Poll Vote of Confidence: Paul Hewitt (1/18)

[Five Two]

Can I ask a serious question. Can you name 2 or 3 schools you would compare us to based on the past 15 years? I think it will help me understand people's expectations. I see us as a team that has been ranked for 2 weeks of regular season action over those 15 years, that had one glorious 2 week stretch in 2006 and a really good club in 2011. Does that make us a Miami of Ohio, an LSU, a Princeton or someone else to all of you?

Davidson comes to mind. And prior to this season WSU and Creighton, as Gemini has pointed out.

 

[Cool Disco Dan]

99 - Making the tournament in 99, 01 and 08 don't register?

I'd like to expect us to contend for an NCAAT bid most years. In a 5 year span, I'd like to be in the mix in 3-4 of those seasons and in 2-3 times. That's where we were and should be. Agree with Gemini's 2 and would add St Mary's to that list.

 

[gmubrian]

You should tell TOC how you feel. As the biggest donor who posts here, I would imagine he'd take your call and maybe even meet you for for lunch at Brion's.

I think a call like that is premature at this point, but I don't think it is too early to start organizing a group of boosters for later, just in case. I think it would be hard to convince anyone at Mason right now that something needs to be done. If the rest of the season goes the way I expect it to, though, then I would hope more eyes would start to open up to what seems so clear to most of us on here. If we get enough boosters that aren't content to just sit and wait out the debacle, then maybe there is a chance to have a constructive conversation.

 

[gmutom]

Although it would be an understatement to say this season has been disappointing, I'm actually looking forward to seeing what this team will look like next season without our seniors and with four new players coming in.

It might not equate to a lot of wins right out of the gate, but it could be one of the most athletic and exciting teams we've seen in a while. The key, obviously, is transitioning that athleticism and excitement back into a winning program, and I do understand why some fans here are skeptical that Hewitt can do accomplish that. I know I am in the minority in hoping he is successful.

 

[Pablo]

It's interesting that the Cornell message board's comments regarding Bill Courtney (pros and cons) so closely mirror our comments on this board regarding Paul Hewitt - see http://cornellbball.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=828&page=1.

 

[gmubrian]

I know I am in the minority in hoping he is successful.

I think we all hope he is successful, it would make things much easier. It is more on whether you feel the hope is warranted. I think most of us realize how low the odds of that are.

Much like I hope Santa Claus actually does exist...

 

[gmutom]

Much like I hope Santa Claus actually does exist...

Thanks a lot. My kids just read this and started crying.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

99 - Making the tournament in 99, 01 and 08 don't register?

I'd like to expect us to contend for an NCAAT bid most years. In a 5 year span, I'd like to be in the mix in 3-4 of those seasons and in 2-3 times. That's where we were and should be. Agree with Gemini's 2 and would add St Mary's to that list.

I think that's a pretty fair representation of what most posters on this board would want. To get to the NIT and NCAA, 4 out of 5 years and hopefully the NCAA 2 or 3 times. Remember, it should easier to get to the NIT now that we're in the A10. Noone is asking for Final Fours or even Sweet Sixteens.

 

[Dawgs99]

I think that's a pretty fair representation of what most posters on this board would want. To get to the NIT and NCAA, 4 out of 5 years and hopefully the NCAA 2 or 3 times. Remember, it should easier to get to the NIT now that we're in the A10. Noone is asking for Final Fours or even Sweet Sixteens.

Not sure that making the NCAA's 3 out of 5 years is realistic...we never did that in a lesser league and with what most people agree is a better coach. I guess people think that with the A10 move we will bring in better players thus getting us in to the tourney more often? Not counting the pay for play tourneys, we've never been a program that consistently made the post season, like 4 out 0f 5 years. While I would love to make the post season at a 75% clip, not sure that's gonna happen.

 

[GMUgemini]

Not sure that making the NCAA's 3 out of 5 years is realistic...we never did that in a lesser league and with what most people agree is a better coach. I guess people think that with the A10 move we will bring in better players thus getting us in to the tourney more often? Not counting the pay for play tourneys, we've never been a program that consistently made the post season, like 4 out 0f 5 years. While I would love to make the post season at a 75% clip, not sure that's gonna happen.

