Dave Paulsen

[mkaufman1]

While your statement is true - that is three players. I think there have been greater expectations with Paulsen -- especially after Hewitt where we saw none. I would agree its better than it was under Hewitt - but that isn't saying much.

I am not saying it has been terrible - but we can do better.

IF we are giving full credit to Paulsen and staff with player development (and nothing to the player), it has improved. He has taken players who are under recruited and by the time they are done at Mason, they have done a 360. The easy examples are from the first few recruiting classes like Grayer, Livingston, Kier, AJ. AJ has a chance to be league player of the year this year which would be wonderful. Its hard to quantify how much is on Dave and how much is on the player, of course. I have to think having the practice facility allows for additional growth.

That said, I think there is room for it to continue to grow especially as you now have higher ranked recruits walking in. I'm interested to see what peak guys like Jordan Miller, XJ, and even Josh Oduro hit, considering they have been all higher ranked and more polished recruits. How much will they improve? I'm excited to see.

Player development is great, and they definitely are better when they walk out. It is just unfortunate that the quantity of wins we would like haven't come with the development. Hoping that changes.

 

[tblack33]

It's hard to talk about Dave's player development because there has been exactly 1 player that has used all 4 years of his eligibility at Mason during Dave's regime. For every player of the year we've had, I think we've had more than a few busts who got recruited over and ended up leaving the program, so I think that the people who question the player development on a macro level have a fair argument.

 

[gmujim92]

It's hard to talk about Dave's player development because there has been exactly 1 player that has used all 4 years of his eligibility at Mason during Dave's regime. For every player of the year we've had, I think we've had more than a few busts who got recruited over and ended up leaving the program, so I think that the people who question the player development on a macro level have a fair argument.

Everybody has “busts.” There is only so much playing time to go around and most guys aren’t going to stay more than 2 years if they don’t see a pathway to a starting spot or at least rotation minutes.

Using transfer data to evaluate a program’s success at player development seems awfully simplistic.

 

[Patriotsince81]

IF we are giving full credit to Paulsen and staff with player development (and nothing to the player), it has improved. He has taken players who are under recruited and by the time they are done at Mason, they have done a 360. The easy examples are from the first few recruiting classes like Grayer, Livingston, Kier, AJ. AJ has a chance to be league player of the year this year which would be wonderful. Its hard to quantify how much is on Dave and how much is on the player, of course. I have to think having the practice facility allows for additional growth.

That said, I think there is room for it to continue to grow especially as you now have higher ranked recruits walking in. I'm interested to see what peak guys like Jordan Miller, XJ, and even Josh Oduro hit, considering they have been all higher ranked and more polished recruits. How much will they improve? I'm excited to see.

Player development is great, and they definitely are better when they walk out. It is just unfortunate that the quantity of wins we would like haven't come with the development. Hoping that changes.

We normally see eye to eye but we were 5-13 last year. If players develop you don't have that kind of cluster f%ck season. I'll correct myself. DP and his boring, vanilla, hand off offense, no trap defense, and lob over the top inbounds play are also responsible for that. Sorry, just got back from the patio at Brion's and continued to have cold beverages upon return, could be the beer talking.

 

[FreeGunston12]

While it is "just 3 players", it is also 3 years out of 5 under DP for a Mason player to win the conference's most improved player award.

60% is pretty damn good for that award.

Now, I'd rather it be 3 tournament bids out of 5. There have definitely been problems under DP, but I think the root is more with recruting, offensive Xs and Os, etc. more so than player development.

Crazy that after 5 years, I still don't even know how I feel about DP as a coach.

 

[sleeperpick]

Everybody has “busts.” There is only so much playing time to go around and most guys aren’t going to stay more than 2 years if they don’t see a pathway to a starting spot or at least rotation minutes.

Using transfer data to evaluate a program’s success at player development seems awfully simplistic.

Every team in the entire universe has busts. Usually a good amount of them. Hopefully we can actually start winning quality games and maybe see a postseason again. Otherwise all this player development talk, improved recruiting and fuzzy feelings mean nothing really

 

[gmujim92]

Every team in the entire universe has busts. Usually a good amount of them. Hopefully we can actually start winning quality games and maybe see a postseason again. Otherwise all this player development talk, improved recruiting and fuzzy feelings mean nothing really

I think we can all agree on that.

 

[mkaufman1]

We normally see eye to eye but we were 5-13 last year. If players develop you don't have that kind of cluster f%ck season. I'll correct myself. DP and his boring, vanilla, hand off offense, no trap defense, and lob over the top inbounds play are also responsible for that. Sorry, just got back from the patio at Brion's and continued to have cold beverages upon return, could be the beer talking.

lol all good man. Wasn’t even talking the record defense or offense. Was merely talking individual player development and how under recruited guys improved. Only that.

 

[mkaufman1]

It's hard to talk about Dave's player development because there has been exactly 1 player that has used all 4 years of his eligibility at Mason during Dave's regime. For every player of the year we've had, I think we've had more than a few busts who got recruited over and ended up leaving the program, so I think that the people who question the player development on a macro level have a fair argument.

I can agree with this too, I was merely looking micro and on an individual basis.
Having most improved is nice but I’m about wins too. And that’s what I’m hoping comes with all the other improvements. It’s all I got.

