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

[Pablo]

https://www.a10talk.com/forums/threads/bonnies-george-mason-wed-jan-8-7-00.165/page-4:

"Believe it or not, we Bucknellians weren't overly sorry to see Paulsen go despite the success we had. Like most basketball coaches, he's stubborn as hell and seemed unwilling or unable to adjust his tactics to fit the opponent and his own changing personnel. (Of course, that was in the opinion of all of us bloviating "experts" that never coached, and in some cases, played a lick). His strength was recruiting. He was able to recruit many of the better players with the high academic backgrounds necessary to meet school and PL requirements, in many cases keeping them away from the Ivies, Northwesterns and W&Ms, et. al. That doesn't seem to have translated as well to GMU.

Of course, now that his last recruit is gone from Bucknell, some of us would welcome him back in a minute."

 

[Falco]

https://www.a10talk.com/forums/threads/bonnies-george-mason-wed-jan-8-7-00.165/page-4:

"Believe it or not, we Bucknellians weren't overly sorry to see Paulsen go despite the success we had. Like most basketball coaches, he's stubborn as hell and seemed unwilling or unable to adjust his tactics to fit the opponent and his own changing personnel. (Of course, that was in the opinion of all of us bloviating "experts" that never coached, and in some cases, played a lick). His strength was recruiting. He was able to recruit many of the better players with the high academic backgrounds necessary to meet school and PL requirements, in many cases keeping them away from the Ivies, Northwesterns and W&Ms, et. al. That doesn't seem to have translated as well to GMU.

Of course, now that his last recruit is gone from Bucknell, some of us would welcome him back in a minute."

Interesting

 

[Mason2005]

A different kind of post game, enjoy.

View: https://youtu.be/R2D3kzkZj2I

 

[By George.]

A different kind of post game, enjoy.

View: https://youtu.be/R2D3kzkZj2I

Love what Ron says about the 1 and 0 mentality at the end of the video.

Here’s something I want y’all to think about - One total question got asked in the last presser and it was by our student writer who’s a Junior. ONE QUESTION. Other bloggers, writers, Dick Patrick...one question...and the question starts with “where to start?”

There was a game this year where, I left the presser to interview a player while DP answered questions, he didn’t receive one question. Some of you may take nothing from this but it’s telling to us. For years we’ve been one of few in there asking questions, and I think we’re officially fatigued. The other smaller bloggers like MTC are choosing other local games to cover. If we don’t ask questions, who will? Party on to La Salle, we’ll be there.

 

[gmujim92]

His base is $400K. I wish he was making at least $700K. That would mean he is hititng most of his incentive bonuses. Hewitt's base was $650k/year. Neither coach has even sniffed any performace bonuses.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...bbdad0-2d66-11e5-960f-22c4ba982ed4_story.html

"Paulsen’s deal includes $400,000 in base salary and $300,000 in supplemental compensation.

The bonus package is worth up to $400,000 annually and includes incentives for the Atlantic 10 regular season title and tournament championship; NCAA tournament and NIT appearances; NCAA and NIT championships; A-10 and national coach of the year awards; and graduation rates and other academic achievement by the players."

Chank, he is effectively making $700k in base salary. The $300k in “supplemental compensation” is a technicality in his contract because he’s a state employee and they want to make it look like his base is $400k.

The incentives are on top of the $700k, although as you pointed out, he hasn’t hit many (if any) of those.

It really is crazy to think a giant public university like Mason is still only paying its men’s basketball coach half of what vcu pays theirs.

Kind of embarrassing, actually. Will we ever do athletics in a non-half-assed way?

 

[Pablo]

Love what Ron says about the 1 and 0 mentality at the end of the video.

Here’s something I want y’all to think about - One total question got asked in the last presser and it was by our student writer who’s a Junior. ONE QUESTION. Other bloggers, writers, Dick Patrick...one question...and the question starts with “where to start?”

There was a game this year where, I left the presser to interview a player while DP answered questions, he didn’t receive one question. Some of you may take nothing from this but it’s telling to us. For years we’ve been one of few in there asking questions, and I think we’re officially fatigued. The other smaller bloggers like MTC are choosing other local games to cover. If we don’t ask questions, who will? Party on to La Salle, we’ll be there.

