A-10 Previews

[Mason32]

One of them also mentioned that DP's coaching style is so weird that Tony Skinn (who loves Mason) would not entertain the idea of coaching with him at Mason.

You mean playing defense?

 

[Masonfan3]

You mean playing defense?

Not really sure what you mean? Hope you aren't implying that Tony didn't play defense as he was one of the better on the ball defenders I have seen come through Mason.

 

[Masonfan3]

I know you wont out your friend, but who said it? hahah

Haha, not going to do it. Honestly, I have known these guys for 15-20 years and this was the first time I have heard them say anything remotely negative about the program. For those who might be wondering, during my conversation they also mentioned Hewitt's lack of coaching, but I think we are all in agreement there.

 

[Mason32]

Not really sure what you mean? Hope you aren't implying that Tony didn't play defense as he was one of the better on the ball defenders I have seen come through Mason.

No, about Paulsen's "weird" coaching style

 

[ephoops]

Without giving away who it is, I will say that the guys I talked to said most of the teammates they stay in contact with feel the same way. One of them also mentioned that DP's coaching style is so weird that Tony Skinn (who loves Mason) would not entertain the idea of coaching with him at Mason. Not sure if that meant that he was offered/interviewed/asked to interview..

What’s the point of this post?

 

[Masonfan3]

What’s the point of this post?

It was in response to Herndon thinking Butler could be one of the guys I am talking about. I won't confirm or deny that it was him but was making the point that some guys from the most successful period in our programs history question DP's ability at this level. Including someone who really loves Mason and is in the coaching business..

I said it before, I think DP is a good guy but have had doubts about his ability at this level. While I know basketball, I don't pretend to be an expert, especially when it comes to being a coach. The guys I talked to said similar things to what I was thinking and experienced it first hand. I thought it was important to mention Tony Skinn because they talk to him regularly and he said what he said. Thought it was a valid "point" to mention an Alum of the program doesn't want to coach here under this coach...

 

[GSII]

Well its probably true these alums talking about DP probably have zero DI coaching experience. Right?

 

[gmujim92]

It was in response to Herndon thinking Butler could be one of the guys I am talking about. I won't confirm or deny that it was him but was making the point that some guys from the most successful period in our programs history question DP's ability at this level. Including someone who really loves Mason and is in the coaching business..

I said it before, I think DP is a good guy but have had doubts about his ability at this level. While I know basketball, I don't pretend to be an expert, especially when it comes to being a coach. The guys I talked to said similar things to what I was thinking and experienced it first hand. I thought it was important to mention Tony Skinn because they talk to him regularly and he said what he said. Thought it was a valid "point" to mention an Alum of the program doesn't want to coach here under this coach...

Different strokes ... even if we grant that DP isn’t Tony’s cup of tea based on third-hand info, I don’t know that I’m willing to say that makes his coaching style “weird.”

Just as not every recruit would be a good fit for our program, not every assistant would be a good fit for DP. Pretty sure you can say the same for every coach in America.

 

[Masonfan3]

Different strokes ... even if we grant that DP isn’t Tony’s cup of tea based on third-hand info, I don’t know that I’m willing to say that makes his coaching style “weird.”

Just as not every recruit would be a good fit for our program, not every assistant would be a good fit for DP. Pretty sure you can say the same for every coach in America.

You are correct and I will not argue with that.

 

[Masonfan3]

Well its probably true these alums talking about DP probably have zero DI coaching experience. Right?

Well Tony Skinn has a couple years..

 

[Herndon]

I'll confess to being more than a little interested in what a "weird" coaching style is.

Like, I've had a lot of coaches in my life, with a lot of different coaching styles.

"Weird" would never be the term I would use to describe any of them. A coach would have to be pretty weird indeed for me to describe his coaching style thus.

I'm at breakfast laughing thinking about DP in the middle of practice like crying for no reason, or talking about Amway or Mukbangs or something.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Do we really care if DP’s style is “weird”? I only really care if he is winning games and competing in the A-10. Right now, he’s doing an ok job.

There have been some pretty “weird” coaches that have won a lot of basketball games. Phil Jackson comes to mind.

