Fire Dave Paulsen / Hire Tony Skinn

[tblack33]

Who posted the flying dicks last time? I do believe that it is time for the winged cocks to make their appearance again.

 

[Patriot8]

I did not drink the kool-aid this year, I think most of us knew what we’d be. After our 5-13 A-10 record last season even the most supportive fans were ready to move on. Some vocal some just realistically knowing it wouldn’t happen due to Mason being Mason and DP having 2 seasons remaining on his contract.
This season should be the last season in the Paulsen era period. There is zero excuse for that, his buyout not much. The pandemic should play no part in the decision. I’m typically not a fan of firing college coaches mid season because I’d rather not disrupt the student athletes that signed on the play for him. 6 games in I’m not against a midseason firing though.

Yeah I think most fans came into the year with tempered expectations at best. My theory on the outrage following yesterday has to do with the level of embarrassment we are being subjected to. I’ve said several times that Paulsen is a respectable coach who raised the floor of the program, ran it clean, and put us in a decent position to reach higher with a more dynamic coach. I think many would agree with this for the most part.

Losses like yesterday lower the floor, and kind of hurt your view of Paulsen. Although everyone pretty much agrees this should be his last season, we don’t believe the program should take any steps back between now and the end of the year, and all of the positive things you can say about the Paulsen era are starting to unravel.

I just hope we don’t spiral to a point where we hurt the image of this job more than it already has been.

 

[patriot2000]

I just hope we don’t spiral to a point where we hurt the image of this job more than it already has been.

Yeah, if I was a good basketball coach and you offered me the job after Hewitt's firing, I would have taken it. Now, I don't think so. Not that it's in worse shape now by any means, but because we are still irrelevant but now that much farther removed from relevance. It's been 9 years since we had a team anybody gave a crap about. To rescue us from insignificance, during or right after the pandemic season no less... No thanks. And everything that goes wrong this season makes the program that much less attractive.

 

[GMUgemini]

I’ve been prepping for it but I also drank the koolaid a little bit again this season. I really thought there was a shot that we’d have something special with AJ and Javons senior year.

Whoever posted it above was right, we really should have seen the red flags with the captain selection this year. I’m still amazed how senior regression is a thing for us. Small sample size, but dudes peak in year 2-3 under Paulsen, then begin to regress.

For me personally the program feels to be at an all time low, and I don’t think there’s any coming back from losing to Norfolk St / the Twitter debacle from the AD. Time to blow it all up and try again. At least with a new coach we have an excuse for playing like we did last night.

I kind of thought the same thing with Miller, AJ, and Javon being a pretty solid trio. And then our game against Queens College happened and that went flying out the window pretty quick.

 

[GMUgemini]

Yeah, if I was a good basketball coach and you offered me the job after Hewitt's firing, I would have taken it. Now, I don't think so. Not that it's in worse shape now by any means, but because we are still irrelevant but now that much farther removed from relevance. It's been 9 years since we had a team anybody gave a crap about. To rescue us from insignificance, during or right after the pandemic season no less... No thanks. And everything that goes wrong this season makes the program that much less attractive.

Its all about what the AD can give to the coach in terms of resources. Duquesne hasn’t been to the tournament in 43 years and infrastructure wise was in WAY worse shape than Mason is right now and yet they’ve managed to find a coach who can recruit there and has gotten them at least in the conversation (still not sure they’ve gotten over the hump quite yet, but they are in a better position than we are at least).

 

[mkaufman1]

Yeah I think most fans came into the year with tempered expectations at best. My theory on the outrage following yesterday has to do with the level of embarrassment we are being subjected to. I’ve said several times that Paulsen is a respectable coach who raised the floor of the program, ran it clean, and put us in a decent position to reach higher with a more dynamic coach. I think many would agree with this for the most part.

Losses like yesterday lower the floor, and kind of hurt your view of Paulsen. Although everyone pretty much agrees this should be his last season, we don’t believe the program should take any steps back between now and the end of the year, and all of the positive things you can say about the Paulsen era are starting to unravel.

I just hope we don’t spiral to a point where we hurt the image of this job more than it already has been.

It's a fair point and a tricky situation. I still think the Mason job (and maybe I have blinders on) is very attractive. If you get the right coach in, thats always the biggest thing. Duquense did it, URI did it, Bonaventure did it. There is no reason why Mason can't get someone and figure things out. Sure it's a tough job, but now that theres some things to work with, you just need someone who can take the base pieces and build to an appropriate height.

If Mason didn't have the locker room and practice facility, then this job would be even harder than it was in 2015.

 

[mkaufman1]

Who posted the flying dicks last time? I do believe that it is time for the winged cocks to make their appearance again.

As funny as that was, no flying dicks should be posted lol

 

[gmubrian]

lol I’m not trying to sound pompous, but anyone who knows me in the AD, knows that I’m reconsidering and really unhappy, something must be really wrong. I’m patient as f*ck.

maybe I should talk about my 20 years of fanhood, not missing home games for 10 years, seeing mason on the road (usually losing), and being one of like 5 fans in Brooklyn and Dc at the a10 tournament

This sounds familiar for some unexplained reason...

 

[mkaufman1]

This sounds familiar for some unexplained reason...

Lol, no where close to you my friend.

 

[mkaufman1]

Just hoping the next coach doesn't have the name "Paul" in their first or last name.

That name and Mason basketball just doesn't seem to go well.

 

[gmubrian]

Just hoping the next coach doesn't have the name "Paul" in their first or last name.

That name and Mason basketball just doesn't seem to go well.

Please tell me Tony’s middle name is not Paul!

 

[GMUgemini]

Please tell me Tony’s middle name is not Paul!

You’re safe. It’s Oludewa. Unless that’s the Nigerian equivalent to Paul.

