History of George Mason basketball

George Mason Patriots Men's Basketball
University George Mason University
Conference A10
Location Fairfax, Virginia
Head coach Dave Paulsen (1st year)
Arena EagleBank Arena
(Capacity: 10,000)
Nickname Patriots
Student section Patriot Platoon
Colors Green and Gold
         
Uniforms
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament Final Four
2006
Conference tournament champions
1989, 1999, 2001, 2008
Conference regular season champions
1999, 2000, 2006, 2011
George Mason Patriots Women's Basketball
University George Mason University
Conference A10
Location Fairfax, Virginia
Head coach Jeri Porter (1st year)
Arena EagleBank Arena
(Capacity: 10,000)
Nickname Patriots
Student section Patriot Platoon
Colors Green and Gold
         
Uniforms
Home
Away

George Mason Patriots men's basketball program dates to 1966.[1] Basketball and athletics as a whole have contributed significantly to George Mason's popularity and success. The Patriots are the mascot and logo of George Mason University. The Patriots home court for both the men and women is at the EagleBank Arena, which is in Fairfax Virginia. The Patriots compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Until 2012-13, they competed in the Colonial Athletic Association, better known as the CAA. Both conferences are part of NCAA Division I sports. The men's team is coached by Paul Hewitt. The women's team was coached by Debbie Taneyhill, until she resigned in 2008.[2]

History

The Patriots made a transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics NAIA to the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division II, and subsequently into the NCAA Division I rank in the 1978-79 season. According to the history of George Mason basketball,[3] both the men's and women's basketball program have been fixtures of campus life, and have all been enjoyed by students, parents, faculty, staff, other alumni. Although many of the school's athletic programs are enjoyed by George Mason Patriots and have had many of their own memorable moments, the men's basketball program remains the key sport at the University. The men's basketball team has played at the Patriot Center since 1985, and in prior years played at the PE Building on the west side of the Fairfax Campus.[3] George Mason has sent 3 players to the NBA since 1979. Those being Rob Rose, Ricky Wilson, and Jason Miskiri. George Mason has had numerous basketball players pursue post-college basketball careers overseas over the years, with many George Mason basketball alums still currently continuing their basketball careers overseas.

NCAA Tournament appearances

Men's

The Patriots have advanced to the NCAA tournament six times (1989, 1999, 2001, 2006,2008, and 2011) and the NIT tournament (National Invitation tournament) three times (1986, 2002 and 2004).[3] The basketball team is best known for its 2006 NCAA Final Four appearance where Mason beat North Carolina, Connecticut, Michigan State, and Wichita State. The Patriots lost to Florida in the final four, who then eventually became the 2006 National Champion. After the Patriots run in the 2005-2006 season, and their successful finish in the 2007-2008 season, George Mason Head Coach Jim Larranaga was offered to leave Mason for a 5-year, $4.25 million offer from Providence College. Coach Larranaga announced his decision in April 2008 by declining the offer from Providence, and extending his current contract with Mason to 2015.[4]

Final four

George Mason celebrated the 2005-2006 basketball campaign, when they set a school-record by winning 27 games, going 27-8 on the year. That season the patriots were ranked top 25 in the USA Today and ESPN polls for the very first time. George Mason was ranked #8 in the final NCAA Basketball polls that year, making that Mason's highest ever ranking in men's basketball. George Mason was nominated for 2 ESPY awards by ESPN. The Patriots were nominated for an ESPY in the category of "Best Moment," for making the Final Four after downing three highly favored opponents. The run to the Final Four, which ESPN says is "considered by most the greatest in NCAA Tournament history", culminated with the Patriots beating top-seeded Connecticut 86-84 in overtime on March 26 to advance to the school, and the CAA conference's first-ever Final Four. George Mason also defeated Michigan State, North Carolina, and Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament while defeating the University of Connecticut in the Elite 8 to earn a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis. George Mason would later fall to the eventual National Champion, University of Florida, in the Final Four game. While the Patriots were nominated for their virtuoso performance, the man who helped conduct the orchestra was also nominated for an ESPY as George Mason head men's basketball coach Jim Larranaga was nominated in the "Best Coach/Manager" category.