Keep up the good work! For a trip down memory lane, watch

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKt3RsavGBA
.

 

[Pablo]

Chank, he is effectively making $700k in base salary. The $300k in “supplemental compensation” is a technicality in his contract because he’s a state employee and they want to make it look like his base is $400k.

The incentives are on top of the $700k, although as you pointed out, he hasn’t hit many (if any) of those.

It really is crazy to think a giant public university like Mason is still only paying its men’s basketball coach half of what vcu pays theirs.

Kind of embarrassing, actually. Will we ever do athletics in a non-half-assed way?

Will Mason ever sell out every game like vcu (currently 144 consecutive sellouts)?

 

[GSII]

Will Mason ever sell every game like vcu (currently 144 consecutive sellouts)?

Yes. If we build a 2k seat arena.

 

[GMUgemini]

Will Mason ever sell every game like vcu (currently 144 consecutive sellouts)?

No.

 

[Pablo]

By George.

@ByGeorgeGMU

Gonna steal an idea from WorldWideWob - Mason fans, this is a cathartic thread. A safe space. Let it all out

Joe Little
@LittleJoeTV·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
We scored 18 points in the second half?

Ben@bennyb703

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
I was a kid during the final four run w season tickets. Attended tonight for first time this year. Coach Dave needs to be fired bc the players are not inspired by him. Lower the concession prices they are crazy. This program needs to invest in its fans!


Andy Mackay@andymackay5

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Fire Dave Paulson. This lack of non conference and blowouts against actual teams is unacceptable. I guess GMU basketball will forever be aligned with below average

DCN8TV@SajeevDC2Va
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Over rated. They should eliminate all sports from Mason except for track and field.

SS@Souleaz
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
We have the AD equivalent of a trophy wife in charge. Let’s get some fresh talent in the building

TheREALMASONMAN@TheREALMASONMAN
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Can’t shoot, can’t rebound, can’t defend. No second chance points. No go to player. Blew an 11 point lead.


marcus franklin@wellknownnobody
·
Jan 9

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Being from Woodbridge and only having george mason to cheer for if I am talking D 1 hoops in northern Va it really bothers me how mediocre this program is especially now that I live in Richmond and vcu operates like they are duke or something here extremely depressing

Brandon Smith@CoachBrandonS
·
21h

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
40 minutes please...play all 40 minutes. Need to stop counting on jumpers...Work the Paint!


Lisa@princess3730
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Wow glad we missed this one..

Houser@Matt_Houser98
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
I go to all of the mason basketball games I can for the past 2.5 seasons. This year the student section sucks. As for the team, we looked good in the beginning of the year, then all of a sudden we can’t play defense, hit open or high percentage shots...

Bryan@Larrylawww
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
It would mean a whole lot to me if Paulsen sat down at the press conference and said, “You know what? I just got done telling the players, this one is on me. I have to have the players better prepared.” I’d get up mid presser and give the man a hug.


Houser@Matt_Houser98
·
Jan 8

Overall we have to learn how to control the game if we have a big lead, and how to finish the game. We also have a school that doesn’t support our team. Just a T-shirt in the bookstore, other A10 schools have the teams jerseys for sale...

Andrew@A_McConnell11
Jan 9

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
I’m just kinda confused by everyone wanting to fire Paulsen I mean honestly who is this program going to get that is an improvement over him? We lucked into coach L all those years ago and the university has such a low priority on sports that we just let him go down to Miami

Bagger Vance@BaggerVance7
23h

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
You all need to look at the big picture. This was one game. It opens up old wounds. For me, its the Reuter debacle. Saying publicy he was an all conf player and then in first game was so outta shape he couldnt make it down the court. If Im AD, im firing him for that. Incompetent.


Chris GMUFan@gmufan2000
21h
Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Right now, we're bad and boring. That's a terrible combination.

WryWryWry@WryWryWry3
17h
Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Oh but don’t worry, GMUJim will be here to give us all his strawman arguments about Hewitt and how Paulsen is one of the best coaches in the country.

 

[gmujim92]

By George.

@ByGeorgeGMU

Gonna steal an idea from WorldWideWob - Mason fans, this is a cathartic thread. A safe space. Let it all out

Joe Little
@LittleJoeTV·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
We scored 18 points in the second half?

