Upon Further Review...Some of Y'all Are Crazy!!!!

[Mistachill]

Yeah, I can't sleep so I watched the GMU game again. One thing lost in this blame game some posters are engaged in...this was one heck of a game!!! Real quick, here are the points I want to make:

1) people asking why we didn't go inside? Myth, we went inside ALL GAME with pretty mixed results in the second half.

2) Coach Smart blew this game...Myth! The only area I could find to question him may have been when Mason tied the game and we had four seconds left. Do we get a better shot by just inbounding the ball and not allowing Mason to put subs in and set up their D? If you call a timeout maybe put another shooter in the game instead of having Gwynn in there? Who knows?

3) We have so much more talent than anyone else in the league...myth. This was a game between two evenly match squads, equal talent on both sides and we're playing on the road.

4) Somebody claimed we were getting killed by backdoor cuts...myth!

Why did we lose? In my opinion it was pretty obvious. You have two evenly matched teams, its a game of runs. We made a run in the first half, Mason made some runs in the second half. We fought back but they kept chipping away until they finally caught up. To me the difference was they had three guys making big plays for them in the second half: Morrison, Birdsong, and Cam Long. For the most part Joey was the only guy doing that for us. Ed and Larry to a lesser extent, but the second half and overtime was about Morrison, Long, and Joey.

To try and blame this game on coaching really takes away from the great game Mason played in the second half. Some of you guys need to accept we're not the only talented team in the CAA. We're playing a talented team trying to beat us. Give Mason credit instead of trying to find fault with us. This game was not the Northeastern game.

There were two critical sequences that decided the game:

1) We were up 3 with less than 1 minute left, we run the clock down, work the ball to Burgess (you know, "Big Shot Brad") in the corner for a wide open three - would've been the dagger if he hits it. He misses it badly but Nixon get the offensive rebound but gets its stripped. Hey, it happens. Hancock advances the ball with little resistance dishes to Morrison for an easy two. Joey gets fouled, makes two free throws. Then Cam Long makes an incredible shot over Larry, one point game. Gywnn gets fouled, makes the first, misses the second, then Cam Long makes another great play driving on Larry forcing him to foul (and fouling him out), makes his two free throws, overtime.

2) Joey scores five points in the first two minutes of OT, we're up three Cam Long misses a three at the 3:00 minute mark, Joey grabs the rebound, advances the ball quickly, gets stripped from behind (actually looked like a foul, the defender never touched the ball), Long drives it the other way misses a short jumper, Kirill can't secure the rebound, bounces make to Morrison, Kirill fouls him, Morrison make the "and one," tie game. Then Joey, trying to get the ball INSIDE to Skeen turns it over, then Hancock make that circus layup, Nixon misses a three, Pearson makes another "and one," Nixon misses a three, also misses three out of four free throws, etc., etc., etc.

Again, this game was about players playing their behinds off not questionable coaching. I don't even think Coach L did anything out the ordinary other than playing Birdsong major minutes. This game was just two good teams balling and Joey couldn't match Morrison and Long by himself. That's what this game came down to. Oh, by the way, Mason has won like 18 straight home games.

Yes, I'm frustrated but I can live with it. Mason had more guys than we had who stepped up when they needed it.

 

[ram4life]

Yeah, I can't sleep either. I came down to my office to make a few comments about our players, because I, too, think some of Y'all Are Crazy. But Mistachill beat me to it--and he is a much better analyzer and writer than I am. I take a slightly different angle, but here are some of my thoughts:

Our players go to class 12-15 hours each week. In addition, they must read their texts, prepare for classes, do assignments, and take exams. In their spare time, they practice a couple hours each day, attend team meetings, watch films of themselves and opposing players, work with their strengthening coordinator, meet with the coaches, and do a lot of self reflection. Then they are expected to go out in front of several thousand people twice a week and perform at a high level. And God forbid if they make a mistake or two.

We are 17 and 6, not 6 and 17. We beat Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Nevada, the University of Richmond, and, by George, we even beat Old Dominion University. We have great players who have entertained us so many times. Do I hate losing? You bet I do, but no more than our players hate losing. I want every player to know how much I appreciate all they do for Virginia Commonwealth University and for us fans. Thanks, guys!

You are right, Mistachill, we have some very good teams in the CAA and George Mason is one of them.

 

[ShoeSh1ne]

Brandon's lane violation. Gave them a point they didn't have.

We're up two possessions at the end instead of just one.

