2008 Woodie Awards
Commentary: George Mason's Cinderella run gives other CAA teams hope
by Michael LoRe
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Sports
If George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga wrote a book about his men's basketball team, it would be called The Tale of Two Seasons.
Last year, in the NCAA Tournament, the Patriots were the Cinderella story, reaching the Final Four along with Florida, UCLA and LSU. But, the clock struck midnight for George Mason when it played eventual champion Florida in the semifinal, losing 73-58 and ending its unthinkable run.
George Mason was the first team from the Colonial Athletic Association to reach the Final Four, and the first No. 11 seed to do so since 1986. But like the French Revolution, it's now history.
A successful run in the NCAA Tournament didn't foreshadow how this season would pan out for the Patriots. George Mason started off the season 4-3 before going to Durham, N.C., to play a nationally televised game against Duke Dec. 9. The scheduled game was a result of its performance in the tournament last year. The Blue Devils didn't want to be another big-name school like UNC or Connecticut on George Mason's checklist, and they prevented that fate by winning 69-53.
Fast forward to this week. A victory on the road against Delaware Wednesday night would hardly be another upset win to chalk-up for the Patriots, but the way their season has gone compared to last year, they'll take all the wins they can get. With a current record of 14-12 and 8-8 in conference play, eclipsing last year's 27-8 record won't be possible.
On Wednesday, the Patriots beat the Hens 66-46, marking the second time this season they have beaten Delaware. In those two wins, George Mason has won by a combined 50 points.
After the game, Larranaga said even though the team hasn't had as much success as last year, he isn't disappointed in the team's play this season.
"Last year we did incredibly well and made it very far in the tournament," he said. "It's difficult to come back the year after a season like that and repeat. We're working on building up that momentum again."
Part of George Mason's difficulty to repeat is due to the fact they lost its three leading scorers from last season to graduation, guards Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler and center Jai Lewis.
Though this season doesn't seem as promising as the last, the Patriots' play last year has not only benefited the school, but the entire conference. It has given hope to any mid-major school with a chance to go deep in the tournament. This year, there has been more coverage than usual on conferences like the CAA.
Just like George Mason, teams like Hofstra, Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion have been getting national coverage in hopes of becoming the next Cinderella story this upcoming March.
Because it was the little mid-major team from Fairfax, Va., many smaller schools and their fans could relate to George Mason and rooted for them during tournament play. The same feelings will be felt if a school, possibly another from the CAA, repeats what Mason did last year.
Having a run like that of the Patriots would extremely benefit a smaller program. Not only would the school receive national coverage in the tournament, it would most likely get a game or two broadcasted across the nation that following year. Its schedule would feature stronger programs, thus increasing fan-base, media coverage and revenue.
A run like George Mason's is extremely necessary for a program like Delaware. The Hens have lost 20 or more games in the past three seasons. I know just thinking about making the tournament in the near future is a delusion, but forward progress has been made this season.
With a very thin bench, the Hens have fought hard in every game. I know the expression "giving 110 percent" is cliché, but that's what this team has done every time out. It's hard to play 40 minutes with only one substitute, but the Hens have persevered. Unfortunately, teams don't get wins for effort, and their five wins at the moment aren't anything to celebrate. However, Delaware did beat CAA preseason favorite Hofstra earlier in the season.
Hofstra is one of the CAA teams vying for a spot in this year's NCAA tournament. Last year's tournament featured two CAA teams, George Mason and UNC-Wilmington. I think two teams from the conference will be in the big dance this year. VCU and
ODU are my predictions as both programs reached the 20-win mark, as well as defeated teams that were in the tournament last year and have RPIs in the Top 50.
Predicting a Cinderella story or an unthinkable run is difficult, so I'm not going to declare either of those CAA teams as the 2007 NCAA Tournament's George Mason. I doubt either will make a large impact.
Then again, no one predicted the mid-majored George Mason to make any noise and look how loud they were.