 

[Pablo]

You’re safe. It’s Oludewa. Unless that’s the Nigerian equivalent to Paul.

https://www.legit.ng/1128922-popular-itsekiri-names-meaning.html:

"Oludewa (Olude) — Lord came back"

 

[JPgmuswim]

https://www.legit.ng/1128922-popular-itsekiri-names-meaning.html:

"Oludewa (Olude) — Lord came back"

I’m gonna take that as a sign that he’s coming back to Mason.

 

[Falco]

If you can’t win with Shevon, Jenkins, and Moore you’re never going to win.

Paulsen can’t coach.

 

[gmubrian]

Its all about what the AD can give to the coach in terms of resources. Duquesne hasn’t been to the tournament in 43 years and infrastructure wise was in WAY worse shape than Mason is right now and yet they’ve managed to find a coach who can recruit there and has gotten them at least in the conversation (still not sure they’ve gotten over the hump quite yet, but they are in a better position than we are at least).

It's a fair point and a tricky situation. I still think the Mason job (and maybe I have blinders on) is very attractive. If you get the right coach in, thats always the biggest thing. Duquense did it, URI did it, Bonaventure did it. There is no reason why Mason can't get someone and figure things out. Sure it's a tough job, but now that theres some things to work with, you just need someone who can take the base pieces and build to an appropriate height.

If Mason didn't have the locker room and practice facility, then this job would be even harder than it was in 2015.

I like the optimism you both bring. I’ll play devil’s advocate on this. To do what you suggest requires an AD, and to some degree a president, that have their priorities straight when choosing and supporting the next coach. I have concerns that the timing right now couldn’t be worse for that. I don’t trust the AD and president to do that in more normal times, let alone the extremely woke times we are in. There are a couple things I have seen that give me pause on that front.

I fear that the Mason administration is so “woke” at present that the selection process and subsequent focus for a new coach will not prioritize success on the court (ignoring that could protect Paulsen’s job in the first place). I think the Mason coaching job comes with so much baggage at this point, you are at a handicap to succeed.

If I am a coach evaluating Mason as a possible head coaching position, I am only going to consider it if the reward significantly outweighs the risk (with the potential of destroying my future head coaching career). That means I would have to be a very low paid head coach at a very low program or a very low paid assistant that is very hungry. This person will have to be somewhat desperate and have the ability to overcome whatever handicaps Mason admin puts in the way (or the horrible bad luck we seem to have if that is what it is). I see the odds of getting a candidate that can successfully navigate the Mason situation being low.

That is what my gut tells me. I hope I am so out of touch with Mason that I am completely wrong.

 

[Falco]

I like the optimism you both bring. I’ll play devil’s advocate on this. To do what you suggest requires an AD, and to some degree a president, that have their priorities straight when choosing and supporting the next coach. I have concerns that the timing right now couldn’t be worse for that. I don’t trust the AD and president to do that in more normal times, let alone the extremely woke times we are in. There are a couple things I have seen that give me pause on that front.

I fear that the Mason administration is so “woke” at present that the selection process and subsequent focus for a new coach will not prioritize success on the court (ignoring that could protect Paulsen’s job in the first place). I think the Mason coaching job comes with so much baggage at this point, you are at a handicap to succeed.

If I am a coach evaluating Mason as a possible head coaching position, I am only going to consider it if the reward significantly outweighs the risk (with the potential of destroying my future head coaching career). That means I would have to be a very low paid head coach at a very low program or a very low paid assistant that is very hungry. This person will have to be somewhat desperate and have the ability to overcome whatever handicaps Mason admin puts in the way (or the horrible bad luck we seem to have if that is what it is). I see the odds of getting a candidate that can successfully navigate the Mason situation being low.

That is what my gut tells me. I hope I am so out of touch with Mason that I am completely wrong.

My fears as well

 

[GMUgemini]

I like the optimism you both bring. I’ll play devil’s advocate on this. To do what you suggest requires an AD, and to some degree a president, that have their priorities straight when choosing and supporting the next coach. I have concerns that the timing right now couldn’t be worse for that. I don’t trust the AD and president to do that in more normal times, let alone the extremely woke times we are in. There are a couple things I have seen that give me pause on that front.

I fear that the Mason administration is so “woke” at present that the selection process and subsequent focus for a new coach will not prioritize success on the court (ignoring that could protect Paulsen’s job in the first place). I think the Mason coaching job comes with so much baggage at this point, you are at a handicap to succeed.

If I am a coach evaluating Mason as a possible head coaching position, I am only going to consider it if the reward significantly outweighs the risk (with the potential of destroying my future head coaching career). That means I would have to be a very low paid head coach at a very low program or a very low paid assistant that is very hungry. This person will have to be somewhat desperate and have the ability to overcome whatever handicaps Mason admin puts in the way (or the horrible bad luck we seem to have if that is what it is). I see the odds of getting a candidate that can successfully navigate the Mason situation being low.

That is what my gut tells me. I hope I am so out of touch with Mason that I am completely wrong.

Playing devil's advocate to your devil's advocate...Tony Skinn ticks off every single anti-racist box President Washington would have...

And given the NBA's anti-racist movement amongst its players, this is the landscape at pretty much every college and high school team.

 

[gmubrian]

Playing devil's advocate to your devil's advocate...Tony Skinn ticks off every single anti-racist box President Washington would have...

And given the NBA's anti-racist movement amongst its players, this is the landscape at pretty much every college and high school team.

But not every school is trying to hire a new coach in this environment at one of the lower points in their program’s history.

 

[Falco]

I doubt Mason will make a coaching change. But Mason joined the A10 because they wanted to take basketball seriously. You can’t take basketball seriously and retain Paulsen.