The official go-to-guy

[undertherock]

With Bryon Allen and Sherrod Wright both leaving, who will be our primary scorer(s)? I feel confident that our big men will produce just fine next year. If you really think about it, Jenkins, Copes, Royal, Marko, Mayimba, and Porter are all solid. No worries there honestly. But so far the only guards on the roster are Moore, Holloway, Edwards, and Tate, none of which have shown that they can take over a game like how Allen and Wright both have this past year. Are we relying on Holloway to elevate his game like how Allen did his junior year? Even if he does we still need another playmaker to complement him. A lot of what ifs and no certainty whatsoever. I am very worried.

 

[EXpatriot13]

I'm not sure we have one yet. I hope someone steps up as that guy, but I can't pick one person out right now. I think we have a lot of role players..and that includes Holloway. He more or less lives and dies by the three. The bigs should be okay, granted they don't get into foul trouble because I don't think Royal and Marko will win any defensive awards anytime soon.

Sherrod and Allen could knock down jumpers, drive the lane, finish through contact, and make free throws. We'll see who steps up or matures into that type of all-around player as time goes on.

 

[Dawgs99]

I think Eric Lockett will turn some heads next season, not a go to guy but I think he will play a role at the 3.

 

[gmutom]

Our problem this past season was he had no choice but to defer to Allen and Wright every game, which meant we were at the mercy of how they played. It's a big reason the entire team slumped when Sherrod slumped, and it's also a big reason we ended up losing to Fordham in the play-in game.

Next season I think we'll see more of a team concept with the scoring spread around. Far too often we had players taking a backseat to Sherrod and Bryon, and they won't have that crutch now that they're gone. Holloway and Jenkins seem like the main candidates to average double-digit points next season, but I wouldn't be surprised if we have any one of six different players lead us in scoring in a given game.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I would run a lot of stuff for Holloway, although I am scared what that means for his defense. I would run a lot of pick and rolls with Moore and Jenkins, and try to get some inside-out with Holloway and, well, anyone.

Holloway's ability to become at least a consistent 12 ppg scorer is key. 15 ppg is probably necessary for us to really ascend a bit.

I am excited for Lockett, though. Does take some pressure off Holloway.

If we could play good defense, wouldn't nearly be as worried about the lack of a goto scorer. Maybe the frosh can help there.

 

[gmujim92]

Just wanted to point out from the original post that Mayimba is not a big.

Unless he starts "training" with Jose Canseco, he's either gonna be a 2 or 3 at Mason.

Here's hoping whoever suggested that he's gonna be 6-8 before he stops growing knows what the F he's talking about.

A 6-8 kid with Mayimba's athleticism on the wing would be a game-changer for our program ... literally, something we've never had.

 

[gmutom]

A 6-8 kid with Mayimba's athleticism on the wing would be a game-changer for our program ... literally, something we've never had.

In other words, he could be the Okoloji we thought we might be getting two years ago?

 

[gmujim92]

In other words, he could be the Okoloji we thought we might be getting two years ago?

Maybe it's just my Hewitt hate coming through, but I can't help but feel like he tried to shoehorn Okoloji into the SF spot because he wanted size at that position.

Okoloji was better suited as a face-up 4 and a guy who could give us energy off the bench in limited PT. He's a decent rebounder and has a strong enough frame to defend the 4. His perimeter skills were never gonna be good enough to be effective at the 3.

Of course, we already had JA and Marko ahead of him at the 4, so he probably wouldn't have played much anyhow.

 

[Dawgs99]

My guess is that Mayimba was recruited to play the 2, with Lockett recruited to play the 3. Lockett is not a shooter but he appears to have a pretty good handle.

 

[gmujim92]

My guess is that Mayimba was recruited to play the 2, with Lockett recruited to play the 3. Lockett is not a shooter but he appears to have a pretty good handle.

Could be wrong, but I've felt from the start that Lockett is a bit of a tweener -- kinda like Holloway being a SG in a PG's body.

Looks like Lockett played mostly in the paint in HS and AAU. Probably gonna take some time to adjust if Hewitt envisions him playing the 3 for us.

Hopefully he winds up being one of those guys who doesn't really need a position ... he's just a damn good basketball player.

 

[GSII]

Well shit...we are screwed next year. As long as Hewy is here, I have no faith. But I'll say I like and have stressed the idea of an inside-out approach on offense. It would of helped our shooters. Problem is the bigs were taught to pass out of a double team, nor could the catch a pass. Not sure if Royal can do this b/c he's a face up big who will look to touch rim or shoot a jumper. Not sure if Jenkins can passs out of a double team. Unless another impact player is brought in, not sure we can win much next year.

