against an entire opposing team? The fracas with vcu in the A-10 title game? Those guys took pride in accepting no shit from anyone.

They also drove fans crazy at times with the inconsistent offense and turnovers, but opponents knew they were not in for a pleasant experience when they saw Mason on the opposite sideline.

Mason is a blue-collar program that has had its greatest successes by finding hard-nosed men with a huge chip on their shoulder. Hopefully Tony gets back to recruiting that type of player in the offseason b/c with a few exceptions, Team 60 really doesn’t fit the program culture he’s building.

 

[jruby]

The 24-25 team was largely composed of guys from P4 programs that "transferred down" to the A-10.
This 25-26 team is composed of guys who are parallel transfers or transferred up.

I believe that the P4 transfers are of a different type - skill wise, but equally important - mentally. No doubt that the injury to Mincy was/is a big loss, but the response of the rest of this team is troubling and reveals this core difference in resiliency, adaptability, hustle, stepping up, that are key in situations like this.

At this point the option for post season play are very limited:
Win the A-10 Tourney - get the NCAA AQ.
Make it to the A-10 Finals and get a NIT bid?
Crown - no chance.
the other tournament where the teams pay $27,000 each to play - IMO of little value with yearly roster turnover

I have no idea of what GMU is paying its players - but roster construction and NIL budget optimization will be key to future success. But this late season meltdown may have damaged the transferability of some on this roster. And I don't know if CTS will ask a few of the scholarship players to leave.

A look at the current roster leads me to believe that
1) at least 3 off the 6 with expiring eligibility will leave, with OConner being the highest probability of returning, usure of what Hill and Long will do.
2) I expect that both Mincy and Allenspach leave for better paying NIL, unsure of what Troutman will do
3) I am unsure of what the 2 scholarship sophomores will do but the walk-ons have no other options but to stay
4) I expect at least one of the 3 freshmen not named Skinn to move on
5) And i hope the 2 incoming HS players don't change their minds

Why can’t they pay Mincy? And who’s realistically going to offer Allenspach more than we can? He was playing, what, 10 minutes a game at Samford.

That said, Kanga might be the guy going forward anyway—TBD. It all depends on what’s actually out there.

I’m also not convinced Riley is the best fit for Tony Skinn if he’s not going to defend. Offensively, sure, he brings value—but I’m not sure it meshes with what Tony wants to do.

Beyond that, who knows. Everything feels up for debate, and without any transparency on numbers, budgets, or anything else, we’re all just guessing what they can offer. My guess is there is money to pay guys. Is it $5 million like GW’s roster? Maybe. Maybe not. I honestly have no clue.

What I will say is Caputo with a $5 million roster has been a disaster. So does spending $5 million with a coach like him automatically equal winning? No.

But give Tony more resources and I’d bet on him over Caputo every day—and twice on Sunday.

Ultimately, it comes down to what Mason is actually willing to give Tony, whether he can land the right players for his system, and another big piece: can Tony get the games scheduled that they need to play?

Ultimately the players cost will just have to be absorbed into the cost of doing business as a college basketball program much like paying for games at home and travel etc etc. Will it ever be public? Who knows that's something you guys can aruge about or try and find out. I'm not as concerned about the system as much as the players Tony can coach and build a hard nose team around. Do they fit and can he get the most out of them? Right now he's not with these guys!

 

[mkaufman1]

The biggest difference between Team 59 and Team 60, IMHO, boils down to attitude.

There were some serious badasses on last year’s team. Remember Jalen and Darius having to be separated leaving the court at halftime of one game? Woody squaring up against an entire opposing team? The fracas with vcu in the A-10 title game? Those guys took pride in accepting no shit from anyone.

They also drove fans crazy at times with the inconsistent offense and turnovers, but opponents knew they were not in for a pleasant experience when they saw Mason on the opposite sideline.

Mason is a blue-collar program that has had its greatest successes by finding hard-nosed men with a huge chip on their shoulder. Hopefully Tony gets back to recruiting that type of player in the offseason b/c with a few exceptions, Team 60 really doesn’t fit the program culture he’s building.

Completely agree with this post 1000% percent. Last years team played like Tony played on the floor. This years team has seemingly weltered the minute one of their teammates got hurt and forgot how to play basic basketball.

 

[Pablo]

Men's Basketball Rolls Past George Mason - Saint Joseph's University

PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's men's basketball team led for all but 36 seconds as the Hawks toppled the George Mason Patriots, 81-63, on Wednesday night. St.

sjuhawks.com

• "St. Joe's committed a season-low three turnovers in the game. It is the fewest giveaways in a contest for SJU since also committing three on January 10, 2018, also against George Mason."

 

[GSII]

The 24-25 team was largely composed of guys from P4 programs that "transferred down" to the A-10.
This 25-26 team is composed of guys who are parallel transfers or transferred up.

