Game 7: GMU (4-2 / 0-0) vs UMass (2-2 / 1-0) on Wednesday, December 30, at 6PM.

[Mason32]

Last year, 3/4 through the season, we told you DP wasn’t going to be fired. We’re here telling you again, no matter what happens, DP won’t be fired after this season.

Not sure why people assume every season is make the ncaa tournament or bust for DP. Mason AD has given no indication the stakes are that high. If he wins 7-8 A-10 games he’ll def play out his contract at least

 

[Herndon]

As always, the lesson here is that social media is probably a net negative in people's lives.

Outside of marketing, and perhaps keeping up with family, I fail to see the benefit in it.

 

[mkaufman1]

I was just thinking about this: If there’s a very specific type of player who can thrive under Dave’s style of coaching, but also has the skill and athleticism to succeed in the
A-10, maybe that’s the root of his recruiting problems — simply the fact that the pool of recruits who check off all the boxes isn’t that deep?

This shouldn’t be news to anyone by now but you can’t recruit or coach the same way at Bucknell and George Mason. It just won’t work.

thats one of many issues that concerns me. I don’t think he’s ever adjusted to anything other than going more athletic in recruiting.

As always, the lesson here is that social media is probably a net negative in people's lives.

Outside of marketing, and perhaps keeping up with family, I fail to see the benefit in it.

I’m way too connected to bail on it now, but it’s definitely toxic. Fortunately it’s also a nice outlet during a pandemic when I can’t really interact with many other humans in person.

 

[Patriotsince81]

In regard to Javon....... His production may also have something to do with not playing or getting benched. His overall shooting percentage is only slightly better this year (40.4%) than his junior year (39.7%) so no one can say he is a great shooter. His 3 point percentage is down from 37.9% to 17.9%. Free throw percentage is down from 81.5% to 77.4%. Rebounds are down from 5.6 pregame to 3.1 per game. Only 11 assists and 18 TO. He was suspended last year and I commented on lousy body language on more than one occasion. Don't know the young man but body language does convey a lot. He had two great games last year. For the entirety of his time at GMU he has been very inconsistent. Last night in 5 minutes he was 0-1 from the field, had 2 fouls, and one turnover.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Never said JG was accountable for his moms twitter tirade. So you think DP just benched him for no reason? You don't think JG played any kind of roll in his benching? It's all on DP? I'm far from a DP apologist but it seems like you want to give JG a pass and completely blame DP. This also isn't the first time JG has been in the coaches doghouse. In regards to behavior management, DP is quoted after the game saying that Javon's benching was a coaches decision, that he loves Javon and that he's still a big piece of the team going forward. Right out of the coaches handbook, keep whatever happened private, re-enforce the relationship and move forward.

Haha did you read my post? "You CAN fault Javon for his actions" . . . "Javon needs to be more level-headed".

4 players in the coach's doghouse in as many games is concerning.

 

[Herndon]

I’m way too connected to bail on it now, but it’s definitely toxic. Fortunately it’s also a nice outlet during a pandemic when I can’t really interact with many other humans in person.

I shut all mine down several months ago, and I have to be honest with you, after 2 weeks, I haven't missed it at all. My life is definitely better for their absence

 

[FreeGunston12]

In regard to Javon....... His production may also have something to do with not playing or getting benched. His overall shooting percentage is only slightly better this year (40.45) than his junior year (39.7%) so no one can say he is a great shooter. His 3 point percentage is down from 37.9% to 17.9%. Free throw percentage is down from 81.5% to 77.4%. Rebounds are down from 5.6 pregame to 3.1 per game. Only 11 assists and 18 TO. He was suspended last year and I commented on lousy body language on more than one occasion. Don't know the young man but body language does convey a lot. He had two great games last year. For the entirety of his time at GMU he has been very inconsistent. Last night in 5 minutes he was 0-1 from the field, had 2 fouls, and one turnover.

Would buy it if DP didn't play Ronald Polite over him. Take a look at those numbers. Who gives the team a better chance to win? It was clearly a discipline issue and DP was trying to teach him a lesson and make an example out of him. For that reason, I'm actually surprised he didn't put Jack in for the closing seconds.

 

[tblack33]

Last year, 3/4 through the season, we told you DP wasn’t going to be fired. We’re here telling you again, no matter what happens, DP won’t be fired after this season.

Be constructive, be disappointed, but continue to root your a** off.....cause it is what it is. We have chosen to root hard this long, nothing has changed. We’ve known the issues.

Don’t doubt you, but no offense I will be done supporting this team is this season ends up like we expect and nothing is done. I’ll keep up my ESPN+ account and watch the games on TV, but you won’t catch me an Eagle Bank next season if Paulsen is coached. Don’t ask us to swimmom it, we’re better than that.

 

[Pablo]

DP coached at Bucknell for seven years. NO players transferred during his tenure. All of his players graduated.

As I've said, Coach Paulsen should be commended for his emphasis on academics. But, I certainly wouldn't compare coaching at a Patriot League school like Bucknell (notwithstanding its success in basketball) with an A10 school. My guess is that there were several players there who were dissatisfied (whether it was due to losing starting roles or minutes to younger players), but chose to stay for non-basketball reasons.

But, he's the coach, so I don't blame him for doing what he believes is best for the program. My question for him is: Do you still believe that you will turn Mason into a perennial top 25 program?

 

[gmutom]

I'm not a Dave Paulsen fan, but players have to be tough at this level. I remember how pissed Coach L would get with Raoul Heinen who was very deliberate in running the point (which evidently was the style in Europe). One game he took him out and chewed him out in front of everyone at the Patriot Center and replaced him with a walk-on.

