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George Mason Basketball

George Mason Basketball: October 2009

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Friday, October 30, 2009

Practice Highlight Video

Check out how highlights from this past month's practices.


(via YouTube)

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

How Mason's TV exposure compares to ACC/Big East

George Mason assistant coach Eric Konkol was asked about the team's TV exposure and this graphic is what he had to say about it:


(via TwitPic)

Saturday, October 24, 2009

My CAA season preview over at Rush the Court

Last season I did some work as the CAA correspondent for Rush the Court, providing previews and monthly posts during the season. My 2009-10 season preview of the CAA was just posted and I wanted to make sure you guys got a look at it and to tear it down in the comments if you see fit. Here is my predicted order of finish in the CAA, but trust me, I hope I'm wrong:
  1. Old Dominion (14-4)
  2. Northeastern (13-5)
  3. George Mason (12-6)
  4. Virginia Commonwealth (12-6)
  5. James Madison (11-7)
  6. Hofstra (10-8)
  7. Georgia State (9-9)
  8. Drexel (8-10)
  9. Delaware (6-12)
  10. Towson (5-13)
  11. UNC-Wilmington (5-13)
  12. William & Mary (3-15)
As you can see I really think ODU will be the team to beat this season in the CAA. It's hard to deny some of the talent they have in the front court with Gerald Lee and Frank Hassell. Lee dropped 23 on our guys last January. While Northeastern just returns too much talent and experience to not have them #2. I still wouldn't pick them to do damage in the CAA tournament where they usually stumble but they will have season in the regular season.

My preseason All-CAA team:

Charles Jenkins (G), Hofstra
Matt Janning (G), Northeastern
Cam Long (G), George Mason
Gerald Lee (F), ODU
Larry Sanders (F), VCU

These picks I made a couple of weeks ago ended up being the same as the coaches during media day. It's a no-brainer, these guys are all poised for big seasons.

What are your thoughts for this year in the CAA?

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Friday, October 23, 2009

Interview with 2010 commit Jonathan Arledge

The 6'9" prospect Jonathan Arledge verbally committed to George Mason last month and Recruit Recon recently caught up with him for an interview. Here are my favorite tidbits:
"Recruit Recon: How did Coach Laranaga make George Mason seem like the right place for you to continue your basketball career?

Jonathan Arledge: Really by making it feel like a family, a place where I can call home. I have faith in Coach Laranaga and myself, to get my skills up to that next level.

Recruit Recon:
What are the strengths of your game?

Jonathan Arledge: I feel I am an all-around player. I don't just excel at one thing, I have tried and continue to strive to be great at many aspects of the game, whether it's rebounding, passing, ball handling, defense or shooting. I take steps daily to progress and become a complete player. I am a gym rat so you can always find me in there 5 to 6 days a week.

Recruit Recon: Who is best player you’ve had to guard?

Jonathan Arledge: The best player I had to guard has to be Mouphtaou Yarou (Villanova).

Recruit Recon: How did you do with that match up?

Jonathan Arledge: I did pretty well. Since he was so much bigger then me and stronger at the time, I would either face him up or bring him out to the perimeter. I came out of the game with a hard fought 17 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. I love playing against better competition because that will only get me better."

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Video Recap of Mason Madness





Videos by Thuc Phan
http://www.youtube.com/user/MasonBasketball

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Wednesday Links

The tip-off to a new season is just around the corner. The phrase 'young but talented' has already been trickling through the local media wires.

For those who don't know I post a lot of articles like these daily on my twitter page. Follow me to keep up to date, sometimes I post stuff there that doesn't end up on here.

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Watch Jim Larranaga's Interview from CAA Media Day

The CAA held their annual media day today in DC, let the trash-talking begin. Cam Long was named to the preseason All-CAA team and the Patriots were picked to finish 4th by the coaches. More importantly, the TV schedule was announced, and it looks like the only away games that won't be televised are Tulane, Georgia State, Drexel, and Delaware. Lastly, here is the video from Jim Larranaga's interview today (might take a second to load):

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Saturday, October 17, 2009

Mason basketball season officially kicks off

Last night was Mason Madness, nothing really to analyze about the upcoming season from it except to see if the Masonettes got any hotter or how high the freshmen players can jump. But Mason did lead the CAA in the number of player prospects they had in attendance last night:
"According to the recruiting Web site scouthoops.com, at least 150 prospects were either on official or unofficial visits to college campuses on Friday night. Leading that list was George Mason, one of UNCW’s chief rivals in the Colonial Athletic Association, who had 25 guests scheduled."
That's a lot more than in previous years and good to know. What were your thoughts from last night?

