Yardbarker: George Mason

March Madness...I'm Mad.

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:32:00 -0500

This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love College basketball, and I love filling out my bracket and seeing how well I do, but it's driving me "MAD". I have had my eyes glued to the television for 4 straight days. I even bought the NCAA package so I can watch all the games at once. The games are so close and there is so much good competition between under dogs and favorites, big schools and small schools that I'm getting confused. I know who I picked, but while I'm watching the game sometimes I get confused about who I want to win. For example, I have Pitt making it to the Final Four, but while watching their games against East Tennessee State University and Oklahoma State University I wanted them to lose. Am I the only person who does this? Am I the only person who watches the game and wants someone else to win other than who they picked? I feel like something is missing... Where are George Mason, Gonzaga (before they were top 25 every year), Davidson, Valpo, Princeton in the Sweet 16? No where to be found 2 years in a row. I'm getting a whole lot of March, a whole lot of MAD, but no Madness!!!

I guess it's just when you see the underdog small school David playing so hard and being successful against the big school Goliath, that you can't help but respect that and root for them to win. Maybe I just want drama regardless of who wins, I want Valparaiso to win on a last-second shot, Christian Laettner to hit an improbable turn around, or Tyus Edny to drive the length of the court and break my heart. Between last year's tournament and this year's tournament, I'm feeling cheated! All of the number one and number two seeds are still alive. It's like if you pick the higher seed to win you will be right.

I remember watching games in the good old days and you didn't have a clue who was gonna win. One minute you wanted to pull your hair out because it seemed like it would take a miracle for your team to win, then when the horn blew to end the game you were jumping for joy. At the end of the tournament we should be able to watch "One shining moment" and get chills down our spines from the excitement and heartache we have felt from watching the NCAA tournament. I'm enjoying watching the games, but I miss the good old days!!!

Now I'm just MAD from March Madness. I'm MAD because the teams I picked are winning. I'm MAD because I haven't seen a last second half court shot to win the game. I'm MAD because I'm confused. I'm MAD because the underdog keeps losing in games that I picked them to lose but watching the game makes me want them to win. I'm MAD because Wake Forest lost. I'm Mad because I know the tournament is half over and that makes me sad.

And to top it all off... I'm MAD because I had to turn to the last seconds of the Heat-Pistons game and watch the Pistons get cheated out of a win to get the drama I was craving. I can't stand the Heat. Go Lakers!!!!

CAA Weekend Roundup for Feb. 20th-22nd

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:02:00 -0500

Ten of the eleven CAA teams were in action this weekend in? non- conference games. Here’s a...

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Two Good Reasons George Mason Won't Get Invited To Join The ACC

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:00:27 -0500

They don't play football

CAA teams in action this weekend

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:21:02 -0500

For the first time since 2004, the Colonial Athletic Association sent two teams (James Madison and...

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Battle of the Mascots - THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:19:28 -0500

Baxter pulls away in sudden death and continues his miracle run. Seems like Binghamton fans have nothing else do to with their time also (joke, joke!). So here we are. The championship match. David vs. Goliath. This is the main event! But first...

OK, FOLKS, THE TIME HAS COME...LLLLLLLEEETTTTTTTTT'S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

BATTLE MASCOTS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH...
#1 WOLFIE THE SEAWOLF (STONY BROOK) VS. #7 BAXTER THE BEARCAT (BINGHAMTON)

#1 Wolfie the Seawolf - How he got here: def #9 Rally Cat (quarterfinals); def #5 Damien the Dane (semifinals)

Two cake-walk wins for the magical creature of Long Island. While this is his big moment, people will always remember March 5, 2005...a date that will live in infamy. The day when Wolfie the Seawolf welcomed himself to the NCAA. On that day, during the America East Tournament, Wolfie laid the smackdown on J.J. Jumper, the NCAA Tournament mascot. No one could believe it! A clothesline right to the kisser. While it was vicious, Wolfie fell short of becoming the first America East mascot arrested. However, Wolfie at that moment became a star and legend to mascots world wide.

