Games 10 - 12: Diamond Head Classic, Dec 22nd through Dec 25th

[gmujim92]

Definitely some strange substitutions in that game, Chank, but I imagine a lot of that was out of desperation to see if anybody could stop Oklahoma's dribble penetration. It would have been better to change the defensive scheme rather than constantly rotating the players.

More and more, I think Hewitt will begin to ride the players he trusts. I think he felt obligated to play everybody his first few years, but I slowly see that loyalty fading. The fact that he suspended his boy Okoloji and benched our best player Sunday might be a sign that the leash is tightening.

The problem is, Hewitt doesn't have enough players to "ride" unless he's willing to make strategic adjustments on both ends of the floor.

Play up-tempo on offense to mask our lack of low-post scoring. Emphasize penetration and kicking for open 3s since our guys struggle to finish at the rim.

On the other end, play zone and dare teams to beat us with the 3.

It just makes me wonder why it's so difficult for a veteran basketball coach to recognize and adjust to the limitations of his roster, and put his players in the best position to be successful. Isn't that what coaching is all about?

 

[GMUSSTN]

I don't see a lot of team basketball going on, unless we're playing zone. Lots of dribbling, little passing, jacking up 3s when we've still got 15+ seconds on the shot clock. There's no patience, no selflessness.

 

[gmutom]

It just makes me wonder why it's so difficult for a veteran basketball coach to recognize and adjust to the limitations of his roster, and put his players in the best position to be successful. Isn't that what coaching is all about?

Jim, a big part is he is stubborn to a fault. He incorrectly thinks he can make them fit into his system rather than adapting to their skills. Pressing less and going with more zone shows he is capable of adapting, but he definitely takes way to long to get to that realization.

The hard part about trying to run on offense is having the guys to do it. Other than Moore and maybe Marko, all of our other players are a disaster waiting to happen in the open court. I always hear the lyrics to that Soul Asylum song going through my head when we push the ball: "Runway train never coming back..."

The reason I advocate bringing Hewitt back is I think he will be a better coach when he can run his offensive and defensive schemes with his type of players. I know that sounds like an excuse to those who want him gone, but we will definitely be able to push the ball, press and play man defense with guys like Moore, Jenkins, Mayimba, Lockett and eventually Porter.

 

[GSII]

Are we still ranked almost last in assists nationally?

 

[GSII]

but we will definitely be able to push the ball, press and play man defense with guys like Moore, Jenkins, Mayimba, Lockett and eventually Porter.

Isn't this what OCM recruited the Wrights, Allens, Edwards, Gray, J2, JA to do also? Again, aside from the OCM being a better x and o guy, they preached the same stuff on defense. Why have our guys regressed into cones when playing defense now? Some in their 5th year of college bball. Btw, lets not forget Hewitt recruited Wright while at GT. So he is his type guy. Dissappearing act and all.

On a side note, I watched mizzo, and J3 almost ate the basketball trying to pull down the rebound. Wish he'd share that hunger with big bro.

 

[ricky]

Jim, a big part is he is stubborn to a fault. He incorrectly thinks he can make them fit into his system rather than adapting to their skills. Pressing less and going with more zone shows he is capable of adapting, but he definitely takes way to long to get to that realization.

The hard part about trying to run on offense is having the guys to do it. Other than Moore and maybe Marko, all of our other players are a disaster waiting to happen in the open court. I always hear the lyrics to that Soul Asylum song going through my head when we push the ball: "Runway train never coming back..."

The reason I advocate bringing Hewitt back is I think he will be a better coach when he can run his offensive and defensive schemes with his type of players. I know that sounds like an excuse to those who want him gone, but we will definitely be able to push the ball, press and play man defense with guys like Moore, Jenkins, Mayimba, Lockett and eventually Porter.

@Tom, so are you saying that Holloway should be forgotten after this year (if not this year)? If so, why did Hewitt bring him here in the first place?

 

[gmutom]

@Tom, so are you saying that Holloway should be forgotten after this year (if not this year)? If so, why did Hewitt bring him here in the first place?