 

[Natty]

There were two critical sequences that decided the game:

1) We were up 3 with less than 1 minute left, we run the clock down, work the ball to Burgess (you know, "Big Shot Brad") in the corner for a wide open three - would've been the dagger if he hits it. He misses it badly but Nixon get the offensive rebound but gets its stripped. Hey, it happens. Hancock advances the ball with little resistance dishes to Morrison for an easy two. Joey gets fouled, makes two free throws. Then Cam Long makes an incredible shot over Larry, one point game. Gywnn gets fouled, makes the first, misses the second, then Cam Long makes another great play driving on Larry forcing him to foul (and fouling him out), makes his two free throws, overtime.

2) Joey scores five points in the first two minutes of OT, we're up three Cam Long misses a three at the 3:00 minute mark, Joey grabs the rebound, advances the ball quickly, gets stripped from behind (actually looked like a foul, the defender never touched the ball), Long drives it the other way misses a short jumper, Kirill can't secure the rebound, bounces make to Morrison, Kirill fouls him, Morrison make the "and one," tie game. Then Joey, trying to get the ball INSIDE to Skeen turns it over, then Hancock make that circus layup, Nixon misses a three, Pearson makes another "and one," Nixon misses a three, also misses three out of four free throws, etc., etc., etc.

Again, this game was about players playing their behinds off not questionable coaching.

Notice all the plays you just listed. That's how Mason erased our 15 point second half lead...by taking it straight at us, which continued in OT. Everyone in our house was yelling at the TV, surprised that our coach didn't adjust to them taking the ball straight to the hoop. Sometimes you gotta try out a little 2-3 zone and force them to make the low percentage shot.

 

[Mistachill]

Natty - go through every thread after we lose and the answer is always "we should've played a zone." I would bet anything if you go through all of our games you can point to only a couple of times our zone defense was effective. We don't seem to play it very well, its not who we are. Not understanding the strategy of going to something you don't do well when you're struggling.

 

[VRam]

Agreed. It was a good game. In addition, we could have folded completely the first time they took the lead in the second half, but we didn't and were a missed free throw away from pretty much icing the game in regulation.

Yeah, I don't buy the talent thing either. NU and GMU are right there.

 

[Pavarotti]

I'm with Mista and Gene (and I haven't read the rest of the board, this one is on top).

Games happen where shots don't fall. Games happen where the ref's don't call everything perfect. Games happen where you're on the road, and there's a blizzard outside, and things get crazy. Games happen where an opposing player gets in the zone.

Does it mean you're not a very good team, or your players deserve to be thrown under a bus, or your darn good coach needs to be taken outside and beaten? heck no!

Most of us who went up there seemed to agree that it was a frustrating game, where things could've gone better. But guess what, you're probably not going to win every game, unless you are exponentially better than all your opponents, and luck is always in your favor. We were probably a little more talented the Mason, but it's negligible, and things didn't go our way all night, so we lost, in a SPECTACULAR game to watch. We were treated to 45 minutes of hard work, passionate basketball, by two teams who were willing to risk their lives out in the snow, to give us entertainment. Instead of deciding which player deserves to be blamed, why not thank them for their effort. Some of yall should be ashamed.

 

[Pavarotti]

To try and blame this game on coaching really takes away from the great game Mason played in the second half. Some of you guys need to accept we're not the only talented team in the CAA. We're playing a talented team trying to beat us. Give Mason credit instead of trying to find fault with us. This game was not the Northeastern game.

There were two critical sequences that decided the game:

1) We were up 3 with less than 1 minute left, we run the clock down, work the ball to Burgess (you know, "Big Shot Brad") in the corner for a wide open three - would've been the dagger if he hits it. . .

Brad may have been wide open, but I was sitting right behind him when he shot it. That's a terribly hard shot. He caught the ball and squared to shoot, then realized that his right foot was inline with the backboard. He was so open he decided to take it anyway before the defender got to him. But if you've ever played HORSE against a shooter, you know the behind the backboard, in the corner 3 pointer is a heck of a difficult shot.

 

[Natty]

Natty - go through every thread after we lose and the answer is always "we should've played a zone." I would bet anything if you go through all of our games you can point to only a couple of times our zone defense was effectively. We don't seem to play it very well, its not who we are. Not understanding the strategy of going to something you don't do well when you're struggling.

I understand what you're saying but at the same time I think you gotta try something new when what you're doing isn't working...kind of like switching from that zone press against ODU into the full court man defense.

