A-10 Previews

[sleeperpick]

Because David Cox has a ton of contacts in the DC AAU scene?

But a team based in DC area can’t land any of these kids?

 

[GMUgemini]

But a team based in DC area can’t land any of these kids?

Tons of locals spread around the a10. St. Joes, URI, Dayton, Bona...

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

When two of the most stable, fair, and intelligent posters on the boards (GMUgemini and GMUTom) start completely turning, you know change is sorely needed.

 

[gmujim92]

But a team based in DC area can’t land any of these kids?

When said team has been in the crapper for a decade, no.

Look at Jeff Dowtin. Paulsen was the first to offer him, but URI was coming off an NCAA appearance under Hurley and Cox and had a loaded team coming back. Hard to argue he made a bad decision if winning matters.

 

[mkaufman1]

When two of the most stable, fair, and intelligent posters on the boards (GMUgemini and GMUTom) start completely turning, you know change is sorely needed.

It feels a lot like year 3 of Hewitt. 75-80% of the crowd is ready for a change, and 20-25% is holding out hope

 

[GMUgemini]

When said team has been in the crapper for a decade, no.

Look at Jeff Dowtin. Paulsen was the first to offer him, but URI was coming off an NCAA appearance under Hurley and Cox and had a loaded team coming back. Hard to argue he made a bad decision if winning matters.

R.J. Blakney hurt a lot more than Dowtin, someone who didn't like his offers (us included) reopened his recruiting and wound up choosing Dayton.

 

[gmutom]

It feels a lot like year 3 of Hewitt. 75-80% of the crowd is ready for a change, and 20-25% is holding out hope

My name is Tom, and I defended Hewitt way too long. Part of my 12-step program has been apologizing individually to anybody I offended in my irrational defense (both here and in person). The ironic thing is I didn't even like the guy personally. I found him to be aloof, disinterested, and the polar opposite of Coach L. Part of my since-debunked argument was naively believing he could overcome his coaching deficiencies by recruiting better players. I was dead wrong. We ended up with a hodgepodge of athletes with no direction.

But some of my rationale was also not wanting to face the reality that firing him likely meant a mass player exodus and starting over. And that's essentially what happened when Porter, Jackson, Lockett and incoming recruit Gilbert moved on. I know in his heart that Jim — who is actually a nice guy — really thinks Paulsen can right the ship; but I also think part of him realizes the reality that firing Dave could lead to another list of defections and starting over once again.

And that's the stubborn part I completely understand. The hard decision for Edwards is determining if it's best to rip off the Band Aid after this season or to delay the inevitable and do it after next season. It really is a no-win situation, but he does need to address it with fans one way or the other; because our biggest opponent isn't on the court but the apathy with our quickly-dwindling fanbase.

 

[mkaufman1]

My name is Tom, and I defended Hewitt way too long. Part of my 12-step program has been apologizing individually to anybody I offended in my irrational defense (both here and in person). The ironic thing is I didn't even like the guy personally. I found him to be aloof, disinterested, and the polar opposite of Coach L. Part of my since-debunked argument was naively believing he could overcome his coaching deficiencies by recruiting better players. I was dead wrong. We ended up with a hodgepodge of athletes with no direction.

But some of my rationale was also not wanting to face the reality that firing him likely meant a mass player exodus and starting over. And that's essentially what happened when Porter, Jackson, Lockett and incoming recruit Gilbert moved on. I know in his heart that Jim — who is actually a nice guy — really thinks Paulsen can right the ship; but I also think part of him realizes the reality that firing Dave could lead to another list of defections and starting over once again.

And that's the stubborn part I completely understand. The hard decision for Edwards is determining if it's best to rip off the Band Aid after this season or to delay the inevitable and do it after next season. It really is a no-win situation, but he does need to address it with fans one way or the other; because our biggest opponent isn't on the court but the apathy with our quickly-dwindling fanbase.

Much respect always Tom.

 

[GMUgemini]

I understand not wanting to start over, but if you get the hire right, the rebuild doesn't have to take that long (look at Longergan, look at Dambrot). If you fire him after this season, you have a bunch of juniors and seniors on the roster who might not want to sit a year just to play one or two somewhere else. You'll probably lose AJ and some of the younger guys, but also a good coach convinces some of those guys to stick around.

Paulsen lost Hewitt's entire recruiting class plus Lockett (who already sat out a year and had to sit another one), Isaiah Jackson, and Trey Porter, the same was not true when Hewitt took over. We lost Hancock, but the core of that team stuck around, including all of Larranaga's recruits (Corey Edwards and Vaughan Gray).

The danger is you get the hire wrong and we go from mediocre to Fordham level.

 

[Pablo]

I understand not wanting to start over, but if you get the hire right

What is the confidence level that Edwards will get it right?

 

[Patriotsince81]

If we were to hire a top notch ACC assistant, for example, the possibility exists that he would bring along some of "his" guys. Highly likely? Probably not. Within the realm of possibilities? Absolutely.

