George Mason Basketball: George Mason Bracketology Part IV

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

George Mason Bracketology Part IV

Selection Sunday is just five days away. The Patriots' loss to VCU in the semifinals seems to have dropped their average projected seed to around 8. I think it's worth noting that Mason's "worst loss" Wofford is now a tournament team as they won the SoCon last night.

Also you can find a list of the Top 40 RPI teams that got snubbed from the NCAA tournament since 1994 here, if you want to play devil's advocate.

Labels: NCAA Tournament

25 Comments:

Brian Patterson said...: Nice, would love for them to finagle a game here at Verizon Center. There was nothing like watching Mason in 2006 playing right down the road; 10:16 AM
eric said...: you realize that the fox sports bracket is from last year right?? those ppl at fox haven't updated it...Kentucky as a 1 seed, no Indiana State (AQ), Inclusion of UNI, and Wofford in for "first time" were what gave it away for me....don't look at that bracket if you want any clue as to who is in this year; 10:50 AM
GMU879 said...: I highly doubt that the committee would snub GMU on Sunday. Unlike many bubble teams, GMU played extremely well during the last two months of the season. While alot of people complain that we do not have quality wins,we really do not have bad losses since wofford won their conference. I would also like to think that wins against ODU, VCU and UNI count for something. The only thing that has me worried is that we can not improve ouur RPI. We just have to hope other tems lose so we could go up.; 10:53 AM
gmuhoops said...: I've posted Fox Sports bracket in all my previous bracketology posts. I'm not sure what am I looking at on their website now, I guess your right it's last year's. I'm taking them off.; 10:58 AM
Kdenton1 said...: I think will be either an 8 or 9 unless something really crazy happens in some of these conference tourneys. I think the experts are dead on with these projections.; 11:06 AM
c hirsch said...: If VCU had won I would have been much more nervous about Sunday. But with them not getting a bid now, I don't see how the committee could justify the CAA not being a 2-bid league. I think we will get in as a 9 seed.; 11:27 AM
Paulm218 said...: SORRY i'm really bracket ignorant. What time is the next game? I realize that is going to be answered with some options, but could you give me some estimates???? One more question.. the last time GMU rose through the ranks... were they already looking stronger than this? or was every step in the tournament still a big surprise from a fragile status? thanks; 12:42 PM
gmuhoops said...: Paul,