Coach L had no problem dressing down a player publicly if he felt like it was warranted. The angriest I've seen Paulsen was actually last night when Oduro got trapped with the ball by our bench and we had to burn a crucial timeout. Paulsen jumped up and down and then got right in Josh's face and started screaming at him. The cool thing was Josh nodded, walked away and sat down. You could tell he knew he screwed up.

 

[Dawgs99]

Haha did you read my post? "You CAN fault Javon for his actions" . . . "Javon needs to be more level-headed".

4 players in the coach's doghouse in as many games is concerning.

Yea my bad, I completely missed the whole sentence. Whoops. In regards to kids in the doghouse/suspended, that's common place these days in college athletics and not unique to Mason and DP. Young people F up, face the music and learn.

 

[Falco]

If Javon does leave the program, he’ll be the second senior to do so this year. Not a good look for a coach to lose guys who’ve made it that far, especially mid season. Makes me continue to question really how disciplined is Paulsens program? Did we give him too much credit up front for building a disciplined program just because it was a clean program?

My exact concerns. The writing is on the wall. Paulsen's time in Fairfax is done!

 

[Falco]

Yea my bad, I completely missed the whole sentence. Whoops. In regards to kids in the doghouse/suspended, that's common place these days in college athletics and not unique to Mason and DP. Young people F up, face the music and learn.

True of bad coaches and leaders.

 

[Falco]

Who is they? The only guy who’s acting like a spoiled baby is Javon. And if he can’t suck it up and compete for playing time against a true freshman who has 7 games of college experience, real life is gonna be a rough ride for him.

Javon and Paulsen are beefing about more than just playing time. According to Javon's mom, Javon is upset that he couldn't see his family at the holidays. Paulsen has a no-fly rule in effect. You can’t blame Paulsen for the rule under these circumstances. But it’s a mentally tough situation that sucks for everyone.

 

[Pablo]

Last year, 3/4 through the season, we told you DP wasn’t going to be fired. We’re here telling you again, no matter what happens, DP won’t be fired after this season.

Be constructive, be disappointed, but continue to root your a** off.....cause it is what it is. We have chosen to root hard this long, nothing has changed. We’ve known the issues.

As I've said, barring a total collapse, I expect Paulsen to be back next season. So, the issue is what should the school do after this season. My position is that unless the team makes the NCAA tourney, his contract shouldn't be extended again.

 

[Falco]

Dave yelled at Otis louder and harder than any player on the roster for most of 4 years. While I’m sure he didn’t always enjoy it, at this level you have to have a thick skin because 99.9% of coaches are gonna blast you when you eff up.

I dont know if this is even true. But Pauslen also

Very telling...

I would love a Bucknell degree!! Bucknell is a safety school for students aspiring to go to an ivy-league. I know that sounds like an insult. But to be the company of ivy-leagues is impressive.

 

[mkaufman1]

Don’t doubt you, but no offense I will be done supporting this team is this season ends up like we expect and nothing is done. I’ll keep up my ESPN+ account and watch the games on TV, but you won’t catch me an Eagle Bank next season if Paulsen is coached. Don’t ask us to swimmom it, we’re better than that.

I second this. If they flounder or end up mediocre and Dave is lame ducked I’ll not be supporting like I do now. That’s why I’m giving my warnings now, ahead of what I expect to be a more “serious” conversation come February.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I grew up with coaches like that so I guess I’m a little inclined to be ok with it. The main problem is he has favorites that he never yells that way at. AJ and Javon have always been two of the guys he goes way too far in yelling at. Never yells at Jamal or Goanar Mar like he does them. If he keeps it fair and yells at everyone I doubt the certain few that seem to take the brunt would be so upset. My former coaches like DP yelled at the star all the way down to the 11th man with the same vigor and we all respected him for it.

Not every player responds to yelling the same way. Good coaches differentiate their coaching styles to get the most from each player. I don't know if Paulsen is trying to do that, if it just a case of playing favorites, or just confirmation bias on your part. All are realistic.

EDIT:

Essentially this:

Before each season, all my position players had to take a personality test from a company that specifically looked at how players are motivated and how they respond. It took about 20 minutes, but as a coach it would tell you who they guys you need to jump, and who you had to handle with kid gloves. I’m sure the staff has something similar and more detailed. Point is, by his senior year, they should know what works for him and what doesn’t.

 

[Pablo]

Javon and Paulsen are beefing about more than just playing time. According to Javon's mom, Javon is upset that he couldn't see his family at the holidays. Paulsen has a no-fly rule in effect. You can’t blame Paulsen for the rule under these circumstances. But it’s a mentally tough situation that sucks for everyone.

During the 2005-06 Final Four season, Folarin Campbell wanted desperately to accompany his family to his grandmother's funeral in Nigeria. But, Coach L was afraid that his absence would hurt Mason's chances of making the NCAA tourney and convinced Folarin's father not to take him.

Folarin wasn't happy about the decision, but he accepted it for the benefit of the team. And, the rest is history.

 

[Jack Strop]

One thing to remember, these guys playing D1 basketball are 18 to 22 years of age. There is certainly a level of confusion and inner conflict among them as they struggle to transition from child to adult. How many of you really understood responsibility and accountability at that age? Look at what happened recently to Dwayne Haskins and him being cut from from the Washington Football Team for his immaturity.

I say let Javon pout. He needs to learn that pouting will get him nowhere. The only thing that one has true control over is one's own behavior. Until that lesson is learned then one will just blame everyone else for one's problems and find it very difficult to continue to grow as a person. It's all up to Javon and how he responds to adversity. He can pout, he can improve, he can go home—it's all Javon's decision.

And DP makes it clear, turn adversity into opportunity and be accountable for yourself. Otherwise, take a seat on a board of pine and make yourself miserable.