Countdown to the End of the Coach Hewitt Era

[Vurbel]

Me, too. Guys like Lockett, Mayimba, Jenkins and Royal don't want to sit out another year, so I'm pretty confident they will all return unless they take advantage of some NCAA loophole. I know some people have given up on Royal, but I really think he can be still be effective given the right coaching and system.

One thing that does give me a sliver of hope about the future was talking to Lamar Butler recently about Lockett and Mayimba. He had great things to say about both players, especially their desire to be great defensively.

The only players that realistically might transfer are Marquise and Jackson.

No seniors will leave (Patrick, Marco).
No transfers will leave (Shevon, Tate).
Nobody who has sat out before (Jenkins, Royal, Lockett, Mayimba)
I doubt Porter will leave being local.

I'd hate to lose Marquise and Jackson, but I'd hate even more to have another 20 loss season.

 

[Walter]

I predict a press conference will be held on Monday to announce Hewitt's resignation. Even a win against Richmond will not change Hewitt's fate. If the school waits until the end of February it looks like they are just bailing to avoid the $85k. So they do it now.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I have to think transfering isn't as easy as everyone makes it out to be. First you're giving up a free education w/out any guarantee of where you'll land. You have to hope another coach will not only see you as a fit on his team (skills, position, attitude, etc.) but also willing to burn a scholarship for a year to allow you to sit on the bench.

You also have to look at the academic side - do the other schools offer your major, will all your credits transfer, is the quality /prestige of education I'll receive equivalent to the one I'm currently at.

Then there's the social angle. Is there a girlfriend in the picture? Teammates? Friends? etc.

On top of all that, the new coach is going to come in and try to sell them on how the their future is going to be brighter now if he'll just stick around.

 

[TwoFootTackle]

I get the sense that Lockett is a pretty upbeat guy. It may be a way of rallying his teammates after a stinker of a performance. While we like to read deeper meaning into it, it may be looking no further than the next game. Something like, "as bad as we played against Davidson, we'll be better against Richmond."

Considering college kids, you're probably correct that he's probably just expressing his faith in what the future will bring.

 

[TwoFootTackle]

Are the transfer rules any different for a player whose coach has left then for a player who just wants to switch schools? In other words, would Mason players still have to sit out a year at another school if Hewitt leaves?

 

[99 Patriot]

Agreed on the transfer situation. The other thing to consider is our recent past transfers have either left because they didn't get PT or to make a significant move up. No bigtime schools are going to be swooning over players from a 2-win A-10 club (Shevon a possible exception). Yes, there might be offers to be had, but Pitino is not going to come knocking.

Also, virtually everyone on our roster has had an equal opportunity to play this year, so I can't imagine anyone is bitter about their minutes. Hopefully the guys realize that the biggest change needed not just for Mason, but for themselves, is a change at the top.

 

[Pablo]

Are the transfer rules any different for a player whose coach has left then for a player who just wants to switch schools? In other words, would Mason players still have to sit out a year at another school if Hewitt leaves?

Yes, they would have to sit out a year (even if Hewitt leaves) if they transfer to another D-I school unless they graduate with eligibility remaining. This could possibly apply to Royal's situation.

 

[gmujim92]

If you guys don't think many bigger programs will come calling on Shevon if Hewitt is fired, you're kidding yourselves.

As a JUCO, he didn't have to sit out a year after transferring from Harcum to Mason, so he still has 2 more years to play 1 season after this one. Thus, redshirt remains an option.

He has plus athleticism, long arms and good feet at a legit 6-11. He's also a relentless rebounder who's averaging a double-double in his first year of Division I basketball.

He's a legit NBA prospect, especially considering the dearth of real centers these days. What he needs more than anything is more time to develop his game and improve all the little fundamental weaknesses we've seen this season.

Looking at it objectively, it could be in his best interest to take next season as a redshirt, get stronger, work hard with a big-man coach and play his senior season for a big-time program with the profile to make him a lottery pick.

Obviously I don't want that to happen, but I wouldn't blame him one bit if he decided to go in that direction -- especially if the coach who recruited him gets the ax.

 

[Pablo]

I get the sense that Lockett is a pretty upbeat guy. It may be a way of rallying his teammates after a stinker of a performance. While we like to read deeper meaning into it, it may be looking no further than the next game. Something like, "as bad as we played against Davidson, we'll be better against Richmond."

I wasn't trying to imply that the players' tweets were endorsing this thread. But, it does appear to me that the team's frustration mirrors how we feel on this board. I've been a season ticket holder for a long time, and I really believe that the body language of the coaches and players at the Davidson game was worse than anything I have ever seen in the program.

Now, I'm not putting all of the blame on Paul Hewitt. But, I can't imagine how the school could possibly justify retaining him for a 5th season.

 

[99 Patriot]

If you guys don't think many bigger programs will come calling on Shevon if Hewitt is fired, you're kidding yourselves.

As a JUCO, he didn't have to sit out a year after transferring from Harcum to Mason, so he still has 2 more years to play 1 season after this one. Thus, redshirt remains an option.

