Dave Paulsen

[GMUgemini]

Brian,

I think the roster mess thing gets old because almost all of us have acknowledged it's a problem this year, but complaining about it right now will do nothing.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

This thread should be updated in the title periodically, like (p.99, horse semen) so Paulsen knows when there's some good discussion going on in the thread with his name.

He told me he reads the boards every now and again in his hotel and what not.

 

[NewPatriot]

Playes tr

gmubrian: I'm just being a smartass because I really have nothing of value to add since the season has been so crazy-- no animosity directed toward you at all.

The only thing I can really say with certainty is that this team is located somwhere on the spectrum between dumpster fire and a maddening work in in progress

In general, it's a work in progress that is still better than either of hewitt's last 2 seasons. The fact that mason can come back and play with such grit aND after the davidson shellacking shows this team's character.

Mason will be fine. Everyone, lower expectations this season and enjoy watching the team grow this season.

 

[masonjoe]

Sorry for the interruption. Feel free to get back to discussing every way in which Paulsen is an infallible god. Enjoy discussing things with only people who see Paulsen in that fashion.

Unreal how Paulsen doesn't even get a ONE season of goodwill from some here after last season. It was a miracle we won 20 games when you think of how that team was put together in such short time. It's like his coaching last season meant absolutely nothing and it was all just Moore. I just don't get it. Apparently you're a blind homer if don't believe our program is in the gutter? Um ok.

 

[Walter]

My guess is 95% of the fan base support Paulsen. I support him. I see a lot of things that I like.

However, when we get blown out at home and the team mostly just lays down and takes it, I am not happy. I express that. And it should be okay to say, as a supporter of the program, "WTF happened?"

I don't, in general, criticize players but the coach is fair game.

 

[Falco]

Unreal how Paulsen doesn't even get a ONE season of goodwill from some here after last season. It was a miracle we won 20 games when you think of how that team was put together in such short time. It's like his coaching last season meant absolutely nothing and it was all just Moore. I just don't get it. Apparently you're a blind homer if don't believe our program is in the gutter? Um ok.

It is unreal that you do not understand why people are concerned.

Agreed, you would be foolish not to be optimistic after last season. However, it is foolish to ignore pitfalls of this season.

At this point, I have more questions than answers.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

You can support your coach and criticize him at the same time.

The over protective tone from the Paulsen side is in response to a crusade some seem to have against Paulsen, regardless of what he does. Another reason is the ridiculous arguments some Anti-Paulsen people post to make their point, eliciting extreme responses from the other side.

Say what you will about GS, but he actually shows excitement and genuine glee when we win and at least gives a detailed logical explanation when he makes his points against Paulsen. I don't agree with it, but I can respect it.

Also, I agree with Walter. Our losses are not normal losses. They are complete shit shows. And as a fan, it is hard to determine if it is either:

• A snowball rolling down a hill because of such a new and young team, or:
• Just plain bad preparation and coaching.

I tend to think the former given how "high schoolish" we looked against Davidson compared to how efficient we looked against St. Joe's.

Whether Paulsen's comments were spin or his real feelings is completely in the eye of the beholder at this point.

 

[masonjoe]

It is unreal that you do not understand why people are concerned.

You're not just concerned. Based on your comments you're convinced Paulsen is trash, was a terrible hire, and is leading the program to the gutter of the A-10.

 

[Falco]

You're not just concerned. Based on your comments you're convinced Paulsen is trash, was a terrible hire, and is leading the program to the gutter of the A-10.

I understand why people think that based on my comments.

In all honesty I don't think he is trash. I just don't know if he is good enough to drag us out of this mess. It's hard for me to believe we will be much improved next season. Paulsen said Reutter is the real deal, and hopefully he is. But DP also raved about Troy. I will believe Reutter is the real deal when I see it.

And the season after next will be considered another rebuilding year because Otis and Grayer graduated.

In all honestly, I know it's way to early to run DP out of town. He deserves a fair chance. I think it would be resonable to expect a top 4 finish in his 4th season though.

 

[GMUgemini]

I understand why people think that based on my comments.

In all honesty I don't think he is trash. I just don't know if he is good enough to drag us out of this mess. It's hard for me to believe we will be much improved next season. Paulsen said Reutter is the real deal, and hopefully he is. But DP also raved about Troy. I will believe Reutter is the real deal when I see it.

And the season after next will be considered another rebuilding year because Otis and Grayer graduated.

In all honestly, I know it's way to early to run DP out of town. He deserves a fair chance. I think it would be resonable to expect a top 4 finish in his 4th season though.

Not sure why you think the year after will be a rebuilding year when you'll have three seniors on the team -- Kier, Boyd, Reuter; and four juniors -- Mar, Greene, Wilson, Calixte. That team will be much more experienced than next year's team.

