George Mason Basketball: George Mason receives at-large bid to NCAA tournament as an #8 seed, will face Villanova

Sunday, March 13, 2011

George Mason receives at-large bid to NCAA tournament as an #8 seed, will face Villanova

The Patriots have been given an at-large bid to the big dance for second time in school history. They are an #8 seed and will face #9 seed Villanova in the East region at Cleveland. This is the highest they have ever been seeded in the NCAA tournament. Mason played Villanova last season and lost a very close game in the Puerto Rico Tip-off.

Much more on this tomorrow, but what are your initial thoughts on the seed and opponent for George Mason?

Labels: NCAA Tournament

38 Comments:

Btolley said...: I said weeks ago Mason could beat Nova. I like the chances, but I don't like having to play a number one if mason does win.; 6:25 PM
c hirsch said...: Seed is fair and right, just sucks we would get Ohio State in Cleveland.

Mason can definitely beat Villanova, hell South Florida just beat Villanova.; 6:27 PM
Kevin John Costello said...: The Patriots won't play a #1 AFTER they win, but they will play THE #1, unfortunately. That looks like a brick wall.; 6:27 PM
c hirsch said...: ODU get's to play in DC? The committee loved the CAA.; 6:36 PM
Egros said...: Session 1 or 2?; 6:43 PM
Steven said...: This should be one hell of a game. I don't see Mason loosing, but it will be another close one. You know 'nova will bring it on strong; 6:49 PM
Arandol2 said...: Me neither....I think this going to be an easy win! GO MASON!; 6:53 PM
Steven said...: Yeah....then they will play Ohio St. in the second round.....ouch; 6:56 PM
Scott said...: First round should be a win. 2nd round against OSU in Ohio . . .that's ridiculous. Hope to see some green in the crowd. Wish I could make the trip to Cleveland to cheer them on.; 7:02 PM
Mason guy said...: Do not take Villanova lightly. Yes they had their fall from grace but they were in a very tough conference. Have to beat them before we can even think about OSU. I do think we have THE toughest bracket, Kentucky, Ohio State, West Virginia. Wow VCU, wasn't expecting that. ODU here in DC against Butler.

Very tough but If Mason lays it all out on the court, I will be happy. Good luck fellas.; 7:08 PM
Richard Dossel said...: 1.) I agree with the people who say,"I can't believe VCU got in. 2.) Anyone think ODU can beat Butler? Kinda wish we were in the Southwest with Pitt. I think we would of had a better chance with Pitt than if we faced Ohio St, but hey its the NCAA tournament anything can happen.; 7:18 PM
Kdenton1 said...: I like the match up. As for the second game... all I know is, UCONN was a #1 When I watched Mason beat them in the phone booth. Winning just the first game would be a big deal for us. Other than the Final 4 run GMU has never won an NCAA tourney game. Making the second round and playing Ohio State would do wonders for recruiting.; 7:53 PM
Richard Dossel said...: Do you think ODU can beat Butler? Me personally I have Butler advancing.; 8:08 PM
Mooky_l3d said...: I think a win in the first is very possible. As far as anything else I think they should have shown up against VCU. Then they could have been playin in DC. But they didn't and they aren't so deal with the hand dealt. At least come to play!!!!! GO MASON!!!; 8:27 PM
Reggie said...: Villanova is very good, late season swoon notwithstanding. Yes, we're the 8 and they're the 9 but I believe it would be an upset for us. Hope so.

VCU gets in and Colorado doesn't? Nonsense. CU beat K State 3 times and Texas once. That said, if the Rams beat USC they can give Gtown trouble. Hoyas are not quick.

I love ODU against Butler. And then they can bang with Pitt....for a while. I will be rooting for them.