He has plus athleticism, long arms and good feet at a legit 6-11. He's also a relentless rebounder who's averaging a double-double in his first year of Division I basketball.

He's a legit NBA prospect, especially considering the dearth of real centers these days. What he needs more than anything is more time to develop his game and improve all the little fundamental weaknesses we've seen this season.

Looking at it objectively, it could be in his best interest to take next season as a redshirt, get stronger, work hard with a big-man coach and play his senior season for a big-time program with the profile to make him a lottery pick.

Obviously I don't want that to happen, but I wouldn't blame him one bit if he decided to go in that direction -- especially if the coach who recruited him gets the ax.

Completely agree, but with him already showing up on draft boards, what kid is going to delay that paycheck for 2 more years? Plenty of projects get drafted and stashed in the D-League for a year or two while collecting a nice paycheck. If he were to not return I'd bet on that before I'd bet on him sitting out a year to develop.

 

[gmutom]

Completely agree, but with him already showing up on draft boards, what kid is going to delay that paycheck for 2 more years?

Not to mention it lengthens the window in which he could sustain an injury that could affect his draft status. As much as I understand Jim's argument, this kid is going to get better next year regardless of who is coaching him. And it's not like he's going to be facing significantly lesser competition if he stays in the A10.

 

[MasonFanatic]

It certainly makes sense that a junior like Holloway would be frustrated to see his career slipping away, while a freshman like Lockett would be more optimistic.

 

[Walter]

Shevon is going to fall into the lap of our new coach. New coach will be able to win instantly. Will be seen as a guy who quickly turned around a disaster.

Line up hot up-and-coming coaches, applications being accepted now.

 

[Vurbel]

It certainly makes sense that a junior like Holloway would be frustrated to see his career slipping away, while a freshman like Lockett would be more optimistic.

Lockett is optimistic that his career is slipping away?

 

[Pablo]

If you guys don't think many bigger programs will come calling on Shevon if Hewitt is fired, you're kidding yourselves.

As a JUCO, he didn't have to sit out a year after transferring from Harcum to Mason, so he still has 2 more years to play 1 season after this one. Thus, redshirt remains an option.

He has plus athleticism, long arms and good feet at a legit 6-11. He's also a relentless rebounder who's averaging a double-double in his first year of Division I basketball.

He's a legit NBA prospect, especially considering the dearth of real centers these days. What he needs more than anything is more time to develop his game and improve all the little fundamental weaknesses we've seen this season.

Looking at it objectively, it could be in his best interest to take next season as a redshirt, get stronger, work hard with a big-man coach and play his senior season for a big-time program with the profile to make him a lottery pick.

Obviously I don't want that to happen, but I wouldn't blame him one bit if he decided to go in that direction -- especially if the coach who recruited him gets the ax.

As much as I want Shevon to stay, he needs to do what's best for him and his family. At this point, I'm not sure if he would be more likely to leave if Hewitt is fired.

 

[Vurbel]

As much as I want Shevon to stay, he needs to do what's best for him and his family. At this point, I'm not sure if he would be more likely to leave if Hewitt is fired.

While it would be best for us personally for him to stay, it really is what is best for him and his family. It would be selfish of me not to support him.

 

[Pablo]

Since joining the A10, Hewitt's overall and conference records are 18-36 & 6-21, respectively. During this period, Mason is 0-5 in overtime games.

How can Mason possibly justify retaining him for a 5th season?

 

[mkaufman1]

Since joining the A10, Hewitt's overall and conference records are 18-36 & 6-21, respectively. During this period, Mason is 0-5 in overtime games.

How can Mason possibly justify retaining him for a 5th season?

If one wants to break that down further:

Since starting 4-0 last year, Mason is 14 and 36. Of those 14 wins, how many have been flukey or barely a win? How many losses have had epic meltdowns?

The stats don't lie and the justification is there. We just have to sit back and wait.

 

[gmujim92]

Completely agree, but with him already showing up on draft boards, what kid is going to delay that paycheck for 2 more years? Plenty of projects get drafted and stashed in the D-League for a year or two while collecting a nice paycheck. If he were to not return I'd bet on that before I'd bet on him sitting out a year to develop.

I get what you're saying, but the extra time in college could wind up making a huge difference for a raw athlete who's only been playing organized basketball for 4-5 years.

Could he stay at Mason next year, improve dramatically under a new coach and put up good enough numbers to get picked in the first round? Certainly.

But he still has so much to learn about the basics of basketball. He has zero post moves. By taking a year off, it's conceivable that he turns himself into a lottery pick and sets himself up for life with a huge guaranteed contract.

Of course for selfish reasons I want him to stay. Having him go to the NBA from Mason would be a huge help to the new regime's rebuilding effort. Is that in his best interest? I don't know about that.

 

[99 Patriot]

Not sure a lot of 23 year olds are taken in the lottery. You're right about development, but especially with the D-league becoming more of a minor leagues for the NBA, teams draft on potential as much or more than they do on talent.