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Post by Cjb on Nov 23, 2013 17:27:55 GMT -5
epatrick mentioned to me before the game that George Mason had 4 guys we recruited - Vaughn Gray, Sherrod Wright, Anali Okoloji and Jalen Jenkins.
All I can say is thanks so very much for not coming as todays "old fashioned ass whooping" demonstrated how Iona clearly did better.
Solid win today!
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Post by chelseadal on Nov 23, 2013 17:38:53 GMT -5
nice crowd, The GA side was pretty crowded. Weird seeing the benches move sides. But I think the students might actually be less of a distraction than all the other people who seem to crowd the bench on the other side. Laury and English were the story of the first half when Iona built and maintained their lead. Nice to see English's scoring ability, and he ran the offense adequately. Armand was doing a lot of little things in the first half, his scoring clinic didnt really begin until the second half. Great overall game. While Hines didn't score, he did make several intelligent plays. Sounds like All positive from a Gaels fan perspective. Great!
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Post by resumeman on Nov 23, 2013 17:52:55 GMT -5
Observations from the game: Two solid halves played by the Gaels and an impressive win over a previously undefeated (4-0) A-10 team. The Gaels are definitely playing much better defense than the last couple of years; they had 9 steals and 5 blocked shots today. A really good sign was that the team actually increased its lead in the second half while Laury was on the bench with foul trouble. Nice to see Ryden Hines get some significant playing time (15 minutes) - he was hustling, diving for loose balls - will be fun to watch him develop over the next few years. Initially Armand seemed tentative about taking shots and missed his first several 3 point attempts. He found his range in the second half and you could sense his confidence level rising. Perhaps knowing he was so close to setting the Iona record for 3 point shots made has negatively affected his game of late; now that the milestone is behind him, hopefully he can relax and once again be that deadly 3 point weapon we all love so much.
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Post by St. Louis Gael on Nov 23, 2013 18:13:39 GMT -5
Great to hear that Jeff was in the house.
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Post by tiger on Nov 23, 2013 18:24:42 GMT -5
English at the point was more in control of his handle than Poole....... Poole is a nice asset but I believe we keep English at the point......hynes makes hustle plays ....team played fantastic today....big Jeff and Scott machado both attended.......Jonas best 5 as follows: Armand DL3 bowman English Poole 6th man-Williams
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Post by resumeman on Nov 23, 2013 20:30:32 GMT -5
I just discovered a possible reason why this game was not as close as expected. Evidently George Mason sat out two of their regular players. This is from an article on their previous game:
Forward Jonathan Arledge (sore back) is “in pain, and it’s all about what he can manage.” Forward Erik Copes has two games remaining on his suspension
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Post by sharkey on Nov 23, 2013 20:50:13 GMT -5
I just discovered a possible reason why this game was not as close as expected. Evidently George Mason sat out two of their regular players. This is from an article on their previous game: Forward Jonathan Arledge (sore back) is “in pain, and it’s all about what he can manage.” Forward Erik Copes has two games remaining on his suspension It did not make a difference according to a couple of George Mason boards. One board is ripping the Iona fans for storming the court after the game. Just wondering from those that were there if anything happened after the game.
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Post by tiger on Nov 23, 2013 20:52:12 GMT -5
Nobody stormed the court....?
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Post by oldtimer on Nov 23, 2013 21:07:51 GMT -5
Tidbits from George Mason's message board..... Many calls for firing Coach Hewett even though he has won 80 per cent of his games in short time he has been there and was 4-0 until today...How could they lose such a game to the '' bad year'' MAAC. How ever to their credit there were a handful of their more knowledgeable fans who warned they were about to meet a dangerous foe...I hope the rest of our OOC opponents will also sleep on the team from the lowly MAAC...
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Post by Joebird on Nov 23, 2013 22:06:30 GMT -5
Old timer, you will be glad to hear Iona up to 94 in rpi (liverpi site). I have a feeling this is going to be good rpi year, something tells me Iona gets a win in Ohio against Dayton, which ends up being a huge rpi win.
If not for a terrible ending at Cleveland state this would be an outstanding start to the year and arguably the best of cluess's tenure. This team has huge potential and it was evident in the first half against Kansas and reconfirmed today.