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Friday, October 16, 2009

Because we are always looking ahead: Your 2010-2011 George Mason Patriots!

The following is a guest post from Mike Isibel, Mason alum who has been following the program for years. He also has a radio podcast over at We're Just Sayin Radio with two other Mason alumni.

The 2010-2011 George Mason men’s basketball team will be the best team in the program’s history (even if they don’t make the Final Four) and here’s why:

1. Recruiting
Ever since the 2006 Final Four run, Coach Jim Larranaga and his staff have produced exponentially better recruiting classes. The pinnacle (so far) was this offseason when 6 players signed with the program, including 2 players rated 89 overall by ESPN.com (a first for the program). Moreover, Mason isn’t just getting recruits from the DC Metro area, which typically has been the case. Over the past 3 years players have come from Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Tennessee. On top of all that, ESPN.com rated the 2009 George Mason men's basketball recruiting class #1 among non-BCS schools.

2. Experience
One of the best tools to improve a team is by gaining experience, especially against teams generally considered to be better. The Final Four team which had the same core players in 2004-2005 played several tough teams during their out of conference schedule including Memphis, Maryland and Michigan State. Likewise, this year we will be playing Villanova (a top 10 team in the nation) and either Dayton or Georgia Tech on top of last year’s trip to the NIT. Additionally, all the players will have another year to better learn the offense, to better understand one another’s tendencies on the court (only 1 player will graduate from the 2009-10 team). This is something that most big schools fail to provide with players leaving early. The team chemistry in the 2006 run was an extremely underrated intangible.

3. Depth
The Final Four team was essentially only 4 guys required to play nearly the entire game and provide most of the production, that won’t be the case in 2010-11. We already saw 3 of our freshman receive considerable amount of playing time last season. Add with that 6 incoming freshman and 1 redshirt freshman. All of these guys have the potential to score and put up big numbers depending the minutes they see. In 2010-11 we will have 4 guys who can handle the ball and drive and dish (Cornelius, Whack and Vaughns), 4 big men who can rebound, provide defensive pressure and low post scoring (Morrison, Pearson, Williams and Foster) and 4 guys (Long, Bennett, Hancock and Wright) who can spot up and shoot from anywhere on the court. This program has never had so many options.

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

Meet the 2009-2010 Patriots

Just click play to view. Mason basketball Director of Technology Thuc Phan seems to love the Terminator theme. You might have to log in to Vimeo or register to view, only takes a second.

2009-10 Meet the Patriots from Thuc Phan on Vimeo.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

George Mason among Top 20 Non-BCS schools in TV appearances

Here is a great statistic I caught off Coach Konkol's twitter page:

Former Mason player to showcase new talent at Mason Madness

This Friday marks the 13th annual Mason Madness (tradionally Midnight Madness until an NCAA rule change), the date when teams are allowed to start practice together. Besides from all the lay-up drills and slam dunk contests, fans will get to see a former Mason basketball player perform without a basketball. Avery Carey, Mason basketball player from 1997-1999, is now a budding hip-hop artist and producer under the name J. Shuttlesworth and will be performing Friday night in the same arena where he once won a slam dunk contest in front of the Mason faithful. Carey had to endure some time under Mason coach Paul Westhead, poor bastard, just before Larranaga came to town. Eventually Carey, spent some time playing professionally overseas but like most players it just wasn't his thing. Back in March of 2006 during the Patriots final four run, Carey mentions his team that played Cincinnati in the NCAA tournament laid the foundation for what the program had become:
"After that game, they started to be able to recruit some of the guys that we got now in the program," Carey said. "Players started to go to George Mason, and they are the guys who are in the Final Four now. We set the foundation for the future."
Any chance Carey challenges current players to a slam dunk contest show down? I would much rather see that then a performance by the Masonnettes.

Thanks to Brendan and everyone else who sent this in.

NOTE: gomason.com just removed the part of their article which stated Carey was performing, so not sure what is going on.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Midnight Mason Madness is approaching (Promo Video)



(video source: http://www.youtube.com/user/MasonBasketball)

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Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Four Mason players named to CAA Silver Anniversary Team

The CAA is celebrating their 25th anniversary with the start of the 2009-10 season and today they have named their Silver Anniversary team for men's basketball. Four Patriots were named to the squad: George Evans (1997-2001), Kenny Sanders (1985-1989), Jai Lewis (2002-2006), and Will Thomas (2004-2008). You'll notice only forwards from Mason were chosen which makes me wonder what warranted Jai Lewis chosen over guards Folarin Campbell (Mason's leading scorer in NCAA tourmanent games in '06) or Lamar Butler (MVP of DC regional in '06).


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