WP: What Happened to George Mason Basketball?

[Pablo]

For those who don't get the print version of the Washington Post, the article has a picture of Larranaga after the Elite Eight victory over UConn and these words above the picture: "Nine years after the Final Four, George Mason in major free fall".

 

[KAOriginal]

We did get to keep that last 900k check. But we incurred a million dollar exit fee. Unless the A10 helped pay that im gonna guess keeping the 900k ncaa check was worth more than dealing with the million dollar exit fee over a few years.

I still think it goes to show how Merten didnt care, and wasnt concerned about the upgrade in conference.

Other schools in the CAA said "F the money we're moving up...we'll get it back."

 

[Pablo]

No to Jason Wiliford. He dunked on me three times in a pick up game 25 years ago and frankly I'm still bitter over it.

http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/williford_jason00.html

 

[disgruntled]

I am disgusted. In particular the part where O'Connor says, "we did not expect to be back to the final four any time soon. That kind of magic does not happen every day.

HOLY HELL! It was not "magic"!! It was a good coach with experienced players who got hot at the right time, but they had proven all season to be very talented. Also- Wichita State, vcu...and all the others have proven that it is NOT A FLUKE.

This disappoints me so much because it is obvious that Tom did not truly believe in George Mason. He was very happy with a mediocre team who did ok every now and then. This article proves to me what so many have been saying over the past few years...that the admin DID NOT CARE. I am so furious but almost glad that I can finally see that Tom O'Connor was an absolute horror who should be ashamed.

I really hope that Edwards and Cabrera care.

Folks who are not successful in life tend to attribute success to 'luck'. Most people who have accomplished something realize it takes dedication and hard work to ever get to the point where 'luck' even begins to enter the picture. I imagine if we went back and asked the FF team if any luck was involved they would likely have said yes, but it would likely have said it took them a lifetime of work, OCM included, to get to that moment.

TOC not very intelligent.

 

[Harry]

I think Brad Edwards is thinking bigger than Mason being competitive in the A-10 and against vcu. IMO, he is thinking Mason should be competitive with ANYONE.

 

[psyclone]

For those who don't get the print version of the Washington Post, the article has a picture of Larranaga after the Elite Eight victory over UConn and these words above the picture: "Nine years after the Final Four, George Mason in major free fall".

And the print headline reads: "Back to the mid-minors" which is even harsher than the online "What happened to George Mason basketball?"

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Folks who are not successful in life tend to attribute success to 'luck'. Most people who have accomplished something realize it takes dedication and hard work to ever get to the point where 'luck' even begins to enter the picture. I imagine if we went back and asked the FF team if any luck was involved they would likely have said yes, but it would likely have said it took them a lifetime of work, OCM included, to get to that moment.

TOC not very intelligent.

Except no where in the article does TOC mention it was lucky.

All O'Connor says in the actual quote is "that kind of magic doesn't happen everyday."

Jesus, people have a Neverending ax to grind with O'Connor, and he deserves criticism, but s### just gets ridixulous.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Here is what the article says, for the record.

Guided by Jim Larranaga, the Patriots were the model for mid-majors after parlaying a 2006 at-large bid into a Final Four run, upsetting Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut along the way.
They were not going to return to the Final Four anytime soon, but that was okay with everyone involved because “the Final Four was a magical situation,” said Tom O’Connor, who retired last summer after 20 years as George Mason’s athletic director. “And that magic doesn’t happen every day.”

It is Goff asserting that everyone (including Larranaga) was okay with not returning to the Final 4, not TOC.

How does the quote "The Final Four was a magical situation. That magic doesn't happen every day." mean TOC was okay with mediocrity or believed it was luck? Hint--it doesn't.

 

[Washingtonian]

I think Brad Edwards is thinking bigger than Mason being competitive in the A-10 and against vcu. IMO, he is thinking Mason should be competitive with ANYONE.

Well, if you look at other sports, we have been competitive.

 

[Herndon]

Here is what the article says, for the record.

Guided by Jim Larranaga, the Patriots were the model for mid-majors after parlaying a 2006 at-large bid into a Final Four run, upsetting Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut along the way.
They were not going to return to the Final Four anytime soon, but that was okay with everyone involved because “the Final Four was a magical situation,” said Tom O’Connor, who retired last summer after 20 years as George Mason’s athletic director. “And that magic doesn’t happen every day.”

It is Goff asserting that everyone (including Larranaga) was okay with not returning to the Final 4, not TOC.

How does the quote "The Final Four was a magical situation. That magic doesn't happen every day." mean TOC was okay with mediocrity or believed it was luck? Hint--it doesn't.

No.

 

[Herndon]

How about another trip down memory lane - see http://www.caazone.com/boards/threads/if-larranaga-goes-go-get-amaker.106702/?

Lol, when I saw your post, I was terrified that there was going to be something from me in there saying "Jeff Jones? Never!"

Gunny suggested Al skinner, which actually I would love to have seen.

 

[wijg]

Here is what the article says, for the record.

Guided by Jim Larranaga, the Patriots were the model for mid-majors after parlaying a 2006 at-large bid into a Final Four run, upsetting Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut along the way.
They were not going to return to the Final Four anytime soon, but that was okay with everyone involved because “the Final Four was a magical situation,” said Tom O’Connor, who retired last summer after 20 years as George Mason’s athletic director. “And that magic doesn’t happen every day.”