 

[sleeperpick]

I wouldn't call Paulsen's coaching style weird... It is the brand of basketball that all of the 75 year old Mason fans grew up watching on their black and white televisions. Old-fashioned and out of the times maybe but certainly not weird.

 

[gmujim92]

I wouldn't call Paulsen's coaching style weird... It is the brand of basketball that all of the 75 year old Mason fans grew up watching on their black and white televisions. Old-fashioned and out of the times maybe but certainly not weird.

Old fashioned how, exactly?

 

[sleeperpick]

Old fashioned how, exactly?

Won't go into defensively as that is pretty self explanatory since you watch each game intently from your couch

Dribble handoff motion has been his bread and butter since the Williams days...

Motion offenses like that can lull defenses to sleep, but mostly lull fans to sleep out of boredom. Nothing better than watching Reuter get the ball and face up at the elbow last year. Will truly miss that.

I really urge you guys to look up Zac Boisvert (Paulsen's #1 fanboy ever) as his website pickandpop.net is excellent.........

Seems like Boston University used "burn the boats" back in 2008 too.. shame that wasn't an original
http://coachjacksonspages.com/Dave Paulsen motion offens55.pdf

 

[GMUgemini]

Won't go into defensively as that is pretty self explanatory since you watch each game intently from your couch

Dribble handoff motion has been his bread and butter since the Williams days...

Motion offenses like that can lull defenses to sleep, but mostly lull fans to sleep out of boredom. Nothing better than watching Reuter get the ball and face up at the elbow last year. Will truly miss that.

I really urge you guys to look up Zac Boisvert (Paulsen's #1 fanboy ever) as his website pickandpop.net is excellent.........

Seems like Boston University used "burn the boats" back in 2008 too.. shame that wasn't an original
http://coachjacksonspages.com/Dave Paulsen motion offens55.pdf

I mean, you are kind of just describing Tony Bennett's system at UVA. Maybe he uses more post screens than Paulsen does on offense, but it's basically the same motion offense. Paulsen also has seemed to default to the pack line defense that UVA runs the last two years because the high ball pressure man defense was run like trash by the players to start the year and he doesn't seem to like to run any kind of zone as a default defensive set.

Can it be boring? Yeah. Can it be really effective still? Yes.

 

[gmujim92]

Won't go into defensively as that is pretty self explanatory since you watch each game intently from your couch

Dribble handoff motion has been his bread and butter since the Williams days...

Motion offenses like that can lull defenses to sleep, but mostly lull fans to sleep out of boredom. Nothing better than watching Reuter get the ball and face up at the elbow last year. Will truly miss that.

I really urge you guys to look up Zac Boisvert (Paulsen's #1 fanboy ever) as his website pickandpop.net is excellent.........

Seems like Boston University used "burn the boats" back in 2008 too.. shame that wasn't an original
http://coachjacksonspages.com/Dave Paulsen motion offens55.pdf

Motion offense gives the players a ton of freedom to be creative on and off the ball. It’s not like Dave is one of those coaches who has to call a set play and kill the shot clock micromanaging every possession. He even lets the guys run when the opportunity is there.

What offense would you prefer we run?

 

[GSII]

Nothing to do with what DP runs. Everything to do with not beating top level a10 programs on the recruiting trails.

 

[GMUgemini]

Motion offense gives the players a ton of freedom to be creative on and off the ball. It’s not like Dave is one of those coaches who has to call a set play and kill the shot clock micromanaging every possession. He even lets the guys run when the opportunity is there.

What offense would you prefer we run?

To be fair, that freedom can backfire when the players aren’t working together or reading the game well enough. We’ve all seen the motion offense go stagnant and the ball stop moving.

I’ve also wondered why we didn’t do enough down post screens to clear out space under the basket for The multitude of slashers we have on this team. I also know it’s probably partly because we’ve never had two bigs.

 

[FreeGunston12]

3 bid league preview:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2019-20-a10-preview-part-1/id1459413932?i=1000453538222

Not sure who these guys are, but I don’t think they know as much about Mason as they think they do. Wtf are they talking about regarding Jordan Miller? I don’t recall him looking that “bad” at times.