After the 2005-2006 season Head coach Jim Larranaga was named Virginia Coach of the Year on June 26, 2006.[5] George Mason was one of only three teams since 1982 without a tournament win in its school history to still enter the final four. Georgia did it in 1983, and Virginia did it in 1981.[6] During the 2005-2006 season the final four had a bigger following than the Super Bowl and the NBA Playoffs that year. The main following came from office pools and parties in houses, dorms, and bars.[7]

The Patriot Center

The Patriot Center is a venue in the Northern Virginia area, seating over 10,000 people in its arena.The Patriot Center is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and is the home of the George Mason Patriots. The Patriot Center is on the campus of George Mason University, which currently has over 30,000 students and has engrossed over 7.7 million people to over 2400 events. www.Pollstar.com has ranked The Patriot Center as number 51 in ticket sales (2005). That is a large number considering most arenas have over 20,000 seating availability. A memorable moment at The Patriot Center occurred during the opening on October 4, 1985, when the New York Knicks played the Washington Bullets in a pre-season game. The patriot center is also the host of many concerts. The Patriot Center is the first university venue to be managed by a private company. Currently the Patriot Center is being managed by Washington Sports and Entertainment, who also manages the Washington Wizards and the Verizon Center. The Patriot Center hosted the first men’s CAA Tournament, and hosted its first women’s CAA Tournament in 2005.[8]

George Mason women's basketball

In 2008, news broke out that women's basketball coach Debbie Taneyhill decided to resign to pursue other opportunities. Coach Taneyhill spent 11 seasons as Mason's women's basketball head coach, and had much success with the ladies. During Taneyhill's tenure as coach, she helped the lady Patriots to four-straight winning campaigns, from the 2000 to the 2004 season. She also led them to two post-season appearances in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, WNIT in 2001 and 2004, and was named 2001 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year. She was the sixth coach in George Mason's 33-year history, and was the only head coach to have 10 or more wins in each of her first eight seasons. She led the Patriots to the 2004 CAA Championship title game for just the third time in school history. Taneyhill ranks second all-time among Mason coaches in both wins and games coached. During the 2005-2006 season George Mason University was selected to host the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship, to be played at the Patriot Center. It was the first time that George Mason served as host to the women's championship. In 2003 Mason Guard Jen Derevjanik advanced to the WNBA (Women's National Basketball association). Derevjanik is one of few players ever in Mason's history to play in the WNBA. Jen wrapped up her second season with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun in 2005, where the Sun's competed in the WNBA finals for the second straight season. Derevjanik is the first Mason player to be part of a team that has advanced to the WNBA Finals.[9]

All-time head coaches

Coach Years Win-Loss Win % Conference
Titles 		NCAA Tourn.
Appearances 		NCAA Titles
Arnold Siegfried1966–19676-12.3330--
Hap Spuhler1967–197011-60.1550--
John Linn1970–1980130-147.4690--
Joe Harrington1980–1987112-85.5690--
Rick Barnes1987–198820-10.6670--
Ernie Nestor1988–199368-81.45611-
Paul Westhead1993–199738-70.3520--
Jim Larranaga1997–2011207-131.61234-
Paul Hewitt2011–Present58-49.54200-

Players

Notable player accomplishments

CAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CAA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

ALL-CAA (ECAC South Conf., 1980–85)

Statistics

All-time leaders

Points

Rank Player Years Games PPG Avg. Total Points
1Carlos Yates1981–198510922.22420
2Kenny Sanders1985–198910720.32177
3George Evans1997–200111616.81953
4Robert Dykes1987–199112213.41642
5Andre Gaddy1977–19829816.01568
6Rob Rose1982–198611313.81565
7Will Thomas2004–200813111.91564
8Folarin Campbell2004–200813011.91545
9Rudolph Jones1971–19735925.81525
10Jai Lewis2002–200612512.21519

Rebounds

Rank Player Years Games Reb. Avg. Total Rebounds
1Jim Nowers1972–19761129.41048
2Kenny Sanders1985–19891079.61026
3Will Thomas2004–20081317.6993
4George Evans1997–20011168.2953
5Robert Dykes1987–19911227.5925
6Andre Gaddy1977–1982989.3916
7Jai Lewis2002–20061257.2895
8Rob Rose1982–19861137.1805
9Herb Estes1973–1976809.2734
10Jesse Young1999–20031156.2708