 

[By George.]

Starting to feel like DP will for sure finish his contract, tell me I’m wrong.

 

[sleeperpick]

Starting to feel like DP will for sure finish his contract, tell me I’m wrong.

the more days we head towards a lame duck season makes me think the same. Hope we have a chance to say AJ and Javon grace us in Green and Gold one more time but with idiots refusing to wear masks it makes it seem less likely each day. Paulsen isn't bad enough to be fired during a pandemic lol... even if the pandemic lasts two years

 

[mkaufman1]

Starting to feel like DP will for sure finish his contract, tell me I’m wrong.

I can't see it not happening. I don't think Brad will lame duck him because its his guy and only makes it harder for the program.

My prediction is:

Paulsen extended to shortly after Brad (say 2023-2024)
Dr Washington gets settled, decides if Brad is staying/Brad decides if hes staying
Brad gets new gig by 2023, Dave leaves with Brad or shortly after.

This also is dependent on whether Dave makes the NCAAs. If he makes the NCAAs, Dave probably leaves within 2 years of that (Brad too). Also Brad may stay with Dr Washington and be in no hurry to leave either.

Lotta hypotheticals, but nothing urgent due to pandemic and Mason being Mason.

 

[sleeperpick]

I can't see it not happening. I don't think Brad will lame duck him because its his guy and only makes it harder for the program.

My prediction is:

Paulsen extended to shortly after Brad (say 2023-2024)
Dr Washington gets settled, decides if Brad is staying/Brad decides if hes staying
Brad gets new gig by 2023, Dave leaves with Brad or shortly after.

This also is dependent on whether Dave makes the NCAAs. If he makes the NCAAs, Dave probably leaves within 2 years of that (Brad too). Also Brad may stay with Dr Washington and be in no hurry to leave either.

Lotta hypotheticals, but nothing urgent due to pandemic and Mason being Mason.

no team better than us will take a chance on a middle of the road coach that can't recruit. This is Paulsen's ceiling regardless of how he does in the future. Does not have pipeline or personality for anything bigger than a big state school that does not support its basketball team.

 

[mkaufman1]

no team better than us will take a chance on a middle of the road coach that can't recruit. This is Paulsen's ceiling regardless of how he does in the future. Does not have pipeline or personality for anything bigger than a big state school that does not support its basketball team.

You aren't the only one who's mentioned this to me regarding his ceiling so I definitely can see that point.

We'll see.

 

[GMUgemini]

no team better than us will take a chance on a middle of the road coach that can't recruit. This is Paulsen's ceiling regardless of how he does in the future. Does not have pipeline or personality for anything bigger than a big state school that does not support its basketball team.

The big state school statement doesn’t make sense to me...I could see a private academic school in a P5 taking a look (Wake, Vandy, for instance) if Paulsen can push Mason into the tournament. I means that’s the kind of school he’s had the most success at (Williams, Bucknell).

 

[KAOriginal]

Part of why Paulsen was hired here: stability and clean up.

Even conservative P5s want alot of upside in their hires. Paulsen just doesn't have that recent record, personality or "wow factor" to make the case for the next level.

We are his ceiling.

 

[Petey Buckets]

The big state school statement doesn’t make sense to me...I could see a private academic school in a P5 taking a look (Wake, Vandy, for instance) if Paulsen can push Mason into the tournament. I means that’s the kind of school he’s had the most success at (Williams, Bucknell).

If any P5 even kicks the tires it would be to make the real hire look better by comparison. Any AD at that level that actually considers him would be kissing donors and support goodbye. Dave's a good dude who runs a clean program but the resume is what it is at this point.

 

[GMUgemini]

If any P5 even kicks the tires it would be to make the real hire look better by comparison. Any AD at that level that actually considers him would be kissing donors and support goodbye. Dave's a good dude who runs a clean program but the resume is what it is at this point.

Probably true, but there are some constraints put on at certain P5 schools (Wake, Vandy, Northeastern as examples) that require an academic argument as much as a basketball argument and they can't just pay players (*cough* Zion Williamson *cough*) to come play. Like you said, Paulsen runs a clean program, has sold a heavy academic school before, is a good dude. His problem is year 3, 4, 5 in the A10, and he'll probably never get over that dent in his resume. I don't think it has anything to do with his personality or his lack of connections (dude is friends with Juwan Howard and seems to have plenty of connections).

Hopefully he either flames out or turns it around here, because he's either never leaving or he's going to be fired at some point.

 

[GSII]

Starting to feel like DP will for sure finish his contract, tell me I’m wrong.

You are Wrong. Now we have Simpkins AND MOJO. Fire DP and program is fine if not better. Not saying I want this. Not saying i don't. But if Simpkins is gonna be a head coach, I'd rather him be in his home area, so why not at Mason?

 

[FreeGunston12]

You are Wrong. Now we have Simpkins AND MOJO. Fire DP and program is fine if not better. Not saying I want this. Not saying i don't. But if Simpkins is gonna be a head coach, I'd rather him be in his home area, so why not at Mason?

I still dont understand these boards infatuation with Simpkins. Is it a gold room thing? Or is it just cuz he's not Paulsen?