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

[jruby]

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.

He's 22 going on 23 so it's proof that someone at that age still improving that much shows how horrible coaching really still is in Europe. So there's that......... As far as keeping him or getting rid of him there's really no point in getting rid of him. Maybe he's a 8 minute a game player or 5 whatever. He has moments regardless if he's a starter or whatever else. You need 13 players and they aren't getting 13 players better than him especially not for the cost.

 

[TheStringer]

My Dad passed away recently and him and I bonded more the last few years over Mason ball. One of his favorite stories to tell was the time we went to a Mason game my Senior year and I hit a 3 pointer during a TO to win the stadium wings from Glory Days. He was old school basketball, his Dad played ball at a high level and knew Wooden on a first name basis so he rued the transfer portal, hated how it made him not able to remember the players till the end of the year, but he still tuned in for Mason. He loved Tony, thought hes not leaving, and was hoping that he could still build continuity within the team from year to year. So for him, I hope that Mason and CTS figure out how to keep the guys who are bought in, the Stas'/Kanga's/Booker's so they can grow, and then fill in the holes to complete the team. I hope this team finds a way to win because he really enjoyed watching Mason basketball but, if not, I hope and believe in Tony to do this the right way.

 

[GSII]

My Dad passed away recently and him and I bonded more the last few years over Mason ball. One of his favorite stories to tell was the time we went to a Mason game my Senior year and I hit a 3 pointer during a TO to win the stadium wings from Glory Days. He was old school basketball, his Dad played ball at a high level and knew Wooden on a first name basis so he rued the transfer portal, hated how it made him not able to remember the players till the end of the year, but he still tuned in for Mason. He loved Tony, thought hes not leaving, and was hoping that he could still build continuity within the team from year to year. So for him, I hope that Mason and CTS figure out how to keep the guys who are bought in, the Stas'/Kanga's/Booker's so they can grow, and then fill in the holes to complete the team. I hope this team finds a way to win because he really enjoyed watching Mason basketball but, if not, I hope and believe in Tony to do this the right way.

I hope so too. But we must understand that this has become an even dirtier, more cut throat business. Not sure anyone is becoming better people b/c of it.

 

[psyclone]

My Dad passed away recently and him and I bonded more the last few years over Mason ball. One of his favorite stories to tell was the time we went to a Mason game my Senior year and I hit a 3 pointer during a TO to win the stadium wings from Glory Days. He was old school basketball, his Dad played ball at a high level and knew Wooden on a first name basis so he rued the transfer portal, hated how it made him not able to remember the players till the end of the year, but he still tuned in for Mason. He loved Tony, thought hes not leaving, and was hoping that he could still build continuity within the team from year to year. So for him, I hope that Mason and CTS figure out how to keep the guys who are bought in, the Stas'/Kanga's/Booker's so they can grow, and then fill in the holes to complete the team. I hope this team finds a way to win because he really enjoyed watching Mason basketball but, if not, I hope and believe in Tony to do this the right way.

Sorry to hear of your Dad's passing, but I'm sure your memories of sharing Mason basketball moments with him will serve as great consolation. And to have made a meaningful 3 pointer in front of him!

What a great moment!

I'm sure the sound of the cheering crowd still echoes in your memory and will continue to bring great joy as it must have to your father as well!

 

[TheStringer]

Sorry to hear of your Dad's passing, but I'm sure your memories of sharing Mason basketball moments with him will serve as great consolation. And to have made a meaningful 3 pointer in front of him!

What a great moment!

I'm sure the sound of the cheering crowd still echoes in your memory and will continue to bring great joy as it must have to your father as well!

It sure does! It was pretty surreal lol

 

[Ben Chwarmer]

Maybe Mason should move back to the CAA
where the athletic budgets are comparable...for survival.

If GMU stayed in the CAA, they would’ve won the league at least a handful of times by now. It would’ve become the premier job in the CAA, and instead of coaches running to UNCW, they’d have been lining up for GMU.

 

[Jack Strop]

If GMU stayed in the CAA, they would’ve won the league at least a handful of times by now. It would’ve become the premier job in the CAA, and instead of coaches running to UNCW, they’d have been lining up for GMU.

The CAA is not half what it used to be. Since Mason departed, they have not been anything more than a perennial one-bid conference. And, we'd likely still be called "the James Mason Colonials from the Patriot League"... NO WAY DUDE, NO WAY. The A10 is where we belong.

When the NCAA realigns and splits apart down the middle, taking the top 150 teams, I hope mightily we're on the top side. Half of the A10 will go with the P5. The other half will be relegated to the lower tier. The CAA will take no one into the upper class.

I don't want to be a school playing also-ran sports. I'm happy where Mason plays now and we're set up for future success. Otherwise, blechh, Mason athletics would become irrelevant to me.

 

[jessej]

If GMU stayed in the CAA, they would’ve won the league at least a handful of times by now. It would’ve become the premier job in the CAA, and instead of coaches running to UNCW, they’d have been lining up for GMU.

assumption that all transfers in and coaches come to play in the CAA - not valid

 

[gmujim92]

The CAA is not half what it used to be. Since Mason departed, they have not been anything more than a perennial one-bid conference. And, we'd likely still be called "the James Mason Colonials from the Patriot League"... NO WAY DUDE, NO WAY. The A10 is where we belong.

When the NCAA realigns and splits apart down the middle, taking the top 150 teams, I hope mightily we're on the top side. Half of the A10 will go with the P5. The other half will be relegated to the lower tier. The CAA will take no one into the upper class.

I don't want to be a school playing also-ran sports. I'm happy where Mason plays now and we're set up for future success. Otherwise, blechh, Mason athletics would become irrelevant to me.

The people who think Mason should’ve gone back to the CAA, or never left in the first place, carry a loser’s mentality and I can’t relate.

Instead, why not expect the largest university in Virginia to strive for excellence with its flagship athletic program like it does on the academic side? The resources are there — the only thing holding Mason back in basketball is its own will to go all in.

 

[DRK331]

Mason up 13-2

EBA IS LOUD

 

[nchocola]

Riley is playing different. Both ends

Could be the turnaround

 

[GMUYoda]

Mason up 13-2

EBA IS LOUD

Riley is playing different. Both ends

Could be the turnaround

Wrong thread

 

[TheStringer]

Mincy is f**kin locked

 

[FlPatriot]

Riley is playing different. Both ends

Could be the turnaround

Agree though I wish he’d get a bit more Kangaesque and pass out when covered

Yes, wrong thread.

 

[gmutom]

Agree though I wish he’d get a bit more Kangaesque and pass out when covered

Yes, wrong thread.

I realize this is the wrong thread, but Kanga rarely gets double-teamed and — at this point in his young career — isn’t even an offensive threat when he’s single teamed. Kanga’s first instinct when he gets the ball in the post is to immediately throw it back out while Riley’s first instinct is to score.

We all agree Riley needs to sense the double team sooner, but I thought this was the first game in a while when he dominated in the post offensively when the matchup was favorable and quickly found teammates on the perimeter when the paint got too congested.