Ben@bennyb703

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
I was a kid during the final four run w season tickets. Attended tonight for first time this year. Coach Dave needs to be fired bc the players are not inspired by him. Lower the concession prices they are crazy. This program needs to invest in its fans!


Andy Mackay@andymackay5

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Fire Dave Paulson. This lack of non conference and blowouts against actual teams is unacceptable. I guess GMU basketball will forever be aligned with below average

DCN8TV@SajeevDC2Va
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Over rated. They should eliminate all sports from Mason except for track and field.

SS@Souleaz
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
We have the AD equivalent of a trophy wife in charge. Let’s get some fresh talent in the building

TheREALMASONMAN@TheREALMASONMAN
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Can’t shoot, can’t rebound, can’t defend. No second chance points. No go to player. Blew an 11 point lead.


marcus franklin@wellknownnobody
·
Jan 9

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Being from Woodbridge and only having george mason to cheer for if I am talking D 1 hoops in northern Va it really bothers me how mediocre this program is especially now that I live in Richmond and vcu operates like they are duke or something here extremely depressing

Brandon Smith@CoachBrandonS
·
21h

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
40 minutes please...play all 40 minutes. Need to stop counting on jumpers...Work the Paint!


Lisa@princess3730
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Wow glad we missed this one..

Houser@Matt_Houser98
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
I go to all of the mason basketball games I can for the past 2.5 seasons. This year the student section sucks. As for the team, we looked good in the beginning of the year, then all of a sudden we can’t play defense, hit open or high percentage shots...

Bryan@Larrylawww
·
Jan 8

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
It would mean a whole lot to me if Paulsen sat down at the press conference and said, “You know what? I just got done telling the players, this one is on me. I have to have the players better prepared.” I’d get up mid presser and give the man a hug.


Houser@Matt_Houser98
·
Jan 8

Overall we have to learn how to control the game if we have a big lead, and how to finish the game. We also have a school that doesn’t support our team. Just a T-shirt in the bookstore, other A10 schools have the teams jerseys for sale...

Andrew@A_McConnell11
Jan 9

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
I’m just kinda confused by everyone wanting to fire Paulsen I mean honestly who is this program going to get that is an improvement over him? We lucked into coach L all those years ago and the university has such a low priority on sports that we just let him go down to Miami

Bagger Vance@BaggerVance7
23h

Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
You all need to look at the big picture. This was one game. It opens up old wounds. For me, its the Reuter debacle. Saying publicy he was an all conf player and then in first game was so outta shape he couldnt make it down the court. If Im AD, im firing him for that. Incompetent.


Chris GMUFan@gmufan2000
21h
Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Right now, we're bad and boring. That's a terrible combination.

WryWryWry@WryWryWry3
17h
Replying to
@ByGeorgeGMU
Oh but don’t worry, GMUJim will be here to give us all his strawman arguments about Hewitt and how Paulsen is one of the best coaches in the country.

I guess I can sell my house now, since I’m clearly living rent-free in at least one person’s head.

 

[ephoops]

I thought I would chime in given that a number of posters are melting down after this loss.

I have watched DP coach for 20+ years. This Bona game was very disappointing. For the game's last 30+ minutes, DP was out-coached by the best coach in the A-10. It happens. It's one game.

As I believe I have noted in the past, generally speaking, throughout his coaching career DP's most successful teams had four things:

1. Very good PG play. The PG being an extension of DP out on the floor
2. A dominant big man who could rebound and reliably score, particularly when the offense needed a big basket.
3. At least one (if not more) reliable 3-pt shooter (usually 40%+) who could space the floor and hit a 3 in crunch time.
4. Good rebounders, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

During DP's tenure at Mason, I'd say he has had #1 and #4. The lack of a dominant big man and a reliable 3-point shooter(s) are definitely missing from this team and previous teams. Perhaps Kolek is the 3-pt threat that this team lacks and Henry provides an upgrade to the interior offense and rebounding. We'll see.

I have no idea where this team will end up in conference play, but I do believe that DP and his staff will figure out a way to get this team back on track.

 

[sleeperpick]

I thought I would chime in given that a number of posters are melting down after this loss.

I have watched DP coach for 20+ years. This Bona game was very disappointing. For the game's last 30+ minutes, DP was out-coached by the best coach in the A-10. It happens. It's one game.