I believe that the P4 transfers are of a different type - skill wise, but equally important - mentally. No doubt that the injury to Mincy was/is a big loss, but the response of the rest of this team is troubling and reveals this core difference in resiliency, adaptability, hustle, stepping up, that are key in situations like this.

At this point the option for post season play are very limited:
Win the A-10 Tourney - get the NCAA AQ.
Make it to the A-10 Finals and get a NIT bid?
Crown - no chance.
the other tournament where the teams pay $27,000 each to play - IMO of little value with yearly roster turnover

I have no idea of what GMU is paying its players - but roster construction and NIL budget optimization will be key to future success. But this late season meltdown may have damaged the transferability of some on this roster. And I don't know if CTS will ask a few of the scholarship players to leave.

A look at the current roster leads me to believe that
1) at least 3 off the 6 with expiring eligibility will leave, with OConner being the highest probability of returning, usure of what Hill and Long will do.
2) I expect that both Mincy and Allenspach leave for better paying NIL, unsure of what Troutman will do
3) I am unsure of what the 2 scholarship sophomores will do but the walk-ons have no other options but to stay
4) I expect at least one of the 3 freshmen not named Skinn to move on
5) And i hope the 2 incoming HS players don't change their minds

Presley was at two P4's and looks like he has forgotten how to play basketball. Didn't look like a P4 to begin with. Clearly has regressed.

 

[GSII]

Why can’t they pay Mincy? And who’s realistically going to offer Allenspach more than we can? He was playing, what, 10 minutes a game at Samford.

That said, Kanga might be the guy going forward anyway—TBD. It all depends on what’s actually out there.

I’m also not convinced Riley is the best fit for Tony Skinn if he’s not going to defend. Offensively, sure, he brings value—but I’m not sure it meshes with what Tony wants to do.

Beyond that, who knows. Everything feels up for debate, and without any transparency on numbers, budgets, or anything else, we’re all just guessing what they can offer. My guess is there is money to pay guys. Is it $5 million like GW’s roster? Maybe. Maybe not. I honestly have no clue.

What I will say is Caputo with a $5 million roster has been a disaster. So does spending $5 million with a coach like him automatically equal winning? No.

But give Tony more resources and I’d bet on him over Caputo every day—and twice on Sunday.

Ultimately, it comes down to what Mason is actually willing to give Tony, whether he can land the right players for his system, and another big piece: can Tony get the games scheduled that they need to play?

Ultimately the players cost will just have to be absorbed into the cost of doing business as a college basketball program much like paying for games at home and travel etc etc. Will it ever be public? Who knows that's something you guys can aruge about or try and find out. I'm not as concerned about the system as much as the players Tony can coach and build a hard nose team around. Do they fit and can he get the most out of them? Right now he's not with these guys!

Athletic guys dont equal basketball players all of the time. I would pay Mincy then find 2 shooters from the Ivy League. Maybe they wont ask for money bc their allowance from their dad is more.

 

[FlPatriot]

The defense has been poor all season so I wouldn’t place the team wilting on Mincy getting hurt. We are in crunch time. Good teams rise to the occasion.

 

[jessej]

Athletic guys dont equal basketball players all of the time. I would pay Mincy then find 2 shooters from the Ivy League. Maybe they wont ask for money bc their allowance from their dad is more.

2 seasons ago Penn lost its best player to Villanova for a full scholarship and $200k in NIL

 

[Ben Chwarmer]

2 seasons ago Penn lost its best player to Villanova for a full scholarship and $200k in NIL

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Also, I’ve seen some guys writing off Stas on the boards. He has stuck around (which counts for something) and is continuing to develop his game in a positive manner. Last year he had no athleticism only his shot. This year he has improved his athleticism and shows moments of fight.

I wouldn’t write him off. If he sticks around and continues to improve, which I see no reason why he wouldn’t, he could be an important piece next year.

I agree and don't understand the haters. He is a Sophomore, a true Sophomore. In days of yore, many second year players would be starting to sniff the court as they develop and get up to speed over those first two years, come out swinging as a Junior, and showcase their talents and ability to the max in their Senior year.

We've just gotten to the point that we want everyone to hit the ground running from day one.

I am a fan of development and growth. Give the man a chance, I think he's right where I'd expect him to be in his second year and, as the above poster stated already, he has shown much improvement from year one to year two.

 

[NewPatriot]

We've just gotten to the point that we want everyone to hit the ground running from day one.

You don't win unless you acquire plug and play transfers in the portal era because there's no guarantee they will be here next year....more often then not...they chase the bag of cash someplace else

 

[jkh1978]

We are not filling plugs we are building a new team every year. Teams don’t have time to develop together.