The Official Extend Dave Paulsen Thread

[patriotchild]

The issue is depth, size and skill at the forward position. And we have a bunch of guards/wings that all do the same things. Overall, we don’t have a diverse set of skills and definitely don’t have the athleticism down low. Im not upset at having any of these guys and they all deserve it, but the combination right now isn’t working in our favor when you look at how teams are put together around the league.

Other than Calixte we’ve missed badly on recruiting and developing big guys who have size and athleticism, and Greg isn’t even that big in comparison to guys around the league. Breaking your rule of no transfers to get Reuter seems really misguided in hindsight and could have been better spent on developing raw talent.

Injuries happen, not ignoring that. And at the end of this year we might be pretty happy with how things played out given the horrible start and injuries down the stretch.

But I think it’s fair to question whether or not the roster is well balanced and has the necessary skills. If JDS doesn’t produce in games we’re going to continue having problems being consistent from deep and get hammered down low.

 

[psyclone]

Duquesne hasn’t been since 1977, URI before 2017 went almost 20 years. Jim Baron was head coach there for 10 seasons and never made a tournament appearence (he did made 5 NIT appearances). It took Dan Hurley 5 seasons before he made it.

Just checked. Jim Larranaga was at Bowling Green, his first Div 1 head coaching job, before he came to Mason. In 11 years at BG, he took them to the NIT twice but never to the NCAAs.

So he started as a head coach in 1986. First took his team to the NCAA in 1999 when Mason was clobbered by Cincinnati. So it took him 13 years to get to his first NCAA. Fortunately for us, he got us to the NCAAs in 5 times in 14 years. We have been spoiled. Making the NCAAs isn't that easy if you aren't in the Power 5.

 

[GMUgemini]

We whiffed badly on two young ones, Dixon and Relvao, that’s why we are in the position we are in right now.

 

[patriotchild]

We whiffed badly on two young ones, Dixon and Relvao, that’s why we are in the position we are in right now.

I actually think Dixon could have been a role player and a tall body to throw out there. He was listed 6’10 so at least he could stick his arms up.


Don’t forget Troy Tamara. He was was also a big whiff. Also whatever the situation was with abram and he can arguably be lumped in (let the abram rage commence!).

Didn’t we think developing big men was Dave’s strength? At this point we may also be able to consider AJ in this category, he’s only playing out of necessity and you can tell it kills Dave. Barring an out of body experience for Reuter next year, he may also end up here because of the expectations Dave set. So we have Calixte as the only solid, yet slightly undersized, forward Dave has been successful with in 4 years.


So, yeah, recruiting and roster management is and has been a problem.

 

[gmujim92]

We whiffed badly on two young ones, Dixon and Relvao, that’s why we are in the position we are in right now.

Gotta give a pass on Dixon b/c he was part of the first desperation class. Take a chance, see what you’ve got, move on if he doesn’t pan out. Happens at all schools after coaching changes.

Relvao had signed with a legit program in Valpo, so if we whiffed, it was only after they did. He looked like a good prospect, if raw, but turned out to have terrible knees.

Temara was a head case; if he could’ve stayed focused for more than 30 seconds, he had a chance to do something with his raw ability.

But even if both count as outright whiffs, the staff is 3 for 6 on bigs who have turned out to be contributors: Calixte, Reuter and AJ.

50 percent is honestly pretty damn stellar for signing bigs, who typically are much harder to predict than guards and wings.

 

[Petey Buckets]

But even if both count as outright whiffs, the staff is 3 for 6 on bigs who have turned out to be contributors: Calixte, Reuter and AJ.

50 percent is honestly pretty damn stellar for signing bigs, who typically are much harder to predict than guards and wings.

Stellar. Jim. Jesus.

 

[patriotchild]

Gotta give a pass on Dixon b/c he was part of the first desperation class. Take a chance, see what you’ve got, move on if he doesn’t pan out. Happens at all schools after coaching changes.

Relvao had signed with a legit program in Valpo, so if we whiffed, it was only after they did. He looked like a good prospect, if raw, but turned out to have terrible knees.

Temara was a head case; if he could’ve stayed focused for more than 30 seconds, he had a chance to do something with his raw ability.

But even if both count as outright whiffs, the staff is 3 for 6 on bigs who have turned out to be contributors: Calixte, Reuter and AJ.

