Game Thread: Mason (11 - 3 / 0 - 1) vs St. Bonaventure (9- 5 / 1 - 0), Wednesday, January 8th, 7:00

[tblack33]

It does seem really odd that you'd give Calixte and Oduro 35 minutes at the 5 against huge UMD, but are so scared of Osun that you'd abandon them in this game.

Also, remember at the beginning of the season when AJ was getting open and actually hit a couple of straight away 3s? In other words, it feels like Paulsen has really overly reigned this team in and his lack of confidence is leading to a team-wide lack of confidence.

He really has overly reigned us in. Did you see his reaction on that missed alley oop? He kicked the everloving shit out of the scorers table and laid into the guys. Don’t get me wrong it was a bad pass but we made so many worse plays that didn’t garner any sort of reaction out of him. Have to wonder if the guys are playing tense.

 

[KAOriginal]

Paulsen sucks. This team sucks.

So if we re going to suck...might as well bet against them and enjoy something.

I said bet your mortgage....I should have bet more. I'm getting a trip to Vegas off tonights winnings. May go for more next game....

 

[mkaufman1]

He really has overly reigned us in. Did you see his reaction on that missed alley oop? He kicked the everloving shit out of the scorers table and laid into the guys. Don’t get me wrong it was a bad pass but we made so many worse plays that didn’t garner any sort of reaction out of him. Have to wonder if the guys are playing tense.

Normally Id respond and chime in with something about momentum swing or something else but I’m just going to say yep, sums it up. Let’s play to not lose instead of playing to win.

 

[patriotchild]

Does anyone really think Paulsen has a chance of being let go, even if this thing goes completely off the rails this year?

he’s the perfect mason hire. Clean program, not flashy, wins enough to say we care about basketball.

I don’t see him being gone until after next season, and only if we implode this year and next. if he goes 9-9 or better in the A-10 in either year I’d imagine Mason keeps him around.

His argument/excuse (not that these are valid or I believe them) for staying is that the program has improved each year and he’s had to deal with injuries.
he did a good job over achieving in year 1-3 while rebuilding.
Year 4 he set expectations too high but still finished 5th and had injuries.
This year “he has a young team” which is why he padded the ooc. But could still get 20 wins

I just don’t see mason pulling that trigger unless someone needs a tournament worthy program on their resume to qualify for another job.

 

[KAOriginal]

Does anyone really think Paulsen has a chance of being let go, even if this thing goes completely off the rails this year?

he’s the perfect mason hire. Clean program, not flashy, wins enough to say we care about basketball.

I don’t see him being gone until after next season, and only if we implode this year and next. if he goes 9-9 or better in the A-10 in either year I’d imagine Mason keeps him around.

His argument/excuse (not that these are valid or I believe them) for staying is that the program has improved each year and he’s had to deal with injuries.
he did a good job over achieving in year 1-3 while rebuilding.
Year 4 he set expectations too high but still finished 5th and had injuries.
This year “he has a young team” which is why he padded the ooc. But could still get 20 wins

I just don’t see mason pulling that trigger unless someone needs a tournament worthy program on their resume to qualify for another job.

Mason won't pull the trigger that fast..with questions of AD and Pres up in the air.

This team will not win 20 games. I will be surprised if there's more than six left in this team...

 

[Pablo]

SBUnfurled

@SBUnfurled
·
2h

A shot chart from tonight's game:

 

[mkaufman1]

Does anyone really think Paulsen has a chance of being let go, even if this thing goes completely off the rails this year?

he’s the perfect mason hire. Clean program, not flashy, wins enough to say we care about basketball.

I don’t see him being gone until after next season, and only if we implode this year and next. if he goes 9-9 or better in the A-10 in either year I’d imagine Mason keeps him around.

His argument/excuse (not that these are valid or I believe them) for staying is that the program has improved each year and he’s had to deal with injuries.
he did a good job over achieving in year 1-3 while rebuilding.
Year 4 he set expectations too high but still finished 5th and had injuries.
This year “he has a young team” which is why he padded the ooc. But could still get 20 wins

I just don’t see mason pulling that trigger unless someone needs a tournament worthy program on their resume to qualify for another job.

no, Dave isn’t going anywhere and won’t as long as brad is around.

that said, with a new pres, and a new ad, Dave would have to show improvement if this year is bad (like year 1 bad). Even then, he may get a little while longer if they look at the body of work and improvement.

as bad as this is, and as much as he’s lost me for the most part, he’s going to be around for a while still, especially because of the improvements and that takes time etc etc blah blah, insert excuse and broken record here. At some point, he won’t have the leash especially if donors lose more interest.