 

[mkaufman1]

What is the confidence level that Edwards will get it right?

Personally, I don’t think Edwards will get a chance at a second basketball hire for men’s basketball. If he thinks Dave isn’t going to last, and with a new President, he’d probably be better off going elsewhere for his own sake.

 

[G M U]

If we were to hire a top notch ACC assistant, for example, the possibility exists that he would bring along some of "his" guys. Highly probable? Probably not. Within the realm of possibilities? Absolutely.

#Caputo2021

 

[Patriotsince81]

What is the confidence level that Edwards will get it right?

I think it will depend on how many people are actually expressing their concerns. It will also depend on how the concerns are being expressed. He has to know that attendance is down. As a former pro athlete I would hope that he wants to win and at the highest level possible. If he is satisfied with what we have become then he shouldn't be an AD.

 

[gmujim92]

I understand not wanting to start over, but if you get the hire right, the rebuild doesn't have to take that long (look at Longergan, look at Dambrot). If you fire him after this season, you have a bunch of juniors and seniors on the roster who might not want to sit a year just to play one or two somewhere else. You'll probably lose AJ and some of the younger guys, but also a good coach convinces some of those guys to stick around.

Paulsen lost Hewitt's entire recruiting class plus Lockett (who already sat out a year and had to sit another one), Isaiah Jackson, and Trey Porter, the same was not true when Hewitt took over. We lost Hancock, but the core of that team stuck around, including all of Larranaga's recruits (Corey Edwards and Vaughan Gray).

The danger is you get the hire wrong and we go from mediocre to Fordham level.

If there’s a slam-dunk hire available who would be a no-brainer instant upgrade, I could see making a move now. If it’s a good enough hire, the new coach conceivably could keep the team and recruiting class together.

But based on Mason’s history, I have almost no faith that we would either be able to identify that no-brainer hire or afford to pay him if we did.

At that point you’re just hoping the next guy is better. And the reality is we could do a lot worse.

 

[Pablo]

I think it will depend on how many people are actually expressing their concerns. It will also depend on how the concerns are being expressed. He has to know that attendance is down. As a former pro athlete I would hope that he wants to win and at the highest level possible. If he is satisfied with what we have become then he shouldn't be an AD.

I was talking about the selection of the next coach, not whether it's time to replace Paulsen.

 

[Patriotsince81]

#Caputo2021

Chris Caputo is in his ninth season with the Hurricanes and his 18th season on head coach Jim Larrañaga’s staff for the 2019-20 campaign. He has worked 13 seasons as an assistant coach, with his primary responsibilities including recruiting and scouting the opposition. In May 2015, Caputo was elevated to associate head coach at Miami, and also took on the role as the team's defensive coordinator.
In his eight seasons at The U, Caputo has coached the Hurricanes to four NCAA appearances - including two Sweet 16 nods - the 2013 ACC regular season and ACC Tournament titles and the 2015 NIT Championship game. He has helped the Hurricanes to three 25-win seasons and a national ranking as high as No. 2.

Caputo, in a CBS Sports poll of over 100 college coaches released August 2017, was ranked as one of the three assistants in college basketball most likely to become a coaching star someday, garnering 10.2 percent of the vote. In November 2019, Caputo was listed by Yarbarker as one of 10 college basketball assistant coaches on the rise.

 

[By George.]

When said team has been in the crapper for a decade, no.

Look at Jeff Dowtin. Paulsen was the first to offer him, but URI was coming off an NCAA appearance under Hurley and Cox and had a loaded team coming back. Hard to argue he made a bad decision if winning matters.

Paulsen and Dowtin hugged after the game, I don’t think Paulsens recruiting issues are due to effort. I believe we have some A-10 caliber players, just not sure we’ve developed them well or use them properly at times.

 

[GMUgemini]

If there’s a slam-dunk hire available who would be a no-brainer instant upgrade, I could see making a move now. If it’s a good enough hire, the new coach conceivably could keep the team and recruiting class together.

But based on Mason’s history, I have almost no faith that we would either be able to identify that no-brainer hire or afford to pay him if we did.

At that point you’re just hoping the next guy is better. And the reality is we could do a lot worse.

I'm actually fairly confident that Edwards could find someone better. He swung for Russell Turner first and we almost landed him, before his wife stopped it. Russell's record at UC Irvine (which is in a similar boat to us: recruiting hotbed, but a mid-major sandwiched between some really big programs -- USC, UCLA, San Diego State) certainly points to what he could have done here at Mason were he to have taken the job.

He's done a pretty good job with some of the other hires he's made (lacrosse and men's volleyball especially, the recent men's soccer hire looks promising).

 

[gmubrian]

My name is Tom, and I defended Hewitt way too long. Part of my 12-step program has been apologizing individually to anybody I offended in my irrational defense (both here and in person).

I wasn't the first, but I was definitely one of the more vocal (with my actions) proponents of getting rid of Hewitt and I don't believe I ever received my individual apology. Not looking for one, but just pointing it out so you don't fail your 12 step program. ;-)