2019 Recruiting

[Old Man]

I split season tickets to a G-League team with my dad, at a level that includes access to their club and VIP parking. They have added the club and parking access to the bar code of the ticket, so you just scan in with the parking attendant, and scan into the "gold room." Then they slap one of those stupid paper bracelets on you so you can come and go. Seems simple enough for Mason to do that? An added bonus is that, since access is in the bar code, it transfers to the buyer if you sell/give away your tickets.

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Noooooo! Don't do that! There might have been a time or two, or three, where one of my unused gold room tickets from a previously unattended game was also used for access to the gold room on a game night that may or may not have matched the game number on the ticket. If they went to bar codes, that would no longer be possible.

 

[Herndon]

Not everyone can be as eloquent (read wordy) as you and I. ;-)

I also have sympathy for the uber negative posters in here. After the Saint Mary’s game in Hawaii On Christmas Day 2013, I became totally negative about Hewitt and anyone else that could not see it. Ironically, we won that game, but in a pitiful manner.

So, I understand where they are with Paulsen. I don’t agree, yet, but I can see why they view the program the way they do. I was very high on Edwards and Paulsen in the early stages, but, they have both lost a lot of the luster. To use a car analogy, I thought we had a Porsche 911 Gt3 and a Corvette ZR1, but I now feel we may have a Camry and Accord, fine, dependable, may even get us where we want to go, just more slowly. They just aren’t as exciting as I originally thought they were.

Again, it's not the negativity. I don't mind negativity. I'm not 100% sure Paulsen is the guy, and if they're not, that's fine, too.

It's the inability to put together a solid argument that gets me. I'm old enough now that I just refuse to waste my time on wastes of time.

And, FWIW, I've ALWAYS seen Paulsen as an Accord. I've always been fine with that. If he can stabilize Mason as a top 1/3 team in the A10 in most years, frankly that's good enough for me until and unless there are structural changes that make higher expectations reasonable.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

To be fair, the ones you ignore are dumb because they make valid pts. you don't agree with? It's nauseating reading the homers posts on here.

And yet, here you are torturing yourself.

 

[sleeperpick]

Adams Woods picks Cincy and URI lands 4 star 2020 pg from Bethesda, Elijah Wood.... other teams can do it why can't we?!?!

 

[Patriot8]

Everything around this program feels so stagnant. There's no energy, no momentum, and outside of Xavier Johnson's highlight reel a few weeks ago, no cause for excitement. We are just sitting here waiting for Bryson to officially be named as an assistant coach. We hear about offers going out every once in a while, but have no faith or expectation that any of the higher level guys will even consider us. The practice facility STILL doesn't have stuff on the walls.

Not a great feeling heading into Year 5, but at least Archie Miller gave Coach Hutchins his endorsement.

 

[gmubrian]

Again, it's not the negativity. I don't mind negativity. I'm not 100% sure Paulsen is the guy, and if they're not, that's fine, too.

It's the inability to put together a solid argument that gets me. I'm old enough now that I just refuse to waste my time on wastes of time.

And, FWIW, I've ALWAYS seen Paulsen as an Accord. I've always been fine with that. If he can stabilize Mason as a top 1/3 team in the A10 in most years, frankly that's good enough for me until and unless there are structural changes that make higher expectations reasonable.

What I am trying to say is that they actually do have some pretty solid arguments at times, it is just hidden in their negativity and sarcasm.

On the car analogy, I wasn’t implying I thought we got a Vette or Porsche in Paulsen, I was using the relative comparison and how expectations were wrong. Even though we have a fine car/coach it isn’t performing at as high level we expected. More it was our expectations that were out of whack.

I would think of him more of an Impala if I was going to match him up to a car. It is a bargain, reliable, and performs better than many expect given its heritage. It just is not very exciting at all. You need to do some research to see that it is better than what some might think at face value.

 

[GMUgemini]

I don't know, man, Impalas have a very particular cultural heritage I don't think I'd ascribe to Paulsen. He's more like a Buick LaCrosse or a Chrysler Pacifica (although I don't think either one of them would have the surly sense of humor he has -- maybe a Ford Flex, maybe a 4-door Mini Cooper)? I feel like I'm getting into the weeds here.

 

[Five Two]

URI lands 4 star 2020 pg from Bethesda, Elijah Wood

The people I know from Potomac would ask you not confuse Potomac with Bethesda. (I think he is from Potomac) They got all pissy when part of Rockville wanted to rename itself North Potomac. smh

 

[sleeperpick]

The people I know from Potomac would ask you not confuse Potomac with Bethesda. (I think he is from Potomac) They got all pissy when part of Rockville wanted to rename itself North Potomac. smh

rivals said Bethesda so I went with that.. I am not familiar haha

 

[GMU1983]

Everything around this program feels so stagnant. There's no energy, no momentum, and outside of Xavier Johnson's highlight reel a few weeks ago, no cause for excitement. We are just sitting here waiting for Bryson to officially be named as an assistant coach. We hear about offers going out every once in a while, but have no faith or expectation that any of the higher level guys will even consider us. The practice facility STILL doesn't have stuff on the walls.

Not a great feeling heading into Year 5, but at least Archie Miller gave Coach Hutchins his endorsement.

Well said spot on!

 

[Herndon]

What I am trying to say is that they actually do have some pretty solid arguments at times, it is just hidden in their negativity and sarcasm.

