OPINION: Mason IS This Year's Top CAA Team

By Broadside Staff Writer John Koblan

The George Mason University Men’s Basketball Team is fresh off a great season in 2007–08. Last year we had great wins over Dayton, Miami Heat’s Michael Beasley and his then nationally ranked Kansas State team, both topped by a heart stopping and gritty one–point win over the 2005 and 2006 NIT Champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks. We watched Dre Smith put on a performance on the level of Kobe Bryant or Lebron James in front of stunned and depressed James Madison fans down in Harrisonburg as he went 10 of 10 from 3-point range on his way to 34 points. The team won the CAA Championship and lost to Notre Dame.

Let’s look at the facts. Eight players return from last year. They include senior John Vaughn, who was named preseason second team all CAA. Mason’s three-point gunner Dre Smith returns to light up the CAA during his senior year. Forward Darryl Monroe returns after a medical redshirt for 07-08. Darryl blocked 19 shots in 06-07. He can be an imposing force in the post and will work in combo with Louis Birdsong. Birdsong is another skilled post player. The junior led the team with an outstanding 33 blocks for 07-08. He ripped down 134 rebounds and chipped in with 6 points per game. It’s impossible to replace 2006 Final Four player and Mason legend Will Thomas, but Birdsong and Monroe will make for a formidable duo in the CAA. We also have some big time newcomers. Coach Jim Larranaga’s 2008 class was featured in a March 26 article on RivalsHoops.com under “future bracket busters.”

GoMason.com recently did a season preview on the team. “Andre Cornelius is a high-octane performer,” Larranaga said. “I believe he will become an instant favorite of all George Mason fans. His speed and quickness and jumping ability will make him very, very hard for defenses to contain. He has the ability to create offense off the dribble for both himself and others.” Kevin Foster and Michael Morrison were first team all Florida. If you went to Mason Madness, then you saw Morrison’s amazing 360 dunk. Ryan Pearson was named first team all New York City and was the MVP of the Michael Jordan Classic Regional All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. If this highly acclaimed freshmen class can contribute like Cam Long did last year then we’ll be in the mix.

The 2008-09 CAA Coaches Poll came out. The top four are VCU, Northeastern, Old Dominion and Mason. I’m not sold on VCU. Sure, they have a great shooter in Eric Maynor, but they lost key members of their team. Jamal Shuler averaged 15.5 points per game. Michael Andersen and Will Fameni are also gone. Both averaged four to seven points per game. The team has seven sophomores and three freshmen. Eric Maynor can’t carry the VCU Rams to the Promised Land all by himself. They have to survive their out of conference schedule that includes games against Oklahoma, Rhode Island and New Mexico. Then there are two months of conference play. I think they’re in deep trouble if they’re counting on Eric Maynor to carry the team for five months without getting fatigued and breaking down. We might have a chance to get a top 25 win at VCU on ESPN2. This could be a big time game.

Northeastern has upper classmen experience. Six of 13 players are juniors. They bring their entire starting five back. This includes junior Matt Janning, who averaged 16 points per game. Northeastern plays a tough schedule with games at Providence, South Florida, Indiana and Memphis. These are chances to improve their RPI and bolster their chances at an at large bid if necessary. I think the Mason vs. Northeastern game on February 14 will be the game of the year. If Mason can beat Northeastern in Fairfax then we will have shown that the road to March goes through Fairfax, Va.
Old Dominion only brings back two juniors and one senior. They have a lot of question marks. They lost the CAA defensive player of the year in Brian Johnson and Brian Henderson. They bring back a solid player in Gerald Lee. But again, it’s a similar situation to VCU. One man can’t carry a team. I think ODU was overrated in Coaches Poll. They are relying too heavily on fresh faces. They also have a brutal start to the season with games at Charlotte, UAB, Bucknell and Marquette. They’re overrated, have too many questions and are in over their heads with that schedule.

Mason is the real number one. We have balanced depth, with three seniors, one junior, three sophomores and six freshmen. We also have post-season experience—seven players have gone to the postseason. Our out-of-conference schedule will be difficult, but we are the top team in our conference. The top four teams get a bye in the 2009 CAA Championship, so they don’t have to play three out of four games. It’s critical because in 2007, we did win three games to get to Monday night but fell in a heartbreaker to VCU. It’s tough to do and that’s why doing great in CAA conference play is essential.

I encourage all Mason students to join the Patriot Platoon for a $20 fee. You get a free t-shirt and free tickets to the games. Going to games earns you Patriot Rewards points which get you prizes. There’s free pizza. We get to watch a practice session. Basketball season is finally here, so let’s support our Patriots as they make a run to go for a second CAA Championship. Go Mason!