Welcome Giovanni Emejuru

[Pablo]

I was told that while someone reported this as a violation, it turned out not to be the case. If you look at the definition of

I was told by a person very high up on the team that, while someone reported us for that violation, it was determined to be unfounded. I don't know if that is true or not, but in reading the bylaws, it seems like it would be the case.

While the reading of 13.8.3.3 and 13.8.3.3.1 above make it sound like it would be a violation, if you read the definition of an "individual associated with a prospective student-athlete" (see Bylaw 13.02.20), there is an exception: "This definition does not include an individual who maintained (or directed others to maintain) contact with the prospective student-athlete, the prospective student-athlete's relatives or legal guardians, or coaches only while employed in the athletics department at a four-year institution". That exception would apply to Mark because he was an assistant coach at East Tennessee State prior to coming to Mason.

I believe that you are misinterpreting the exception. For Mark Bialkoski, Haynes was not a "prospective" student-athlete, he was a "current" student-athlete at ETSU where he was employed as an assistant coach.. Thus, they had a relationship at ETSU that caused Mason to violate the rule when they signed Haynes and hired Bialkoski.

 

[gmubrian]

I believe that you are misinterpreting the exception. For Mark Bialkoski, Haynes was not a "prospective" student-athlete, he was a "current" student-athlete at ETSU where he was employed as an assistant coach.. Thus, they had a relationship at ETSU that caused Mason to violate the rule when they signed Haynes and hired Bialkoski.

If you take that point of view, the entire regulation is related to prospective student athletes, so it would make the entire regulation moot.

 

[Pablo]

If you take that point of view, the entire regulation is related to prospective student athletes, so it would make the entire regulation moot.

I'm not taking a "point of view", I'm interpreting the rule. If Bialkoski was a countable coach at a school other than Haynes' current school (i.e., ETSU), there would not have been a recruiting violation.

 

[gmubrian]

I'm not taking a "point of view", I'm interpreting the rule. If Bialkoski was a countable coach at a school other than Haynes' current school (i.e., ETSU), there would not have been a recruiting violation.

Point of view or interpretation, same thing. I don't see anything in the quoted bylaws that refers to "other than Haynes current school". Bialkoski was and is not an "Individual associated with a prospective athlete". He has been employed in the athletics department of a 4 year institution the entire timeframe covered by this discussion, so the definition does not apply to him.

 

[Patriot8]

I'm not taking a "point of view", I'm interpreting the rule. If Bialkoski was a countable coach at a school other than Haynes' current school (i.e., ETSU), there would not have been a recruiting violation.

The issue is that Bialkoski isn’t a “countable coach” at Mason. If he had been hired as an assistant and not the DOBO, Haynes would’ve been eligible this past season.

Same reasoning I believe we can’t recruit anyone that Lamar coached at PVI for a year or two.

 

[gmubrian]

The issue is that Bialkoski isn’t a “countable coach” at Mason. If he had been hired as an assistant and not the DOBO, Haynes would’ve been eligible this past season.

Same reasoning I believe we can’t recruit anyone that Lamar coached at PVI for a year or two.

In my reading (same as interpretation or point of view for Pablo), that does apply to Lamar because he wasn't employed in the AD at a 4 year institution. Mark was.

 

[jruby]

I believe that you are misinterpreting the exception. For Mark Bialkoski, Haynes was not a "prospective" student-athlete, he was a "current" student-athlete at ETSU where he was employed as an assistant coach.. Thus, they had a relationship at ETSU that caused Mason to violate the rule when they signed Haynes and hired Bialkoski.

The issue is that Bialkoski isn’t a “countable coach” at Mason. If he had been hired as an assistant and not the DOBO, Haynes would’ve been eligible this past season.

Same reasoning I believe we can’t recruit anyone that Lamar coached at PVI for a year or two.

Then Kim English broke the rules taking all former Mason players….. this is getting a little crazy.

 

[jruby]

The best part is, that I’m sure it was sour grapes from ETSU, turned out to be a false claim.

There however is a real reason Haynes did not play this year. One of which is a personal matter, Tony even addressed it a presser.

Since it’s a rule on this page not to discuss players personal matters it will have to remain a secret.

 

[Patriot8]

Then Kim English broke the rules taking all former Mason players….. this is getting a little crazy.

No, he was a countable coach.

 

[tblack33]

1) We need atleast 3 bigs
2) Haynes may be the starting 4

I personally don’t love the idea of going two big in the A10, where generally speaking outside of NBA level talent for a big man it’s a guard league and teams that seem to be successful are running with 4 guys on the perimeter, but I guess we’ll see. Tough for me to imagine an even decently scoring offense with those two starting and Billups at the 2 unless he gets recruited over. It was a noble experiment but pretty rough when Kim tried to run both Josh and Ojiako together a few years ago.

 

[jruby]

No, he was a countable coach.

