The Paul Hewitt Thread

[gmutom]

"I'm on the recruiting trail so we aren't sitting at home watching the tournament." Sorry coach you had plenty of talent, you just didn't coach them properly.

His comment was actually that he was on the recruiting trail so they wouldn't miss the tournament again next year. I have no clue how you're managing to read into that, but if he is coming back I'm happy he's out there trying to make us better. God knows we need it.

P49, don't sell yourself short. I'm pretty sure you could beat out Blaine Gabbert as SF's backup. Lol

 

[Patriotfan49]

His comment was actually that he was on the recruiting trail so they wouldn't miss the tournament again next year. I have no clue how you're managing to read into that, but if he is coming back I'm happy he's out there trying to make us better. God knows we need it.

P49, don't sell yourself short. I'm pretty sure you could beat out Blaine Gabbert as SF's backup. Lol

Trust me, if Jimmy Harbaugh cant get anything out of Harbaugh....nobody can lol. Call me bias but I kinda like that move!

 

[GMURaider]

Coach Hewitt wants to be coaching our team in the tournament in 2015 instead of watching it.

The Bounce back is on the way!

 

[Patriotfan49]

lol...........and I want a billion dollars.

 

[GMUgemini]

His comment was actually that he was on the recruiting trail so they wouldn't miss the tournament again next year. I have no clue how you're managing to read into that, but if he is coming back I'm happy he's out there trying to make us better. God knows we need it.

P49, don't sell yourself short. I'm pretty sure you could beat out Blaine Gabbert as SF's backup. Lol

Because the statement suggests he thinks it's a player talent issue and not a coaching issue. If he had said something like I've been watching every game we had this year figuring out what is and isn't working so I can make changes in my approach so we won't miss the tournament next year I would say bravo.

 

[gmutom]

Because the statement suggests he thinks it's a player talent issue and not a coaching issue.

Seriously, dude, it suggests nothing of the sort. We lose three seniors and probably a few players to transfer, so he's out there trying to fill some spots and make us better. God knows the man has some issues with coaching and roster management (as GSII pointed out), but you're way off base this one.

 

[GMUgemini]

Seriously, dude, it suggests nothing of the sort. We lose three seniors and probably a few players to transfer, so he's out there trying to fill some spots and make us better. God knows the man has some issues with coaching and roster management (as GSII pointed out), but you're way off base this one.

OK...whatever you say. I don't see it that way. We already have 4 freshman coming in next year to replace the seniors leaving. We might have one spot opening up -- one. I'm not sure how that one player is going to magically make us any better than we will be with the players who are coming back. Unless, of course, there's a mass exodus of underclassman about to happen, in which case we're screwed no matter what happens.

 

[DeepValue]

Unless you are bringing in NBA talent there is no player walking through the door that will work in Hewitt's system. Thus, Hewitt's supposed recruiting ability is not that helpful at Mason. What is needed is someone who can coach good players to play great college basketball.

I enjoy watching other teams who pass the ball and play smart so much more than watching Mason. It irritates me to no end.

 

[gmutom]

I'm not saying we'll be better, I'm just disagreeing with your interpretation of a harmless statement. That aside, I'm intrigued by next year's team. A JUCO big man would be huge if it gives Jenkins, Royal and Copes some much-needed help, and I'm hoping we have at least one more opening (Corey?) to fill with a 5th-year shooting guard.

Who know what will happen? Like you said, we have a lot of young, new faces coming in, so time will tell.

 

[GMUgemini]

Well, yeah, it's a harmless statement, because everyone knows we aren't going to be better next year or even come close to being a bubble team.

So I guess we're pushing Marko to the end of the bench to be best friends with VG now? And who backs up Moore if we kick Edwards off the team in favor of a SG?

 

[gmutom]

Well, yeah, it's a harmless statement, because everyone knows we aren't going to be better next year or even come close to being a bubble team.

So I guess we're pushing Marko to the end of the bench to be best friends with VG now? And who backs up Moore if we kick Edwards off the team in favor of a SG?

Gemini, you follow college basketball enough to know that every coach thinks they're getting back to the tournament. You think Coach L's goal this year wasn't to get back this year despite losing every starter? Please, let's move on from that.

Regarding Marko, he needs to earn his time at the 4 and maybe even the 3 if his defense improves. I like him, but every position and minute needs to be up for grabs. If Gray, Lockett or Mayimba deserve a starting spot, they should get it. If not, they need to fight for minutes off the bench. (I'm hoping Porter redshirts.)