50 percent is honestly pretty damn stellar for signing bigs, who typically are much harder to predict than guards and wings.

Granted AJ and Reuter each have a year to go, it’s somewhat delusional to convince yourself that Dave has gotten this right, let alone been stellar. If AJ is on the team next year he won’t play unless he figures out how to be more disciplined. I’ll say Reuter is a positive, but will always be tainted by unrealistic expectations.

 

[GMUgemini]

Granted AJ and Reuter each have a year to go, it’s somewhat delusional to convince yourself that Dave has gotten this right, let alone been stellar. If AJ is on the team next year he won’t play unless he figures out how to be more disciplined. I’ll say Reuter is a positive, but will always be tainted by unrealistic expectations.

AJ is a sophomore. He has two more after this season. I honestly don’t know why we don’t focus on turning him into a 4. Get him up to about 210-215.

 

[sleeperpick]

AJ is a sophomore. He has two more after this season. I honestly don’t know why we don’t focus on turning him into a 4. Get him up to about 210-215.

because Paulsen legitimately has no idea how to coach someone like AJ....

 

[JimP]

Stellar. Jim. Jesus.

Maybe if one of Mason' s current guys turned out to be Will Thomas, Paulsen's big man recruiting could be considered stellar. If our big guys are stellar now, imagine the adjective that could be used for having Thomas and Lewis on the same team. Just give me one of those types and it'd be a big difference maker.

 

[gmujim92]

Stellar. Jim. Jesus.

Ok, yeah, about that...

 

[mason89]

Ok, for quick break from these national security debates, here's the type of in-bounds plays we should expect from Coach P:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...-spot-ncaa-tournament/?utm_term=.d6cf10ea2dd7

 

[smccart5]

If you had told me before the season that Grayer would never be fully healthy and only play a handful of games, Mar would be almost completely adrift offensively before breaking his foot in our 3rd conference game, Boyd would be hampered/sidelined for several games by a wrist injury and Calixte would miss multiple games with a concussion, I think expectations for this team would’ve been much lower.

All 4 of those guys are/were key playmakers. Not like we lost scrubs who barely play. Again, I don’t know how a coach manages his way out of a situation like that — we just need guys to get healthy ASAP so we can have a shot to finish strong.

Agreed if we can get Calixte, Boyd, and Hartwell back to 100% for the tournament we can hopefully get a little something going. I haven't lost hope!! Let's get hot baby!

 

[mkaufman1]

Maybe if one of Mason' s current guys turned out to be Will Thomas, Paulsen's big man recruiting could be considered stellar. If our big guys are stellar now, imagine the adjective that could be used for having Thomas and Lewis on the same team. Just give me one of those types and it'd be a big difference maker.

I’m not sure guys like that really exist anymore because the game has evolved so much and is about shooters and guard play.

I’d gladly take a guy like that on our team, but I feel like the closest we will get is a Reuter/Jenkins sorta player. Maybe the staff can develop Oduro.

 

[GSII]

If you want to win championships, you need a big man down low who can get you easy buckets. Guards go cold.

 

[gmujim92]

If you want to win championships, you need a big man down low who can get you easy buckets. Guards go cold.

Why are so many teams trying to play like Golden State then? Not being snarky, but the “big man down low” is being phased out of the pro game and it seems college basketball is following suit.

Math says it’s all about being able to spread the floor and make 3s at a high clip.

My biggest criticism of our program is we seemingly try to play that way but don’t shoot the 3 well enough to make it work.

 

[GSII]

I don't know why we play stupid basketball. Ask your God Dave Paulsen. Sometimes when everyone is zig'n we should be zag'n instead of being sheep.

 

[GMUgemini]

I’m not sure guys like that really exist anymore because the game has evolved so much and is about shooters and guard play.

I’d gladly take a guy like that on our team, but I feel like the closest we will get is a Reuter/Jenkins sorta player. Maybe the staff can develop Oduro.

I would take a series of Jenkins all day. I don’t care if he was only 6’7, he was a beast.

 

[gmujim92]

I don't know why we play stupid basketball. Ask your God Dave Paulsen. Sometimes when everyone is zig'n we should be zag'n instead of being sheep.

Quality response, as usual.

 

[GSII]

Quality response, as usual.

You mean 'stellar' right?