So is Lamar! He is on staff! If that was case when they hired Houston under Hewitt to land a player that would have been a violation. People are searching for reasons. I guess it’s all in good fun.

 

[jruby]

I personally don’t love the idea of going two big in the A10, where generally speaking outside of NBA level talent for a big man it’s a guard league and teams that seem to be successful are running with 4 guys on the perimeter, but I guess we’ll see. Tough for me to imagine an even decently scoring offense with those two starting and Billups at the 2 unless he gets recruited over. It was a noble experiment but pretty rough when Kim tried to run both Josh and Ojiako together a few years ago.

Big factor is didn’t have a pg! Not saying play 2 bigs but if you don’t have an A-10 level pg of course it won’t work! Also in said case there’s no way Billups is playing.

 

[Old Man]

I personally don’t love the idea of going two big in the A10, where generally speaking outside of NBA level talent for a big man it’s a guard league and teams that seem to be successful are running with 4 guys on the perimeter, but I guess we’ll see. Tough for me to imagine an even decently scoring offense with those two starting and Billups at the 2 unless he gets recruited over. It was a noble experiment but pretty rough when Kim tried to run both Josh and Ojiako together a few years ago.

I believe the A10 is a "four guard league" more out of necessity than choice. There just aren't that many true bigs available, let alone having two.

You put two good, shooting, scoring, and defending bigs on the floor at the same time, and the other team will have to adjust. We get some outside shooting and tenacious defense to go with that, that is an almost unstoppable combination. Occasionally you will run into a team where you have four shooters from three, and then you deal with that. But until then, you play your game and make the other team adjust.

 

[NewPatriot]

This year's sweet 16.

Edey - Purdue
Filipowski - Duke
Burns - NC State
Klingman- Uconn

See the pattern. You still need a dominant big to make a deep run.

..and Mason just acquired a 6'11 270 wide body physical, with a really defend the paint and lay the hurt on anyone defending in the post...to go along 6'8 245 Haynes who can stretch the floor or play down low...

.the opposing defenses can't collapse on either big without leaving the shooters with wide open 3's.

Screw positionless basketball..

Mason just put everyone else in the A10 on notice next year...look out baby.

 

[jruby]

This year's sweet 16.

Edey - Purdue
Filipowski - Duke
Burns - NC State
Klingman- Uconn

See the pattern. You still need a dominant big to make a deep run.

..and Mason just acquired a 6'11 270 wide body physical, with a really defend the paint and lay the hurt on anyone defending in the post...to go along 6'8 245 Haynes who can stretch the floor or play down low...

.the opposing defenses can't collapse on either big without leaving the shooters with wide open 3's.

Screw positionless basketball..

Mason just put everyone else in the A10 on notice next year...look out baby.

NC state has been dominating when they play 2 bigs. They rotate 3 through 2 spots no one has an answer for them right now.

 

[tblack33]

I believe the A10 is a "four guard league" more out of necessity than choice. There just aren't that many true bigs available, let alone having two.

You put two good, shooting, scoring, and defending bigs on the floor at the same time, and the other team will have to adjust. We get some outside shooting and tenacious defense to go with that, that is an almost unstoppable combination. Occasionally you will run into a team where you have four shooters from three, and then you deal with that. But until then, you play your game and make the other team adjust.

The thing is, one of either Haynes or Emejuru has to come out to guard on the perimeter on defense. Don’t think that bodes super well for either of them in that scenario. Then you have to hope we get much more efficient on offense to make up for longer and fewer possessions per game. I just personally don’t see a great path to success this way, and think there’s probably a reason teams are trending towards 4 on the perimeter other than they can recruit bigs.

 

[tblack33]

NC state has been dominating when they play 2 bigs. They rotate 3 through 2 spots no one has an answer for them right now.

Except for like all regular season when they went under .500 in ACC play, but who’s counting. They are hot right now.

 

[jruby]

Except for like all regular season when they went under .500 in ACC play, but who’s counting. They are hot right now.

Because they were playing Taylor at PG who is not good. Funny how you still need a pg, round and round we go.

And they lost because they didn’t play Defense in regular season. They have been talking about it all post season. Can’t teach a team how to score in march but can teach them to play defense…..

I’m not saying play 2 bigs anyway. I’m saying play 1 and rotate. Don’t play a 4 as a 5 and have no other bigs on the roster. I also think there’s more likely bigs get in foul trouble and get tired.

 

[Patriot8]

So is Lamar! He is on staff! If that was case when they hired Houston under Hewitt to land a player that would have been a violation. People are searching for reasons. I guess it’s all in good fun.

A countable coach is the HC and their 3 assistants. Mark and Lamar are not assistants. Houston was an assistant under Hewitt.

 

[jruby]

Maybe you guys are right it was a rules violation. Would be a good excuse to finally fire Green then. He offers nothing, after they fired their previous compliance guy before that they got in all sorts of problems.