On the car analogy, I wasn’t implying I thought we got a Vette or Porsche in Paulsen, I was using the relative comparison and how expectations were wrong. Even though we have a fine car/coach it isn’t performing at as high level we expected. More it was our expectations that were out of whack.

I would think of him more of an Impala if I was going to match him up to a car. It is a bargain, reliable, and performs better than many expect given its heritage. It just is not very exciting at all. You need to do some research to see that it is better than what some might think at face value.

No no, I got that you're saying that, I just disagree. Their arguments are generally poorly formed. Is there occasionally something of value? I'm sure there is, but I'm not going to wade through a puddle of poop to find the occasional nickel, you know?

It's performing at a level I expected. I'm perfectly happy with the performance, given everything that goes into it.

Anybody who expected more at this point, given the reality of the situation, was setting themselves up for unhappiness, IMO (which may be exactly what you're saying, in fairness to you).

 

[sleeperpick]

No no, I got that you're saying that, I just disagree. Their arguments are generally poorly formed. Is there occasionally something of value? I'm sure there is, but I'm not going to wade through a puddle of poop to find the occasional nickel, you know?

It's performing at a level I expected. I'm perfectly happy with the performance, given everything that goes into it.

Anybody who expected more at this point, given the reality of the situation, was setting themselves up for unhappiness, IMO (which may be exactly what you're saying, in fairness to you).

You were expecting a barely over .500 team from the guy that was supposed to turn the program back around?! you are the most easily pleased human alive.

 

[GMUgemini]

You were expecting a barely over .500 team from the guy that was supposed to turn the program back around?! you are the most easily pleased human alive.

It could be worse? We could have hired Jeff Neubauer?

I think anyone who isn't disappointed at how this past season unfolded is being a little disingenuous.

 

[Herndon]

It could be worse? We could have hired Jeff Neubauer?

I think anyone who isn't disappointed at how this past season unfolded is being a little disingenuous.

Meh? 2 of your 6 best players get hurt, and your senior leader has a terrible regression, and we go 11-7 in conference?

I'll take it.

Honestly, I'll a program that averages 11-7 in conference for the forseeable future. If we are within 2 games of 11-7 every year (some years going .500, some years going 13-5), with the current level of support from the administration, to me that's good enough.

There is no reason that Mason deserves to be better than 11-7 in the A10 right now. There is no structural reason to expect more.

 

[GMUgemini]

Meh? 2 of your 6 best players get hurt, and your senior leader has a terrible regression, and we go 11-7 in conference?

I'll take it.

Honestly, I'll a program that averages 11-7 in conference for the forseeable future. If we are within 2 games of 11-7 every year (some years going .500, some years going 13-5), with the current level of support from the administration, to me that's good enough.

There is no reason that Mason deserves to be better than 11-7 in the A10 right now. There is no structural reason to expect more.

Still doesn't explain or excuse the first 3 games of the season. Win those first three games plus make one shot against K-State and I think there'd be a whole lot of good will toward this program right now.

Next year's team can't start off as slow as they did last season or the hounds will be unleashed on poor Actaeon.

 

[patriotchild]

Meh? 2 of your 6 best players get hurt, and your senior leader has a terrible regression, and we go 11-7 in conference?

I'll take it.

Honestly, I'll a program that averages 11-7 in conference for the forseeable future. If we are within 2 games of 11-7 every year (some years going .500, some years going 13-5), with the current level of support from the administration, to me that's good enough.

There is no reason that Mason deserves to be better than 11-7 in the A10 right now. There is no structural reason to expect more.

Agree with a lot of this. Also seeing what DP has accomplished with a vastly undermanned team compared to the rest of the A10 gives me hope for a brighter future.

We have to either vastly overachieve (missed that opportunity last year) to start drawing interest from recruits again or significantly change the way he’s pitching kids and building the roster (the good kid culture might have to go) and take some more chances on athletes or transfers that aren’t injury plagued.

I’m not convinced that changing levels of funding etc. Really will have much impact at this point with DP.

 

[Falco]

Winning percentage of Mason coaches in their first 4 years.
Paulsen: .492
Hewit: .496
Larranaga: .555
Westhead: .352
Nestor: .504
Barnes: .667 (1 Season)
Harrington: .546

Winning Percentages of DP's Predecessors and Successors.

Bucknell:
PF 56.5
DP: .588
ND: .664

Mason:
PH: .496
DP: 492
I can't find the coaches for Williams College, and who cares its DIII.

Paulsen is like a used Impala. Its fine, but who wants it.

 

[GMUgemini]

You guys obviously have never been to Compton...

 

[Herndon]

@patriotchild That's an interesting take. Why would you be of the opinion that providing more resources would have little effect?

Is it because you are saying that Paulsen's pitch is essentially unrelated two things like facilities and resources?

 

[patriotchild]

@patriotchild That's an interesting take. Why would you be of the opinion that providing more resources would have little effect?

Is it because you are saying that Paulsen's pitch is essentially unrelated two things like facilities and resources?

I think current upgrades put us on a similar level with most A10 and above schools, but given that paulsen is looking for something very specific in his recruits the flashiness of facilities etc. doesn’t seem to match up. If a kid isn’t buying what paulsen is selling all the upgrades in the world won’t matter.

Now that, in theory, we have a solid base, e.g. arena, band, and practice facility, what else do we need to have for recruiting purposes that would really seal the deal?

And that’s a genuine question, what else do we need to do from a facilities standpoint? Until we start winning games I can really justify more for the sake of saying we have more.