Wolfie has the luck of being the only "magical" mascot in the America East. A seawolf is considered a mystical animal that is suppose to bring good luck to all that see it. The only problem is that Stony Brook hasn't exactly been so lucky since joining the conference. However, that doesn't stop Wolfie. Now he is one win away from taking home a title...champion of the mascot! His fate is in your hands.

#7 Baxter the Bearcat - How he got here: def # 2 Rhett the Terrier (quarterfinals); def #3 Bananas T. Bear (semifinals)

It is amazing how far Baxter has come. Obviously, with strong online support of the BU Zoo, Baxter has had an unthinkable Cinderella run that would put George Mason to shame. And so, it comes to this. One game for this shy, unknown mascots. Can he pull off another David and take down Goliath?

While the men's basketball team maybe known for its antics on and off the court, Baxter seems to be the squeaky clean guy for the program. The Binghamton program seems to have stricts rules for Baxter.

Baxter has not seen much success on the court, however, he is giving it his all. However, he seems to be more of a community organizer then a insane mascots type. However, that stereotype may change if he can pull off the ultimate upset, and become champion of the mascots.

Here you have it folks. One match, one winner, one champion! This will be a week long vote. Winner will be announced next sunday. Please vote! Get your friends to vote! Lets send a worthy representative to the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Your College Basketball Announcing Schedule For The Week Of 2/9

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:17:45 -0500

As always, there are a ton of TBDs, but I like to at least get the schedule up on Monday, so you all can check out which games are coming up each week. I'll update as the week goes on, and feel free to email me with any updates. Here is your schedule and as always, thanks to the work that The 506 puts in on these. Monday, February 9th West Virginia @ Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7pm)- Sean McDonough, Bill Raftery, Jay Bilas Florida A&M @ Norfolk State (ESPNU, 7pm)- Charlie Neal, Stan Lewter Alba...

VCU's Run and Jump Full Court Man Press

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:02:35 -0500

First off, want to wish all the American readers out there a very happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to thank for and so it's good to have a day to just say thanks for everything.

There have been some fantastic college games the past couple of days with the wrap up of a couple of major pre-season tournaments. There was a great game that wasn't on most people's radar, VCU against East Carolina. Game went to overtime and it was a fantastic finish with East Carolina winning at the end.

I've never run this kind of pressure defense before but it's a very intriguing concept, the idea of the run and jump. You fake like it's just regular M2M pressure, but then one of the off-ball defenders leaves his check to hard double the ball-handler. More than anything it hurries the offense into making bad decisions. Check out a few sequences from the first half,

Trap Sideline:

On the inbounds, you'll even notice that they'll face guard and double the primary ball handler. Anything to make it more difficult to get the ball in. Once the ball is inbounded, X1 plays M2M. The ideal is to force baseline, then X2 pretends to run down along with O2, but v-cuts hard and doubles O1,

If the ball-handler is able to dribble out (shouldn't if it's a good trap), continue to double-team and force a turnover. That's what VCU does, both X1 and X2 trail and force the re-trap after crossing half,

Middle Trap:

Well, it's kind of a half-trap because without the sideline, you can't true trap and box in. Nonetheless, if the ball handler goes middle, X2 can still v-cut back. Also, notice how the other 3 defenders zone up to cover the backside,

Summary:

I've never run the run and jump myself, but I think it can really be disruptive because you never really know when or where the trap is coming. It's usually out of a M2M defense, so there isn't a predictable formation like a 2-2-1 or a 1-3-1 that you can particularly scheme for.

I think East Carolina struggled a bit with it in the first half, but did a better job in the second half. I think you want to keep at least 1 player behind the ball-handler to reverse to, thereby keeping the defense honest. The Pirates were kind of making it worse by having all four offensive players in the backcourt waiting. Bring 1 player back so that the ball can be reversed easily.

