George Mason Can Rebuild Fast If They Keep Their Core

We break down how a college basketball program can retool in the transfer portal era by locking in on a real core and building the right support around it. Using George Mason as the blueprint, we lay out who we trust to return, what must improve, and why accountability and player development decide next season. 
• Defining the core around Korey Mincy, Jahari Long, and Riley Allenspach 
• Why efficient scoring and steady guard play travel in the A-10 
• The specific upgrades we want: better field goal efficiency, higher free throws, more blocks 
• Prioritizing rim protection and energy from Dola Adabayo and Emmanuel Kanga 
• Evaluating other return candidates like Fatt Hill, Masai Troutman, and Brayden O’Connor 
• Why cohesion matters more than constant roster churn 
• Using the 19–2 start and 3–6 finish as the warning sign 
• Betting on offseason player development for younger guys like Stas Sivka, Devin Booker, and Isaiah Skinn 
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Transcript

Why Retooling Matters Now

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What's up, everybody? It's your favorite show's favorite show, get a bucket. I'm your host, Trey, as usual. I hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. Now, today we're going to talk about college basketball teams retooling or what they need to focus on when they're retooling. So let's use my alma mater, George Mason University, as an example, okay? Now, when we're thinking about retooling for college, yes, we can talk about the same thing for NBA, but they they kind of locked in on contracts. College basketball players, they can really up and leave at any point in time they want to, because the whole transfer portal, right? So it's good to focus on your core. And I think when we're thinking about George Mason's team, let's focus on these players right here. You got Corey Mincy. Now, that's your that's your that's your player who averaged the most points. All right, he was the highest get-a-bucketer, if you will, but he can get a bucket, though. I'm not gonna lie to you, okay? He looked somewhat professional at times, kind of quick with it, averaged 14.3 points, shot solid from the three-point line, about 39% with 89% from the free throw, 44% field goal percentage. We could uptick that a little bit, but I ain't mad at the splits across the board. Another part of the core we got to focus on is Jahari Long. Now keep in mind, Corey Mincy is 6'2, and he serves more as their shooting guard. Jahari Long is 6'5 and serves more as their point guard. Now, Jahari, he did pretty decent. I'm not gonna lie to y'all. I love his, I love his poise, I love how he playmakes, but also his ability to score as well was not bad. Give him 45, 83, 38 splits from the field. That's not bad at all. So again, when we're talking about your core, it's gotta be Corey Mincy and Jahari Long when we're talking about here going forward. Now, who else can we focus on, though? Because again, when we're talking about the core, it's gotta be a couple of people. Because if not, then you gotta hit the transfer portal or even think about just blowing it up and retool all the rebuild all together. So we're thinking retool for George Mason, but it focuses on who's coming back. Riley Allen Spock. Now that's their 6'11. It's crazy because he's listed as a forward, even though he should be a center.

unknown 2:15

Right?

