Welcome Justin Kier

[FreeGunston12]

We haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2011.

It's time to overlook certain things and take a looser approach to try to win because "winning the right way" isn't working.

Oh bull crap. There are plenty of schools that make the tournament and do things "the right way".

By the way, the kier discipline isn't new news. It was mentioned either pregame or post-game when it occurred.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Accountability is a dirty word these days. The last thing I want in a leader of young men is someone who looks the other way on the "little things". Because as we all should know, in life the little things count too. As a public school teacher, I fight this battle over accountability every day.

Exactly. Give an inch, they take a mile.

 

[Mason2005]

Whatever he decides, hurry the hell up and stop holding Mason hostage lol. We need to find a legit big man quick.

If he comes back we'll have 9 guards and AJ as our only legit forward.....Get us a big DP or quit already.

 

[gmujim92]

Whatever he decides, hurry the hell up and stop holding Mason hostage lol. We need to find a legit big man quick.

If he comes back we'll have 9 guards and AJ as our only legit forward.....Get us a big DP or quit already.

Miller is listed as a guard for some reason, but he’s a forward.

 

[JDK]

Great idea. Shoot a note to dpaulsen@gmu.edu and bedwards@gmu.edu sharing these thoughts.

Anything less than Groupthink isn't tolerated with you. SMH

 

[gmujim92]

Anything less than Groupthink isn't tolerated with you. SMH

LOL

 

[Masonfan3]

Great idea. Shoot a note to dpaulsen@gmu.edu and bedwards@gmu.edu sharing these thoughts.

I did something like that, but not to say that we should let the little things go. More of a question/concern about the direction of the program. BE said that DP has had to clean up the program and some of the transfers (under DP) have left because they didn't want to follow HIS rules which included attending class. My personal take (and the take of some former mason players) on it is that DP recruits guys who he believes to be well rounded kids like it was/is done in the Patriot league. They act like normal 18-23 year old kids (or even better than the average) and he doesn't like it because he isn't used to it. He hands out punishment that doesn't necessarily fit the crime. Having said that, I am not going to criticize him for punishing/disciplining kids the way he wants as long as it isn't verbal or physical abuse. It is his program and he can handle that the way he wants. But I will point out that it has and will probably continue to turn off some of the "normal" or "average" 18-23 year old kid.

 

[Mason2005]

Miller is listed as a guard for some reason, but he’s a forward.

He may be a forward but I don't want him guarding any legit 4/5s in the A10. AJ works better at the 4 to chase blocks. Calixte and Oduro just are not good defensively. Calixte going into his senior year, will he finally be serviceable? The freshmen kid coming in is super athletic but weighs like a tooth pick.

 

[GMUgemini]

He may be a forward but I don't want him guarding any legit 4/5s in the A10. AJ works better at the 4 to chase blocks. Calixte and Oduro just are not good defensively. Calixte going into his senior year, will he finally be serviceable? The freshmen kid coming in is super athletic but weighs like a tooth pick.

Oduro was also under 200 lbs going into his senior year (listed as 6'8 185 lbs). Came in here at 237.

The only thing Henry is going to be able to do for awhile is work out. I wouldn't be surprised if he gained 20-30 lbs by November.

 

[mkaufman1]

I did something like that, but not to say that we should let the little things go. More of a question/concern about the direction of the program. BE said that DP has had to clean up the program and some of the transfers (under DP) have left because they didn't want to follow HIS rules which included attending class. My personal take (and the take of some former mason players) on it is that DP recruits guys who he believes to be well rounded kids like it was/is done in the Patriot league. They act like normal 18-23 year old kids (or even better than the average) and he doesn't like it because he isn't used to it. He hands out punishment that doesn't necessarily fit the crime. Having said that, I am not going to criticize him for punishing/disciplining kids the way he wants as long as it isn't verbal or physical abuse. It is his program and he can handle that the way he wants. But I will point out that it has and will probably continue to turn off some of the "normal" or "average" 18-23 year old kid.

Total get this and respect your point. I do think he might be too harsh in some areas but its his program at this point.

My response was more in regards to how the program should do anything to win and start overlooking a lot more etc. Just something that is not going to happen.

 

[JDK]

Total get this and respect your point. I do think he might be too harsh in some areas but its his program at this point.

My response was more in regards to how the program should do anything to win and start overlooking a lot more etc. Just something that is not going to happen.

well that says a lot about how we try to "compete" with one hand tied behind our back ("standards", not raising the student fees to a level higher than vcu so athletics can have more resources)

 

[mkaufman1]

He may be a forward but I don't want him guarding any legit 4/5s in the A10. AJ works better at the 4 to chase blocks. Calixte and Oduro just are not good defensively. Calixte going into his senior year, will he finally be serviceable? The freshmen kid coming in is super athletic but weighs like a tooth pick.

