Dave Paulsen

99 Patriot

Starter
GIVING DAY 2023
Coach talked about the inevitability of people transferring after a coaching change, how last thursday and friday weren't good days when he took calls from 2 players (not named by the coach but must have been Jackson and Lockett) who indicated that they wouldn't be returning,

Phone calls? That tells me about all I need to know about those 2. I guess it's slightly better than a text or a snapchat, but how about being grown-ups and telling the guy in person.
 

GreenLantern

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Love the focus on the things we were sorely lacking in the last few years. As long as our players play hard, even the losses will be tolerable, at least for next season.
 

Fenwick

Recruit
He clearly was avoiding taking shots at the previous regime, but mentioned that at his first practice with the team, something that should've taken 10 minutes took 55. Not sure what specifically what it was, but the implication - to me anyway - was that he was unhappy with the effort. Clearly he will not tolerate anything less than 100% effort on the court, whether it's a game or a practice in April. He also alluded to problems with game scheduling (I think he said it was a "mess" - does anyone else remember that?) and said they'd added three new games to the schedule that afternoon.

He said the teams in the conference play a wide variety of styles and they'd start planning for conference games this summer.
 

Washingtonian

Hall of Famer
He clearly was avoiding taking shots at the previous regime, but mentioned that at his first practice with the team, something that should've taken 10 minutes took 55. Not sure what specifically what it was, but the implication - to me anyway - was that he was unhappy with the effort. Clearly he will not tolerate anything less than 100% effort on the court, whether it's a game or a practice in April. He also alluded to problems with game scheduling (I think he said it was a "mess" - does anyone else remember that?) and said they'd added three new games to the schedule that afternoon.

He said the teams in the conference play a wide variety of styles and they'd start planning for conference games this summer.

So which Ivy League school will we play this year? That has been a trend for a long time.
 

gmujim92

Hall of Famer
GIVING DAY 2023
He clearly was avoiding taking shots at the previous regime, but mentioned that at his first practice with the team, something that should've taken 10 minutes took 55. Not sure what specifically what it was, but the implication - to me anyway - was that he was unhappy with the effort. Clearly he will not tolerate anything less than 100% effort on the court, whether it's a game or a practice in April.

I wasn't at the event, but knowing the guys we have coming back, I highly doubt lack of effort was the problem.

Far more likely is that DP expects his players to be far more exacting in their execution of drills than Hewitt was, and refuses to move on to something else until they do it the right way.

DP is cut from the Larranaga mold in that he's detail-oriented and recognizes that the littlest things often make a difference between winning and losing.

As we saw for four years, Hewitt is about the furthest thing from detail-oriented.

Big-time culture shock for the returning players, I'm sure. But they will benefit in the long run.
 

MasonFanatic

Moderator
Staff member
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
Far more likely is that DP expects his players to be far more exacting in their execution of drills than Hewitt was, and refuses to move on to something else until they do it the right way.
This seemed to be the issue - he said something about how you can't go on to the big stuff until you get the small stuff right.
 

Harry

Starter
Regarding the two players not coming back, Coach Paulsen said that they when they went home, they talked to friends and then called him. The implication (at least to me) was that DP thought that their friends had talked the players into transferring. He said that he felt bad for them because they were going to miss out on all the great things that would soon be happening. He then mentioned again "going to a Final Four, or two or three..."

DP said that he had several coaching offers over the years that he turned down. But when Mason called, it was a no-brainer (my words). He had been greatly impressed by the Mason fans, and Doc Nix, when Bucknell played Mason (and lost) and knew that it was a great opportunity. He pointed out that some of the best high school basketball in the country was played in the DMV.
 

Patriot Lawdog

Starter
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Phone calls? That tells me about all I need to know about those 2. I guess it's slightly better than a text or a snapchat, but how about being grown-ups and telling the guy in person.
Not to stereotype, but aren't most kids these days all about the passive-aggressive behavior. I'm actually surprised they called him and didn't just text. They don't even talk to their friends face to face anymore.
 
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