Game 8: GMU (4-3) at JMU (4-3) on Friday, November 29, at 4:00 PM.

[GMUYoda]

Almost gave that game away. We need to work on FT shooting.

This sounds familiar...

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Sloppy win, but winning without Maddox the last 10 minutes, JB coming back after concussion protocol, and on the road...I'll take it.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Haynes 20 points, 8 rebounds
KD Johnson 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

 

[Walter]

Always good to beat JMU.

 

[GMU79]

Tuned in the last 6 minutes. Is Maddux ok?

 

[Patriotsince81]

A win is a win is a win. Nice to leave with the W but the same old weaknesses continue to show. Turnovers, defensive rebounds, and free throw shooting just name a few. We need to get MUCH better in those areas if we hope to be a difference maker in A10 play and dance. Still, give the guys all the credit for doing just enough.

 

[GMUgemini]

A win is a win is a win. Nice to leave with the W but the same old weaknesses continue to show. Turnovers, defensive rebounds, and free throw shooting just name a few. We need to get MUCH better in those areas if we hope to be a difference maker in A10 play and dance. Still, give the guys all the credit for doing just enough.

They finally started rebounding when it mattered, but then decided to keep going 1-2 from the line. Turnovers much better in the second half (only ended the game with 11).

There is no way against a better team you can give up 15 offensive rebounds and that many turnovers in the first 10 minutes and expect to stay in it in the last 10.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Never easy to win on the road, good to get out of there with the win.

But man, we sure love to make it harder on ourselves because that game should not have been that close. Giving up so many offensive rebounds is a problem, 15+ in 3 out of last 4 games.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Always nice to see @Old Man and @gmubrian on TV.

 

[Jack Strop]

...yeah, but did you see the Maddox-to-O'Conner ALLIE-OOP! That was MEAN!!

 

[nchocola]

Good road win. Never easy to win on the road.

Nice games from KD and Haynes. They stepped up when they needed it today.

The rebounding was tough. However, when you are playing zone over half the game and the other team takes 40 3s, all the rebounds are going to be long and all over the place. It’s not easy to rebound when that happens. I don’t think they are going to run into any other teams this season that launch 40 3s in a game.

 

[GMUgemini]

Never easy to win on the road, good to get out of there with the win.

But man, we sure love to make it harder on ourselves because that game should not have been that close. Giving up so many offensive rebounds is a problem, 15+ in 3 out of last 4 games.

Teams have tape now.

Good road win. Never easy to win on the road.

Nice games from KD and Haynes. They stepped up when they needed it today.

The rebounding was tough. However, when you are playing zone over half the game and the other team takes 40 3s, all the rebounds are going to be long and all over the place. It’s not easy to rebound when that happens. I don’t think they are going to run into any other teams this season that launch 40 3s in a game.

St. Joes and SLU probably.

 

[jruby]

JMU coach was bad and didn’t actually take advantage of anything. Was not impressed at all. They aren’t actually a great shooting team and just jacked up 3’s. Talent won out, I think KD and Haynes played great. Defense won the game stopping their offense all night. Turnovers were ok in the 2nd half but the first half were awful and it should have been over at half, the offensive rebounds are a killer.

The rebounding has to be a fundamental problem as this team isn’t lazy or lack effort. They play their a***** off on defense. They have to find a better way to rebound.
At least at end of day, huge progress from KD and Haynes stepping up. Solid not great road win and winning on road has never come easy under skinn.

 

[hoops10]

Haynes best game by far. He looked energetic with some unique moves for a big guy. Now work on free throws and rebounding. On another note OConnor gets to the basket but just doesn't finish with a bucket. I would give Johnson point guard lead with OConnor as shooting guard. I agree with most that it was a sloppy game but definitely see the potential. Hope for steady improvement.

 

[GSII]

Where was Begg? Did he make the trip?

 

[Sport31]

Nice win. Agree with everyone on turnovers and our free throw shooting. Has to improve for league play.

 

[Petey Buckets]

We have the same comments virtually every game yet nothing changes -- too many turnovers, O'Connor is not a point guard, no movement on the offensive end, etc.

Given we are in game 8, don't expect much of anything to change this year. If we really had a point guard, he'd be playing by now and most of our critical comments would probably go away. But we don't so get used to it.

Yup. I think this was clear after the Ferrum game. The only reason to tighten up the rotation in an exhibition is... you finally know your rotation. We are riding and/or dying with BOC at point and KD spelling him.

Lmao the way Tony yoked up Haynes

Tony got his hands up under the pads! Great technique.

Overall I had a couple main takeaways from this game:

- The rotation is finalized. Love it or hate it, don't hold your breath expecting someone else to start at point guard. BOC is clearly playing out of position, but I see the vision. It's a work in progress. Would have liked to see more Quigley minutes but he's been pretty shaky with the ball and damn near unplayable on defense. Begg isn't close to ready. I would guess Tony loves the defense we can play with BOC out there and KD coming off the bench for him, and he'll let everything else come along. We ride.

- Good KD raises our ceiling substantially. Second best player today. At this point I think you have to live with the good and the bad, yes he's clinically insane but he fears no man. I'll take Mason's double bye chances seriously once he starts playing 25+ minutes per game. If he's stuck in a rotation role around 20 minutes per game, we'll finish somewhere between 6th and 10th.

- Pretty sure the defensive rebounding woes are gonna be part of opponent game plans now. JMU was crashing with 3 or even 4 guys on a bunch of possessions in the first half. Might gif a few plays to Twitter to illustrate it. Not sure how to quantify it but it looked really unusual.

- Appreciate Woody Newton. Executed his defensive assignment at the end of the CMU game (played the 5 and got the block, unfortunately rebounded by CMU), executed his defensive assignment at the end of the game today - switched onto Lindsay and made his last 3 attempt extremely difficult (still almost went in).

We're a work in progress. It's gonna be ugly until maybe, hopefully, it's not. Go Mason.

 

[DRK331]

Video highlights:

George Mason Patriots vs. James Madison Dukes: Game Highlights - ESPN Video

George Mason Patriots vs. James Madison Dukes: Game Highlights

espn.com

 

[DRK331]

jmu head coach post game interview

 

[GunstonsGhost]

...yeah, but did you see the Maddox-to-O'Conner ALLIE-OOP! That was MEAN!!

And the insult to injury as well. JMU dorked two alleyoop attempts earlier. Perfection!