Goodbye Gio Emejuru

[psyclone]

Enjoy Mr. Brick Hands Pirate Nation

Seems unnecessarily unkind. Sorry that it didn't work out for him at Mason, but I prefer to wish him well in his basketball journey.

 

[Falco]

Seems unnecessarily unkind. Sorry that it didn't work out for him at Mason, but I prefer to wish him well in his basketball journey.

How didn’t it work? He provided solid minutes off the bench and filled in nicely when the first-team All-Conference player wasn’t on the court.

 

[psyclone]

How didn’t it work? He provided solid minutes off the bench and filled in nicely when the first-team All-Conference player wasn’t on the court.

He did fill in mostly competently this past year as a defensive presence. No real complaints other than not really contributing much offensively.

But I would have to say that for "it to work out for him at Mason", with Haynes departing, he would have stayed this coming season when he would have been potentially in line for more playing time and possibly a starting spot. I think he saw the handwriting on the wall (or perhaps Tony told him directly) that he might not have a role on the team this year.

 

[gmujim92]

Gio had some really good games, particularly early in the season when Jalen was still getting his legs under him, but for whatever reason seemed to regress as the year went on.

Unfortunately he struggles with something very basic and essential to the sport of basketball, which is catching the ball. His hands are just dreadful.

Wish him luck at ECU.

 

[TweederGMU]

To be that massive in size and have some athleticism, he just couldn't put it altogether to dominate. Think the speed of the game within the A-10 really hurt him, can tell he was overthinking a lot while out on the court.

Hands of brick, hand eye coordination was bad, and turned it over too much..... won't get you major minutes in a competitive basketball conference like the A-10.

ECU will be good for him. That league will be slower and hopefully he can put up some points.

 

[Falco]

To be that massive in size and have some athleticism, he just couldn't put it altogether to dominate. Think the speed of the game within the A-10 really hurt him, can tell he was overthinking a lot while out on the court.

Hands of brick, hand eye coordination was bad, and turned it over too much..... won't get you major minutes in a competitive basketball conference like the A-10.

ECU will be good for him. That league will be slower and hopefully he can put up some points.

It’s naive to think the A10 is some superior conference to the AAC.

 

[Jack Strop]

To be that massive in size and have some athleticism, he just couldn't put it altogether to dominate. Think the speed of the game within the A-10 really hurt him, can tell he was overthinking a lot while out on the court.

Hands of brick, hand eye coordination was bad, and turned it over too much..... won't get you major minutes in a competitive basketball conference like the A-10.

ECU will be good for him. That league will be slower and hopefully he can put up some points.

During much of the last 3rd of the season, I noticed Gio wearing that lower-back-stimulator-thingy any time he was on the bench. Could have been a factor in his inconsistent play.

At times, I thought that Gio played too politely. Someone with his size can go much further with a little bit of aggression and toughness, especially on the boards and close range shooting. He also could have jumped a little bit more. But that's often the problem with these really big guys. They're so big that they never really had to jump to be successful versus lower competition. So, jumping really isn't in his repertoire. A few improved habits on the court and Gio could have been a very solid and dangerous bench contributor for Mason.

I was really hoping Gio would have stayed here and worked on his hands, boxing out, jumping, and aggressiveness all summer. Curran would have coached him up well, I'm sure. Instead, good luck and fare well, Gio!

 

[TweederGMU]

During much of the last 3rd of the season, I noticed Gio wearing that lower-back-stimulator-thingy any time he was on the bench. Could have been a factor in his inconsistent play.

At times, I thought that Gio played too politely. Someone with his size can go much further with a little bit of aggression and toughness, especially on the boards and close range shooting. He also could have jumped a little bit more. But that's often the problem with these really big guys. They're so big that they never really had to jump to be successful versus lower competition. So, jumping really isn't in his repertoire. A few improved habits on the court and Gio could have been a very solid and dangerous bench contributor for Mason.

I was really hoping Gio would have stayed here and worked on his hands, boxing out, jumping, and aggressiveness all summer. Curran would have coached him up well, I'm sure. Instead, good luck and fare well, Gio!

Yep, way too nice and passive.

I want those gritty dogs that grind down low and throw elbows to show you they gonna be there all game and are gonna be a menace and nightmare for opposing players. The type to talk that shit in your ear that they are the top dog and you in his world.