We won't know until Sunday when, where, and who they will be playing. Their first game would either be Thursday 3/17 or Friday 3/18.; 12:53 PM
Matt Cerilli said...: Agreed 100%. No way the CAA is only a 1 bid league and we definitely have the edge up on VCU so we should be in as a 8/9 seed.; 1:22 PM
Fitnessnfun0001 said...: It's a shame that the Sunday drubbing by VCU will likely cause Mason to get the dreaded 8 or 9 seed, which will make it very hard for them to excel. Clearly, this team has lost their fire, and it's been obvious since the last 4 or 5 games. Lots of talent here but always seems to be a problem with this bunch getting derailed by their own immaturity and lack of focus. They need to forget about the media hype and the haircuts and the tweets and settle down to focusing on playing their best game if they don't want a double digit blowout in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament. let's hope they can turn it around.; 1:52 PM
Patotobin said...: I'll take the Tennessee match up, but those are all tough games up there.; 1:53 PM
Charlie T said...: Mason,ODU and yes VCU all would have been competitive in the NCAA tournament. I am not real happy only 2 will be selected but then VCU picked the wrong and right time to play well during the season. I think both Mason and ODU will be an 8 or 9 which should make for a terrific match up. After reading some of the comments dealing with the loss to VCU,being critical by some of the people is somewhat of a normal response and I am sure like every coach and player, they know deep inside just what they did wrong but I view a team like a family and sometimes they have a bad day. The Coaches will be more critical of themselves since this is their family and they want to present them giving their best effort. To say we could have done this or done that is nice and if your basis for that is from having played,coached or just for the love of the game is fine but it really is time to move on. We get to showcase our team to the nation and I know 10 other teams in our conference who would love to do that. Very proud of this group and everyone associated with them and wish them the very best. Go Mason.; 2:04 PM
c hirsch said...: Paul, there are similarities between how this season has played out and how 2006 had played out to this point. However, since none of the players are the same it really means nothing more than a coincidence.; 2:49 PM
Paulm218 said...: Aren't the back to back games factored with much weight as to the loss to VCU? Not too often you have games two days in a row. Especially they didn't breeze by on Saturday. It was a struggle to the wire.
On the other hand... yeah.. they ought to be able to put out like that.; 2:49 PM
c hirsch said...: This has been a great season but it will feel very disappointing if we lose in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament. It irks me that Mason hasn't won a postseason game of any sort since the FInal Four run in 2006.; 2:50 PM
Johnboy said...: Charlie, you are right to see the glass half full. My perspective is this has been a great season, however; the tournament was very disappointing as we saw the cliches play out with VCU whipping GM and ODU once again becoming top dog. This result frustrated me because I feel very strongly that ODU and particularly VCU are not very strong. Losing to this VCU team in the manner that happened is perplexing. My concern is that winning the NCAA is largely mental control and focus. In the NCAA tournament, lesser teams often prevail because they can focus and relax. GM seems to have been headed downward since the Northeastern game. You would think they were playing Duke at Madison Square Garden rather than a CAA bottom feeder.
So, I think the problem seems to be more than one bad game. Also, ODU, while being highly overrated is one of those above average teams that has seniors who can pull together and focus. Just not sure Mason players can do that. In the end, they seem to be their own worst enemy sometimes. Again, enjoyed the season and will hope for the best in the tournament, but realistically, I see GM falling apart mentally and showing they cannot handle the tournament pressure.; 3:16 PM
GMU879 said...: Well put johnboy, well put. I am a mason fan and I look at things realistically the way you do!; 3:27 PM
Rmjank said...: I think many of the same comments about this team being in a bit of disarray were also said in 2006, and that year turned out fairly decent! I trust that if there is one thing Coach L is good at, it would be getting his team focused on the tournament business at hand.; 3:41 PM
Charlie T said...: Must give a shout out to Ryan and this site. It gives all of us crazy GMU fans a chance to air our likes,concerns and dislikes. Having been a fan since 1984 I remember how high we were just to go in, I think ,in 1989 and how low to be eliminated in I thought was a play in game on a Friday. Now we can Jaw back and forth about not just being in the big tournament but how we will look. I do have to disagree with someone who said ODU and VCU were not that strong. We may have had better individual players on teams but this year the league was better. What has caused some concern and it is correct is if and when we lose we want to have said we played our best and came up short. I hope we play some BCS school who puts on Twitter George who!. Practice with a purpose in the next week or so with the image of a true underdog going out to slaughter would be nice. Not to bring it up for the umpteenth time but in 06 Coach L created a fun atmosphere and got them to relax while playing a Tony Soprano role. No retreat ,no surrender.; 3:50 PM
gmuhoops said...: Thank you for the kind words Charlie.; 3:52 PM
Patotobin said...: For you younger guys, this is an amazing trip. Back in the 90's (most of it anyway) you could have a conversation with someone at the other side of the court. It was that quiet. Next time you feel frustrated with Coach L, or feel like pulling your hair out because VCU ruined our seeding in the NCAA tournament, stop and enjoy it! Two decades ago, if you told me that we'd be bouncing back and forth into the NCAA tournament and ranked in the top 25 (even if it's for a week) i would have laughed my head off at you. But hey, it's real... we're not Duke, and we never will be, Well... maybe not for another two decades anyway, right?

2006 FINAL FOUR!
2008 NCAA Notre Dame!
2009 NIT Penn St.!
2011 NCAA again!
2012 IT LOOKS, VERY VERY GOOD AGAIN! (VCU loses 4 of 5 starters. ODU loses 4 of 5 starters).; 4:37 PM
guest said...: I agree, I also think that getting their butts kicked will prove to a good thing for this team. Now they remember what it's like to lose and they won't want to feel that way again. Also brings them back down to earth and gives coach L even more material to stress and get this team motivated. I think Mason will come out on fire and I would be very scared if I were a fan of a team playing them in the first round. Also....GO HARVARD!!; 7:33 PM
mlanchap said...: Several thoughts after reading all these postings. 1) I love this blog, thanks Ryan. 2) We really have grown as a program, I had two years of Westhead some of you put up with that longer than I; Larranaga is great! 3) Once your start winning the expectation follows and it should! 4) I don't think the team is crashing and burning after the VCU loss. I don't think it was lack of effort but lack of execution. We have to remember that we had a long sting of double digit wins, and finished with some tight games that we didn't lose composure in, that was a good sign. If you think of the way ODU played in the championship, they didn't look at all like they did when we beat them. Both teams had a sucky game, ours was a little more untimely but I don't think it's a meltdown. It bothers me they couldn't respond more effectively to that VCU zone and that we gave up 11 3's but I also think this team and coaching staff will recover from those errors and I don't expect them to fold in the tourney!; 8:19 AM
John G said...: I agree that ODU is a strong team this year. VCU didn't have the consistency, but ODU has the look and feel of a team that can do some damage in the tournament.; 10:49 PM
Airgold10 said...: This is a bit of a tangent, but people are trolling about Mason on the comment section of this article, it's really irritating:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2301286

I posted my rebuttal, it would be nice if others could do the same.; 12:46 PM

George Mason Bracketology Part IV

George Mason Basketball

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

George Mason Bracketology Part IV

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