As I believe I have noted in the past, generally speaking, throughout his coaching career DP's most successful teams had four things:

1. Very good PG play. The PG being an extension of DP out on the floor
2. A dominant big man who could rebound and reliably score, particularly when the offense needed a big basket.
3. At least one (if not more) reliable 3-pt shooter (usually 40%+) who could space the floor and hit a 3 in crunch time.
4. Good rebounders, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

During DP's tenure at Mason, I'd say he has had #1 and #4. The lack of a dominant big man and a reliable 3-point shooter(s) are definitely missing from this team and previous teams. Perhaps Kolek is the 3-pt threat that this team lacks and Henry provides an upgrade to the interior offense and rebounding. We'll see.

I have no idea where this team will end up in conference play, but I do believe that DP and his staff will figure out a way to get this team back on track.

yea you have posted it since like season 2. very good synopsis but there have been 3 additional years to fix numbers 2, 3 and 4 and he hasn't

 

[GMUgemini]

yea you have posted it since like season 2. very good synopsis but there have been 3 additional years to fix numbers 2, 3 and 4 and he hasn't

Technically, we had 2 40% 3-point shooters on the team last year (Grayer and Boyd), but they both ended the season hurt. Boyd played through his injury, (which seems like a colossal mistake in hindsight on our part, since he lost his senior season to the wrist injury) but he couldn't shoot for crap after injurying it.

p.s. forgot Hartwell ended the season at over 40% shooting, but he didn't take enough 3s to really matter that much (and this season he's nowhere close to 40% right now).

 

[gmubrian]

As I believe I have noted in the past, generally speaking, throughout his coaching career DP's most successful teams had four things:

1. Very good PG play. The PG being an extension of DP out on the floor
2. A dominant big man who could rebound and reliably score, particularly when the offense needed a big basket.
3. At least one (if not more) reliable 3-pt shooter (usually 40%+) who could space the floor and hit a 3 in crunch time.
4. Good rebounders, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Not that I wanted to jump on the uber-negative bandwagon, and no offense meant towards you...

Is that all? I would hope that any coach would have a successful team with that on their team. Good coaches should be able to have decent success with some small deficiencies, and, it his job to ensure he has that. Up to this point, it has been his recruiting that, at least for me, was the only question mark. This season though, I have really started to waiver on the other items.

I was buying that we were getting there and that our recruiting is on an upswing and things should start looking up. I bought the excuses that we have had injuries that explain away most of the problems. But, why do we have so many problems that other teams don't consistently have. Have we hired the unluckiest coach ever? Then there are the lack of in game adjustments. Since our second halves were looking better than our first halves earlier in the season, I dismissed that. But, in the recent games where we have played decent competition, well you have seen what has happened. Bona went to a zone and we never adjusted and scored 18 whole points in the second half.

We also have the most glaring weakness that even the worst D1 coaches should be able to exploit and that is that we can't score against a zone defense. Any team that doesn't play zone against us and loses should fire their coach on the spot and save the air fare/gas money.

I am not on the fire him bandwagon yet, but my hopes for Paulsen to take us anywhere have dimmed immensely.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I thought I would chime in given that a number of posters are melting down after this loss.

I have watched DP coach for 20+ years. This Bona game was very disappointing. For the game's last 30+ minutes, DP was out-coached by the best coach in the A-10. It happens. It's one game.

As I believe I have noted in the past, generally speaking, throughout his coaching career DP's most successful teams had four things:

1. Very good PG play. The PG being an extension of DP out on the floor
2. A dominant big man who could rebound and reliably score, particularly when the offense needed a big basket.
3. At least one (if not more) reliable 3-pt shooter (usually 40%+) who could space the floor and hit a 3 in crunch time.
4. Good rebounders, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

During DP's tenure at Mason, I'd say he has had #1 and #4. The lack of a dominant big man and a reliable 3-point shooter(s) are definitely missing from this team and previous teams. Perhaps Kolek is the 3-pt threat that this team lacks and Henry provides an upgrade to the interior offense and rebounding. We'll see.

I have no idea where this team will end up in conference play, but I do believe that DP and his staff will figure out a way to get this team back on track.

No offense, but you are clearly invested in Paulsen. Everyone else here is invested primarily in Mason basketball. So forgive us, but Mason basketball's most successful identity has been based around quality big men. On both sides of the ball. That could bully people and push them around.

