2019 Recruiting

[Falco]

This is disconcerting, especially considering what St. Joes has been able to slap together in less time than Grayer officially announcing he was leaving. Not sure why Paulsen can’t convince so few to commit to Mason, considering there has been very few established lineups since coming here.

For starters the A10 is weak. 2nd the team hasn’t made the tourney since 2011.

 

[sleeperpick]

I’m not saying I’m 100% satisfied with the recruiting class nor roster. At some point, you just have to start to focus your efforts elsewhere.

The question is: who is left out there for Mason? Is it more likely that we waste resources than find 1 last good fit?

3.5 star transfer from Gonzaga just committed to St Joe's... sit one play 3.... other A10 teams are having success this late...

 

[sleeperpick]

Wake up people... If Lasalle, Duquesne, St Joe's (new coach) can do it no way we shouldn't be able to.... Yes we are not vcu, Davidson, Dayton..... but we aren't even competing well in recruiting with the low tier A10 teams... wake up

 

[Masonfan3]

Wake up people... If Lasalle, Duquesne, St Joe's (new coach) can do it no way we shouldn't be able to.... Yes we are not vcu, Davidson, Dayton..... but we aren't even competing well in recruiting with the low tier A10 teams... wake up

I agree with you but "wake up" and do what exactly? I don't know what else we can do except donate more (or less) or let the administration know our frustration. I already tried the latter and BE is just as oblivious as some of our fans. The only thing I don't want to see is it taken out on the players because they deserve our full support as long as they show up and play hard.

 

[sleeperpick]

I agree with you but "wake up" and do what exactly? I don't know what else we can do except donate more (or less) or let the administration know our frustration. I already tried the latter and BE is just as oblivious as some of our fans. The only thing I don't want to see is it taken out on the players because they deserve our full support as long as they show up and play hard.

great point... I just renewed my seats and will still donate the same amount as last year... not sure what we need to do when the administration is happy, third of the fans are ecstatic with Paulsen because they suffer from Stockholm syndrome... so I agree idk what we should do as a fanbase for a team that deserves more.

 

[GSII]

Bc being mediocre is less work.

 

[GSII]

I agree with you but "wake up" and do what exactly? I don't know what else we can do except donate more (or less) or let the administration know our frustration. I already tried the latter and BE is just as oblivious as some of our fans. The only thing I don't want to see is it taken out on the players because they deserve our full support as long as they show up and play hard.

BE isnt gonna say anything to cross his bball coach or any coach. Which means whatever complaint u have about DP is registered but not acknowledged.

 

[Masonfan3]

BE isnt gonna say anything to cross his bball coach or any coach. Which means whatever complaint u have about DP is registered but not acknowledged.

Oh, I fully expected him to defend DP (or at least not "cross" him) but the response I received was loaded with excuses, bashing of the previous coach/AD, and even a little bit of negativity about the players who transferred a couple years ago.

 

[Patriot8]

What are the current selling points for this basketball program for recruits, fans, and corporate partners?
What can a coach point to on a recruiting visit?
How are new ticket plan holders being attracted?
Why would a business choose to sponsor us over the options in the area?

 

[GMUgemini]

Oh, I fully expected him to defend DP (or at least not "cross" him) but the response I received was loaded with excuses, bashing of the previous coach/AD, and even a little bit of negativity about the players who transferred a couple years ago.

Pretty surprised he emailed you back with such specificity. I might send an email if the OOC goes as poorly this time around as last season...I’m still cautiously optimistic that our roster can put together a halfway decent, at least NIT worthy, season if none of our top 7 inexplicably disappears or gets seriously injured.

 

[GMU1983]

Pretty surprised he emailed you back with such specificity. I might send an email if the OOC goes as poorly this time around as last season...I’m still cautiously optimistic that our roster can put together a halfway decent, at least NIT worthy, season if none of our top 7 inexplicably disappears or gets seriously injured.

I cannot see that....calixte as our 5? I luv the kid and he is good defensively but we cannot play thru him for offense.

