Meet and Greet with Coach Paulsen

[GMU92]

We get used to how great they are. I went to a women's game at GW last year and the GW pep band, compared to ours, was horrific. As much as I hate to admit it, the only school that could even touch our band in recent years was vcu, but now that their director is gone who knows what's up with them. I thought we were #1 before, but now it's just a battle for #2.

UR band and cheerleaders at the Governor's Classic 2012 showed me how bad it can be and how blessed we are with the cheerleaders, Masonettes and Green Machine. One of the UR dance routine was literally Katy Perry's "Left Shark". Old bat next to me told us we were "rude"...and then came the buzzer beater, and then her tired a$$ was headed for the exits.

 

[Vurbel]

UR band and cheerleaders at the Governor's Classic 2012 showed me how bad it can be and how blessed we are with the cheerleaders, Masonettes and Green Machine. One of the UR dance routine was literally Katy Perry's "Left Shark". Old bat next to me told us we were "rude"...and then came the buzzer beater, and then her tired a$$ was headed for the exits.

Hopefully the last time I ever set foot in the Mausoleum. Anybody else just feel like they needed to jump in a pool of hand sanitizer after being in there?

 

[GMU92]

Hopefully the last time I ever set foot in the Mausoleum. Anybody else just feel like they needed to jump in a pool of hand sanitizer after being in there?

Went there for a non-sports event a few month ago and it is still a dump. Amazed that it still doesn't have simple fixes like hand rails, and segments of the stairs simply drop off at the bottom, no railing at all. The place is a lawsuit just waiting to happen. Also went to the Civil War relics show at Richmond Internation Raceway this summer...show was fun, but there was no signage pointing the way and the facility was pretty dumpy. Richmond has history and some cool stuff, but some of their attractions need work.

 

[Mason2005]

Anyone going to the coaches clinic this Sat?

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[masonjoe]

I might drop by the RAC for the practice if I can find out what time it is and sneak in...

 

[psyclone]

I might drop by the RAC for the practice if I can find out what time it is and sneak in...

There's a schedule on the door of the RAC gym for Saturday that says "MBB 9-3 pm specific sports". Also 2 of the classrooms in the RAC indicate MBB specific sports 1-4pm are on the same schedule. I'm assuming this is related to the coaches' clinic as some of the coaches may be involved in different sports.

FWIW, Thursday & Friday there is MBB practice scheduled in the RAC gym from 10:30-1:30.

 

[sleeperpick]

How did it go? Was Joe Shannon waiting outside the entrance with a baseball bat to make sure "Dre Smith" and his friends did not get let into the exclusive event?

 

[Patriot8]

How did it go? Was Joe Shannon waiting outside the entrance with a baseball bat to make sure "Dre Smith" and his friends did not get let into the exclusive event?

Dre found his way in..

 

[TweederGMU]

Great event. All the Coaches were there and Brad Edwards of course. Some key takeaways:

Mainly a state of the program update regarding facilities. Coach mentioned we pretty much rank in the lowest tier when it comes to facilities. We need vast improvements to our locker room and a dedicated facility for basketball only. Right now we share the RAC with other sports and the kids can't get in there at off beat times to shootaround. The kids wants to go shoot 3's at 10pm and they can't do this currently. We need to raise funds for updates to our locker room and to build up the RAC/separate facility just for basketball. Get your checkbooks out fellas.

Coach Paulsen mentioned we will be better this year than last. He likes the hardwork of the Freshmen so far and that these 2 recruits we have coming in next year are VERY solid and are the type of recruits we need to get to where we need to be in the A-10.

I'm hearing Dixon has added some much needed strength in the offseason and is above Relvao. So I would imagine Dixon being our 5th Starter.

Ian Boyd and Temara are impressing early and will most likely see some minutes. They are very high on Boyd.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Great event. All the Coaches were there and Brad Edwards of course. Some key takeaways:

Mainly a state of the program update regarding facilities. Coach mentioned we pretty much rank in the lowest tier when it comes to facilities. We need vast improvements to our locker room and a dedicated facility for basketball only. Right now we share the RAC with other sports and the kids can't get in there at off beat times to shootaround. The kids wants to go shoot 3's at 10pm and they can't do this currently. We need to raise funds for updates to our locker room and to build up the RAC/separate facility just for basketball. Get your checkbooks out fellas.

Coach Paulsen mentioned we will be better this year than last. He likes the hardwork of the Freshmen so far and that these 2 recruits we have coming in next year are VERY solid and are the type of recruits we need to get to where we need to be in the A-10.

I'm hearing Dixon has added some much needed strength in the offseason and is above Relvao. So I would imagine Dixon being our 5th Starter.

Ian Boyd and Temara are impressing early and will most likely see some minutes. They are very high on Boyd.

Anyone know why we haven't heard anything about the RAC renovations?

 

[mkaufman1]

Anyone know why we haven't heard anything about the RAC renovations?

Season ticket holders got a nice letter regarding the plan for renovations, they have to raise extra money (which they asked for), and want to start construction next year I believe pending the money coming in.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Season ticket holders got a nice letter regarding the plan for renovations, they have to raise extra money (which they asked for), and want to start construction next year I believe pending the money coming in.

Any chance you can post that? Would love to read.

 

[The Great PATSby]

Anyone know why we haven't heard anything about the RAC renovations?

This pic is from the Mason Golf Fundraiser gallery. Looks pretty nice.

 

[mkaufman1]

Any chance you can post that? Would love to read.

sent you a message

 

[MasonSAE4]

sent you a message

Awesome, thanks!

 

[smccart5]

So we need a separate building so they can shoot around at 10pm? I understand letting them shoot any time they want, but how about instead of raising millions for a building, we pay an undergrad 10/hr to be there at late hours to keep the place open? Or have a servirity guard that will open the place up until 1am?

 

[GSII]

Sell that to this generation of recruits.

 

[gmujim92]

So we need a separate building so they can shoot around at 10pm? I understand letting them shoot any time they want, but how about instead of raising millions for a building, we pay an undergrad 10/hr to be there at late hours to keep the place open? Or have a servirity guard that will open the place up until 1am?

I truly mean this as no offense, but I'm inclined to believe that our (D-3) national championship-winning coach knows a little bit more than we do about what the program needs to compete with its peers.

When teams in our own league like vcu and UMass have these palatial practice facilities to lure recruits, we're basically tying our coach's hands behind his back by not even having a rudimentary gym our players can use at all hours.

It's no longer an extravagance, but a necessity.

I don't know about you, but I think this coach is gonna turn out to be special and I'd rather not see him walk because the largest school in Va couldn't or wouldn't meet the program's basic needs.

 

[GMU92]

We aren't getting football anytime soon and we joined the best basketball centric conference in America for a reason. Time to set development of the proper facilities in motion. For goodness sake, Mason poured millions in construction and operating costs down the rat hole for a failed hotel, restaurant and conference center.

 

[GSII]

These things get done quick when you have alumni giving money without the AD having to ask. Does Brad really need to ask for money? We are the biggest school, but our Alumni arent stepping up. Brian.