Paulsen has been the worst coach in my 15 years of Mason fandom as far as recruiting and developing big men is concerned. Now that only covers 3 coaches, but to say a coach is worse at something (anything) than Paul Hewitt is quite damning.

I am also a defense first, defense wins championships guy. But for F sake, our offense is so terribly inefficient. I actually think we have good shooters. They are just operating in the slowest, most predictable offense in the conference right now.

Run some damn off-ball screens for our shooters. Not everyone should have to create their own shot. We can't call them bad shooters. They just can't do it all.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I thought I would chime in given that a number of posters are melting down after this loss.

I have watched DP coach for 20+ years. This Bona game was very disappointing. For the game's last 30+ minutes, DP was out-coached by the best coach in the A-10. It happens. It's one game.

As I believe I have noted in the past, generally speaking, throughout his coaching career DP's most successful teams had four things:

1. Very good PG play. The PG being an extension of DP out on the floor
2. A dominant big man who could rebound and reliably score, particularly when the offense needed a big basket.
3. At least one (if not more) reliable 3-pt shooter (usually 40%+) who could space the floor and hit a 3 in crunch time.
4. Good rebounders, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

During DP's tenure at Mason, I'd say he has had #1 and #4. The lack of a dominant big man and a reliable 3-point shooter(s) are definitely missing from this team and previous teams. Perhaps Kolek is the 3-pt threat that this team lacks and Henry provides an upgrade to the interior offense and rebounding. We'll see.

I have no idea where this team will end up in conference play, but I do believe that DP and his staff will figure out a way to get this team back on track.

Who is responsible for recruiting and developing #2 and #3?
You've watched him for 20 + years. I applaud that, sincerely. You do know that his record has decreased, for the most part, with every step up in competition?
Williams D3 - Overall 170- 53 (.762). In league 49 - 23 (.681)
Bucknell D1 Patriot League - Overall 134 - 94 (.588) League 74 - 32 (.698)
Mason A10 D1 - Overall 76 -71 (.517). League 34 - 40 (.459)
I hope you are right that things get figured out. Not much hope on my end.

 

[gmujim92]

Who is responsible for recruiting and developing #2 and #3?
You've watched him for 20 + years. I applaud that, sincerely. You do know that his record has decreased, for the most part, with every step up in competition?
Williams D3 - Overall 170- 53 (.762). In league 49 - 23 (.681)
Bucknell D1 Patriot League - Overall 134 - 94 (.588) League 74 - 32 (.698)
Mason A10 D1 - Overall 76 -71 (.517). League 34 - 40 (.459)
I hope you are right that things get figured out. Not much hope on my end.

Holy deceptive use of stats, Batman!

(Hint: You might want to consider the state of the programs Paulsen inherited. Both Bucknell and Mason were on the way down in a big way when he was hired.)

Paulsen’s record over his final 5 seasons at Bucknell was 113-54 and that doesn’t include the 90 wins he left behind for Nathan Davis to scoop up with a loaded roster.

Why he left that team to take over our flaming dumpster fire of a program — other than money — remains a mystery.

 

[sleeperpick]

Holy deceptive use of stats, Batman!

(Hint: You might want to consider the state of the programs Paulsen inherited. Both Bucknell and Mason were on the way down in a big way when he was hired.)

Paulsen’s record over his final 5 seasons at Bucknell was 113-54 and that doesn’t include the 90 wins he left behind for Nathan Davis to scoop up with a loaded roster.

Why he left that team to take over our flaming dumpster fire of a program — other than money — remains a mystery.

You are the king of picking battles the. When presented with stats moving on to your next battle. I’m still waiting on something about AJ only playing the 4 all year that you said. Still waiting on 5th place or worst tickets bet. Still waiting on you to answer if paulsen is your uncle. Still waiting on if you actually watch these games you so mysteriously forget about

 

[gmujim92]

You are the king of picking battles the. When presented with stats moving on to your next battle. I’m still waiting on something about AJ only playing the 4 all year that you said. Still waiting on 5th place or worst tickets bet. Still waiting on you to answer if paulsen is your uncle. Still waiting on if you actually watch these games you so mysteriously forget about

Self-awareness much?