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GW Men's Hoops » GW beats St. Bonaventure Game !! » 3/06/2024 9:37 pm

Merrick
Replies: 71

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- 19 assists on 27 field goals.
- back to back steals and fast break scores on consecutive opposition possessions.

Not sure that anything close to that has happened all year.  Never a question on energy all night—especially on the defensive end.  Nice feeling to end the year attending games.

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs UMASS Game » 2/29/2024 10:52 am

Merrick
Replies: 93

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GWRising wrote:

3. I get people are frustrated over the streak. But if you can see the forest through the trees a bit we have some good young building blocks (assuming they stay) - Jun, Jacoi and Garrett. Undoubtedly CC needs to add some veterans to this group especially up-front. But it's a start and if the right moves are made this offseason
 

The transfer portal opens March 18 and runs 45 days into May.  We should have most of our answers and reasons for hope or varying degrees of despair after the portal closes.  I remain skeptical that GW can fully compete or meet some of our highest expectations in the new NIL world and college free-agency, but I will reserve judgment until that time.          
 

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs UMASS Game » 2/28/2024 9:21 am

Merrick
Replies: 93

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More GWMBB record breaking history.

This is now the third losing streak of five games or more in the Smith Center. 

The others were the 1-27 season and 1980-81.  Among these streaks, this is the only one where every loss was by 8 points or greater.  

And to beat a dead horse, even with those losing seasons, I felt a connection with the team and the players' connection with the university. We were in this together in mind and spirit. 

With NIL and the transfer portal, I'm not feeling that sentiment any longer.  It's now a professional minor league where players come and go--but at least in the minors the players were assigned, and you felt an interest in truly following their careers and seeing an occasional star/top draft pick come through your city--and hoping they made your big-league club.  While nice for a player, I feel little satisfaction in seeing one of our former players succeed at another school.  I'm also happy for those of you who simply enjoy watching basketball without any emotional attachments to any particular team.  I'm just not one of you and have so many other competing priorities in my life.  I've made multi-year commitments to the university, but I'm close to done.      

GW Men's Hoops » Other Games Thread » 2/20/2024 9:33 am

Merrick
Replies: 257

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Virginia loses by 34 to Virginia Tech.  Either Tony Bennett can't coach or recruit, or this is college basketball in the NIL/transfer portal era.   

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs Richmond Game » 2/17/2024 3:17 pm

Merrick
Replies: 38

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- Federal spending and debt have hit the tipping point
- the Communist Chinese have so infiltrated western infrastructure and its cyber capabilities --particularly water--that we have planted our own seeds for chaos and destruction.
- Congress cannot pass anything on a bipartisan basis except more spending, less revenue, and higher debt;
- The NATO alliance is under the most pressure ever from a vile dictator that is celebrity to clown "journalists/entertainers like Tucker Carlson;
- the Rule of Law is caving to the weaponization of creative but destabilizing lawyering;
- our citizenry is incapable of meaningfully distinguishing good from evil; 
- most of America's young people are depressed and don't want to bring kids into the world; and
- the two clowns our population has chosen to lead us at this dangerous time are both old charlatans surrounded by sycophants who care more about power and ego than sacrificial service to others.

So, the longest losing streak in 35 years and 1-27 amidst the transfer portal and NIL tumult isn't really that bad!   And the PA system at the Smith Center is now working.

Raise High!     

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs George Mason Game » 2/14/2024 8:58 pm

Merrick
Replies: 92

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In all seriousness, how many of you really want to invest your emotional energy into a bunch of wannabe mercenaries who are here today, gone tomorrow, and have little or no long-term connection with the university.

If I wanted to root for pros, I could watch the NBA, where there seems to far more continuity in pro sports than there is in college today.

I don’t begrudge any of these kids for trying to recoup their fair share on a money pot that enriches many others on their labor, but geez—why should I care?

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs George Mason Game » 2/13/2024 7:28 pm

Merrick
Replies: 92

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Long Suffering Fan wrote:

I am pretty high up, but I do not see Schroeder on the bench.

He is not on the bench.

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs George Mason Game » 2/13/2024 7:11 pm

Merrick
Replies: 92

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On pace to lose 137-19.  Billups is a shooter!

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs Rhode Island Game » 2/07/2024 8:20 am

Merrick
Replies: 67

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I believe that's our worst home loss since a much better Rhode Island team and Fatts Russell torched us for a 31-point win almost four years ago to the day.   Very hard on the eyes and if JC were still coach, he'd be getting torched this morning.  

