Looking back on it...5-years in the A10

[p8triotfan4life]

Are you all happy with the move even though it's been a painful transition at times? Should we have stayed in the CAA?

I think we are definitely fitting into the A10 overall now. I think all-in-all it was a good move. The CAA has cemented itself as a 1-bid league and the A10 has gotten in 3-5 bids/year since we moved over.

 

[Falco]

Are you all happy with the move even though it's been a painful transition at times? Should we have stayed in the CAA?

I think we are definitely fitting into the A10 overall now. I think all-in-all it was a good move. The CAA has cemented itself as a 1-bid league and the A10 has gotten in 3-5 bids/year since we moved over.

I think the move was necessary; However Mason did not take the appropriate steps to make it a smooth transition. Mason had all the resources to compete at the top of the CAA. However, it took 5 years before investments were made to be able to compete at the top of the A10.

Obviously, we will never know, but if Hewitt was able to get Mason to finish top five in the CAA, I would have to image any other competent coach would have mason in the CAA finals. That said, moving to the A10 was the right long-term decision.

 

[masonjoe]

I can't believe anyone would even consider that staying in the CAA would have benefited the program in anyway.

 

[dr. gunnie]

Paulsen has proved in a few seasons that we are a middle of the pack A-10 team when we have an average roster/team (I would consider our roster the last two seasons to be average). Next year we’ll see how we do with an above average roster with some senior leaders. Hope it’s enough to be a legit top 4 A-10 team.

 

[gmujim92]

It was a good move because even though our program infrastructure wasn’t ready for it at the time, there was no guarantee the offer would ever come again.

Joining the A-10 has forced our administration to step up its game from a fundraising and facilities standpoint and that was long overdue. The investments that are being made will pay dividends for many years into the future.

Even though we would’ve won more in the short term in the CAA, no way we’d be better off stuck in an irrelevant 1-bid league.

 

[mkaufman1]

Extremely happy with the move. As Jim said, it forced the admin to take basketball seriously from having the right coach to having the right facilities to be able to compete for recruits. I’m glad they took it when they did because you never know if the opportunity comes again.

While it sucks we had to deal with a few years of Hewitt and years of being beaten up, over the long term with the changes Mason has made things should even off. I personally expect big things over the next few years. No not national titles, but I definitely expect Mason to be in the thick of potential NCAA bid discussions. I’m definitely excited to see what Paulsen and co can do. I hope in 5 years the discussion is changed from potential to what they have achieved and continue to achieve.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

It was a good move because even though our program infrastructure wasn’t ready for it at the time, there was no guarantee the offer would ever come again.

Joining the A-10 has forced our administration to step up its game from a fundraising and facilities standpoint and that was long overdue. The investments that are being made will pay dividends for many years into the future.

Even though we would’ve won more in the short term in the CAA, no way we’d be better off stuck in an irrelevant 1-bid league.

Great reply to this question.

 

[GMUSig03]

Only reason anyone could reasonably have any reservations about the decision to join the A-10 are direct a result of the Hewitt hire and how quickly he drove that car off the cliff.

I agree with everyone's comments the decision was obviously a good/correct one, but would there be anyone having doubts if we magically could have hired 2016 Paulsen in 2012?

 

[gmujim92]

Only reason anyone could reasonably have any reservations about the decision to join the A-10 are direct a result of the Hewitt hire and how quickly he drove that car off the cliff.

I agree with everyone's comments the decision was obviously a good/correct one, but would there be anyone having doubts if we magically could have hired 2016 Paulsen in 2012?

No, in retrospect Dave would’ve been a perfect choice to succeed L and I have zero doubt he would’ve kept the program absolutely rolling with the roster L left behind.

It’s an important lesson that the splashiest “name” hires can win you an introductory press conference, but that doesn’t mean d!ck once they toss the ball up.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Has it been five years already???

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

It Has!!!!

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Let's just take the time to thank Tom O'Connor, as well as for him comping my beer the day of the above pictures...

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Simple answer - Yes from all perspectives.

Hewitt delayed our ability to be successful as we could be here - but DP is getting us back in a hurry.

From an athletics perspective its a better conference and we have won quite a few non-basketball championships since joining.

Staying in the CAA was NOT an option at all.

 

[Cedric Dempsey]

Strictly as a fan of CBB the A10 is light years better to watch. New administration has picked up the pace and DP has wiped out the PH stink. On the up.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

I do miss the regional charm of the CAA . A10 seems more far flung.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I do miss the regional charm of the CAA . A10 seems more far flung.

We have vcu and GW in our conference and Richmond. Three nearby schools. Richmond used to be in the CAA.

I think we have plenty of regional charm.

 

[GMUgemini]

We have vcu and GW in our conference and Richmond. Three nearby schools. Richmond used to be in the CAA.

I think we have plenty of regional charm.

A ton of overlap between the A10 and CAA (Boston, NYC, Philly and what used to be DC and Richmond) - 9 of the 14 teams are in those markets( URI sort of being in that NYC/Boston market).

And Charlotte is not that different from Wilmington.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

More natural rivalries in the CAA is a better way to say it. Plus smaller conferences you see the same teams more...begin to hate them more. UNCW certainly was a rival, NE became one.

Cant recapture the CAA best years in terms of smaller stage hate and tourney fun with every team staying at one hotel.

 

[GSII]

I hate every team in A10 bc they are better than us or can beat us. Until we get to a point of consistently being hated/feared, we wont enjoy the rivalries born out of it. In other words, we need to start slapping people around!

 

[Five Two]

Getting out of the CAA was a no-brainer. But the old administration wasn't up to the challenge to support the move and we are finally close to seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Being in the A10 conference with annual OOC games with JMU, ODU and W&M is a great set up for us.