George Mason plays a similar kind of defense except they call it scramble. For a closer look, check out Jim Jim Larranaga's DVD on his 3-2 Camouflage Defense in the half court. George Mason used it to get to the final four a few years ago. Be sure to check out the X's and O's of Basketball Forum to discuss this and more of your favorite basketball topics.

The Big Break's Blair O'Neal

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:44:48 -0500

Blair O'Neal is best compared to the 2005-2006 George Mason Patriots. Going into this contest, little was known of O'Neal. Now, we know she is a great golfer, budding reality TV star(via Golf Channel's The Big Break), model, and Lingerie Bowl QB. In hindsight, it is clear that Blair belongs in the Final Four of the World's Hottest Athlete.

Top 10 Greatest Final Fours in the History of Sports...and Beyond

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:49:11 -0500

Some of the greatest Final Fours in sports and other competitions are featured, with pics and videos... 10. 1957 NCAA Basketball Tournament - North Carolina wins their first NCAA basketball championship 9. 1984 Frozen Four NCAA Hockey Tournament - featured the only 4 OT championship game ever 8. Survivor: Borneo - Betrayal, intrigue and a naked guy winning it all - the staples of great reality television are born 7. 2006 NCAA Basketball Tournament - George Mason shocks the world by maki...

The Final Four Keeps Paying Off For Jim Larranaga

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:25:28 -0500

We all knew that Jim Larranaga was going to get a serious payday from George Mason's improbable run to the Final Four in 2006. But who knew that Jim would be hitting Jay-Z territory so soon?

Coach L for President

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:07:13 -0500

Oh the George Mason University bookstore never stops the creativity, even during the long days of summer. I must say I did enjoy what they came up with on the "Mason Nation wants you" shirts, even though the school's politically incorrectness correctness forced the "Patriot's" face to be colored in green and gold. But today you can find the bookstore's latest creation that features Coach Larranaga being immortalized on his very own t-shirt design.

Post-Fight Wrap-Up from The Patriot Center!

Sun, 18 May 2008 10:56:23 -0500

Let me take you back to one year and five days ago -- May 12, 2007. This is a post-fight show after Jimmy Lange's last victory, his eighth round TKO over Fontaine Cabell. After this podcast, Lange said that he suffered a bad rotator cuff injury that has kept him out of action since. Lange does plan to return to action in July followed by a big show in November in the same location where this show took place --The George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA. "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears joins me on the commentary. Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #55 - Post-Fight Wrapup from the Patriot Center!

"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I discuss a championship-caliber card at the George Mason University Patriot Center. Included in this broadcast is an exclusive interview with the new WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight champion, Jimmy Lange.

Where is Jai Lewis Now?

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:17:14 -0500

The NCAA Tournament season is underway. We are all in search of "this year's George Mason," knowing there is no such team in the field. George Mason's run to the Final Four introduced the nation to a cast of new stars, including big man Jai Lewis. Undrafted Free Agent explores Lewis's professional careers (both football and basketball) since his burst onto the national stage.

History of the 5 vs. 12 Matchup

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:16:36 -0500

When the NCAA Tournament selection show was announced, Notre Dame didn't have much time to fill in their brackets. Within the first few pairings, the Irish were handed a #5 seed against the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Champs, #12 seed George Mason. Yes, the dreaded 5 vs. 12 matchup that everyone and their mother wants to avoid come March. But for the Irish, is it really that bad?

When Being Politically Correct is Incorrect...

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:31:16 -0500

Gunston: what is it? Good question. Ever since I have been a student at Mason that has been the mystery around campus. Aren't we the George Mason Patriots? Apparently GMU's verison of a patriot is a furry green blob, who looks like a poorly constructed Sesame Street character. I guess this is supposed to better represent our campus and its vast diversity? Our school just made it to the Final Four, its time for a real mascot.