Two things stood out for me on CC.  First, was his reluctance to call a timeout early in the second half before the 16U break.  From the very first possessions in the second half, we looked lost on both ends of the court as URI came out with more energy and pounded the ball immediately into the paint with no defensive response from us and the beginning signs of looking desperate on the offensive end.  It looked and felt like we were going to hemorrhage a lot of points in those first few minutes and the team needed a wakeup call.

Second was the presser.  I'll give Buchanan props for a good perspective on life, but this was the first presser where I felt CC came across as lost.  He's not the type to throw his players or coaches under the bus, but he couldn't offer anything more than, "Gee whiz, we were making these shots against much weaker opponents earlier this year and now they are just not falling."  He noted that URI's gameplan was to pound it inside and credited them with execution, but offered no explanation as to why we made it so easy for them to execute.  Personally, I'd note that on multiple occasions we had defenders backing up in the paint before attempting to hold ground and we let URI get those two-three feet bunnies.     

After a five-game losing streak and two bad home losses, I'd hope for a little more accountability--even if it's just lip service saying that we need to a better job as coaches to avoid performances like this one at home. 

       
     

 

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs Dayton Game » 1/30/2024 7:35 pm

Merrick
Replies: 134

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Glass half-full?  We do have assists on 50% of our made baskets.

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs La Salle Game » 1/29/2024 5:39 pm

Merrick
Replies: 55

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​I'm still a working stiff and can't follow college basketball 24/7, but I'm in the give CC a break camp. He is in just his second year as CEO and notwithstanding all of his assistant coach experience, is still learning the job himself.  

I don't think we've fully reckoned how the NIL and transfer portal era is going to create a lot of volatility in the game--as we've already witnessed with so many topsy-turvy games and unexpected losses even with upper echelon schools. 

It was already hard enough to recruit and build programs under the old rules where newcomers were mostly freshman and sophomores (not immediate transfers) who took time to learn the college game and a coach's system.  Now, you're not only mixing and matching multiple starters who've hardly played together and learning, but you're also trying to keep your talent happy enough (and compensated!) such that they don't want to walk out the door at the first opportunity. Comparison is the thief of joy and there's lot of opportunity for comparison these days.  How many talented kids today are saying, "I'll just sit, learn, work hard, and wait for my chance in two years!"  I'm sure there are many, but a lot fewer than just a few years ago. 

Thus, a coach today has to be even more of an x and o's person, teacher, motivator, shrink, in-game tactician alumni relationship builder and more!  At GW, you also have to be confident that you can get your kids a better slice of the NIL dollars surely dangling someplace else. 

More than CC, I worry a lot more about the dynamics of NIL, the rich getting richer in terms of TV and booster money, tourney slots, and eventual efforts to really squeeze most of the mid-majors into a development league for the P6 with a few crumbs heading back our way.   

I think it's going to take five-to-ten years to determine who are the best coaches in this environment.  The ones who can balance most of these demands will rise to the top.  Many looking good now may not

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs Richmond Game » 1/24/2024 8:35 pm

Merrick
Replies: 66

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I believe at the 7 minute mark that Richmond has scored on 20 of its last 28 possessions. 

GW Men's Hoops » Sports Illustrated » 1/23/2024 1:59 pm

Merrick
Replies: 11

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Well done Gwmayhem!  Started reading SI in my pediatrician's office and had a subscription beginning at 10 or 11 years old.  When I finally gave it up some 40-50 years later, it was like breaking up with a longtime girlfriend where it took several years to fully let go.    

For the historical record, I'll add one GW SI non-highlight in June 1996 relating to the recruitment of Richie Parker.  
 

GW Men's Hoops » GW's NIL Collective: Friends of George + General Discussion » 1/22/2024 4:12 pm

Merrick
Replies: 186

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Free Quebec wrote:

Given that NILs don’t have to disclose their donors, is there anything preventing a school with means from paying their coach an extra, say $2 million a year, and then the coach putting $2 million of personal money into the NIL as a de facto way of the school funding its own NIL program?

Tax planners, attorneys, and the IRS would love you! 

I joined the call, and if you are familiar with the NIL environment, there really wasn't much new to explain beyond the university's desire to help athletes understand the financial consequences and needs of making more money and distributing NIL opportunities beyond MBB.  

GW Men's Hoops » GW beats George Mason !! » 1/15/2024 5:24 pm

Merrick
Replies: 47

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Poog wrote:

87.5% from the line. Not sure how many of these games GW can win missing 3 FT’s…out of 24. Hope Caputo addresses this shortcoming by having his team out shooting FT’s in the snow under the lights. Not enough to get to the line. Should be shooting 100%, if not higher. Well, at least they won.

