By Bryan Lawrence
I can’t believe it but this is my 7th year covering Mason from media row, which is on the sideline. It’s intimate, it’s hectic, and it’s weird to not be able to cheer. I get to see coaches reactions and calls up close. It’s an interesting perspective and I’m excited to debut the Court Side Social. Here is where I’ll detail my thoughts from each game. Below is a stream of bullet points of my live opinions from the game. Follow us @GiantKillerGMU for more!
1. Off the tip, I’m extremely comfortable with Cooper, Schwartz and Ticket handling the ball and dictating the offense.
2. Blake Jones was the first freshman off the bench and has gotten a good amount of minutes. He has played alongside Henry and Oduro. His first point of his Mason career was a free throw. Missed the second.
Freshman Blake Jones checks in. Coaches have had high praise for this kid
— GMU Giant Killer (@GMUGiantKiller) November 10, 2021
3. Ticket has 6 rebounds with 1 minute to go in the first half. He’s all over the glass.
4. We’ve seen a few highlight plays already, check out this lob play from Cooper to Malik.
Malik doing Malik things pic.twitter.com/qlClxJuSoZ
— By George. (@ByGeorgeGMU) November 10, 2021
5. We’ve already shown a full court defensive look. We have active hands on D. We’ve taken a charge and are looking to protect the rim. The coaches have play cards, different color pieces of paper, to call plays.
6. The end of the first half was sloppy, turnover immediately after a Mason timeout.
7. Liem sits down next to me, “we don’t give up wide open 3’s all game anymore.” BINGO!
8. The start of the second half. Josh is in complete control when he has the ball on the block, he can’t be guarded. Would love to see some plays called for him.
9. With 15 minutes to go, Oduro is 7-10 from the field with 14 points.
10. Ticket could be dominating this game, he’s missed a couple bunnies. With 14 to go, he has 7 points and 8 rebounds. Could easily have 10+ points.
11. The coaches fit is so fresh, black on black. That’s it, I like the swag.
12. With 5 minutes to go, after back to back 3s by Schwartz and Cooper, this one is getting out of hand.
13. 4 guys in double digit points with 3 minutes to go. Even scoring, tons of ball movement and solid execution. We are no longer dependent on the high ball screen.
4 players in double digits now –
— GMU Giant Killer (@GMUGiantKiller) November 10, 2021
Cooper
XJ
Oduro
Schwartz
Ticket needs 1 more point to be the 5th
THAT WAS FUN!