2001 (NCAA), 2002 (NIT) 2004 (NIT), 2006 (NCAA), 2008(NCAA), 2009 (NIT), 2011 (NCAA)

That's 7 out of 11 seasons. Not bad.

 

[Dawgs99]

I agree not bad at all....my point was making THE tourney at a 75% clip. That being said I would certainly take Coach L's post season appearance numbers over where it appears we're headed now.

 

[KAOriginal]

2001 (NCAA), 2002 (NIT) 2004 (NIT), 2006 (NCAA), 2008(NCAA), 2009 (NIT), 2011 (NCAA)

That's 7 out of 11 seasons. Not bad.

I am glad that was posted. Someone else pointed out to me how often we had been going to a REAL post season, but 2006 distorts and hides the record.

Also throw in we were 2 minutes from NCAA in 2007, its a pretty good overall performance considering where we were when OCM arrived and shows we did have something going besides 06.

A similar record going forward of about every other year being in a REAL post season, should be the goal and actually attainable....

 

[gmubrian]

I'd like to hear what those 11 people are seeing that gives them confidence in him as the coach. I'd like to have some of that confidence to ride out the next 2.5 years. What are you seeing that the rest of us are not?

So, we are up to 14 yes votes, but the silence surrounding what the yes voters are confident in is deafening. I guess it must be like most voting, not much analysis is put into it. Just vote for the guy because you hope he will succeed, regardless of the evidence...

 

[gmutom]

So, we are up to 14 yes votes, but the silence surrounding what the yes voters are confident in is deafening. I guess it must be like most voting, not much analysis is put into it. Just vote for the guy because you hope he will succeed, regardless of the evidence...

I didn't vote in the poll, but why would somebody want to defend their vote when they know they are going to get pounced on by a vocal majority here who don't care what their response is?

 

[gmujim92]

The reason why nobody is defending a "Yes" vote is because there is no defense for it.

The evidence is all there to show that we're headed in the wrong direction.

The vast majority here know what needs to be done sooner or later.

But like the OJ jury, some choose to ignore evidence for whatever reason.

 

[gmutom]

Jim, thanks for proving my point.

 

[gmubrian]

I didn't vote in the poll, but why would somebody want to defend their vote when they know they are going to get pounced on by a vocal majority here who don't care what their response is?

Why participate in this forum at all if you are not up for a debate? When someone is afraid to back-up their stance, it usually means there is not much defense for it.

It seems contradictory, based on the wording of the poll. The poll asked if you are confident in Hewitt. If someone is confident, they should not be afraid to point out what gives them confidence. It would seem to me that those that have voted that they were confident are not actually confident...

 

[Patriotfan49]

I didn't vote in the poll, but why would somebody want to defend their vote when they know they are going to get pounced on by a vocal majority here who don't care what their response is?

Because who doesnt love a good debate?

Also, its an internet message board. If a bunch of tools hiding behind avatars and stupid names really effect your life or make you not want to share your opinion, maybe a message board isnt your thing lol.

 

[gmutom]

P49, nobody will ever accuse you of not wanting a good debate. Somebody could tell you the Redskins suck and you would take the opposite side just for the sake of argument.

Brian, I do find it funny that you were a Hewitt advocate 10 days ago, and now you are running around here with a pitchfork trying to out and waterboard the 14 people you used to agree with. Just like a recovering alcoholic, there's nothing worse than a person whose recently Hewitt-sober. (kidding)

PS: The irony is not lost on me that I am debating why somebody would not want to debate their vote in a poll in which I did not cast a vote. So, yes, I agree that I do love a good debate.

 

[Patriotfan49]

P49, nobody will ever accuse you of not wanting a good debate. Somebody could tell you the Redskins suck and you would take the opposite side just for the sake of argument.

Brian, I do find it funny that you were a Hewitt advocate 10 days ago, and now you are running around here with a pitchfork trying to out and waterboard the 14 people you used to agree with. Just like a recovering alcoholic, there's nothing worse than a person whose recently Hewitt-sober. (kidding)

PS: The irony is not lost on me that I am debating why somebody would not want to debate their vote in a poll in which I did not cast a vote. So, yes, I agree that I do love a good debate.

Im just trying to set uneducated posters straight.