Final 4 10th Anniversary Event

[mason89]

However, I think possibly the best thing was the current players seeing everything. They saw the excitement and the possibility of a FF run was put in their head, if it wasn't before. They saw how a large number of alum and/or boosters support the program. Sometimes the FF banner sort of blends in to everything (still weird how that is front and center, and the USA flag is off to the side, but that's another issue.)

Well done Mason staff!

Agreed. I also liked how the F4 guys played a pick up game with the current players at the RAC. It must have been fun to watch!

 

[Vurbel]

Agreed. I also liked how the F4 guys played a pick up game with the current players at the RAC. It must have been fun to watch!

I'd love to see video of that one. I know how I said how it was great that Paulsen has embraced the past, but it also says a lot that the past has embraced the present. That was not even remotely the case with, my bad, dead horse.

 

[99 Patriot]

So, not an actual building, but a section of an existing building?

That's been the plan for sometime I believe. Put a brand new floor and spruce up that upper gym and make it the exclusive practice facility. The new construction comes off that existing gym in the form of offices, locker rooms, etc.

Also in short term Brad mentioned a locker room overhaul at EBA. Give the guys a better place to watch film and a more attractive room to show off to recruits.

 

[Vurbel]

I'm well past 16, but if I'm a recruit and I see one school with their own building and one school with a building attached to the student rec center I know which one I'm choosing. At 16, I don't care about funding or any of that stuff, I just know the bottom line. That being said, I applaud BE for pushing for this after years of doing absolutely nothing.

Car analogy: We are used to driving a Ford and now we've moved up to a Cadillac. Sure, it's not a Bentley, but it's still a big improvement.

 

[Five Two]

I'm well past 16, but if I'm a recruit and I see one school with their own building and one school with a building attached to the student rec center I know which one I'm choosing. At 16, I don't care about funding or any of that stuff, I just know the bottom line.

yeah, but a practice facility connected to a student rec center offers more opportunity to interact with coeds.......
at 16 (or 20, or 30, or...), isn't THAT the bottom line????

 

[Vurbel]

yeah, but a practice facility connected to a student rec center offers more opportunity to interact with coeds.......
at 16 (or 20, or 30, or...), isn't THAT the bottom line????

That shouldn't be an issue for a basketball player at Mason, but good point.

Then again, being attached to the RAC communicates that the team is *part* of the student body, not a separate thing, like Kentucky that has their own dorm. So, it might not be the end of the world.

 

[GMUgemini]

I'm well past 16, but if I'm a recruit and I see one school with their own building and one school with a building attached to the student rec center I know which one I'm choosing. At 16, I don't care about funding or any of that stuff, I just know the bottom line. That being said, I applaud BE for pushing for this after years of doing absolutely nothing.

Car analogy: We are used to driving a Ford and now we've moved up to a Cadillac. Sure, it's not a Bentley, but it's still a big improvement.

I don't think it matters. The original plan was to attach it to the Patriot Center.

Lots of schools do something similar. For instance, Providence College is constructing one attached to the alumni center (which is the equivalent of Georgetown's McDonough) and will also be attached to Slavin Center (Providence's student union).

The Joe Craft Center at the university of Kentucky is attached to the Memorial Coliseum (which houses the women's basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics teams).

Keep in mind, the RAC is more than just a student Rec center, too.


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[Vurbel]

I don't think it matters. The original plan was to attach it to the Patriot Center.

Lots of schools do something similar. For instance, Providence College is constructing one attached to the alumni center (which is the equivalent of Georgetown's McDonough) and will also be attached to Slavin Center (Providence's student union).

The Joe Craft Center at the university of Kentucky is attached to the Memorial Coliseum (which houses the women's basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics teams).

Keep in mind, the RAC is more than just a student Rec center, too.


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I'm very well aware that the RAC is not just a big weight room, but has classrooms, staff offices, ROTC office, GMU Rec. Dept., etc.

If you read my previous post I outlined some positives that could come from having an attached practice facility.

 

[psyclone]

Agreed. I also liked how the F4 guys played a pick up game with the current players at the RAC. It must have been fun to watch!

I did see a minute or two of it. It was played in the RAC gym mid-afternoon on Friday and you could view it from behind the window in the hallway above the court. I did see 2 driving contested layups--one by Otis and the other by Jaire (I think). Will Thomas missed a contested long 2 pointer (guarded by Urbina). Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stay around to see more.

At the dinner Coach mentioned that the incoming freshman would arrive this week (I thought he said on Wednesday) for the beginning of summer school. I also saw the RAC gym schedule posted on the door, and I think the men's team practices in there Monday through Wednesday from 1-3:30.

 

[Mason2005]

Let's not forget the biggest benefit for this facility, 24/7 access. I remember a player saying they wished they could practice/shoot whenever they wanted but couldn't, just unacceptable.

 

[MasonFanatic]

Let's not forget the biggest benefit for this facility, 24/7 access. I remember a player saying they wished they could practice/shoot whenever they wanted but couldn't, just unacceptable.

I agree, this is huge, and something that should have happened a long time ago. Dedicated facilities are all the rage, but 24/7 access probably has a bigger real-world impact on player development. I'm glad to see the administration making a priority out of that piece, rather than waiting until the entire project is funded.

 

[GMUgemini]

I agree, this is huge, and something that should have happened a long time ago. Dedicated facilities are all the rage, but 24/7 access probably has a bigger real-world impact on player development. I'm glad to see the administration making a priority out of that piece, rather than waiting until the entire project is funded.