 

[A.-Siegfried]

With Bryon Allen and Sherrod Wright both leaving, who will be our primary scorer(s)? I feel confident that our big men will produce just fine next year. If you really think about it, Jenkins, Copes, Royal, Marko, Mayimba, and Porter are all solid. No worries there honestly. But so far the only guards on the roster are Moore, Holloway, Edwards, and Tate, none of which have shown that they can take over a game like how Allen and Wright both have this past year. Are we relying on Holloway to elevate his game like how Allen did his junior year? Even if he does we still need another playmaker to complement him. A lot of what ifs and no certainty whatsoever. I am very worried.

You should be worried if you are pinning your hopes on 3 guys (Royal, Mayimba, Porter) that you claim are "solid" yet I'm guessing you haven't seen any of them play a minute of college basketball in person.

Love people who say a guy will be "solid" before he even puts on a Mason jersey. Fact is, we have ZERO idea how the young guys will adjust to college and no clue how good Royal will be after his injury and year off.

Holloway will NEVER be like Allen. Allen was all guts and drive. Holloway is all flash and dash.

 

[expendable smurf]

Maybe I've just given up, but I think we're going to be terrible. Definitely much worse than this season.

 

[GMUgemini]

You should be worried if you are pinning your hopes on 3 guys (Royal, Mayimba, Porter) that you claim are "solid" yet I'm guessing you haven't seen any of them play a minute of college basketball in person.

Love people who say a guy will be "solid" before he even puts on a Mason jersey. Fact is, we have ZERO idea how the young guys will adjust to college and no clue how good Royal will be after his injury and year off.

Holloway will NEVER be like Allen. Allen was all guts and drive. Holloway is all flash and dash.

Moore is a lot like Allen, strong, fearless in the paint, can get by anyone. He may surprise us next year with a rebuilt jumper, or he may be the exact same player who knows.

Defense really needs to be the key emphasis next year. I don't care if we win games 46-44 so long as we shut the other team down defensively.

 

[Raider_SPE]

Defense really needs to be the key emphasis next year. I don't care if we win games 46-44 so long as we shut the other team down defensively.

My sentiments as well. This has to be addressed. Gotta start it now (should have been day 1) so the new guys know what is expected of them regarding effort on the defensive end. If these guys get a lot of minutes this year it will hopefully set the attitude for seasons to come.

 

[expendable smurf]

I'd much rather we win games scoring in the 70s. Boring is boring and winning unwatchable games isn't an improvement.

 

[gmujim92]

I'd much rather we win games scoring in the 70s. Boring is boring and winning unwatchable games isn't an improvement.

Me too. I despise slow, low-scoring basketball.

But having to score in the 80s or 90s every game to win is not realistic.

We have to be able to avoid those 50-point halves that we seemed to give up to just about every A-10 opponent.

 

[GMUgemini]

Me too. I despise slow, low-scoring basketball.

But having to score in the 80s or 90s every game to win is not realistic.

We have to be able to avoid those 50-point halves that we seemed to give up to just about every A-10 opponent.

This.

The offense will come. It might be ugly some nights, but if we can play solid defense night in and night out it'll be a huge improvement.

Just imagine the same BS defense we had this past season WITHOUT Sherrod and Allen carrying the load offensively. You want to talk about ugly basketball?

 

[KAOriginal]

Correct me folks....but in the 20+ years of Mason hoops....I can count on one hand where I saw a freshman/1st year player come in and MAKE A DIFFERENCE that fast. I'm talking blow the F up, to the point of the team would be DOA without them....

Once you get beyond Evans, Langley it starts to get muddled in my memory....but if I am wrong....help me out.

Point is with Hewitt in command I just dont see one of these kids breaking out to the "oh sh*t" level some of you are talking about.

 

[psyclone]

Correct me folks....but in the 20+ years of Mason hoops....I can count on one hand where I saw a freshman/1st year player come in and MAKE A DIFFERENCE that fast. I'm talking blow the F up, to the point of the team would be DOA without them....

Once you get beyond Evans, Langley it starts to get muddled in my memory....but if I am wrong....help me out.

Point is with Hewitt in command I just dont see one of these kids breaking out to the "oh sh*t" level some of you are talking about.

Luke made immediate contributions as a reserve and gradually earned more playing time.