 

[Masonfan3]

Pretty surprised he emailed you back with such specificity. I might send an email if the OOC goes as poorly this time around as last season...I’m still cautiously optimistic that our roster can put together a halfway decent, at least NIT worthy, season if none of our top 7 inexplicably disappears or gets seriously injured.

Yes, I was a little surprised with the response I received. Fully expected a generic response so I have to give him a little credit for taking the time to give me some specificity. He sounded like a man that is tired and has probably received a lot of emails expressing concern in the program. The bashing of Hewitt was interesting, but what really surprised me is him saying that the players that transferred "didn’t want to practice at that tempo, I suspect were tampered with, or just simply didn’t want to go to class and follow basic rules."

 

[GMUgemini]

I cannot see that....calixte as our 5? I luv the kid and he is good defensively but we cannot play thru him for offense.

Shouldn’t have to. You are going to have at least three guys attacking the basket from the perimeter and if he can clear space and make himself an outlet on the closeout, he’ll be fine offensively. No need to dump the ball into the post and expect him to create his own offense.

 

[gmutom]

This is disconcerting, especially considering what St. Joes has been able to slap together in less time than Grayer officially announcing he was leaving. Not sure why Paulsen can’t convince so few to commit to Mason, considering there has been very few established lineups since coming here.

I like Dave personally and think he's a solid coach. He's been great at finding diamonds in the rough, and he has been good at coaching players up. But we also have to be realistic about the successes he's had: Moore, Jenkins and Thompson were recruited by his predecessor; Otis and Grayer were late discoveries with limited offers; Boyd was a great football player looking to play basketball; and Kier was overlooked by the university in own backyard. Some of that is great recruiting; most of it is luck.

What concerns me is all of the misses and the lack of talent evaluation. Attrition aside (he gets a pass for having to fill the roster the first two years), one could argue that Miller was the second best player on our team last year after Kier — but somehow Dave didn't even realize it before pulling his redshirt status due to injuries. Even if Grayer and Marr were healthy, how could DP not see this kid was ready from Day 1?

The key to being a great coach isn't just finding the kids nobody else wants and making them better. The key is swiping heralded recruits out from other top-tier A10 teams and even a few P5 schools. When is Dave going to win those battles? What I fear the most is a disconnect between him and the upper-echelon players. Something is not resonating. Not only are they not coming here, but he couldn't even convince current players/commits like Lockett, Porter, Jackson or Gilbert to stay.

The excuses really need to stop this year. He recruited every player on this team, and he now has a dedicated practice facility with new locker rooms and meeting space. Like I said, I like Dave. For us and him, I hope he makes this work.

 

[PDGL Hoops]

We should 'Run the System.' That will get the top recruits in here.....140 points a game, no defense, etc. Those were the days.....

 

[GSII]

We should 'Run the System.' That will get the top recruits in here.....140 points a game, no defense, etc. Those were the days.....

drugs, knives, and whores too.

 

[Falco]

The bashing of Hewitt was interesting, but what really surprised me is him saying that the players that transferred "didn’t want to practice at that tempo, I suspect were tampered with, or just simply didn’t want to go to class and follow basic rules."

This response reinforces my theory. DP over works his players. The team is exhausted by the end of the season. His teams start the season slow too. They are over worked in the off-season as well.

 

[Mason2005]

Lok almost picked us but went with the other green team, Oregon

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[p8triotfan4life]

Oh well, at least he didn't pick St. Joe's.

https://twitter.com/LokWur4/status/1141001708425895942

 

[The Great PATSby]

This response reinforces my theory. DP over works his players. The team is exhausted by the end of the season. His teams start the season slow too. They are over worked in the off-season as well.

I've had the same thoughts as well. Seems like they get burnt out midway. It could also be contributing to a lot of the injuries too. I just feel like DP's players have been battling more injuries/nagging pain compared to the last 2 regime's rosters. Even in their off days they're heavily involved in community volunteering stuff too. Stop forcing them to read to Fairfax Mom's students for cookies!