Not at all, Ricky. I was just mentioning the freshman and incoming recruits. I like Holloway a lot and think he will have a great career at Mason. I just think he needs to step up his defense, so he can get more minutes. This team desperately needs his scoring ability on the court.

 

[ricky]

Jim, a big part is he is stubborn to a fault. He incorrectly thinks he can make them fit into his system rather than adapting to their skills. Pressing less and going with more zone shows he is capable of adapting, but he definitely takes way to long to get to that realization.

The hard part about trying to run on offense is having the guys to do it. Other than Moore and maybe Marko, all of our other players are a disaster waiting to happen in the open court. I always hear the lyrics to that Soul Asylum song going through my head when we push the ball: "Runway train never coming back..."

The reason I advocate bringing Hewitt back is I think he will be a better coach when he can run his offensive and defensive schemes with his type of players. I know that sounds like an excuse to those who want him gone, but we will definitely be able to push the ball, press and play man defense with guys like Moore, Jenkins, Mayimba, Lockett and eventually Porter.

 

[gmujim92]

Jim, a big part is he is stubborn to a fault. He incorrectly thinks he can make them fit into his system rather than adapting to their skills. Pressing less and going with more zone shows he is capable of adapting, but he definitely takes way to long to get to that realization.

The hard part about trying to run on offense is having the guys to do it. Other than Moore and maybe Marko, all of our other players are a disaster waiting to happen in the open court. I always hear the lyrics to that Soul Asylum song going through my head when we push the ball: "Runway train never coming back..."

The reason I advocate bringing Hewitt back is I think he will be a better coach when he can run his offensive and defensive schemes with his type of players. I know that sounds like an excuse to those who want him gone, but we will definitely be able to push the ball, press and play man defense with guys like Moore, Jenkins, Mayimba, Lockett and eventually Porter.

I don't disagree that the guys Hewitt inherited from Larranaga were a bad fit for his preferred full-court style of play. That much is obvious at this point.

And I do think that we're in a weird, nebulous sort of transition period where we don't have the horses to run and press, but also lack the low-post beef to be effective in the half-court.

It's dawning on me with each passing game that our team was extremely overrated based on its strong play at the end of last season and returning all of our key contributors. Of all the guys who were expected to improve, the only one who has is Marko.

But I still don't think Hewitt is getting the most out of this team. I hope he and the staff are using the 2-week break to make some strategic adjustments because continuing to play the way we are right now isn't magically going to start working in a very deep, tough conference.

 

[gmutom]

It's dawning on me with each passing game that our team was extremely overrated based on its strong play at the end of last season and returning all of our key contributors.

I also don't think it is a coincidence that Arledge was playing his best ball when we were playing our strongest. This is why I think that Siegfried dude is full of crap when he acts like Arledge is not a loss. We simply don't have the talent or depth in the low post to overcome the loss of a guy capable of putting up 12-15 points every night.

That said, I also agree with you that Hewitt needs to do more to get more out of this team. Losing to good teams is one thing; getting blown out is unacceptable.

 

[GSII]

I hope he and the staff are using the 2-week break to make some strategic adjustments because continuing to play the way we are right now isn't magically going to start working in a very deep, tough conference.

I hope this too. But he's had more time than ever to prepare these guys. Hopefully, Moore becomes that leader we need at the Pg spot.

 

[ricky]

Not at all, Ricky. I was just mentioning the freshman and incoming recruits. I like Holloway a lot and think he will have a great career at Mason. I just think he needs to step up his defense, so he can get more minutes. This team desperately needs his scoring ability on the court.

I would like to see Hewitt step out of this box he has put this team in, if we are losing (and we are), why not try a diffrent line up? Why not put Moore, Marko, Holloway, Allen and Jenkins in and see what unfolds, could it really hurt at this point?

 

[gmulion]

I would like to see Hewitt step out of this box he has put this team in, if we are losing (and we are), why not try a diffrent line up? Why not put Moore, Marko, Holloway, Allen and Jenkins in and see what unfolds, could it really hurt at this point?

I like that line-up but I would like to see Gray in there instead of Allen, because all 5 should be back next year.