Assists

Rank Player Years Games Ast. Avg. Total Assists
1Curtis McCants1993–1996817.3598
2Myron Contee1974–19791014.0411
3Ricky Wilson1982–19861163.4405
4Folarin Campbell2004–20081303.0392
5John Niehoff1980–19841083.0331
6Steve Smith1986–19901142.8329
7Mike Hargett1988–1991933.3312
8Tremaine Price1997–20011102.8308
9Raoul Heinen2000–20041092.7290
10Jamel Perkins1989–1993972.9283

All-time standings

Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
George Mason (1966–1982)
1966–1967 George Mason 6-12
1967–1968 George Mason 5-17
1968–1969 George Mason 2-20
1969–1970 George Mason 4-23
1970–1971 George Mason 9-17
1971–1972 George Mason 12-18
1972–1973 George Mason 15-16
1973–1974 George Mason 19-10
1974–1975 George Mason 19-8
1975–1976 George Mason 16-13
1976–1977 George Mason 9-18
1977–1978 George Mason 5-21
1978–1979 George Mason 17-8
1979–1980 George Mason 5-21
1980–1981 George Mason 10-16
1981–1982 George Mason 13-14
George Mason (Eastern College Athletic Conference) (1982–1985)
1982–1983 George Mason 15-12 3-6 4th
1983–1984 George Mason 21-7 5-5 T-4th
1984–1985 George Mason 18-11 10-4 3rd
George Mason (Colonial Athletic Association) (1985–Present)
1985–1986 George Mason 20-12 10-4 3rd NIT 2nd Round
1986–1987 George Mason 15-13 7-7 5th
1987–1988 George Mason 20-10 10-5 2nd
1988–1989 George Mason 20-11 11-4 2nd NCAA 1st Round
1989–1990 George Mason 20-12 11-5 4th
1990–1991 George Mason 14-16 10-7 4th
1991–1992 George Mason 7-21 3-11 8th
1992–1993 George Mason 7-21 2-11 8th
1993–1994 George Mason 10-17 5-9 6th
1994–1995 George Mason 7-20 2-12 8th
1995–1996 George Mason 11-16 6-10 T-6th
1996–1997 George Mason 10-17 4-12 9th
1997–1998 George Mason 9-18 6-10 T-5th
1998–1999 George Mason 19-11 13-3 1st NCAA 1st Round
1999–2000 George Mason 19-11 12-4 T-1st
2000–2001 George Mason 18-12 11-5 T-2nd NCAA 1st Round
2001–2002 George Mason 19-10 13-5 2nd NIT Opening Round
2002–2003 George Mason 16-12 11-7 4th
2003–2004 George Mason 23-10 12-6 3rd NIT 2nd Round
2004–2005 George Mason 16-13 10-8 6th
2005–2006 George Mason 27-8 15-3 T-1st NCAA Final Four
2006–2007 George Mason 18-15 9-9 T-5th
2007–2008 George Mason 23-11 12-6 3rd NCAA 1st Round
2008–2009 George Mason 22-11 13-5 2nd NIT 1st Round
2009–2010 George Mason 17-15 12-6 4th CIT 1st Round
2010–2011 George Mason 27-7 16-2 1st NCAA 3rd Round
2011–2012 George Mason 24-9 14-4 3rd
2012–2013 George Mason 21-14 10-8 5th CBI Runner Up
2013–2014 George Mason 11-20 4-12 11th
2014–2015 George Mason 6-10 1-3
Total: 654-526

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[11]

References

  1. ↑ Quick Facts About George Mason Basketball. George Mason University
  2. ↑ "Women's Basketball Coach Debbie Taneyhill Resigns". GoMason.com. March 24, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "George Mason Patriots". Levineps. March 27, 2006.
  4. ↑ " Larranaga Rejects Big East's Providence College". Metsala, C: . April 2, 2008.
  5. ↑ " Larranaga Receives Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award".Gomason.com: . March 30, 2006.
  6. ↑ Final Four".Timneu22: . December 10, 2006.
  7. ↑ March to Madness".Zullo, A: Introduction. 2007.
  8. ↑ Patriot Center. July 30, 2005.
  9. ↑ " Derevjanik Signs With Phoenix Mercury".Gomason.com: . June 6, 2006.
  10. ↑ http://www.caasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8500&ATCLID=205389846
  11. 1 2 Patriots Basketball"George Mason Patriots men's basketball". Wikisgmu. August 7, 2007.
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