This will be my favorite postgame post.  I want to win every game by 30, but I'll take a 1 point win every night over losing, I hope folks take the time to watch to Coach Caputo's postgame pressers, because he provides both interesting insights on the game and measured assessment of working with a young team that is not filled to the brim with four or five-star recruits, but players that work hard and almost certainly want to get better.  Today, we worked hard on the boards, limited Mason's offensive rebounds and second chance points to 11 (just four in the second half).  

Re officiating: I understand and often support letting them play, but IMHO the first half officiating was train wreck with the conductor asleep at the controls. Never mind the early foul disparity, there were multiple high velocity collisions, grabs, pushes, and over the backs that were never called--including several on us down low.   Each non-call led to even harder collisions on future possessions.  We're fortunate nobody got hurt.  

Finally, I'll bet Mason has those same scarves as a giveaway  when we play in Fairfax.  Lots of people and fans of both teams have degrees from each university--including me--and I love it.  I heard the same feedback from many others, so just like everything else where we are so divided, I like a little bit of unity.  If you don't liek the scarf, don't take oneor give it away.

 

GW Men's Hoops » Solving The Attendance Problem » 1/08/2024 3:45 pm

Merrick
Replies: 94

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Without a longstanding tradition--let alone a recent winning one, the situation is very tough absent an NCAA run.  The situation is likely to only get worse with NIL and the transfer portal as players increasingly become less a part of the student body and more like transients.

Only half-jokingly, the best marketing answer I see--if not a humane one--is through gambling. 

- Give students free bets at MGM, DraftKings etc., just for showing up and staying in their seats. 
- Let them bet on every free throw and possession outcome, changing point spreads, and over/unders throughout the game.

What better way to get someone emotionally invested in GW basketball than giving them some of their own (or parents) skin in the game. 

While it's true that enticing a vulnerable student whose young brain is susceptible to addiction seems unethical, we're actually behind the curve in what corporate pro sports and the TV networks already know. Sure, busting brackets in the NCAA Tourney may be fun for longstanding fans, but did you notice that ratings for the tournament plummeted once people no longer had a shot in winning their office or online pool.           

If we're lucky, maybe some of these folks will actually like the game without money on the line.

GW Men's Hoops » GW beats VCU Game! » 1/06/2024 6:19 pm

Merrick
Replies: 77

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Wow is the word.  The thing I love about this sport and this game is that if JB’s shot misses and VCU scores—we are all moaning about the shot selection, second chance points, etc etc etc. Instead we’re all happy!

17-21 in the second half is astounding!!!

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs Fordham Game » 1/04/2024 8:14 am

Merrick
Replies: 88

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dmvpiranha wrote:

There are times GW could have boxed out better for sure, but I see many of the offensive rebounds the same as diving for a loose ball. I'm not saying guys aren't diving on the floor or battling on the glass but for several seasons now (across coaches) it feels like GW never comes out on the winning side of the 50-50 loose balls. Sure there were a few the team won tonight but Fordham seemed to win those 80% or more of the time.
 

What's off is this has been so noticeable across several seasons and coaches (along with carelessness and butterfingers on offense). You have to want the ball and go get it.  Except for Max, it seems that so many balls off the defensive glass are there for the taking, but unless the ball actually lands on someone's chest with arms already clutched, the opponent will take it right away.  Is it too much thinking about the next sequence instead of simply reacting and getting the ball first and then considering your next step.  We do have young players, but I often wonder about this team's mental lapses--not just on defense, but even the number of times Stretch is left alone with ball without anyone recognizing that someone needs to help him, get the ball, and take over.     

In our defense, in at least three noticeable instances where we fought hard for 50/50 loose balls, we got whistled for the foul.  I would not say these weren't fouls, but the inconsistency of officiating is maddening--although that's a problem in 90% of the games I watch.     

GW Men's Hoops » GW vs Fordham Game » 1/03/2024 9:51 pm

Merrick
Replies: 88

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19 treys and 5 on 8 are a hard way to play.

GW Men's Hoops » Other Games Thread » 12/20/2023 8:45 am

Merrick
Replies: 257

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Nominee for most entertaining post-game presser by a D1 coach in 2023 as ND gets torched at home by a former Irish walk-on guard and the Citadel. 

 Time running out for Notre Dame men's basketball to stack good days/wins (indystar.com)
 

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