Role Players And Rim Protection

Who Must Return Next Season

Development Plans And Season Lessons

Accountability Plus Closing And CTA

SPEAKER_00 2:16

That's the position that he played on the team. Hear me out though. We need to have more blocks from Riley. I pointed out that Corey could uptick his field goal percentage a little bit. Jihari Long, he did his thing too, but again, the field goal percentage specifically, we could uptick a little bit. Everything else I'm cool with. Riley, I need to see a little bit better. Now, his field goal percentage was solid. He's more offensive-minded. And that's why I'm okay with him being part of the core. Both, all three of these players scored 12 plus points for George Mason. But I would love to see Riley's free throw percentage go up from 68%. And then that 31% from three is respectable from a big. But I'd love to see if we can get there maybe at a 34% clip. Because now that makes it a little bit tougher. He can stretch out the floor, allowing someone like Corey or Jahari Long to attack the basket a little bit more. Or maybe even some of their forwards that George Mason had. But again, their core: Corey Mincy, Jahari Long, and Riley Allenspoch. Now, some other players that we may need to consider, because again, those are the stars, the quote unquote stars, right? Well, every star needs to have a supporting cast. And I mentioned how Riley is more offensive-minded than defensive, right? Okay, cool. So with that being said, it would be nice if George Mason could focus on some rim protection. So again, ladies and gentlemen, notice we're talking about the core, but then who amplifies that core? Who helps support that core? I'm looking at someone like Dola Adabayo. Hopefully he can stay, but he didn't get that much tick. He started at the beginning of the season. For some reason, lost his starting spot. But the crazy thing is he plays less minutes, half the minutes that Riley does, and gets the same amount of blocks. Matter of fact, him and what's the voice's name? Kanga. Him and Kanga, Emmanuel Kanga, they need to stay. Like George Mason needs to prioritize them. Both of them are 6'8 forwards, right? Dola's listed as a senior, but he might still have more eligibility. Emmanuel Kanga is a freshman. Okay? So let's keep that in mind. So we got Kanga and we got Atabayo, both who can do pretty well from a rim protecting perspective. But they're also 6'8 forwards. So they can guard centers or power forwards or small forwards at times, especially in college. But they give us the rim protection that we need so that way the core, which is Corey Mincy, Jihari Long, and Ryan Allen Spock, Riley Allen Spock, can do their thing. Oh, by the way, these boys can also score a little bit too. I'm not talking about overly stout, but like they're not slouches either. They just weren't put in the best situations all the time. Because again, they're the role players, the energy guys. But you need energy guys when you got three players who are trying to consistently score. Now, another player to consider who could also be in the running for maybe leaving is Fat Hill. Now, Fat was a senior, but he might have more eligibility left in the tank. Fat also gave us about 10 points. I would love to see him shoot a little bit better from a lot better from the three, actually. Jesus. 28%, that's tough. But his 49% from the field ain't nothing to scoff at. And when I watched him as an on-ball defender, he won't bat. If Maasai Trotman can stay too, that's cool. But either way, those are two candidates. If Messai especially, I don't think he has extra eligibility left. But let's just act like he did, right? If you retain those two talents, that's even better. Because now we're talking about cohesion for next season. Because they've already played together. But if you can bring back the bulk of these players that I've just listed off, that's something to build upon. So again, when we're talking about let's let's say the must-keep players. We've already talked about Corey, talked about Jihari, and we've talked about Riley. We gotta add Dola Ataba, which also too, let's not forget this is this is Bam Atabayo's cousin. The same Bam who just dropped 83. While I have my gripes about how the 83 was acquired, 83 is still 83. So what happens if Dola starts hanging out with Bam in Asia? What if some things start rubbing off? I'm just saying, maybe Dola might come back a little hungry next season. Fingers crossed. So again, and Kanga, I do like from a production standpoint, because again, he can add a little rim protection. So, ladies and gentlemen, when we're talking about looking to retool, you have to focus on who's on your team. You have to. Now, there are some other players that you can look to keep as well. I know some, I know there have been some controversy around someone like a Braden O'Connor. And I say controversy because he broke his foot, right? I think he broke his foot. He he he he was out for the whole year with something. I want to say foot, though. He's a senior, but I think because he lost a year, you you gain an extra year of eligibility. I didn't think Braden should have been the starting point guard, to be clear. Is he good enough to be considered the small forward spot on the team? I don't know. Could he? Yeah, he could play that position. But I like Fat Hill better. I'd like someone like a Braden O'Connor coming off the bench for us. And again, that's another 6'5 guard. Is he a quality playmaker? Debatable. But he's good enough to back up Jihari Long. So I think when we're talking about retooling, yes, again, we're focusing on the core. But also who helps support their core? Next year, we might have a lot of