Should have happened when they renovated the RAC in the first place. I'm not sure why they didn't keep it open for the players to use.


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[tarvis614]

it was a great event. awesome to see all those guys back together & expose the current players to that culture of winning.

only disappointment for me was, other than asking for support for the locker rooms, etc., there was no fundraising component outside of the price of a ticket. even if a silent auction of random crap only raises $1,000, that's a grand they don't currently have and at least makes me feel like they're putting in a little extra effort rather than just saying 'please give us money' and waiting for the floodgates to open.

 

[TweederGMU]

Yea, amazing event. Kudos to the AD and all of Mason pulling this off. Had to take a lot of effort and time to get all of these people back together and create all of those great clips and platforms.

Few Takeaways I'll share:

1. Jalen Jenkins sat at my table and he seemed to be very excited to start the season. He mentioned none of our current players will be playing in the Kenner League. A lot of them will be around this summer working and playing pick-up. He's a very nice kid, shy, but very nice.

2. Jaire and Abram sat at the table next to me and seemed to be very interested in all of the older players. I noticed them, Otis, and Jalen kinda having an awestruck moment just taking in all of the stories and old players. Was cool to see.

3. Call me crazy but I did think there was still some no love lost moments between L and O'Connor. I don't remember Coach L really thanking O'Connor. He did thank Merten and did point out the old players parents and significant others and had them stand to get recognition.

4. It was like a moderator format with Coach Paulsen being the moderator. It was either Lamar, JV, Jai, or Folarin doing most of the talking and replying for the team. I wished they asked some other guys more direct questions and talk about their experiences.

5. At the end Coach L gave a 10 minute speech. I would of loved to see a Q/A where they pass the Microphone around the audience and let the audience ask the Coaches and Players questions. I expected this at the end but Coach L's speech ended it. Allocate 20-30 mins for audience Q/A.

6. This was basically a FUNDRAISER for the team. We are in a Facilities battle with the A-10 and also against programs around here. If we expect to win we gotta start writing checks and upgrading our facilities. Go grab a friend or tell an old classmate to give $5, $10, $20 to Mason. We need funds and need the best facilities possible. Coach L in his speech stated the facilities is huge in recruiting. Need to step up our facilities and fundraising in order to compete.


Great trip down memory lane.

 

[TweederGMU]

it was a great event. awesome to see all those guys back together & expose the current players to that culture of winning.

only disappointment for me was, other than asking for support for the locker rooms, etc., there was no fundraising component outside of the price of a ticket. even if a silent auction of random crap only raises $1,000, that's a grand they don't currently have and at least makes me feel like they're putting in a little extra effort rather than just saying 'please give us money' and waiting for the floodgates to open.

Agreed. I would of thought a raffle or auction would of been appropriate since there were so many people present, and the proper people (big donors). Seems like a No-Brainer and a missed opportunity.

Auctioning off pieces of Brions Grille Final 4 collection would of been ideal for this event, and would of brought in tons of money. That is if anyone would of stepped up to take his collection. Looking at you Mason AD. SMH

 

[psyclone]

Yea, amazing event. Kudos to the AD and all of Mason pulling this off. Had to take a lot of effort and time to get all of these people back together and create all of those great clips and platforms.

Few Takeaways I'll share:
..
3. Call me crazy but I did think there was still some no love lost moments between L and O'Connor. I don't remember Coach L really thanking O'Connor. He did thank Merten and did point out the old players parents and significant others and had them stand to get recognition.
..
Great trip down memory lane.

I'm pretty sure that he DID mention TOC by name. It was the first of a litany of names, so it wasn't exactly shout out that focused solely on him and it may have been partially muffled by mild applause in his thank you to Merten.

In any case, it was a very enjoyable evening.

 

[Vurbel]

3. Call me crazy but I did think there was still some no love lost moments between L and O'Connor. I don't remember Coach L really thanking O'Connor. He did thank Merten and did point out the old players parents and significant others and had them stand to get recognition.

He thanked TOC while thanking at least one other person, so he never singled him out. He said it quickly and didn't annunciate it any different than any other words in the sentence. So, technically, he recognized TOC. However, it was far from a ringing endorsement.

 

[MasonSAE4]

6. This was basically a FUNDRAISER for the team. We are in a Facilities battle with the A-10 and also against programs around here. If we expect to win we gotta start writing checks and upgrading our facilities. Go grab a friend or tell an old classmate to give $5, $10, $20 to Mason. We need funds and need the best facilities possible. Coach L in his speech stated the facilities is huge in recruiting. Need to step up our facilities and fundraising in order to compete.


Great trip down memory lane.

Assuming this facility were to be built tomorrow, where would it rank in the A10?

 

[GMUgemini]

Assuming this facility were to be built tomorrow, where would it rank in the A10?

I don't think every team has one. And some just have practice courts inside their arenas (like SLU).

As far as I can tell: Dayton, Richmond, Davidson, and UMass are the only current A10 teams with dedicated practice facilities. We know vcu is building one.


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[Washingtonian]

I don't think every team has one. And some just have practice courts inside their arenas (like SLU).

As far as I can tell: Dayton, Richmond, Davidson, and UMass are the only current A10 teams with dedicated practice facilities. We know vcu is building one.


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Unless I am missing something, didn't vcu open their practice arena last year?