2012-2013 Mason men's basketball preview

In coach Paul Hewitt's second season, the Patriots have NCAA tournament expectations. (Photo by Dakota Cunningham)

It's hard to gauge how well a team will perform throughout a full season based on one exhibition game against a team that plays in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Although the experienced Bowie State Bulldogs gave the Patriots all they could muster Thursday night in a close 76-72 contest, only so much can truly be taken away from the outcome and the contents of the exhibition.

To get a better idea of how the Patriots will finish this season, I took the time to look through last season's depth chart and statistics.

Coaching

Paul Hewitt is entering his second season as the Patriots' head coach. During his first season in Fairfax, Hewitt led Mason to a 24-9 record (the third best finish in school history) in a whirlwind year that included tough losses to Florida International and Florida Atlantic along with a buzzer beater win at home against rival VCU. After a slow start to the season, the Patriots were able to turn things around with Hewitt's guidance. Now with a year under his belt, Hewitt has a better grip on his team and brings in the first recruiting class that he recruited. Hewitt was able to demand the best out of young, talented teams at Georgia Tech, and George Mason should be no different.

Frontcourt

The Patriots' frontcourt is the deepest it's been in recent years. The losses of Mike Morrison and Ryan Pearson are felt throughout the program, but Mason has a corps of young bigs who are on the cusp of breakout seasons. Sophomore Erik Copes, the ESPN 100 recruit that Hewitt wooed to Fairfax along with uncle, assistant coach Roland Houston, has the workings of a standout performer this season. In limited action behind Mike Morrison last year, Copes made his presence felt heavily on the defensive end with an impressive seven block performance at Drexel, finishing the season with a total of 51 blocks. Copes will get a increase in playing time this year which should open things up on the offensive side of the ball (Copes never managed to score in double figures in his freshman year).

Another forward prime for a breakout season is junior Jonathan Arledge. With the Patriots down double digits to VCU in the CAA tournament, Arledge turned up his game to try to will his team back into it. The 6'9" forward finished with a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) and should ride the momentum into the 2012-2013 season. After starting in the exhibition, he should be the opening night starter for the Patriots against Virginia. The two big men should complement each other well. Copes is more of a brute force down low, grabbing rebounds, blocking shots and picking up most of his points within the paint. Arledge, on the other hand, has more finesse as a big man who can score in a variety of spots on the court, can shoot a mid-range jump shot and can defend away from the basket.

Add redshirt junior Johnny Williams, transfer Anali Okoloji and freshmen Jalen Jenkins and Marko Gujanicic and you have a rotation of big men that can be interchanged where Hewitt sees fit.

Backcourt

The Patriot backcourt of Bryon Allen, Vertrail Vaughns and Sherrod Wright remains the same from last season. Allen, who missed the exhibition against Bowie State with a strained neck, started 31 of 33 games last season at point guard, leading the team in assists and tied with Ryan Pearson in turnovers. The area of his game that he needs to work on is turnovers. The Patriots turned the ball over 15.2 times per game, compared with their opponents’ 14.3 per game. With a full year as a starting point guard under his belt, Allen, I expect, will be more comfortable as the floor general and will bring his turnover numbers down.

Redshirt junior Vertrail Vaughns had a down year last season. Compared with the 2010-2011 season where he averaged nearly 50 percent from three- point range, Vaughns brought that average down to 35 percent last year while taking 118 three- point shots (he made 42 of those 118). Vaughns didn't take a three in the Bowie State exhibition, which was uncharacteristic for him, but may be a sign of him moving toward more penetration points.

Sherrod Wright has been touted as a preseason All-CAA candidate as well as a potential break-out player nationally. After a strong season last year with a game-winning three against rival VCU, Wright is due to build upon the success he had. This year, he will be a full-time starter with Andre Cornelius gone and will be looked to by Hewitt to provide steady and consistent scoring for the Patriots after the loss of last season's leading scorer, Ryan Pearson. Wright has a unique skill set and can score from anywhere on the floor. I wouldn't be surprised if he led the team in scoring by the end of the season.

Additions

Aside from the return of Johnny Williams after his medical redshirt and the addition of transfer Anali Okoloji, the Patriots have a talented class of freshmen in Patrick Holloway, Marko Gujanicic and Jalen Jenkins. Holloway, the All-Met Player of the Year from Paul VI High School in Fairfax, has been compared to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry for his lanky build and, most importantly, his precision shooting from long range.

Gujanicic had a strong debut at the Bowie State exhibition, scoring 16 points in 24 minutes. The Serbian forward seemed polished and experienced beyond his years and has the potential to finish the year starting for the Patriots.

Little has been seen from Jenkins, but with the number of players ahead of him on the depth chart, it doesn't look like he will see much playing time this year. After Hewitt decided not to redshirt the forward, Jenkins may see some time but otherwise will remain on the bench. However, he has great upside with a jump shot, solid post game and can defend the lane well.

Stay tuned for the 2012-2013 women's basketball preview coming soon.