upperclassmen, which also spells pretty well in college for success. When you look at George Mason's team this season, we went 19, and I say we because I'm an album moderate, right? But we went 19 and 2. There was a point in time where I thought, hey, we might be able to challenge St. Louis for the best record in the A-10. We might even be able to be ranked in the top 25 because we were getting those honorable mention votes on ESMS top 25 ranking for being listed in the top 25. So again, ladies and gentlemen, we have a successful formula to follow. We just got to get back to those winning ways because the last nine games of the season, we went three and six. Meaning we won three games and lost six. That's very disgusting work. Then we lose the first game in the A-10 tournament, which was disgusting work. Then we lose in the NIT, which hurts. So again, ladies and gentlemen, I think there is a world where George Mason can get back to that 19-2 track record. We just got to bring back quality players. Again, we have our three players. We have our three-headed monster, our core. Who are we going to bring back to amplify these players? And again, we got two players who shot 38% plus from three. So it's not like we need to sit up here and focus on a lot of shooting. Riley can space the floor out just a little bit, but everybody still does need to improve in some areas, to be clear. Just a little bit. But that core could be viewed as solid, especially in the A-T. We just need more support around the way. And that's where I'm looking at Tony Skin from a player development standpoint. Because we do have some interesting players to include. Like a Malik Presley, like a Devin Booker, not on the Suns. There's actually a guy named Devin Booker on George Mason's team. Like a Stasfit Sivka. Like when I've been sitting at the games, there's this one kid who has a Sivka jersey on. It's crazy to see. But when I look at Sivka, all right, he's about what, 6'10. Yeah, he's 220, so he's a little undersized. But that's when the offseason works. That's when player development works. Get him a little stronger. His three-point percentage was about 22%. That's not the best. 28%. I'm sorry, Civ. Like all Stas. Like, like, like, like, like, that's not the best. That's not the worst either, though. We can expand upon that, especially when you look at his free throw percentage, because that's 73%, better than Riley's. So again, there's a world where even Stoss improves. I already brought up Emmanuel Kanga and how he's a freshman. Let's keep that in mind. Devin Booker, he's a freshman. Let's bring these players along. How about even someone like Isaiah Skin? Keep in mind, you might, you might have heard the last name Skin before. That's because his daddy is the head coach of George Mason's team. Same guy who went to the Final Four for George Mason in 2006. It would have been excellent if this George Mason team, coached by Tony Skin, could have gone to the Final Four this year. It would have been the 20-year reunion. It is the 20-year reunion of us going to the Final Four. Why not get back there on that same time? But what might be even better is if his son is on the team and producing. That would be a heartfelt story. But again, going back to player developer, I'm not talking about Isaiah being the best player on the team, but a contributing role player on this team, that's possible. Six-foot guard, could he come up and maybe replace or give uh Corey Mincy some minutes? That could happen as a sophomore, too. Yes, that could happen. Even if we're talking about mid-majors, it could happen. It just depends on how the player development during the offseason goes. So again, ladies and gentlemen, we got to think positively, optimistically about how to retool your team. And again, it starts from assessing your squad. Who's your core team? What are the deficiencies amongst your team? I can tell you right now, George Mason, you have a strong core. You have some quality role players. You got to return a lot of these players. You have to. And you got to do some quality player development in the offseason. But if that doesn't happen, well, then we can expect to see exactly what happened towards the second half, the latter part of the season. That three and six record. We know the 19-2 is there. Forget strength of schedule right now. 19-2 is still 19-2. You got to beat who's who you play. But end of day, ladies and gentlemen, we gotta lock in and focus, whether it's coaching staff or players, you gotta lock in and focus on within. That's how you're gonna get better. Whether you're trying to improve in life or prove on the basketball court, you always have to look within. Accountability, self-awareness, these are things and words that we need to remember and focus on. So again, ladies and gentlemen, when you're trying to retool, you always have to look within. But, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that does conclude the end of the episode. Again, gotta make sure you retool properly. Because I do like the George Mason team. And we were entertaining to watch. And I hope that they keep it going next season. And the season after that, and the season after that. Because it's hard. It's hard being a college coach sometimes. You gotta keep bringing in players. The transfer portal is ridiculous nowadays. I get it. But hopefully we keep focus. Both coaches and players. And fans too. Because we want to see us thrive. But, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that does conclude the end of the episode. So please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. My name is Trey, I'm the host of Get a Bucket. I hope you are all having a good one. Take care.