Breaking News - Lombardi to High Point

[polepino]

At 4-0 last year, so many were ignoring the glaring obvious deficiencies and were like you all delirious and blond and thinking it wouldn't crash and burn the way it did.....

Oh man do I remember thinking, " We're gonna be ok this season, not bad"........ And then it all fell to crap. Larranaga spoiled me with not experiencing a losing season until last year. What a disappointment.

 

[GMURaider]

Oh man do I remember thinking, " We're gonna be ok this season, not bad"........ And then it all fell to crap. Larranaga spoiled me with not experiencing a losing season until last year. What a disappointment.

What would you call 06-07 or 09-10?

 

[GMUgemini]

What would you call 06-07 or 09-10?

Not 20 loss seasons?

They were disappointing, to be sure, but 06-07 we were within an inch of our lives from being the CAA champions were it not for some heroics by a future NBA player.

09-10, if I remember correctly, was a predictable collapse due to the immaturity of the team (a lot of people at the time said to be wary of the last half of the season when the games would get tougher). Ike Tate also hadn't grown into his role yet, Luke Hancock was merely a freshman at that point.

As opposed to last year where there was absolutely no reason why that team couldn't have competed in the A-10 and competed admirably (well, there is one, but we don't have to actually say it). NCAA worthy? Perhaps not, but there was legitimate talent there.

Edit: Was 09-10 also the year Cam Long had horrible trouble with cramping or was that 08-09? I remember he missed whole halves of basketball until they finally figured out how to combat them.

 

[JimP]

Not 20 loss seasons?

They were disappointing, to be sure, but 06-07 we were within an inch of our lives from being the CAA champions were it not for some heroics by a future NBA player.

09-10, if I remember correctly, was a predictable collapse due to the immaturity of the team (a lot of people at the time said to be wary of the last half of the season when the games would get tougher). Ike Tate also hadn't grown into his role yet, Luke Hancock was merely a freshman at that point.

As opposed to last year where there was absolutely no reason why that team couldn't have competed in the A-10 and competed admirably (well, there is one, but we don't have to actually say it). NCAA worthy? Perhaps not, but there was legitimate talent there.

Edit: Was 09-10 also the year Cam Long had horrible trouble with cramping or was that 08-09? I remember he missed whole halves of basketball until they finally figured out how to combat them.

They were very young that first year with Hancock. The one thing you could count on with Larranaga is that is teams would get better as they got older. There was reason for optimism, because you knew the team would develop.

I remember going to a GMU-Creighton game when Hancock was a freshman. My cousin, who is a Syracuse fan, was startled to see GMU at 4-5 going into that game. (Clearly he is used to 'Cuse simply reloading every year). My response to him was, "hey, they're young." Anyway, GMU won that game with big time help from Hancock and the following year they were beating 'Nova in the tourney.

So yeah, last year with some experience, how could GMU fans not expect more? So far under Hewitt, experience does not seem to matter. I felt with L, even if it took years,some real team building was going on.

Hewitt can't recruit like 'Cuse or GT at GMU, and I see no evidence that he's building nationally competitive teams by the time he's got a bunch of seniors.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

What would you call 06-07 or 09-10?

I call it a 12-6 record, or 3X the number of conference wins Paul Ball II had last season.

(You're not very good at this)

 

[Five Two]

I remember going to a GMU-Creighton game when Hancock was a freshman. My cousin, who is a Syracuse fan, was startled to see GMU at 4-5 going into that game. (Clearly he is used to 'Cuse simply reloading every year). My response to him was, "hey, they're young." Anyway, GMU won that game with big time help from Hancock

Didn't Dana Altman get a questionable T with a few seconds left that sealed the win?

 

[JimP]

Didn't Dana Altman get a questionable T with a few seconds left that sealed the win?

Yep - I remember that. I remember seeing members of the GMU coaching staff at Brions after the game. I wanted to ask them what they thought the T was all about, but decided to leave them alone.

 

[GMU84fanman]

This place would be so much less hostile if everybody just put Raider on ignore. Although I do admire his passion as a fan, his rose-colored outlook just stirs up the rest of us who are more realistic about where we are as a program.

As a long time O's fan (and a long-time Mason fan) I refuse to ignore Raider. I have been visiting this site less and less not because I don't agree with some of the sentiments but because the vibe has gotten so negative. We have a new GM who will hopefully correct what is wrong with the program assuming we continue to lose. In the meantime, while our prospects may not be the best, there is no reason in my estimation to simply ignore a little optimism. We have some good athletes and some size coming in and yes, while we don't think the coach may be capable of success in the A-10, I for one will retain some optimism for the program this year and in the future.

I know that your statement is based in fact and frankly I am not disputing it. I however do not think any of us saw a Final Four coming in 2006 even with arguably our best coach ever. We had gone 0-3 in previous NCAA appearances and lost in the semis of our league championship that year. I think there should be room for optimism on the board even if it appears to be misguided. If any program can live on a whim and a prayer it should be ours.

Looking forward to the new season and the hope that it may bring.

 

[gmutom]

As a long time O's fan (and a long-time Mason fan) I refuse to ignore Raider.

Just to be clear, '84, my comment was in jest because I was so tired of seeing the kid get ganged up on. Being optimistic and a good fan is one thing, but Raider's everything-is-rosy outlook just gives the most vocal naysayers more ammunition to derail every thread. Hell, this thread was supposed to be about Scott Lombardi, and look how fast it went downhill.

As much as I want us to be good this year, it's just not going to happen. That won't stop me from going to every game, though. I like the new crop of players and will try to derive as much entertainment out of watching them as possible with the hope that better days lie ahead.