The zone isn't always effective, but when you're getting destroyed in the paint it's worth trying (anyone remember how we were getting dominated by Wake Forest in the 2004 tournament before switching to that zone?)

I know it's not a D that we're used to playing, but it still forces teams to take lower percentage shots...and seeing how effective they were at taking it at us last night I would have loved to have seen us make them win it from deep (like they did to us).

 

[Mistachill]

Natty, question for you. Do you really think we're 15 points better than Mason on the road? I guarantee you Coach Smart told these guys during halftime that Mason is going to make a run in the second half and we would need to hold tough and persevere. And you keep saying it wasn't working, we had the lead most of the game. We were up 3 with the ball with 38 seconds left in the game. As cold as Mason was in the first half, they started hitting shots in the second half, tough shots at that. Again, gotta give the other team some credit.

Coach Smart can't play zone just to pacify his detractors (who would probably find another reason to blame him). He was probably playing the percentages and felt we have a better chance of getting stops doing what we do best than doing what we don't do well.

Natty - go through every thread after we lose and the answer is always "we should've played a zone." I would bet anything if you go through all of our games you can point to only a couple of times our zone defense was effectively. We don't seem to play it very well, its not who we are. Not understanding the strategy of going to something you don't do well when you're struggling.

I understand what you're saying but at the same time I think you gotta try something new when what you're doing isn't working...kind of like switching from that zone press against ODU into the full court man defense.

The zone isn't always effective, but when you're getting destroyed in the paint it's worth trying (anyone remember how we were getting dominated by Wake Forest in the 2004 tournament before switching to that zone?)

I know it's not a D that we're used to playing, but it still forces teams to take lower percentage shots...and seeing how effective they were at taking it at us last night I would have loved to have seen us make them win it from deep (like they did to us).

 

[Mercury]

I think we have the ability to be 15 points better than Mason, but I don't think we are 15 points better. Just like I don't think we are 12 points better than ODU but we won by 12.

zone man to man whatever I just don't think we are a good half court defensive team. I think we overemphasize on the press and it kills us offensively and defensively in the half court scheme.

Read the boards after every loss and there will be one post talking about how the other team played out of their minds and guys were putting up career games. Its not them its us

 

[Mercury]

and btw the sky is falling folks and the we lost with Grant and Maynor so we will be ok folks are both equally annoying

 

[Mistachill]

In other words, we're suppose to win every game against every team, especially conference games regardless of home or away? We totally control the outcome of every game.

Whoever made this comment was dead on point, this isn't X-box, these are human beings.

Read the boards after every loss and there will be one post talking about how the other team played out of their minds and guys were putting up career games. Its not them its us

 

[Natty]

Natty, question for you. Do you really think we're 15 points better than Mason on the road? I guarantee you Coach Smart told these guys during halftime that Mason is going to make a run in the second half and we would need to hold tough and persevere.

Definitely don't think we're 15 points better than them on the road...but I definitely DO think poor coaching last night let us blow a 15 point lead in the 2nd half.

Here's a rundown of how they scored all their second half points...

Morrison tip in
Birdsong three
Birdsong dunk
Morrison tip in
Morrison jumper
Hancock layup
Wright free throw x2
Birdsong jumper
Williams layup
Morrison layup
Morrison jumper
Pearson free throw
Hancock layup
Hancock free throw
Birdsong free throw x2
Morrison jumper
Birdsong layup
Morrison layup
Long layup
Long free throw x2

Layups = 7 (14 points)
Tip ins = 2 (4)
Dunks = 1 (2)
Free throws = 10 points
Jumpers = 4 (3 of which were by there Center...8 points)
Threes = 1 (3)

28 points in the paint, 10 points off free throws (which a lot of which came from attacking the basket)...1 three

Like I said, I'm not saying we've got a bad Coach...I think Shaka's done a good job so far. But in tough games like this I'd hope our guy recognizes when we need to change something up. We got destroyed by their penetration in the 2nd half, didn't adjust...and I put the majority of that on our coaching staff.

 

[Mercury]

In other words, we're suppose to win every game against every team, especially conference games regardless of home or away? We totally control the outcome of every game.

Whoever made this comment was dead on point, this isn't X-box, these are human beings.

Read the boards after every loss and there will be one post talking about how the other team played out of their minds and guys were putting up career games. Its not them its us

not what I'm saying, I'm saying maybe something is broken when people continuously have career games against us.

Not sure how what I said translates to we are supposed to win every game regardless of home or away. It should translate to we have serious issues on the defensive end