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Post by sharkey on Nov 23, 2013 22:27:44 GMT -5
Agreed. Iona has a lot of options. Iona blew this game open without 3 point shooting from Armand and Williams in first half. When Mason thought about making a run, Armand got hot and buried them. I feel sorry for the team Iona is playing when all of the guys are hot at the same time. they might have to change the bulbs on the scoreboard at halftime. Looking forward to an exciting year and the games with FGCU, Dayton, Nevada and Northern Iowa. I could see this team take 3 out of 4.
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Post by Joebird on Nov 23, 2013 22:34:13 GMT -5
Good point Sharkey, there is going to be a game or two this year where multiple Gaels are hot from 3 and they will look like a top twenty team. Also i love the length on this team, something none of the 3 previous cluess's teams had.
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Post by java on Nov 23, 2013 22:40:19 GMT -5
I'll refer to this team as the 1998 squad "in training". For the most part, the team played solid defense today, which reminded me of Tim Welsh team. The zone adjustments were done properly and with energy. A number of deflected passes showed me the kids were focused.
Hines and AJ were fighting for loose balls today and I liked to see that hustle.
I'm slightly more cautiously optimistic than joebird as I feel our trip to FGCU is a significant bell weather / measuring stick to determine the teams progress so far in the early part of our season.
So far I like what I see.
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Post by Joebird on Nov 23, 2013 22:56:07 GMT -5
I have been called a pessimist on this board but Java really I am just an emotional wreck! High one day and down the next. I feel great about this team today but maybe not so much next Sunday. However I will say the rational part of me sees the potential of this being Cluess's best team. A lot of year left, a down MAAC won't help but this could be a special year, " MARCH TO THE GARDEN!"
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Post by iona05 on Nov 23, 2013 23:30:09 GMT -5
Great win today against a solid A10 team where we led from wire to wire. My observations from the game:
1. One of the most impressive and convincing wins I can remember in a while, rivaling the Wake Fores game from last year. When this team keeps the intensity up for all 40 minutes like it did today it can be scary good.
2. Thought we had the ideal point distribution and balance for this team: 20+ from Armand, 15+ from AJ or DL3, 10+ from Bowman and Poole or Williams.
3. Did a terrific job of rebounding, especially from the guard positions. When this team rebounds like it did today it will be extremely difficult to beat on any given night. Reduce 2nd chance points as much as possible and other teams will have a tough time competing with us basket for basket.
4. Terrific student section again today, but absolutely poor showing by the season ticket side. The turnout on the season ticket side has been embarassing. Would rather put the empty seats to good use and give them away to local schools or CYO programs just to fill them up and strengthen relationships with the community.
5. Hope I'm looking too much into this, but don't like Grant Ellis' body language at all. Noticed the same thing in the first game when he got put in for garbage time, and it happened yet again today. Seemed disinterested and ticked off to be playing garbage time minutes, but again this was just based on body language only.
6. Tend to agree with whoever said Williams might be a better option off the bench at this point in the season.
7. Was refreshed to see Hines' hustle and energy. Also was a bit surprised that Robinson didn't get more minutes, especially late in the game when we pretty much had it won and thought he could've used the minutes to gain some experience. Sure there was a good reason for it, though.
8. Great stuff by Armand today changing his game up to drive to the hole after he realized he was cold from 3 to start the game. Think that was the catalyst for him finding his touch again from 3 pt land in the second half. Also classy move by Cluess to substitute Armand out with a minute to go so he could get a standing ovation.
9. Poole will be a major asset come conference play. He brings another dimension on the defensive end and the rest of the team seems to feed off his intensity and play better defense when he's on the floor. Was great to see him knock down a few shots, but still think he's going to be a bit of a liability on offense.
10. Putting things in perspective for a minute, last year at this time we were also 2-2 with a home win over Denver and a blowout win over wake, along with two choke losses to Quinnipiac and Illinois Chicago. While the records are the same, the big differences I see at this point of the season are (a) we have a better sense of this team's identity, (b) this team is light years ahead as far as defensive intensity, and (c) last year's team we knew Momo was our go-to guy at this point in the season, while this year's team I think that is still TBD.
Bring on FGCU! Go Gaels!!!
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