Fire Dave Paulsen / Hire Tony Skinn

[Bricker]

Did you think JDS was a miss when he signed? If you did, you were in the minority around here.

How about Goanar? Everybody seemed pretty excited about him.

Point is, it’s pretty easy to sit back after 2-3 years and pronounce that scholarships are being wasted.

Every team has bench guys who don’t pan out. I guarantee you none of those guys thought they’d end up as anything but starters. That’s the way it goes.

Yes, I think most were at least somewhat pleased with these guys when they were signed. Maybe they were not hailed as all-conference players, yet I think everyone agreed that they had potential to be good or at least serviceable at the A10 level. These scholarships weren't wasted. But it's difficult to argue that any of these players have come close to consistently meeting any of the reasonable expectations we initially set.

If I had to pick the most frustrating aspect of Dave's tenure, it would be his inability to develop most of his recruits into upperclassmen starters. We ran out the last guy on a rail because he attempted to recruit high-level talent and didn't coach them up or even seem to care, then brought in a guy who was billed as a more Xs and Os oriented coach (LOL?) who probably wouldn't get the blue chip talent, but would coach them up and maybe get a once-in-a-decade hidden gem like Muscala to push us over the top.

So here we are, with essentially the same problems we had under Hewitt just wrapped in a different package. Losing is losing and we've now found two totally separate yet almost equal ways to get there. Lame.

 

[gmujim92]

Yes, I think most were at least somewhat pleased with these guys when they were signed. Maybe they were not hailed as all-conference players, yet I think everyone agreed that they had potential to be good or at least serviceable at the A10 level. These scholarships weren't wasted. But it's difficult to argue that any of these players have come close to consistently meeting any of the reasonable expectations we initially set.

If I had to pick the most frustrating aspect of Dave's tenure, it would be his inability to develop most of his recruits into upperclassmen starters. We ran out the last guy on a rail because he attempted to recruit high-level talent and didn't coach them up or even seem to care, then brought in a guy who was billed as a more Xs and Os oriented coach (LOL?) who probably wouldn't get the blue chip talent, but would coach them up and maybe get a once-in-a-decade hidden gem like Muscala to push us over the top.

So here we are, with essentially the same problems we had under Hewitt just wrapped in a different package. Losing is losing and we've now found two totally separate yet almost equal ways to get there. Lame.

I would argue our problems are nothing at all like what they were under Hewitt. Not that it makes any difference, but the trend lines for the two coaches were going in completely opposite directions until this season.

 

[By George.]

I would argue our problems are nothing at all like what they were under Hewitt. Not that it makes any difference, but the trend lines for the two coaches were going in completely opposite directions until this season.

That's right, until this season...

 

[Bricker]

I would argue our problems are nothing at all like what they were under Hewitt. Not that it makes any difference, but the trend lines for the two coaches were going in completely opposite directions until this season.

Yes, I agree with this statement.

I wouldn't be as concerned if I saw a way out. But nothing about next year's team tells me things are going to get any better.

 

[By George.]

So I guess you give Dave the majority of the credit for developing Marquise, Otis and Kier into second-team all-A-10 players and AJ into an impact player on both ends of the floor?

Marquise is the perfect guard for Paulsen’s offense, which happens to be really similar to Hewitts. Aside from injuries, he probably would have been just as good under PH. I understand some won’t agree, it’s debatable, but I asked him directly after his triple double and he credited both coaches.

 

[G M U]

I would argue our problems are nothing at all like what they were under Hewitt. Not that it makes any difference, but the trend lines for the two coaches were going in completely opposite directions until this season.

Love that positive trend:
11 wins
20 wins (UP)
16 wins (DOWN)
18 wins (UP)
13 wins as of now, likely fewer than 18 (DOWN)

 

[Masonfan3]

So I guess you give Dave the majority of the credit for developing Marquise, Otis and Kier into second-team all-A-10 players and AJ into an impact player on both ends of the floor?

Marquise no but its hard to argue with Otis and Kier. Otis improved each year up until his senior year, where he struggled a lot. However, DP stuck with him when we might have had a better option..but I don't necessarily blame him for that. AJ is a freak athlete who I believe is finally able to show his skills.

