The Official Fire Dave Paulsen Thread

[Quentin Daniels]

Time to call Rick Pitino

Brought to you by the genius who wanted to copy the Grand Canyon U model.

http://masonhoops.com/board/threads/dave-paulsen.944/page-103#post-91119

#IKeepReceipts

 

[p8triotfan4life]

this team reminds me of last year's Richmond team. 0 for the OOC portion, and will likely play tough in Regular season to save Paulsen's job (ala Mooney last year).

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

I think people would be surprised if they knew how many hours (and money) we actually put into this. We’re meeting with Zach Bolno in 2 weeks.

We know our opinion is not always the popular one and it will invite some trolling but we appreciate ya Joe Shannon and others who have defended us.

Our podcast is always an open forum for anyone of you. We will bring the studio to you if you want to be on the show. Just let us know. We’ve attempted to meet our haters but it never happens. Mason Joe...Ryan Kish, is that you?

Although we’re in the fire DP thread..we don’t want Paulsen fired, we just want to be able to be critical of him free of the same generic excuses.

You guys rock. Keep doing what you are doing. I admire your passion, persistence and dedication.

 

[NewPatriot]

First of all, what exactly has Dambrot done other than bring Duquesne back from the garbage heap to respectability? That’s exactly what DP has done here.

Secondly, DP hasn’t had four seasons. Still at least 25 games left in his Year 4 at Mason and a lot of time left before the final evaluation of this season is written.

Let’s pump the brakes a little and see what happens before we draw conclusions that might look stupid as hell three months from now.

That is a good question. I have alot of reasons. But here's the biggest one right now.

As of today, Dusquene's NET ranking is #40 (tops in the A10) while Mason's is #257.

 

[gmujim92]

That is a good question. I have alot of reasons. But here's the biggest one right now.

As of today, Dusquene's NET ranking is #40 (tops in the A10) while Mason's is #257.

Which means absolutely nothing.

 

[Bison137]

If mason does, in fact, decide to go in a different direction next season. I would suggest Mason go after Bucknell Head Coach, Nathan Davis.

Yes, I know Paulsen came from Bucknell but Davis was a great coach out of Randolph-Macon before Bucknell. He comes from the Hal Nunally coaching tree which includes Gregg Marshall, the head coach at Witchita State.

I would think it's too early to even consider Davis. At Bucknell, he won the first three years largely with DP's players. His own recruiting has clearly not been as good as that of DP and his staff. By Patriot League standards, I would grade Paulsen's overall recruiting at an A-. Davis is more like a B- thus far, although the class they just signed may be a bit better. It surprises me somewhat that DP has not recruited a bit better at GMU. Even though his recruiting pool at Bucknell was less than 25% of what it is now due to the Patriot League academic index, he landed four players, all of whom were PL POY's, who were clearly better than anyone he has brought into GMU. Those players were all recruited by Dane Fisher or Aaron Kelly.

As for Davis' record at D3 Randolph Macon, his record there was no better than was Paulsen at D3 Williams.

 

[PDGL Hoops]

I love supporting my school and attending basketball games but at $20+ a ticket (for 4) plus travel costs it isn't worth my time to drag the family to Funfax to watch this team. This bums me out to no end because I was really looking forward to this season. Hopefully they can get on the same page or make the appropriate changes. Attendance and support will start to dissolve like last time if they don't!

 

[GMUgemini]

What perplexes me is that in no season so far has Mason played worse than they did at the beginning of the season. There is always a progression that occurs from beginning to end, both individual play and team play. You did not see that under Hewitt, whose teams and players got worse as the season progressed the years in the system (meaning freshmen looked better than they did as juniors). Paulsen’s teams have always been limited in other ways, which prevented a full assessment of his ability to coach at a high level.

And yet we now have this data point to show no such limitations, finally some continuity, and yet we get this massive regression year over year. And it both perplexes and bothers me.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Disclaimer: I have zero insight into how any practices went in the lead up to the season and to this point.

However, I still find it incredibly strange that Grayer's time on the floor is down 8min per game so far. Boyd's minutes are down by 5 per game. Calixte has taken the biggest hit, his minutes are down 13. Mar's are down by 12.

Sure, we have more depth. But did Reuter really deserve to come out of the gates averaging 20min per game when he avg. no more than 10min per game in a season at UVA? He provides a nice spark offensively every now and then, but is such a liability on the defensive and rebounding side of things. Calixte is more than capable of making layups - he shot 61% last year. I have much more confidence in his defense and rebounding. Not saying Reuter should hit the pine indefinitely, I just think the minutes should be dispersed a little more evenly. Something has to be done to spark Mar. I'm not sure if Reuter is necessarily to blame, but Mar looks so lost and uncomfortable with his role out there.

