Game Thread: Mason (11-2) vs. vcu (10-3), Sunday, January 5th, 12:00 PM

[Pablo]

Dave must be recruiting non winners and lazy a-holes because they sure as heck aren't getting much better. must be that...(being completely facetious)

There is no question that Paulsen is recruiting good kids who are hard workers. But, to be outstanding players and win championships, there has to be the commensurate will and effort. This is all that I'm saying.

 

[By George.]

Yes, the head coach and the strength and conditioning coach are absolutely essential for player development. But, it still requires the maximum effort on the players' part to become outstanding players.

I realized that Jim didn’t actually edit his post, I confused 2 posts together so I deleted mine but still stand by the other points made in it. Some fans love to pile on praise for DP when he earns it and defer his responsibility after his own mistakes. We simply want to hold him accountable for what he’s said and done while asking as many questions as we can. We understand not everything is his fault, but he must bear the responsibility for it all. Y’all can be the judge if he holds himself accountable or not, we’ll keep asking the questions.

 

[Pablo]

I'm not praising Paulsen. The fact of the matter is that Kier will be just the second player signed by Paulsen to complete his eligibility at Mason. Is anyone pleased with roster turnover?

 

[Patriotsince81]

DP's ultimate downfall, and we all know it's not happening this year, will be his inability to recruit and land the caliber of player that we need to win the A10 and go to the NCAA tournament. When I see that we're after 2 star recruits and trying to beat out the likes of Elon for their services I worry. I hope the incoming class is a step up, but who knows? Henry with 3 stars seems to be our highest ranked recruit for next year. We beat out La. Tech, Oral Roberts, and Samford to get him. I hope he's an absolute beast and kicks a$$ for 4 years. The schools I mentioned aren't power 5 or even Dayton and vcu are they?

On top of that his in game strategy is vanilla offense and predictable defense. EVERYONE now knows our press. Why not throw a curve and have other options to go to? Wait, you mean have multiple sets offensively and defensively? Wow 81! I never thought of that. Sarcasm for any vcu fans still trolling. We're a one trick pony with a system that will not work against the better teams in the A10 and certainly won't work against power 5 schools. Throw in zero creativity when it comes to inbounds plays and you have a recipe for being average/mediocre at best.

If DP were to leave or get fired I would thank him for not being Paul Hewitt and helping us recover from rock bottom. I just don't see him making us an elite A10 program. If Edwards is happy with a clean program then we're stuck with him for the foreseeable future. I expressed my displeasure with Hewitt to admin. If we go 9 - 9, or worse, this year I will do so with Brad. DP will have had 5 years to turn a program around...... and will have failed. Sorry, I'm not going to be happy with average. My 2 cents and I'm sticking to it.

If we go 17 - 1 this year I never said any of this!!!!!

 

[Mason32]

Well he recruited an all-state player from Minnesota who seemingly has forgotten how to play basketball and a scoring machine from Westchester NY who can’t even hit a shot in practice. I honestly don’t know what to make of that. It’s baffling.

Remember when there was talk that JDS might go somewhere else because he was heating up in his senior year in HS...

 

[Pablo]

http://boards.basketball-u.com/showtopic.php?tid/17770/:

"Find this a stretch. Paulsen has a number of strong assets, in particular strong recruiter in academic environment. Not known for being flexible in his offensive and defensive schemes. George Mason a different environment."

 

[gmujim92]

I'm not praising Paulsen. The fact of the matter is that Kier will be just the second player signed by Paulsen to complete his eligibility at Mason. Is anyone pleased with roster turnover?

No

 

[Falco]

Forget falling behind, we were already 100 miles behind the top A-10 programs in infrastructure when Brad took over. Just having comparable facilities is a massive improvement.

At the very least that gives the administration an opportunity to make a fair evaluation of the staff. Brad has given Dave what he asked for when he took the job — now it is Dave’s job to deliver a winning product.

I don't understand the infrastructure excuse . Please excuse me for comparing Paulsen to Hewitt, but Hewitt was able to land pretty good players despite the "dumpster fire" and infrastructure.

Despite all the excuses we give Paulsen; Hewitt was still brining in CJ Jackson (Providence), Porter (Nevada), CJ Jackson (Ohio St.), Lockett (NC State).

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I love Johnson and Oduro but I think people better brace themselves to understand they are high floor, low-to-medium ceiling kids.

Glad we have them, though. Ain't regressors either, no matter who the coach. We definitely could have, did use(d) some guys from the shot clock, college ready prep leagues around here.

Need a home run, star recruit. Haven't sniffed the likes of one and we would be excited at this point to land Vlad Moldanveneau because he would be the best shooter we've ever had Paulsen era and he's above 6'1".

Anything is better than Okoloji/Holloway though as I always say. Things are going okay right now but the excitement...is just not there.

 

[Falco]

I love Johnson and Oduro but I think people better brace themselves to understand they are high floor, low-to-medium ceiling kids.

Glad we have them, though. Ain't regressors either, no matter who the coach. We definitely could have, did use(d) some guys from the shot clock, college ready prep leagues around here.