Actually I respectfully disagree. Both Calixte and Oduro have shown glimpses on the defensive end of being servicable and doing decently. I saw Oduro go up against fellow frosh Joel Soriano at Fordham who is 6'11 and he did perfectly fine.

Its the offense that I worry about from the 5 spot, but I think if Oduro continues to work hard and develop, his game will flourish.

 

[mkaufman1]

well that says a lot about how we try to "compete" with one hand tied behind our back ("standards", not raising the student fees to a level higher than vcu so athletics can have more resources)

I actually agree with you here. It'd be nice for Mason to start pushing athletics and do things of that nature that other schools have done. However, its not likely at this point. I'm curious if vcu has continued to increase their fees since the Final Four or if they did it once. Maybe if Mason makes the NCAAs again they can do something while the iron is hot.

Many students who are not sports fans even at other schools where sports is more of a thing don't feel the need to contribute to athletics more than they have to. There was an article about a JMU student a while back.

It is what it is. Mason should try to step up even more than they have tried.

 

[Falco]

John Feinstein's recent book reveals that Paulsen had Kier on the bench for a recent game against LaSalle because Kier was late for a lifting session.

What if Kier is fleeing in search of a more easy going coach?

I wouldn’t be surprised. Who wants to play for a stickler.

I understand coaches want to make their players into a better man. But sometimes coaches take that kind of thing to far.“Student athletes” are grown men, especially Kier.

 

[KAOriginal]

I did something like that, but not to say that we should let the little things go. More of a question/concern about the direction of the program. BE said that DP has had to clean up the program and some of the transfers (under DP) have left because they didn't want to follow HIS rules which included attending class. My personal take (and the take of some former mason players) on it is that DP recruits guys who he believes to be well rounded kids like it was/is done in the Patriot league. They act like normal 18-23 year old kids (or even better than the average) and he doesn't like it because he isn't used to it. He hands out punishment that doesn't necessarily fit the crime. Having said that, I am not going to criticize him for punishing/disciplining kids the way he wants as long as it isn't verbal or physical abuse. It is his program and he can handle that the way he wants. But I will point out that it has and will probably continue to turn off some of the "normal" or "average" 18-23 year old kid.

I believe this to be why we aren't getting flashier recruits....

And despite what fans want....DP answers to BE. And for all we know BE has told DP to keep the program clean and be marginally competitive.

So we can gripe, complain about results etc....but what fans want may not necessarily what the AD asked for...

 

[mkaufman1]

I believe this to be why we aren't getting flashier recruits....

And despite what fans want....DP answers to BE. And for all we know BE has told DP to keep the program clean and be marginally competitive.

So we can gripe, complain about results etc....but what fans want may not necessarily what the AD asked for...

I would be very very surprised if BE who was a professional athlete and won a super bowl is telling Dave to run a clean program and be marginally competitive. Especially after all we heard was "Brad wants to win".

 

[Masonfan3]

I believe this to be why we aren't getting flashier recruits....

And despite what fans want....DP answers to BE. And for all we know BE has told DP to keep the program clean and be marginally competitive.

So we can gripe, complain about results etc....but what fans want may not necessarily what the AD asked for...

I think it is exactly why we don't get flashier recruits. DP is running the program like a Patriot League team and some of the guys don't like it. As I said before, it is his program now so he can run it like he wants but I don't see much changing unless DP adapts a little.

 

[KAOriginal]

I would be very very surprised if BE who was a professional athlete and won a super bowl is telling Dave to run a clean program and be marginally competitive. Especially after all we heard was "Brad wants to win".

NCAA athletics at George Mason is not the NFL. Edwards knows what he has to show his next employer, probably at the next level. And running a collegiate athletic department isn't just about winning.

 

[mkaufman1]

NCAA athletics at George Mason is not the NFL. Edwards knows what he has to show his next employer, probably at the next level. And running a collegiate athletic department isn't just about winning.

I definitely understand all that, but in my opinion, Brad (and Dave) need to have one of their flagship programs (basketball) make the NCAAs for them to be picked up. Maybe Brad doens't need as much, but it certainly would only help his cause.

 

[JDK]

NCAA athletics at George Mason is not the NFL. Edwards knows what he has to show his next employer, probably at the next level. And running a collegiate athletic department isn't just about winning.

What's the point if it isn't just about winning.

You PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. Period.