It is Goff asserting that everyone (including Larranaga) was okay with not returning to the Final 4, not TOC.

How does the quote "The Final Four was a magical situation. That magic doesn't happen every day." mean TOC was okay with mediocrity or believed it was luck? Hint--it doesn't.

Jollay, I agree with you, but I also understand given what has transpired over the years the way some people see fault in TOCs statement. I think it is a little how just about every single statement out of Hewitt annoys me. Because Hewitt seems to skirt responsibility in most statement, I see it in every statement. TOC was who he was and was probably the best Fit for a Merten presidency. An academics first, good discipline next, on court success was a minor concern.

I am not convinced 100% yet that Cabrera is the guy we need from a basketball sense, but all signs are good so far with the A10 move and the hiring of Edwards and with what Edwards has been allowed to say.

Same with Edwards, I am not 100% sure yet, but like the signs so far. The replacement of underperforming coaches to date (possibly him, possibly coincidence) and the things he has said about focusing on performance as much as other things, along with his statements about fundraising and facilities give me hope.

If they get rid of Hewitt by the end of the season, and Edwards is allowed to perform an aggressive fundraising campaign, I will finally be 100% convinced we have the right leadership.

 

[Pablo]

Positive sign - Eric Lockett retweeted Lamar's tweet:

Eric Lockett retweeted
Lamar Butler @Butler2two · 5h5 hours ago
Whether u lose or win as a team...results start in the off season, locker room, practice. How hard are you working individually/collectively

0 replies3 retweets1 favorite
Reply
Retweet3
Favorite1
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[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Jollay, I agree with you, but I also understand given what has transpired over the years the way some people see fault in TOCs statement. I think it is a little how just about every single statement out of Hewitt annoys me. Because Hewitt seems to skirt responsibility in most statement, I see it in every statement. TOC was who he was and was probably the best Fit for a Merten presidency. An academics first, good discipline next, on court success was a minor concern.

I am not convinced 100% yet that Cabrera is the guy we need from a basketball sense, but all signs are good so far with the A10 move and the hiring of Edwards and with what Edwards has been allowed to say.

Same with Edwards, I am not 100% sure yet, but like the signs so far. The replacement of underperforming coaches to date (possibly him, possibly coincidence) and the things he has said about focusing on performance as much as other things, along with his statements about fundraising and facilities give me hope.

If they get rid of Hewitt by the end of the season, and Edwards is allowed to perform an aggressive fundraising campaign, I will finally be 100% convinced we have the right leadership.

Oh I understand. Happens with whomever is president too, if you dislike him.

I just see nothing wrong with TOC's statement. Plus he might have flat out have been asked if the program was disappointed in not returning to the Final Four for all I know.

If he says that answer in response to rationalizing Hewitt's performance so far, well, that's a piece of s### answer then.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

After talking to several former players and a current staff member at Mason, this article has people scrambling around as if someone turned on the lights and all the roaches start scrambling around. It's embarrassing and a lot of people are under the gun.

Mad props to Goff. This article is one of the best things that could have happened for the future of Mason Basketball.

 

[disgruntled]

Here is what the article says, for the record.

Guided by Jim Larranaga, the Patriots were the model for mid-majors after parlaying a 2006 at-large bid into a Final Four run, upsetting Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut along the way.
They were not going to return to the Final Four anytime soon, but that was okay with everyone involved because “the Final Four was a magical situation,” said Tom O’Connor, who retired last summer after 20 years as George Mason’s athletic director. “And that magic doesn’t happen every day.”

It is Goff asserting that everyone (including Larranaga) was okay with not returning to the Final 4, not TOC.

How does the quote "The Final Four was a magical situation. That magic doesn't happen every day." mean TOC was okay with mediocrity or believed it was luck? Hint--it doesn't.

Let me spell it out for you ...if you don't think there is a chance of the 'magic' happening anytime soon then you will settle for less. It is human nature. Anyone who doubts this hasn't ever tried to attain anything magical.

As to your statement about TOC not thinking it was luck; do you feel better that he thought it was magic ('that magic doesn't happen every day')?

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

How does the quote "The Final Four was a magical situation. That magic doesn't happen every day." mean TOC was okay with mediocrity or believed it was luck? Hint--it doesn't.

If the average person says "I feel like killing somebody", it would not be taken seriously and passed off as an innocent expression of frustration. But if Charles Manson says the same thing, well...............

 

[GSII]

He could of said something more inteligent like 'that was a great experience for our young school of only 39 years of age. We hope we can continue such success'....BUUUUTTT no, he was and is, too dumb.

 

[wijg]

After talking to several former players and a current staff member at Mason, this article has people scrambling around as if someone turned on the lights and all the roaches start scrambling around. It's embarrassing and a lot of people are under the gun.

Mad props to Goff. This article is one of the best things that could have happened for the future of Mason Basketball.

Sad that they are just now realizing what a train wreck it has become

 

[Quentin Daniels]

He could of said something more inteligent like 'that was a great experience for our young school of only 39 years of age. We hope we can continue such success'....BUUUUTTT no, he was and is, too dumb.

You ever been interviewed by a newspaper reporter? its a conversation, so you don't know what they'll ask, get to craft your perfect response through your PR team, or pick which quotes the reporter will use.