I want that I'm the best player on the court mentality and this is my house and you ain't coming out alive.

But oh well.... those days are over having a kid with that tenacity in a body type of Gio's.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Not completely wrong, but Gio having poor hands is overstated on here in my opinion. He had 28 total turnovers or just under 2 per 40 minutes (half the rate at which Haynes turned the ball over, for context). How many of those fumbled passes that we are thinking of were off circus moves that KD should’ve just shot instead? There were definitely a number of times where Gio was put in really tough positions for a catch.

 

[psyclone]

Not completely wrong, but Gio having poor hands is overstated on here in my opinion. He had 28 total turnovers or just under 2 per 40 minutes (half the rate at which Haynes turned the ball over, for context). How many of those fumbled passes that we are thinking of were off circus moves that KD should’ve just shot instead? There were definitely a number of times where Gio was put in really tough positions for a catch.

No shortage of passes below his knees.

 

[Falco]

Y’all are insane for bashing Gio. He’s a good player.
I agree he wore down by the end of the season — but who wouldn’t after battling Haynes, an All-Conference beast, every day in practice?

 

[Jack Strop]

Not completely wrong, but Gio having poor hands is overstated on here in my opinion. He had 28 total turnovers or just under 2 per 40 minutes (half the rate at which Haynes turned the ball over, for context). How many of those fumbled passes that we are thinking of were off circus moves that KD should’ve just shot instead? There were definitely a number of times where Gio was put in really tough positions for a catch.

No shortage of passes below his knees.

Agree with passes at his knees where Gio had to dig for the ball, but he rarely came up with the ball during those occasions. A lot of times Gio was slow to react to a low but otherwise solid pass. An ailing back? Maybe. Passing the ball above a big man's knees is putting it in position for an easy steal by smaller players.

Gio's hands is about more than catching a pass and holding onto it. It was also evident during his many missed lay-ins and put-backs and rebounds lost (those evenrs are not counted as turnovers).

Y’all are insane for bashing Gio. He’s a good player.

Unclench and relax. I don't see any of this as "bashing Gio". I, for one, have stated the upside for him often. Pointing out and discussing weakness in one's game is not the same as bashing.

 

[NewPatriot]

Gio had some really good games, particularly early in the season when Jalen was still getting his legs under him, but for whatever reason seemed to regress as the year went on.

Unfortunately he struggles with something very basic and essential to the sport of basketball, which is catching the ball. His hands are just dreadful.

Wish him luck at ECU.

Honestly, the guards were the problem. Bad pocket passes.

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

It’s naive to think the A10 is some superior conference to the AAC.

The AAC was rated worse by nearly every metric than the A-10 last year. In terms of basketball, we are absolutely a superior conference.

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

Enjoy Mr. Brick Hands Pirate Nation

Your boos don't affect me, I've seen what makes you cheer!

 

[DRK331]

Giovanni Emejuru GMU highlights

Giovanni Emejuru GMU highlights

 

[Falco]

The AAC was rated worse by nearly every metric than the A-10 last year. In terms of basketball, we are absolutely a superior conference

Baraka Okojie made the All-Rookie Team at Mason but rode the bench at Memphis.

Yes, the AAC took a hit when Houston and Cincinnati left, but they still have FAU, UAB, and Memphis — all of which would compete for the A-10 title.

To suggest that a one-bid conference is far superior to the AAC is just homerism.

 

[GMU1983]

It is not way better but it is better by the metrics. Check the net please.

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

Baraka Okojie made the All-Rookie Team at Mason but rode the bench at Memphis.

Yes, the AAC took a hit when Houston and Cincinnati left, but they still have FAU, UAB, and Memphis — all of which would compete for the A-10 title.

To suggest that a one-bid conference is far superior to the AAC is just homerism.

And the AAC... was also a one bid league this year.

Memphis carries that conference. The A-10 had ten of its programs finish in the top 150 of KenPom this year. The AAC had five.

 

[Falco]

And the AAC... was also a one bid league this year.

Memphis carries that conference. The A-10 had ten of its programs finish in the top 150 of KenPom this year. The AAC had five.

Last comment from me:

ECU beat Mason last year.

I’m not trying to claim the AAC is a great league, but I think some of us are remembering the old A-10, when we were clearly the best non-power conference. These days, there’s little that separates most mid-majors, in my opinion.