As for Edwards, the key is whether the kid from Florida can back up Moore. I've only seen a little footage of him, so I have no idea whether he's a viable option. If it's a wash, I'd prefer to open Corey's spot with a SG.

 

[psyclone]

Because the statement suggests he thinks it's a player talent issue and not a coaching issue. If he had said something like I've been watching every game we had this year figuring out what is and isn't working so I can make changes in my approach so we won't miss the tournament next year I would say bravo.

So you're criticizing him for recruiting during the tournament when 68 other teams, including 6 in our own conference, aren't able to be on the road recruiting?

 

[GMUgemini]

None of our incoming personnel are going to make a lick of difference if Hewitt doesn't seriously alter his approach to preparation, in game adjustments and most importantly defensive scheme.

He's got a very bizarre roster configuration next year and he's going to have to figure out a way to cobble together an offensive scheme that includes a lot of tweeners. I don't see any way a 4 out, 1 in offense can work with so few shooters available. We're either going to have rely on our length and athleticism to press and run (which means devising a much better press than we currently use) to mask what will be our half-court deficiencies, or we're going to have to find a way to become an inside-out team, posting up two players and freeing up what 3 point shooters we do have (Holloway, Marko*, Royal*, and Gray). In either case, he's going to have to change what we were doing last year.

As for defense, we might be able to mix in man-to-man if (and this is a huge if) Lockett and Mayimba are as good on defense as they have been advertised to be and can come in right away and guard A10 guards. Otherwise, we should run a lot of zone, and he should probably add a 1-2-2 with our base 2-3.

*are for players who have the potential to be 3-point threats but haven't shown they can be yet.

 

[GMUgemini]

So you're criticizing him for recruiting during the tournament when 68 other teams, including 6 in our own conference, aren't able to be on the road recruiting?

No, psyclone. It's pretty obvious Okoloji is leaving the program and so he should be out recruiting. My criticism is if Hewitt wants to send the message to the fans that, hey, we aren't just sitting on our hands hoping to get better next year, I would have liked to see him be more self-reflexive and say I'm have identified where I went wrong this season as a coach and I'm going to fix those problems and get my team ready to compete for an A10 championship next year.

 

[gmutom]

... would have liked to see him be more self-reflexive and say I'm have identified where I went wrong this season as a coach and I'm going to fix those problems and get my team ready to compete for an A10 championship next year.

Did you even listen to the interview? He wasn't there to talk about Mason. Bill Rohland thanked him for calling in from the road to talk about the tournament, and he mentioned in passing that he was recruiting to get us back to the tournament. At no point was there an opportunity for some coming-to-Jesus moment where he confesses his sins.

I'm always game for a candid discussion about our vast coaching and personnel issues, just don't try to start that conversation with some bullshit you made up.

 

[GMUgemini]

Did you even listen to the interview? He wasn't there to talk about Mason. Bill Rohland thanked him for calling in from the road to talk about the tournament, and he mentioned in passing that he was recruiting to get us back to the tournament. At no point was there an opportunity for some coming-to-Jesus moment where he confesses his sins.

I'm always game for a candid discussion about our vast coaching and personnel issues, just don't try to start that conversation with some bullshit you made up.

That's even worse. As a throwaway comment it's really silly, considering that almost all of of the players he will have next year are already signed.

I don't really expect Hewitt to "come to Jesus" as it were. He is who he is.

I still think it was subconsciously disrespectful to the players coming back and the ones he signed to say what he said.

 

[gmutom]

Gemini, we've beaten a dead horse here. Let's just enjoy the tournament.

 

[GMUgemini]

Gemini, we've beaten a dead horse here. Let's just enjoy the tournament.

Unfortunately, I have work to do and have only been able to watch a few minutes here and there...maybe it's why I'm so bitter right now?

 

[gmujim92]

Even having a perfect bracket to this point can't make me happy that Hewitt is "out on the road recruiting."

That means that he has not been (and will not be) fired.

F it. If the school is content wasting next season flopping around again at the bottom of the A-10, why should I care?

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I'm no Hewitt fan, but I can't flog the guy for being on the road recruiting. That's just doing his job.

Seem to be quite a bit of psychoanalyzing into a throwaway comment.