Greene and Kier share the floor together way too often. Unless he's in foul trouble, Grayer should be on the floor at least 30min per game. He's one of our few "threats" from deep. Boyd, in limited attempts, is shooting 43% from 3. Should he have lost some of his minutes to Greene? Boyd has proven the more effective shooter at this point in their respective careers.

It just seems like the staff has unnecessarily overhauled our rotations in favor of adding/increasing the minutes of certain players while diminishing others who played well a season ago. I would have preferred they built on the experience the team had playing together last year and making it even better by bringing in guys like Reuter, Greene, etc. Instead, it feels like they are trying to come up with an entirely new recipe.

 

[GMUSig03]

Disclaimer: I have zero insight into how any practices went in the lead up to the season and to this point.

However, I still find it incredibly strange that Grayer's time on the floor is down 8min per game so far. Boyd's minutes are down by 5 per game. Calixte has taken the biggest hit, his minutes are down 13. Mar's are down by 12.

Sure, we have more depth. But did Reuter really deserve to come out of the gates averaging 20min per game when he avg. no more than 10min per game in a season at UVA? He provides a nice spark offensively every now and then, but is such a liability on the defensive and rebounding side of things. Calixte is more than capable of making layups - he shot 61% last year. I have much more confidence in his defense and rebounding. Not saying Reuter should hit the pine indefinitely, I just think the minutes should be dispersed a little more evenly. Something has to be done to spark Mar. I'm not sure if Reuter is necessarily to blame, but Mar looks so lost and uncomfortable with his role out there.

Greene and Kier share the floor together way too often. Unless he's in foul trouble, Grayer should be on the floor at least 30min per game. He's one of our few "threats" from deep. Boyd, in limited attempts, is shooting 43% from 3. Should he have lost some of his minutes to Greene? Boyd has proven the more effective shooter at this point in their respective careers.

It just seems like the staff has unnecessarily overhauled our rotations in favor of adding/increasing the minutes of certain players while diminishing others who played well a season ago. I would have preferred they built on the experience the team had playing together last year and making it even better by bringing in guys like Reuter, Greene, etc. Instead, it feels like they are trying to come up with an entirely new recipe.

100% agreed - and you don't even reference AJ. The players that have had their minutes reduced/are not playing enough are the ones who have played the best this year ie - Boyd, Grayer and AJ.

We've all seen it since the 2nd or 3rd game, but it hasn't changed yet.

AJ had his breakout game against Southern in which he played 27 minutes (following 17, 18 and 18 in 1st 3 games), then he plays only 9, 13 and 8 minutes in the 3 games since (though that also coincides with his nose injury).

Jaire has only played 27 minutes or more in 3 of the 7 games.

 

[gmujim92]

Gotta believe AJ getting busted in the face at the end of the Southern game set him back. He was on the verge of a breakout and now is having to adjust to wearing that stupid mask. Crap timing there.

I think Javon might actually cause DP to pull the hair right out of his head. From everything I hear, he shoots the ball amazingly well in practice but has mostly not been able to translate that to game performance. It’s maddening.

To the contrary, I’ve heard Jason is struggling to find his stroke even in practice, which is a major reason why he’s playing so sparingly. With our perimeter shooting woes, if the staff thought he could help in that regard he’d be playing more.

Not making excuses, but it’s also difficult to establish a rotation when guys are performing so inconsistently. When Otis finally located his game against Baylor, the only other guy on the team who could make a shot was Reuter. The coaches don’t know what they’re gonna get from one game to the next and that should not be happening with such an experienced team.

 

[JimP]

I hereby challenge the team to win the next five games. There are a couple of decent teams, but nobody capable of out-talenting them. If GMU loses any of the next five, they are still being out-coached, out-played and out-hustled. Though I feel that Paulsen does not deserve a "Fire Dave" thread, I believe 5 straight W's is a fair request.

Please comply with my request GMU players and coaches - from a selfish standpoint, I am looking for reasons to drive long distances in January and February to watch your team play. We'll be rooting for you!

 

[NewPatriot]

Which means absolutely nothing.

Actually, it's indicative of dambrot's ability to recruit players that fit his defensive scheme.

Dambrot's normally a guy who subscribes to the classic big ten bruising man to man style of defense; however, this year his team presses. They turn opponents over averaging 9.2 steals a game and still play decent interior defense as opponents average only 47% from inside the arc.

if necessary, he can go big; he's has 3 6'10+ all weighing at least 235 pounds; all freshmen or sophomores.