Mike Lore is a Sports Editor for The Review. Send questions and comments to mlore@udel.edu.
Last year, in the NCAA Tournament, the Patriots were the Cinderella story, reaching the Final Four along with Florida, UCLA and LSU. But, the clock struck midnight for George Mason when it played eventual champion Florida in the semifinal, losing 73-58 and ending its unthinkable run.
George Mason was the first team from the Colonial Athletic Association to reach the Final Four, and the first No. 11 seed to do so since 1986. But like the French Revolution, it's now history.
A successful run in the NCAA Tournament didn't foreshadow how this season would pan out for the Patriots. George Mason started off the season 4-3 before going to Durham, N.C., to play a nationally televised game against Duke Dec. 9. The scheduled game was a result of its performance in the tournament last year. The Blue Devils didn't want to be another big-name school like UNC or Connecticut on George Mason's checklist, and they prevented that fate by winning 69-53.
Fast forward to this week. A victory on the road against Delaware Wednesday night would hardly be another upset win to chalk-up for the Patriots, but the way their season has gone compared to last year, they'll take all the wins they can get. With a current record of 14-12 and 8-8 in conference play, eclipsing last year's 27-8 record won't be possible.
On Wednesday, the Patriots beat the Hens 66-46, marking the second time this season they have beaten Delaware. In those two wins, George Mason has won by a combined 50 points.
After the game, Larranaga said even though the team hasn't had as much success as last year, he isn't disappointed in the team's play this season.
"Last year we did incredibly well and made it very far in the tournament," he said. "It's difficult to come back the year after a season like that and repeat. We're working on building up that momentum again."
Part of George Mason's difficulty to repeat is due to the fact they lost its three leading scorers from last season to graduation, guards Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler and center Jai Lewis.
Though this season doesn't seem as promising as the last, the Patriots' play last year has not only benefited the school, but the entire conference. It has given hope to any mid-major school with a chance to go deep in the tournament. This year, there has been more coverage than usual on conferences like the CAA.
Just like George Mason, teams like Hofstra, Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion have been getting national coverage in hopes of becoming the next Cinderella story this upcoming March.
Because it was the little mid-major team from Fairfax, Va., many smaller schools and their fans could relate to George Mason and rooted for them during tournament play. The same feelings will be felt if a school, possibly another from the CAA, repeats what Mason did last year.
Having a run like that of the Patriots would extremely benefit a smaller program. Not only would the school receive national coverage in the tournament, it would most likely get a game or two broadcasted across the nation that following year. Its schedule would feature stronger programs, thus increasing fan-base, media coverage and revenue.
A run like George Mason's is extremely necessary for a program like Delaware. The Hens have lost 20 or more games in the past three seasons. I know just thinking about making the tournament in the near future is a delusion, but forward progress has been made this season.
With a very thin bench, the Hens have fought hard in every game. I know the expression "giving 110 percent" is cliché, but that's what this team has done every time out. It's hard to play 40 minutes with only one substitute, but the Hens have persevered. Unfortunately, teams don't get wins for effort, and their five wins at the moment aren't anything to celebrate. However, Delaware did beat CAA preseason favorite Hofstra earlier in the season.
Hofstra is one of the CAA teams vying for a spot in this year's NCAA tournament. Last year's tournament featured two CAA teams, George Mason and UNC-Wilmington. I think two teams from the conference will be in the big dance this year. VCU and
ODU are my predictions as both programs reached the 20-win mark, as well as defeated teams that were in the tournament last year and have RPIs in the Top 50.
Predicting a Cinderella story or an unthinkable run is difficult, so I'm not going to declare either of those CAA teams as the 2007 NCAA Tournament's George Mason. I doubt either will make a large impact.
Then again, no one predicted the mid-majored George Mason to make any noise and look how loud they were.
Mike Lore is a Sports Editor for The Review. Send questions and comments to mlore@udel.edu.
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