A-10 Previews

[Pablo]

[QUOTE="GMUgemini, post: 122818, member: 9"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).[/QUOTE]

I agree, although this is the lacrosse coach's final season - https://gomason.com/news/2020/1/27/...ason-tenure-at-conclusion-of-2020-season.aspx.

But, as we all know, the men's basketball head coaching position is what defines the success or failure of Mason's AD.

 

[mkaufman1]

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.

#shaka2mason

 

[gmutom]

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. ;-)

Noted. A case of Cherry Coke has been shipped to your house with my sincerest of apologies.

 

[dr. gunnie]

If we were to make a change, I feel like our position now is much more attractive than it was before Dave. We are in a better position on the court and a much better position off the court. With our facilities upgraded, the new coach will have more tools to work with.

I will say this until I'm blue in the face, I know the usual names will be thrown out there - the ones that have ties to Mason already. I want the best person for the job. I don't think hiring someone just because they used to be here is the way to go unless they are the best person for the job.

I would be intrigued (not saying this is who I want, just intrigued) with Glenn Farello. I don't see why a guy who has built a powerhouse in high school couldn't work for college - especially at a private school where he's had to recruit (albeit under different rules). Who else would be better to pick a staff of recruiters than a guy who has seen just about every coach in the country come through his doors to pitch his players? He might have zero interest in a job like Mason's, but I would certainly be interested in reaching out to him.

 

[G M U]

If we were to make a change, I feel like our position now is much more attractive than it was before Dave. We are in a better position on the court and a much better position off the court. With our facilities upgraded, the new coach will have more tools to work with.

I will say this until I'm blue in the face, I know the usual names will be thrown out there - the ones that have ties to Mason already. I want the best person for the job. I don't think hiring someone just because they used to be here is the way to go unless they are the best person for the job.

I would be intrigued (not saying this is who I want, just intrigued) with Glenn Farello. I don't see why a guy who has built a powerhouse in high school couldn't work for college - especially at a private school where he's had to recruit (albeit under different rules). Who else would be better to pick a staff of recruiters than a guy who has seen just about every coach in the country come through his doors to pitch his players? He might have zero interest in a job like Mason's, but I would certainly be interested in reaching out to him.

I think a Caputo type hire appeases both those who want a fresh new face with new ideas and combo's in the Coach L roots and history of the past. If Coach L was our god, this is essentially god's right hand man. He'd also be familiar with the area and has always had a knack for recruiting (Recruited NBA products from 2016-2019). He'd also be far cheaper than an established coach. The Mason ties for me also means there's a connection to the school and the program and MAYBE he doesn't immediately run to a P5 school if offered. Shaka had a deep connection with vcu and stayed 1-2 seasons longer because of it.

Maybe Caputo brings back a Shane Larkin type recruit that Miami stole from us.

 

[gmutom]

My hunch with Caputo is he is hoping to be the heir apparent to Larranaga at Miami when he retires, which might be pretty soon given his recent struggles physically and on the court.

 

[GSII]

Knight never even visited Mason. Stop making stuff up.

Who cares if he visited or not. I know he was coming to play for Hewitt and was willing to listen to new regime as well. I think Lil Dave liked Dixon more.
I am willing to bet you any amount of money that Knight held an offer from Hewitt that Diet Dew Dude pulled upon arriving at Mason. After Fischer arrived at W&M, Knight did not want to play for Fischer, until Fischer explained it wasn't him that pulled his Mason offer, and convinced him to not transfer. Convincing a Junior is probably easier I guess.

https://www.syracuse.com/collegebas...nate_knight_announces_his_college_choice.html

 

[Falco]

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.

Bring a big name and they will stay and honestly is it the worst thing if they decide to transfer? We could upgrade at every position.

 

[Falco]

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.

I would not be surprised if Coach L retires and Caputo takes over.

Ideally I would like to see Coach L retire and become Mason’s next AD

 

[psyclone]

Duq down 3 to Dayton 43 sec left

 

[psyclone]

cbssn

 

[psyclone]

2 pts with 25 sec left

Dayton ball

 

[psyclone]

Toppin swishes 2 fts

 

[FreeGunston12]

I would not be surprised if Coach L retires and Caputo takes over.

Ideally I would like to see Coach L retire and become Mason’s next AD

I've heard you say this a lot.

1- have you seen coach L lately?
2- what makes you think he wants to be an AD, and start a new career at his age?
3- have you SEEN coach L lately?

 

[psyclone]

Dayton wins by 4. Really good game. Dayton once led in the second half by 19. Duquesne then went on a 19-4 run.

Obi had 4 dunks, some spectacular. But Dayton gave up many second chance pts to Dukes. And at least 4 turnovers on "home run" passes looking for Obi jams.

 

[GMUgemini]

Good god, GW-Davidson going to 4OT!!!!

 

[GMUgemini]

GW wins, which means our spot in the PIG gets more probable. Got to beat out UMass, basically, to stay out of it.

 

[Falco]

I've heard you say this a lot.

1- have you seen coach L lately?
2- what makes you think he wants to be an AD, and start a new career at his age?
3- have you SEEN coach L lately?

Fair haha. But I would imaging coaching is a lot more taxing of the body than being an AD.

But yah, he looks really tired.

 

[jessej]

I was at the GWU-Davidson game last nite
(I have partial season tix to GMU, GWU, GT)

and I may be wrong but when I line up
GMU vs GWU by player
GMU seems to be better
but GMU is not winning in league while GWU is at .500 and starting 3 freshman

but there must be some intangibles that GMU is missing
last nite's game was close
The key was when Toure - a starter last year under a different coach - made is first entrance into the game in OT
the freshman center had missed 3 of 4 foul shots which could have put the game away

and it is something as simple as a stolen rebound, center tapping a rebound out to a guard, etc, etc
or did the soft OOC schedule hurt in terms of the league schedule?

 

[GMUgemini]

I was at the GWU-Davidson game last nite
(I have partial season tix to GMU, GWU, GT)

and I may be wrong but when I line up
GMU vs GWU by player
GMU seems to be better
but GMU is not winning in league while GWU is at .500 and starting 3 freshman

but there must be some intangibles that GMU is missing
last nite's game was close
The key was when Toure - a starter last year under a different coach - made is first entrance into the game in OT
the freshman center had missed 3 of 4 foul shots which could have put the game away

and it is something as simple as a stolen rebound, center tapping a rebound out to a guard, etc, etc
or did the soft OOC schedule hurt in terms of the league schedule?

I started watching at the 3OT mark, so obviously everyone was tired by then on both sides of the ball, but two things I noticed on GW's end -- effort, specifically aggressively guarding and closing out on shooters. They gave JAG zero room to work, so yeah, he scored 31 points, but he took 29 shots to get those points. And the second thing is, they were using Battle's 3-point ability to clear the lane for their guards, and Davidson had to defend him out there.

I remember when we played GW, Paar sat in the middle of the paint about halfway to the FT line and didn't have to guard a single person, just sit there clogging the paint, because he didn't have to worry about our 5th player at all. On the other side of the ball, Potter got to the rim at will against us.

Not much we can do about the second thing, but it would be nice to see some more effort on the defensive side of the ball for 40 minutes (and screw it, if you have to foul, foul, but foul with intention and put some fear in the other team, not these lazy reach ins).