 

[Pablo]

Petey Buckets

@peteybuckets
·
3h

They're just in zone. Mason hasn't beaten a simple zone ever in the Paulsen era.
Quote Tweet

3 Bid League

@3BidLeaguePod
· 3h
George Mason has scored about 20 points in the last 25 minutes of this game. Bonnies defense is locked in

 

[NewPatriot]

wow! I couldn't see the game but he was screaming at the players and kicking the table!!!

It really sounds like he has lost the team.

 

[mason lawyer]

Lol @ the establishment here waking up to Paulsen being a horrible coach. At least you experts are not kissing his a** anymore. Many of us knew it very very early on.

 

[Maestro]

This girl on the dance team was having a good time the entire game, however...even my wife couldn't stop talking about her.

https://imgur.com/FKya0Sg

She definitely comes to play every game...

 

[masonjoe]

Also, remember at the beginning of the season when AJ was getting open and actually hit a couple of straight away 3s?

Against who? Longwood? Jacksonville St?

 

[Patriotsince81]

I knew it was bad but we were out rebounded 44 - 24. Gave up 15 offensive boards. Wow.

 

[GSII]

Stop playing AJ at the 4 you dumb dumb coach

I thought it was at the 5 you hated him at?

I hated the 4 guard lineup last night. Aj at the 4 would have done damage vs one of their guards. Calixte/Oduro at the 5. Lil Dave played right into Schmidts trap.

 

[hoops10]

Despite Paulsons desperation coaching, playing AJ out of position, the biggest issue in my opinion is just lack of talent. U can't win if kids can't shoot , can't pass the dam ball, can't rebound, can't stick with their man on defense. How many players on this team would even be considered for the better A10 teams, maybe five? Also, the same bs for five years, when are we going to find a decent big man? Oduro to me will never be more than a serviceable sub, I get it, hes a freshman and will get better, but the kid is slow, can't jump, and not going to be a 10 rebound per game guy. Until GM can compete on the recruiting scene they will continue to be a mediocre team. Just one man's opinion. As far as Paulson, give him some better players, maybe better results. Who knows. But then again isn't that on him.

 

[sleeperpick]

I thought it was at the 5 you hated him at?

I hated the 4 guard lineup last night. Aj at the 4 would have done damage vs one of their guards. Calixte/Oduro at the 5. Lil Dave played right into Schmidts trap.

Maybe I mistyped but you’re exactly right. AJ with that white dude guarding him would have been free throw line for him all night. But instead OSUN did and Bona coach dictated lineups and matchups

 

[PDGL Hoops]

Meh....I have become accustomed to the mediocrity.

 

[Mason2005]

I agree with you on this, we don't have the horses. The Boonies players were simply better and had more skill. This isn't the NBA though, a GM can't just give DP better players. He has to go out there and get them himself. I think that is his biggest downfall and why he isn't the guy for us anymore.

Despite Paulsons desperation coaching, playing AJ out of position, the biggest issue in my opinion is just lack of talent. U can't win if kids can't shoot , can't pass the dam ball, can't rebound, can't stick with their man on defense. How many players on this team would even be considered for the better A10 teams, maybe five? Also, the same bs for five years, when are we going to find a decent big man? Oduro to me will never be more than a serviceable sub, I get it, hes a freshman and will get better, but the kid is slow, can't jump, and not going to be a 10 rebound per game guy. Until GM can compete on the recruiting scene they will continue to be a mediocre team. Just one man's opinion. As far as Paulson, give him some better players, maybe better results. Who knows. But then again isn't that on him.

 

[tblack33]

Despite Paulsons desperation coaching, playing AJ out of position, the biggest issue in my opinion is just lack of talent. U can't win if kids can't shoot , can't pass the dam ball, can't rebound, can't stick with their man on defense. How many players on this team would even be considered for the better A10 teams, maybe five? Also, the same bs for five years, when are we going to find a decent big man? Oduro to me will never be more than a serviceable sub, I get it, hes a freshman and will get better, but the kid is slow, can't jump, and not going to be a 10 rebound per game guy. Until GM can compete on the recruiting scene they will continue to be a mediocre team. Just one man's opinion. As far as Paulson, give him some better players, maybe better results. Who knows. But then again isn't that on him.

Your last sentence sums it up best, at this point everyone's frustrations with the program seem to be on him. It's not an inherited roster and system, it's all on Dave and it's not working.

 

[Copes4Three]

I get that, that's not my intent. I want nothing more than to see Mason succeed. That's why I want Paulsen gone.

Henry will be a great add if he doesn't decide to de-commit. The players play super hard and we have had some good wins when the shots are falling, but when the other team starts getting on a run we automatically fall into panic mode. We have been killed on the glass the last three games and opposing teams are letting the ball fly from the 3pt line. This small ball lineup doesn't work against A10 wings Paul unless you have some explosive guards who can shoot over contests.