Game will be played at UR's Robins Center

Here is how I would approach this matchup:

1) If GM is to grab another 23 offensive rebounds, it would be foolish to count on the Patriots only being able to score 13 points off of these rebounds.  Suffice it to say that a major commitment needs to be made to defensive rebounding, as in all five guys on the floor, after every missed shot.

2) This can be seen as counterintuitive to the first point, but if GM is again going to crash the offensive boards, fast break opportunities ought to be available.  Again, I would not look to fast break to the detriment of not committing to defensive rebounding.  And, if our big 3 are each going to play 40 minutes again, we will need to conserve energy making this a challenging goal.

3) What GM figured out in the first meeting by halftime is that they needed to take the ball right at the GW defense.   That's why something like 14 of their 16 free throw attempts came in the second half.  And as we continue to see, this GW team (certainly not the first) struggles to stay in front of their man, and often gets caught in unfavorable switches.  GW will have to be prepared to face a more aggressive GM team from the opening tip.  Often, officiating helps determine how aggressive a team can afford to be, so "letting them play" will not work towards GW's advantage and a few early offensive fouls against GM would be a huge help.

4) About JB, JB and RL all playing 40 minutes yesterday?  JC is undoubtedly coaching one day at a time which I get.  However, I do think some foresight has to be paid with regard to trying to win 4 games in 4 days.  120 minutes among three players is not likely to be a sustainable formula over four straight days.  Yes, you can make the case that all were needed throughout the second half but as we were compiling a 25-10 lead, and even as Fordham mounted its first half comeback, a few quick rests could and probably should have been allocated.

5) I think it was DMVPiranha who commented about JC not taking a single timeout yesterday.  That point only got more bazaar in the postgame where JC praised the interim Fordham coach over among other things, his use of timeouts.  I know I'm not a coach but if you're going to play your three best players 40 minutes apiece, maybe you call a few timeouts if for no other reason than to give them some rest.

6) Regarding Chase Paar, I think you have to make a fairly quick decision as to how much or how little you can depend upon him today.  He played 21 minutes yesterday when it was apparent early on that this number should have been closer to 10.

7) One of the guys I am most interested in seeing today is Lincoln Ball.  As it is said, this is the time of year when freshmen are no longer freshmen.  As Lincoln's shooting woes have continued, this appears to have impacted his overall game which simply can't happen.  As a supporting player who has the capacity to be a glue guy for this team (I doubt he'd be starting if this weren't the case), Lincoln must contribute more in all phases of the game.  And, if he could knock down the open jump shot, that would be a big help.

While GM has played much better of late (perhaps saving Dave Paulsen's job in the process), I like the fact that GW just saw this team and is not going to feel any intimidation factor whatsoever.  That said, today might actually be the game that determines Paulsen's fate so GM should be plenty motivated assuming the players like him.

Gwmayhem

A few responses ...

4. You do realize that we have 8 scholarship players available with 3 being limited to the 5 position? Unfortunately, JC does not have the flexibility with playing time as he would like. That coupled with the win or go home nature of the game and the fact it was close gives him a pass on minutes.

5. Including media timeouts, there were 9 total timeouts in yesterday's game. Sometimes the other coach bails you out and takes the timeout you were going to call. I think JC follows the coaching philosophy that he's not taking timeouts just to take timeouts in a close game plus he likes to save them for the end if necessary. There was only one big Fordham run in that game (first half) and guess what ... there was a media timeout right in the middle of it (when Fordham cut the lead to 5). Had there not been a media timeout there, probably JC would have taken one. 

Also, I don't think kids today even think about trying to save their coach's job. Plus, while some have speculated that Paulsen's job might be in trouble, I'm not sure it actually is and there hasn't been a ton of media speculation about it. As a result, I don't believe that will serve as any motivating factor whatsoever. More important, is that George Mason like GW is trying to survive and advance.

Finally, there is no intimidation factor anymore in college basketball which is one of the reasons you are seeing more upsets. These kids (D-1) have played against each other for years in HS and AAU. Nobody is scared of anyone. The game is decided by who plays better on that day and who is more talented. Period. Years ago there might have been such a factor because kids weren't as familiar with each other and they didn't travel the U.S. playing. But no way today is such a factor present to the degree you would call it  "intimidation". I don't care if we were playing a top 5 team and we were a decided underdog. It's just different now. 

 

While I agree Chase has not developed this year like we would all like, I do think it is fair to point out that he is likely not 100% healthy.

Last edited by GWRising (3/04/2021 11:14 am)

On a general note, I would say this.. One day the story may be told of the 35 day pause. I am not going to tell it except to say the virus affected this team worse that you would expect given the age and health of the players. While almost all are over the "acute" symptoms, there is a big difference between being sick (as in not feeling well) and getting your legs, strength and overall conditioning back to compete in late season high level college games with such a big layoff. Coupled with the demands of a short bench this may be a bigger hurdle for us than our opponents currently. That's why whatever happens at this point is going to happen and we just have to look forward to next season. 

Chase has not looked healthy the last couple of games. But GW better damn well rebound better today than they did at the Patriot Center the other night. So whomever is in the paint defending (or whatever passes for defending by a player in a GW uniform) needs to box out. And if someone is not doing it, Cristian needs to be quick with the hook. In fact, rotating the "Big 3" with more frequency than usual might not be a bad idea given that the team played yesterday and (with a win) will face a team it takes 4OTs to beat tomorrow.

I think Chase’s conditioning was gutted by Covid and to my mind he is a champ if not nuts to be playing.

I’m no saint. When I am watching the game I’m hot about poor performance. It only afterwards I remember Covid and that we have no depth.

Lastly after losing to Fordham 4 times in a row earlier beating them is a good thing. As a guy who roots for pro teams worse than the Colonials any post season win is good.

I don't think that there is any question that Chase is neither healthy nor at full strength, but his regression has been going on all season.   I have voiced some criticism of the coach during the course of the season in that I don't think he is making the most of the individual players, and Chase may be a classic example.   His scoring throughout the season has been more opportunistic rather than be design.  I am not saying that he should get a touch on every possession (ala Keven Larsen), but I would have liked to see the offense run more through Chase (at least when he was healthy) than it has. 

Cheers to that

stop endlessly picking on GW's weakest link at the moment, we can all see he's not effective and yet there's no recourse at the moment, playing out of necessity.  The endless whiny negativity gets super old.  

Gwmayhem -

1. This team isn't going on a 5 day run - not with it's current state of health. JC should and is taking it one day at a time. Today's goal is to get to Day 3. That's it. 
2. On the timeouts. You are right he had a use or lose but some coaches prefer not to let the other coach set his defense in that situation (37 secs left off a missed FT). Just saying. Also the Fordham run was a little disjointed. If you recall the score was 25-10. It then went to 25-18. I think if had gone 25-20 or 21, JC would have called timeout. But it didn't it went to 27-18 when Lindo broke the run. Fordham did get the next 4 points but then the media timeout intervened.
3. It used to be that the name on the front of jersey was worth 10 points. I don't think that's true for the reason that I mentioned and due to what Free Quebec mentioned above. I think there is a difference between being intimidated and being undermanned or having less talent. As I mentioned, these guys play too much basketball with and against top talent. It doesn't phase them anymore. When I say that I don't mean every last player. I am talking about the vast majority.