Go CAA!; 8:27 PM
Reggie said...: Oh yeah, and CU beat Missouri too. And UAB gets in? Based on what? Beating VCU?
It ain't right.....somebody's gettin' a reacharound.; 8:37 PM
c hirsch said...: Definitely think ODU will beat Butler, Butler isn't nearly the same team they were last year.; 8:52 PM
Brentrg said...: I think it is a good matchup for us against Villanova. Playing Ohio St stinks, but it will be a game we are certainly expected to lose and will have no pressure at all. That said, if we play our A game, we could certainly beat them. Now, they would have to bring their B game, but that's another thing!

VCU getting in is crazy. VA Tech beats Duke and Florida St. and they are in the NIT? What was VCU's best win? Against GMU in the tourney after getting routed by us on their HOME COURT??

I will be rooting for ODU. I certainly think they have a great shot at beating Butler and will pick them to advance in my brackets.; 9:33 PM
Patotobin said...: YEs, let's win one and move on... one at a time.; 10:25 PM
Patotobin said...: Nova has one good 3 point shooter. I like this fact. I also like the fact that their gaurds are 6 feet, 6 foot one, and 6 foot 5. They're not too long and athletic for us. Ohio State however is a different story, but one at a time. Friday's game should be a handful.; 10:33 PM
Greg Johnson said...: i saw some tweet that friday's game is at 2:10. can anyone confirm this?; 10:57 PM
Greg Johnson said...: If anyone has a link for reasonably priced tix for non-mason students (my friend wants to come), i'd appreciate it.; 11:07 PM
Gio said...: I'm sure someone has already mentioned this but the Wildcats have struggled as of late so this is a great match up for us. It's time for revenge for that 1 point loss last year. Although the fact that we could potentially face Ohio State in the next game is a bummer. Still, who knows, this team could channel the 2006 team's energy and go all the way. Go Patriots!! Go CAA!!; 12:15 AM
GM1996 said...: I reality we should just realize that our team is gonna lose friday. Sure nova is in a slump but looking at the games they lost, most of them were one possession games. Also during those streaks nova seemed to always have someone injured and come tourney time they are suppose to be all healthy. Sorry guys but our year is coming to an end Friday.; 2:02 AM
Mike O said...: If GMU beats Villanova (a BIG if as 'Nova is still probably the most talented team top to bottom Mason has faced thus far this year) and can then stay with Ohio State until late into the second half I will be thrilled. That's probably as high a best case scenario as I can imagine. However, I also don't think Ohio State is invincible, though, as Northwestern showed. Ohio State is slightly vulnerable to teams that are able to execute, defend, knock down shots and get their bigs in foul trouble. Especially if Sullinger gets into foul trouble and Mason can jump to an early lead...yeah, maybe not but still one can dream. ;)

