After starting the season 2-1, The Patriots have dropped the last two games in heartbreaking fashion by a combined two points to Central Michigan and East Carolina. A contributing factor to the losses early season is the Patriots have been unfortunately losing the turnover battle. Mason is ranked 322nd out of 364 Div. I teams with 16.0 turnovers/game along with being ranked 327th in turnover margin (-4.0).
Despite struggling with ball security, the Green & Gold in year two of the Tony Skinn are still causing offensive problems for teams. Currently the Patriots are 23rd in 2pt FG defense (.407) and 19th in effective FG defense (.408). Even though the Patriots are playing solid defense, they are still falling up short in closing games such as holding East Carolina to 4 points between regulation and the first overtime period. The Pirates took advantage of the 19 turnovers committed and the 24 offensive rebounds given up by the Patriots to win the game in the double overtime.
With that being said, there’s no need to hit the panic button yet with this team. Some of the positives from early in the season is that the Patriots offense is slowly coming together with a well-balanced attack led by Preseason Atlantic-10 second team selection Darius Maddox. Maddox finished with 20 points in the East Carolina loss, the fifth-year senior has averaged 18.4 ppg to start the season. Additionally, seven Patriots average at least six points per game to start this season. Newcomers such as Brayden O’Connor and Giovanni Emejuru have made immediate impacts for the Patriots. O’Connor and Emejuru have been averaging 9 points and 10 points per game to start the season.
The Green & Gold should look to use the Coppin State game tonight to work on limiting turnovers offensively while continuing a high octane ball pressure defense. The Eagles from Baltimore are currently 0-6 coming off a loss to the ACC power Miami Hurricanes and shooting only 35% percent from the field this season. Additionally,former Patriot Peter Oduro makes his return to Fairfax. Oduro played for Patriots in the 2022-2023 season alongside his older brother Josh Oduro and is currently averaging 5 points and 2.7 rebounds in his first season for the Eagles.
From my eyes, this is a perfect game for the Patriots to tune up and dominate offensively and as well as work on ball security against a team that has been struggling defensively to start the year. It also opens up an opportunity to earn a win in dominant fashion against a weaker opponent early in the non-conference slate.
Once again there isn’t need to panic about the Green & Gold not being able to finish games yet., They have a balanced offense and have shown that they can still be a problem for teams defensively, all the Patriots have to do is to have discipline ball security against a team that nothing to lose but everything to gain.