He had foresight to convince to good Akron players transfer to dusquene, establish continuity and expedite the implementation of his system.

He is also recruiting at an elite level; 2019 6'5 top 150 3* Maceo Austin chose Dusquene over the likes UVA, West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State and North Western. Considering Dusquene basketball pedigree, that is a miracle.

On the other hand, Paulsen hasn't been able to recruits the bigs necessary for his half court defensive scheme.

Instead, he recruited an undesized 6'4 250 pound wide body with neither has length or athleticism to defend the post.

The end result is Mason's defense allowing opponents to shoot a staggering 55.1% inside the arc. Teams are pounding the paint at will and we can't stop them.

 

[JimP]

Absent 3 6'10" guys, Mason does need some Jai Lewis/ Will Thomas types asap.

 

[gmujim92]

Actually, it's indicative of dambrot's ability to recruit players that fit his defensive scheme.

Dambrot's normally a guy who subscribes to the classic big ten bruising man to man style of defense; however, this year his team presses. They turn opponents over averaging 9.2 steals a game and still play decent interior defense as opponents average only 47% from inside the arc.

if necessary, he can go big; he's has 3 6'10+ all weighing at least 235 pounds; all freshmen or sophomores.

He had foresight to convince to good Akron players transfer to dusquene, establish continuity and expedite the implementation of his system.

He is also recruiting at an elite level; 2019 6'5 top 150 3* Maceo Austin chose Dusquene over the likes UVA, West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State and North Western. Considering Dusquene basketball pedigree, that is a miracle.

On the other hand, Paulsen hasn't been able to recruits the bigs necessary for his half court defensive scheme.

Instead, he recruited an undesized 6'4 250 pound wide body with neither has length or athleticism to defend the post.

The end result is Mason's defense allowing opponents to shoot a staggering 55.1% inside the arc. Teams are pounding the paint at will and we can't stop them.

Sorry, my point sailed way over your head.

All of the things you just posted can be true. I never argued Dambrot isn’t doing a good job. He’s a good coach, even if I don’t necessarily endorse his ethics.

But the fact that Duquesne is No. 40 in NET right now means squat. It is a single data point on a random date and frankly some well-known number crunchers — such as Nate Silver — are raising questions about the NCAA’s methodology.

Let’s see where both teams are by the end of the season, then we can start drawing some conclusions. Doing so after 7 games is frankly a waste of time.

 

[NewPatriot]

Sorry, my point sailed way over your head.

All of the things you just posted can be true. I never argued Dambrot isn’t doing a good job. He’s a good coach, even if I don’t necessarily endorse his ethics.

But the fact that Duquesne is No. 40 in NET right now means squat. It is a single data point on a random date and frankly some well-known number crunchers — such as Nate Silver — are raising questions about the NCAA’s methodology.

Let’s see where both teams are by the end of the season, then we can start drawing some conclusions. Doing so after 7 games is frankly a waste of time.

Jim, you are right. I am getting too caught in the weeds and too critical.

I am going to step back, enjoy each game the rest of the season and appreciate our team.

Thanks!

 

[gmujim92]

Jim, you are right. I am getting too caught in the weeds and too critical.

I am going to step back, enjoy each game the rest of the season and appreciate our team.

Thanks!

I don’t think anyone has a problem with being critical given how poorly our team has performed so far. I just don’t think sweeping conclusions about our coach can be drawn after 7 games. If he doesn’t get stuff turned around, I might be right there with you in March.

 

[GMUSig03]

Jim, you are right. I am getting too caught in the weeds and too critical.

I am going to step back, enjoy each game the rest of the season and appreciate our team.

Thanks!

Is this level of agree-ability permitted on these Boards? I thought we had outlawed these types of posts.

 

[Falco]

I don’t think anyone has a problem with being critical given how poorly our team has performed so far. I just don’t think sweeping conclusions about our coach can be drawn after 7 games. If he doesn’t get stuff turned around, I might be right there with you in March.

It’s not only 7 games though. It’s his body of work at Mason.

 

[GMUgemini]

It’s not only 7 games though. It’s his body of work at Mason.

His entire body of work shows that his teams always play better as the season progresses.

What has happened at the beginning of this season is a mystery and disconcerting, but there is some hyperbole flying around about our coaches and players that doesn’t necessarily add anything.

Paulsen has taken this team from the absolute bottom of the conference to a .500 middle of the pack team. Can he take us back to the promised land? That we don’t know.