Oh, well. Whatever the outcome from this upcoming weekend's games, Mason has had another great year. Maybe it won't be a historic game-changer like 2006 but it's the type of solidly successful year that builds the program and attracts greater interest in both the team and school and keeps and grows George Mason's name recognition locally and nationally. Most importantly, both the success of the team on the court as well as the classy way Coach L runs his team gets the larger message out there about how the school itself is a young, vibrant, rapidly growing and successful institution coming into its own.; 3:35 AM
gmuhoops said...: Yes the game is at 2:10pm on Friday, with Gus Johnson calling; 8:37 AM
Chris said...: GMU should get past 'Nova. It hurts to say it, but I don't think they'll get past Ohio St. in the second round. I think that the 8th seed is fair. ODU should get past Butler and quite frankly should have a good shot at upsetting Pittsburgh in the second round. VCU sneaked into the tournament for sure! The committee gave a lot of love to the CAA. (Since I'm biased I won't complain.) VCU has a great shot at taking out USC and Georgetown in their next two games. I'm hoping that the CAA doesn't disappoint this year!; 8:56 AM
Kdenton1 said...: Awesome comments GM1996. A little too positive and upbeat for me but I catch your drift. We may win or lose the game but you, my friend, have set your expectations so low that you can't be let down.; 10:56 AM
Kdenton1 said...: I would be stoked for a win followed by a complete and utter blowout by OSU. I hope the second part is not the case but the second round is a hell of a season.; 11:04 AM
Kdenton1 said...: I know we can beat NOVA but to all that think this is an easy win, need to be slapped. NOVA was ranked 6th this season and we just lost to VCU. I am not negative or down on GMU I am just saying some GMU fans on this blog have lost touch with the real world. MI State, UNC, and UCONN fans/players once thought they were going to roll through a school and got sucker punched in the scrot. I just tryin' to keep it real in here.; 11:19 AM
JRox31 said...: I'm kind of disappointed in the seeding... While it's great recognition that Mason got a #8 seed, they drew a tough matchup in the first round. While Nova has been terrible down the stretch, they might be more determined to not be embarrassed in 2 straight games after losing to USF in the Big East tourney. I don't like this matchup for Mason, and I HATE that they got into the Ohio State bracket. I would have liked their chances as a #8 seed in any of the other 3 regions... having said that... I still can see the patriots making a run, they are a legit team that would be contenders in some of the power conferences if they didn't play in the CAA; 12:35 PM
JRox31 said...: oh, one more thing... please, Mason fans, PLEASE stop talking about 2006!!! None of those players are on this 2011 team, NONE. UConn doesn't have any of those players left, UNC doesn't either. The only similarity is the name on the front of the jerseys, the team is completely different. Take this mason team for what it is TODAY, and they are a legitimate team that has potential... but whose to say they make another run like '06? That's a once-in-a-lifetime story, and outside of Laranaga, no one on this team was there for it, so concentrate on this great season, and stop comparing the 2 teams... #my2cents; 12:44 PM
Reggie said...: I don't think we'll get past Villanova but if we do, I actually think we match up better against Ohio State. Villanova is guard oriented, as is Mason. We are quicker than the Buckeyes and can give them fits. Hope we get the shot. It would be very very cool to take them out.; 1:23 PM
Taylormade703 said...: Does anybody know if the game is online? I'm sure in Atlanta we wont get Mason-Villanova.; 1:31 PM
gmuhoops said...: CBS MMOD, they stream every game every year. Even free apps to stream them on your smart phones this year.; 1:34 PM
Kdenton1 said...: Big shout out to Vlad for not making it to the Tourney this year, again.; 1:47 PM
Kdenton1 said...: Anyone hear or care about Capel getting canned(Duke player/VCU's old coach)? That is what the Sooners get for just scooping up a young new name after he had like one season (or was it 2???) of success with VCU. He only had a little success at OU due to Blake Griffin. Blake was given to him since his older bro was already on the team when Capel arrived. Good luck to Capel, maybe he can come back to the CAA and coach Georgia State or something. The CAA could use him because he drew some media attention to us.; 4:38 PM
Mike O said...: Yeah, I think they've already had a hell of a season and to me, any further success is (welcome) gravy. I'm just speculating on the ceiling for this team. I actually think if it came down to it, Mason COULD hang with Ohio State for a while. It would take a Herculean effort with a lot of breaks going their way and I'm not saying they could BEAT them (though wouldn't THAT be something) but if Northwestern and Wisconsin, two teams GMU could definitely beat on a good day, could hang with them I think Mason has a puncher's chance as well. Of course, getting past 'Nova with its great guards will be challenging enough and at this point it's a pure toss-up (and which Villanova and Mason teams show up on the floor) who's going to prevail there.

Right now I'm just thankful for the team's success and if they lay it all down on the floor on Friday (which they no doubt will) I'll be more than proud. :) Certainly there's a lot less pressure on them than OSU, whose season will be a complete failure if they don't AT LEAST advance to the National Championship game. ;P; 7:33 PM

George Mason receives at-large bid to NCAA tournament as an #8 seed, will face Villanova

George Mason Basketball

Sunday, March 13, 2011

George Mason receives at-large bid to NCAA tournament as an #8 seed, will face Villanova

38 Comments:

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