 

[gmu05]

Just to be clear, '84, my comment was in jest because I was so tired of seeing the kid get ganged up on. Being optimistic and a good fan is one thing, but Raider's everything-is-rosy outlook just gives the most vocal naysayers more ammunition to derail every thread.

To be fair, prior to last season you were in the "everything-is-rosy" outlook group

 

[gmutom]

To be fair, prior to last season you were in the "everything-is-rosy" outlook group

I have admittedly tried to find positive elements as a fan the last few years. Many of us invest a lot of time and money into the program, so getting caught up in the false-expectations game is very easy.

I joked with a buddy on the golf course last week that it's hilarious how many sentences start with "If" — such as, "If I had hit that drive in bounds..." or "If I had only made those five putts..." or "If I hadn't taken that triple-bogey on 8..."

While there was some hope for better outcomes the last few seasons, we have way too many sentences that start with "If" this year. Again, I think it can be fun to watch the new players grow. I just don't see it equating to a lot of wins like I did the past few years.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

While I have tempered my expectations this year - I am still looking forward to the season, as I think there is potential for a better than expected season given the new talent.

Overall - I am more optimistic in general about Mason athletics with our new AD backed by a University President who gets it.

So just enjoy the games win or lose - quaff down some beer and take of your pants.

 

[GMU84fanman]

Just to be clear, '84, my comment was in jest because I was so tired of seeing the kid get ganged up on.

Fair enough Tom. As noted, I have not been on the boards as much. You never seemed to be much of a doomsayer before and I'm glad the comment was made in jest.

Look, I get frustrated as well but I have to smile when I hear all the optimism for the Redskins after a dismal 3-13 year and then come on the boards to be met with little to no enthusiasm at all about our program. That's why I reacted. We need to have Raider's enthusiasm irrespective of whether we believe it is reasonable or rational. I hope to hell he is right and we have a great year. I will be doing my best at the games to prove him right.

 

[Patriotfan49]

To be fair, prior to last season you were in the "everything-is-rosy" outlook group

Lol haha

It's come down to the "negativity" is just being real about the program the past few years. If you speak honestly about the performances and record, there isn't that much that is positive. Bad teams, with bad records and bad coaches don't have much going for them.

So it breaks down the the eternally optimist delusional crowd thinking that magically the same wreck will result in something drastically different, and then the "negatives" really calling a spade a spade....This season, honestly I am intrigued and hopeful due to Edwards and some of the roster, but with Hewitt still leading, i can't envision some drastic coaching ability change to turn things around that much.

 

[GMUgemini]

Lol haha

It's come down to the "negativity" is just being real about the program the past few years. If you speak honestly about the performances and record, there isn't that much that is positive. Bad teams, with bad records and bad coaches don't have much going for them.

So it breaks down the the eternally optimist delusional crowd thinking that magically the same wreck will result in something drastically different, and then the "negatives" really calling a spade a spade....This season, honestly I am intrigued and hopeful due to Edwards and some of the roster, but with Hewitt still leading, i can't envision some drastic coaching ability change to turn things around that much.

One could make the argument that because Hewitt has been successful before, he could be successful again. Even discounting his record at Siena, a still has that one glorious season at GT to hang hope on. And I know some want to discount that run because there were some upsets, if you drill down on that season there were some Incredible wins.

And even if you say, well that's 100 percent on the players, one could argue there are the makings on this roster for a potentially serendipitous team building with Jenkins, Moore, Mayimba, Lockett and Holloway leading the charge.

But as Tom said, that's a lot of what ifs to get from pessimism to optimism.

 

[polepino]

What would you call 06-07 or 09-10?

When I said losing season, I meant the literal statistical losing season which means anything below .500 for the total season record. Granted, those years which you brought up were not the best nor did I feel anything like we won those but statistically they were winning seasons.

Addendum: Just realized I'm not sure what type of season it would be called statistically if a team finishes exactly at .500, an average season?

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

To be fair, prior to last season you were in the "everything-is-rosy" outlook group

There was no such group. Only a group that grows tired of ragging on Hewitt in every thread, even after a win, and are cognizant of the fact that barring misconduct he is here for his contract (or at least 4), regardless of the whining.

I think he sucks so far, but some of the criticisms I've heard are ridiculous, and just flat out wrong. And you can directly trace most of them to people that still haven't gotten over TOC not giving L a 4th raise in six years, a 90% one at that.

I know several people that have left the boards because they love Mason, but despise some of our fans. And I cant blame them. S### gets old.

If Hewitt cant put things together he'll be gone and deserves to be. Meanwhile, we just have more "ifs" than usual, but it is entirely possible we can be successful this year. Much stranger things have happened.

We need more fans like Raider, even if he is wrong some of the time.

 

[GSII]

I think all us of have hope like Raider does. But with what we have seen so far on the court, and with all mis managed roster issue etc, just dont believe its possible. Can you blame anyone for pointing to the evidence? Paul,,err i mean Gmuraider is a heck of a cheerleader and deep down I hope he is right re this year. Im glad he posts here, OCM would never do that.

 

[Pablo]

Back to the topic, why would a local guy like Scott Lombardi make a lateral career move to a school in a lesser conference? My guess is that he didn't want to pass up the opportunity to work for Scott Cherry who I consider to be a rising star in the coaching profession.

Regardless, I wish Scott the best!

 

[masonjoe]

Back to the topic, why would a local guy like Scott Lombardi make a lateral career move to a school in a lesser conference? My guess is that he didn't want to pass up the opportunity to work for Scott Cherry who I consider to be a rising star in the coaching profession.

Regardless, I wish Scott the best!

Guys like Lombardi have to pay their dues for years before they get there shot. If i was him I'd rather be in a more stable environment so the move makes a lot of sense.