 

[Dawgs99]

Isn't this what OCM recruited the Wrights, Allens, Edwards, Gray, J2, JA to do also? Again, aside from the OCM being a better x and o guy, they preached the same stuff on defense. Why have our guys regressed into cones when playing defense now? Some in their 5th year of college bball. Btw, lets not forget Hewitt recruited Wright while at GT. So he is his type guy. Dissappearing act and all.

On a side note, I watched mizzo, and J3 almost ate the basketball trying to pull down the rebound. Wish he'd share that hunger with big bro.

Coach L touted his scramble defense but we rarely ever saw it. Also wouldn't call L's offense "up tempo". All of the guys you listed who actually played for L sucked on defense from day 1. I remember J2 actually being pretty good offensively his first year but he could get off the bench in year 2 because of his terrible D. I agree with Tom, as much as it pains me and many other poster, we're not going to fully see/judge Hewitt until later. I believe the success/failure of the 2014 recruiting class will ultimately determine Hewitts legacy at Mason.

 

[ricky]

I like that line-up but I would like to see Gray in there instead of Allen, because all 5 should be back next year.

Just something to think about: GW is 8-1 or 9-1, three of their starters are sophomores.
Exprience is not always the answer.
I think we are finding this out to be true in our case.

 

[MASONscott]

I like that line-up but I would like to see Gray in there instead of Allen, because all 5 should be back next year.

Allen is our second leading scorer and leads the team in assists with 1/3 of all assists. Gray has a hell of a lot more to prove before any Division 1 Coach starts him over Allen.

 

[Pablo]

Are we still ranked almost last in assists nationally?

Currently, Mason is tied for 323rd (out of 345 D-I teams) in assists per game (10.0 apg). This is the worst rank in this category in the A10, although 2 CAA have a worse rank: College of Charleston (tied for 333rd at 9.5 apg) and JMU (343rd at 8.4 apg).

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Coach L touted his scramble defense but we rarely ever saw it. Also wouldn't call L's offense "up tempo". All of the guys you listed who actually played for L sucked on defense from day 1. I remember J2 actually being pretty good offensively his first year but he could get off the bench in year 2 because of his terrible D. I agree with Tom, as much as it pains me and many other poster, we're not going to fully see/judge Hewitt until later. I believe the success/failure of the 2014 recruiting class will ultimately determine Hewitts legacy at Mason.

The problem with that line of thinking though is that you're basically giving him 2 more "free pass" years and we have to make a decision on him by the end of next year. You can't have him as a lame duck going into Year 5 because it kills recruiting. So you're going to extend him? Based on what success?

 

[gmutom]

You can't have him as a lame duck going into Year 5 because it kills recruiting. So you're going to extend him? Based on what success?

Who said anything about extending him? That would be silly. He has two more years on his contract after this one, so you let it play out and then cross that bridge when you get to it.

With at least nine new players coming in over the next 18 months, I'd rather roll the dice with him than bringing in somebody else and starting from scratch. And, yes, by using the term "rolling the dice," I am fully admitting it is a gamble.

 

[gmujim92]

Who said anything about extending him? That would be silly. He has two more years on his contract after this one, so you let it play out and then cross that bridge when you get to it.

With at least nine new players coming in over the next 18 months, I'd rather roll the dice with him than bringing in somebody else and starting from scratch. And, yes, by using the term "rolling the dice," I am fully admitting it is a gamble.

Tom, Lawdog is right in that the final year of Hewitt's deal is, for all practical purposes, meaningless.

JMU let Matt Brady coach out the fifth year of his deal as a lame duck, and while it paid off in a trip to the NCAA tournament, even their dumbass fans acknowledge that it crippled Brady's ability to recruit in a year when he needed to fill five scholarships.

So the only sensible move is to either extend Hewitt after next year or let him go and eat the final year of his contract.

We'll have four scholarships to offer, but no quality recruits are going to sign with a coach (at our level) if they aren't sure he'll be around beyond their freshman year.

I'd be curious to know what standard our fans would require for Hewitt to receive a 2- or 3-year extension. I'd be inclined to say he needs to make at least one NCAA appearance, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.