Losing Otis and Grayer is going to be big, but it looks like Kier is being groomed to be Otis's replacement at the 1; and Boyd, while a totally different player than Grayer, will be an able replacement for him his senior season (probably at the 2). In other words, that lineup is going to be a lot bigger and a lot stronger than what we currently are seeing, especially if you consider the development of guys like AJ Wilson and Goanar Mar.

If JDS, Jordan Miller and Javon Greene give us anything off the bench, Kier and Boyd's senior season shouldn't be a drop off from next year.

Also, re: Reuter, look at Calixte's stats since taking over the starting job. He's averaging 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds during that stretch as a true freshman (playing much tougher opponents than we did in early season). We aren't going to need Reuter to be a savior next year.

 

[Falco]

Not sure why you think the year after will be a rebuilding year when you'll have three seniors on the team -- Kier, Boyd, Reuter; and four juniors -- Mar, Greene, Wilson, Calixte. That team will be much more experienced than next year's team.

Losing Otis and Grayer is going to be big, but it looks like Kier is being groomed to be Otis's replacement at the 1; and Boyd, while a totally different player than Grayer, will be an able replacement for him his senior season (probably at the 2). In other words, that lineup is going to be a lot bigger and a lot stronger than what we currently are seeing, especially if you consider the development of guys like AJ Wilson and Goanar Mar.

If JDS, Jordan Miller and Javon Greene give us anything off the bench, Kier and Boyd's senior season shouldn't be a drop off from next year.

Also, re: Reuter, look at Calixte's stats since taking over the starting job. He's averaging 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds during that stretch as a true freshman (playing much tougher opponents than we did in early season). We aren't going to need Reuter to be a savior next year.

I hope you're right!

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I hope your right!

* you're

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I just don't know if he is good enough to drag us out of this mess.

"Mess"

• 2-2 in A10 play
• Wins over UMASS (2-2) and St. Joes (2-2)
• Losses to Rhode Island (4-0) and Davidson (3-1)

 

[Falco]

"Mess"

• 2-2 in A10 play
• Wins over UMASS (2-2) and St. Joes (2-2)
• Losses to Rhode Island (4-0) and Davidson (3-1)

And you guys wonder why I'm a troll....

 

[psyclone]

"Mess"

• 2-2 in A10 play
• Wins over UMASS (2-2) and St. Joes (2-2)
• Losses to Rhode Island (4-0) and Davidson (3-1)

Indeed. Kenpom has us, so far, with the second toughest in-conference schedule. GW is first, Davidson is last. It's certainly early in the conference season to place too much emphasis on that, but the teams we've played aren't patsies.

 

[gmujim92]

I understand why people think that based on my comments.

In all honesty I don't think he is trash. I just don't know if he is good enough to drag us out of this mess. It's hard for me to believe we will be much improved next season. Paulsen said Reutter is the real deal, and hopefully he is. But DP also raved about Troy. I will believe Reutter is the real deal when I see it.

And the season after next will be considered another rebuilding year because Otis and Grayer graduated.

In all honestly, I know it's way to early to run DP out of town. He deserves a fair chance. I think it would be resonable to expect a top 4 finish in his 4th season though.

I've been trying really hard to ignore you, but had to correct one thing: Dave NEVER, EVER, EVER "raved" about Troy. In fact, if you read between the lines, he basically acknowledged that Dixon, Temara and Relvao were all projects the staff was hoping would develop.

The creator of the ridiculous Troy hype machine was me.

If that's the reason you are so determined to question our coach's talent evaluation skills, you can stop now.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

What you said:

I've been trying really hard to ignore you, but had to correct one thing: Dave NEVER, EVER, EVER "raved" about Troy. In fact, if you read between the lines, he basically acknowledged that Dixon, Temara and Relvao were all projects the staff was hoping would develop.

The creator of the ridiculous Troy hype machine was me.

If that's the reason you are so determined to question our coach's talent evaluation skills, you can stop now.

All you really needed to say:

stop now

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Hey, let's acknowledge right now with the majority of these kids, you just don't know...and neither does the coaching staff.

I know so many insiders and coaches who have been wrong about so many kids the last 30 years at Mason it's not even funny.

I'm actually still on board the ridiculous TT hype machine, to be honest...because I like it.

 

[GMUSig03]

Hey, let's acknowledge right now with the majority of these kids, you just don't know...and neither does the coaching staff.

I know so many insiders and coaches who have been wrong about so many kids the last 30 years at Mason it's not even funny.

I'm actually still on board the ridiculous TT hype machine, to be honest...because I like it.

Is that a Tyrone Tiggs reference?!

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Oh I'm definitely on board that train still...