Need a home run, star recruit. Haven't sniffed the likes of one and we would be excited at this point to land Vlad Moldanveneau because he would be the best shooter we've ever had Paulsen era and he's above 6'1".

Anything is better than Okoloji/Holloway though as I always say. Things are going okay right now but the excitement...is just not there.

Exactly, I often wonder if any of Mason's players would start on other A10 teams. IMO Mason has a bunch of decent role & bench players.

 

[FreeGunston12]

DP's ultimate downfall, and we all know it's not happening this year, will be his inability to recruit and land the caliber of player that we need to win the A10 and go to the NCAA tournament. When I see that we're after 2 star recruits and trying to beat out the likes of Elon for their services I worry. I hope the incoming class is a step up, but who knows? Henry with 3 stars seems to be our highest ranked recruit for next year. We beat out La. Tech, Oral Roberts, and Samford to get him. I hope he's an absolute beast and kicks a$$ for 4 years. The schools I mentioned aren't power 5 or even Dayton and vcu are they?

On top of that his in game strategy is vanilla offense and predictable defense. EVERYONE now knows our press. Why not throw a curve and have other options to go to? Wait, you mean have multiple sets offensively and defensively? Wow 81! I never thought of that. Sarcasm for any vcu fans still trolling. We're a one trick pony with a system that will not work against the better teams in the A10 and certainly won't work against power 5 schools. Throw in zero creativity when it comes to inbounds plays and you have a recipe for being average/mediocre at best.

If DP were to leave or get fired I would thank him for not being Paul Hewitt and helping us recover from rock bottom. I just don't see him making us an elite A10 program. If Edwards is happy with a clean program then we're stuck with him for the foreseeable future. I expressed my displeasure with Hewitt to admin. If we go 9 - 9, or worse, this year I will do so with Brad. DP will have had 5 years to turn a program around...... and will have failed. Sorry, I'm not going to be happy with average. My 2 cents and I'm sticking to it.

If we go 17 - 1 this year I never said any of this!!!!!

His downfall will most assuredly be the 2nd paragraph, moreso than the first. No creativity or flexibility. Everything is extra vanilla. When opposing teams double the ball handler in the pick and roll, the offense stops there. There is no secondary option or motion, only a bailout pass back to halfcourt.

 

[By George.]

His downfall will most assuredly be the 2nd paragraph, moreso than the first. No creativity or flexibility. Everything is extra vanilla. When opposing teams double the ball handler in the pick and roll, the offense stops there. There is no secondary option or motion, only a bailout pass back to halfcourt.

I asked DP about this, his answer at the 5:30 mark of the video

https://giantkiller.co/2020/01/06/george-mason-vs-vcu-post-game-highlights-2020/

 

[FreeGunston12]

I asked DP about this, his answer at the 5:30 mark of the video

https://giantkiller.co/2020/01/06/george-mason-vs-vcu-post-game-highlights-2020/

Come on Dave. It is not just a problem when we play vcu. What do you want your team to do when the opposition stops the ball screen action? It has plagued our offense for at least two seasons now.

Our guards and bigs are too short to pass over a double team to the roller. No one else moves until the pick and roll happens. When they finally do, its towards half court to relieve the pressure. That's basically the offensive film from the past 40+ games regardless of level of competition.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Exactly, I often wonder if any of Mason's players would start on other A10 teams. IMO Mason has a bunch of decent role & bench players.

Yup. Nail on head.

 

[gmujim92]

Yup. Nail on head.

LOL. A couple of random donks on a message board think they’re college basketball talent evaluators.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I asked DP about this, his answer at the 5:30 mark of the video

https://giantkiller.co/2020/01/06/george-mason-vs-vcu-post-game-highlights-2020/

He is sooooooo clumsy in interviews. Kind of reminds me of Ritchie Petibone when he coached the Skins. A reporter would ask him a question, he'd scratch his head, and say, "I don't know."

 

[Patriotsince81]

LOL. A couple of random donks on a message board think they’re college basketball talent evaluators.

On this point he is right. Credit is due when credit is due. Who, on Mason, would start for vcu or Dayton?

 

[gmujim92]

On this point he is right. Credit is due when credit is due. Who, on Mason, would start for vcu or Dayton?

If that’s the standard, you should go root for somebody else. Those two programs might as well be on a different planet than Mason and just about everyone else in the A-10.

 

[sleeperpick]

LOL. A couple of random donks on a message board think they’re college basketball talent evaluators.

You thought you were a better college basketball talent evaluator than hewitt lol.

 

[Patriotsince81]

If that’s the standard, you should go root for somebody else. Those two programs might as well be on a different planet than Mason and just about everyone else in the A-10.

Why the personal attacks? The all mighty can't handle it? My resume includes 12 years a a high school coach in Northern Virginia. I coached Hubert Davis and coached against Grant Hill, just to name a few. Get off your high horse and start respecting the opinions of others. And, answer the question. Who, on Mason, would start for vcu or Dayton?