 

[Bricker]

Marquise is the perfect guard for Paulsen’s offense, which happens to be really similar to Hewitts. Aside from injuries, he probably would have been just as good under PH. I understand some won’t agree, it’s debatable, but I asked him directly after his triple double and he credited both coaches.

That's another thing -- that last game at UMass gave me Hewitt flashbacks. The turnovers, that damn handoff "motionless motion offense" or whatever, huge mental lapses, etc. Full circle. I hate it.

 

[gmujim92]

Love that positive trend:
11 wins
20 wins (UP)
16 wins (DOWN)
18 wins (UP)
13 wins as of now, likely fewer than 18 (DOWN)

As opposed to down, down, down, down....

 

[G M U]

As opposed to down, down, down, down....

Throw in a conference change and yeah. This is also a bit of whataboutism at its best. Rather than acknowledge DPs deficiencies you tend to point at the other guy. Now all of a sudden my knock on DP is somehow conflated as some sort of support for Hewitt. Fact is they both suck and DP isn't any better than Hewitt.

Everybody wants to say that Hewitt left DP a dumpster fire and I'll disagree, at least DP was given some athletes to hold over. The true dumpster fire will be when DP leaves and the next coach has a bunch of nice kids to work with.

 

[gmujim92]

That's right, until this season...

Yes, I agree with this statement.

I wouldn't be as concerned if I saw a way out. But nothing about next year's team tells me things are going to get any better.

If Kier gets a fifth year we’re gonna be better, but no guarantee that happens. If he doesn’t, I would tend to agree.

 

[Pablo]

Love that positive trend:
11 wins
20 wins (UP)
16 wins (DOWN)
18 wins (UP)
13 wins as of now, likely fewer than 18 (DOWN)

However, if you focus just on the A10 schedule, the trend was positive until this season. But, it hasn't mattered much because the team has never won on a Friday at the A10 tourney.

 

[G M U]

As opposed to down, down, down, down....

Also, all those ups and downs led to ZERO postseason appearances and ZERO banners

 

[gmujim92]

Throw in a conference change and yeah. This is also a bit of whataboutism at its best. Rather than acknowledge DPs deficiencies you tend to point at the other guy. Now all of a sudden my knock on DP is somehow conflated as some sort of support for Hewitt. Fact is they both suck and DP isn't any better than Hewitt.

Everybody wants to say that Hewitt left DP a dumpster fire and I'll disagree, at least DP was given some athletes to hold over. The true dumpster fire will be when DP leaves and the next coach has a bunch of nice kids to work with.

So clueless...

 

[Bricker]

If Kier gets a fifth year we’re gonna be better, but no guarantee that happens. If he doesn’t, I would tend to agree.

I also agree with this. Problem is, I don't think we're anywhere near good enough for postseason play even with a healthy Kier next year (if the NCAA lets him play-- if he wants to come back). If we're not a threat in the A0 tourney and even in fringe discussion for the NIT, I'm not going to get that excited about it.

 

[gmujim92]

Also, all those ups and downs led to ZERO postseason appearances and ZERO banners

This is true.

 

[gmujim92]

I also agree with this. Problem is, I don't think we're anywhere near good enough for postseason play even with a healthy Kier next year (if the NCAA lets him play-- if he wants to come back). If we're not a threat in the A0 tourney and even in fringe discussion for the NIT, I'm not going to get that excited about it.

Neither is anyone else. I’ve already said I’m in for one more year — if it’s not dramatically better, I’ll be screaming for his head with everyone else.

 

[Pablo]

Neither is anyone else. I’ve already said I’m in for one more year — if it’s not dramatically better, I’ll be screaming for his head with everyone else.

For those fans who will be contacting AD Edwards, what is the definition of "dramatically better"?

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I hope Kier gets a fifth year and/or we bring in a transfer so we can at least have a chance to be good while the Classes of 2019 and 2020 improve.

Chris Jollay, Class of 1995

 

[G M U]

For those fans who will be contacting AD Edwards, what is the definition of "dramatically better"?

I believe I brought this up earlier and the feedback was a postseason appearance. So essentially Dave would have to coach a team from the PIG to the NCAA tournament in 1 year, riding the back of Kier who is currently not playing due to injury.