#MasonGameDay: George Mason vs. Rhode Island

By
Tyler Byrum
-
170
2020
George Mason guard Otis Livingston runs off of a screen set by Greg Calixte against Penn State. Photo by: Ron Johnson.

Time for conference play for George Mason and the rest of the Atlantic 10. It is essentially a new season for the Patriots and a majority of the other teams in the conference.

There are some other teams that are not in that situation. Some are trying to build on their season resume and make a case to the NCAA Selection Committee. One of those squads is the one that Mason opens conference play against, Rhode Island.

Back in October, the Rams were overwhelmingly chosen to repeat as Atlantic 10 champions. Garnering 27 of the possible 28 first-place votes in the league’s preseason poll, only St. Bonaventure appeared to be primed to contest the 2017 champs. Currently Rhode Island has two points in the AP Top 25 poll; every week this year they were considered in the rankings.

LAST GAME: KIER’S SECOND HALF POWERS MASON OVER MORGAN STATE

But it is now time for conference play and it always lead to a strange result or two with the familiarity between competition. Rhode Island should win this game hands down. Their starting five is better than Mason’s in almost every individual match-up, their defense does exactly what the Patriots struggle against, and they can score from all areas of the court. According to ESPN’s power index, the Rams have a 94.6 percent to win.

Rhode Island (8-3) played one of the more difficult non-conference schedules in the conference. They gathered a huge victory over in-state rival Providence and beat then-ranked Seton Hall on the road. All three losses were to team’s in the KenPom top-50. More impressively, of their 11 games, they missed the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 first team selection, E.C. Matthews for six of them.

The senior’s history is injured filled but highlighted by accolades. He missed a majority of the 2015-16 season due to a knee injury, but in every other season he received an All-Atlantic 10 nod and was named A10 Most Outstanding Player in the postseason tournament. Playing in only five games this year, he averages 11.6 points and shoots 38.6 percent from the field, both career-lows for the 6-5 guard. Last year he had 18 points for the Rams in a 77-74 victory over the Patriots.

Matthews is not the player that can scare the Patriots this go around. Another senior, Jared Terrell, scores 17.8 points a game making 45.5 percent of all shots he takes, including 37.0 percent from deep. Stanford Robinson also brings home 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a contest. The primary post player, Andre Berry (8.8 ppg) doesn’t get too many touches but he splits time with the talented sophomore, Cyril Langevine (1.25 blocks per game) from the bench.

Rhode Island protects the ball better than anyone Mason has faced this far, and have the fifth fewest turnovers in the country. They also lead the conference with a +5.9 turnover margin.

BACK-IN-TIME: WHAT ABOUT THOSE PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS?

There are some advantages that George Mason (6-7) have though as they try and knock Rhody down at the Ryan Center for the first time all year. Rebounding kept the team in this contest last year and now Rhode Island is without the towering Hassan Martin. Once again the Rams are not dominant off the glass like they are in many other categories and Mason loves to have everyone crash the boards.

Goanar Mar (12.1 ppg), if he performs like he did in the early part of the season, can open up holes for Mason’s offense in this one. His presence down low will bring more bodies in the paint and allow shooters Jaire Grayer (39.1 percent from 3pt) and Otis Livingston II (38.5 percent from 3pt) to bring a dual threat. The freshman also has a knack for drawing fouls, one area that has slightly plagued the Rams all season.

Here are three things to watch for vs. Rhode Island:

  1. Rebounding edge; If Mason wants to have any chance, they have to earn extra possessions off the glass
  2. Fouls; Rhode Island gets into foul trouble often and Mason does not have a deep bench, could be problematic for both squads
  3. E.C. Matthews; he still clearly is not 100 percent. His production can led to the Rams success or their demise

 

Looks like head coach Dave Paulsen is convinced of the development of Greg Calixte to continue starting him for Mason. If he can hold his own down low it can change the game for the Green and Golf. It would also help if he put up some points after coming off a career-high nine points against Morgan State.

 

With four days or more off this season, George Mason is 2-1 and comes into this one with seven off days. Also on the road, Mason is only 1-2 with a win at James Madison.

I cannot end this preview though without a shout out to the George Mason Women’s Basketball team. They kick off conference play at home on Dec. 31 against Davidson with an 11-3 record. They won their most non-conference games since the 1987-88 season. Dating back to last season they have won 10 straight at EagleBank Arena, a program record. Expect more content from the GiantKiller team as their impressive season continues.

#MasonRecords watch:

Overall Points:
Otis Livingston II (1,053) 20 points away from Jesse Young for 30th all-time.

Overall three pointers:
Jaire Grayer (136) is six three pointers behind Patrick Holloway for 11th all-time.
Otis Livingston II (111) is seven three pointers behind Brian Miller for 14th all-time.

Overall assists:
Otis Livingston (272) is 11 assists behind Jamel Perkins and Troy Mans for 14th all-time.

Overall blocks:
Jaire Grayer (59) is five blocks behind Shevon Thompson for 19th all-time.

Prediction: Rhode Island 78, Mason 62

Prediction Record: 10-3

 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

170 COMMENTS

  1. Do you have a spa problem on this blog; I allso amm a blogger,
    and I wwas wantfing to know your situation; wee hawve developed some niuce meghods and we aree looking to swap strategies witth others, please shoot mme ann e-mail
    if interested.

  2. Hi, i believe that i noticed yoou visitfed mmy blog so i
    came to return the choose?.I am trying to in finding things
    to enhance mmy site!I suppose its okk to make use oof
    ome oof your ideas!!

  3. Wow, awesome weblog structure! How lengthy have you been running a
    blog for? you male running a blog glpance easy. Thhe entore
    look of youur website is excellent, ass well ass tthe content
    material!

  4. It’s perfedct time too make a ffew plns ffor
    thhe lojg run aand it’s tike to bee happy. I hafe rread this subnmit aand iff I may ust I want tto cunsel yyou some
    attention-grabbing things orr suggestions. Maybne yoou can write next arficles regarding this article.
    I wwish too learn more issues about it!

  7. Hi, I do believe this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will come back yet again since i have book-marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.

  11. Hello there! This post could not be written any better!Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate!He always kept talking about this. I will forward this write-up to him.Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

  34. Generally I do not read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice article.

  40. Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; we have developed some nice practices and we are looking to exchange methods with other folks, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.

  48. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely wellwritten article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanksfor the post. I’ll certainly return.

  61. Your study into this subject excites me. I am researching it also and need to admit that you have more understanding than me concerning it. I am happy that I found your blog. I hope to see more soon.

  81. Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading?I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.Any responses would be greatly appreciated.Here is my blog :: fat loss diet

  93. Thanks for any other magnificent post. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such an ideal way of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the search for such information.

  101. An interesting discussion is worth comment. I believe that you ought to write more on this subject, it might notbe a taboo subject but usually people do not talk about such subjects.To the next! Cheers!!

  122. Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  125. This blog is no doubt entertaining and besides factual. I have picked up a bunch of helpful stuff out of this amazing blog. I ad love to visit it every once in a while. Thanks a bunch!

  126. I抦 not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this info for my mission.

  149. It’s in reality a great and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you simply shared this useful info withus. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.my blog: Waterproofing

  160. Howdy are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any html coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!

  161. It?¦s really a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here